Sparkler vs. IDT?

[shortslappy]

It's a big week in Colorado, but what's the difference between Sparkler and IDT?

[PairOfAces]

Never been to either, but from what I can tell, Sparkler and Fireworks are run by Triple Crown Sports while IDT is its own entity. I have "heard" that IDT is more selective and thus may be a tougher tournament, but I'm not claiming that.

[coachbgb]

We have played in both. 5 years in the Sparkler and 6 years in the IDT. If you are into a big "show" with lots of Marketing,vendors,special events, Olympic players signing autographs, Pro exhibitions
Etc then the Fireworks/Sparkler is for you.
If your into College coaches at every game, top competition(PGF Level)) in every game, playing at the same fields every day so the colleges know where to find you then the IDT is for you.
At the sparkler we would see college coaches on occasion but they use like 20 different parks and most days we saw nil. At Boulder our girls will send out there info and the colleges will show up more often.
No entry fee at the IDT, free all star games and they even feed everybody before the all star games. Its really no Contest. The IDT is all about great softball.
Unfortunately it can take years to get in the IDT. My advice is to apply to both every year until accepted into the IDT. The overall experience in Colorado that week is amazing. For that week Denver/Boulder is the center of the Softball world and we love it.

[Pale Rider]

We have played in both. 5 years in the Sparkler and 6 years in the IDT. If you are into a big "show" with lots of Marketing,vendors,special events, Olympic players signing autographs, Pro exhibitions
Etc then the Fireworks/Sparkler is for you.
If your into College coaches at every game, top competition(PGF Level)) in every game, playing at the same fields every day so the colleges know where to find you then the IDT is for you.
At the sparkler we would see college coaches on occasion but they use like 20 different parks and most days we saw nil. At Boulder our girls will send out there info and the colleges will show up more often.
No entry fee at the IDT, free all star games and they even feed everybody before the all star games. Its really no Contest. The IDT is all about great softball.
Unfortunately it can take years to get in the IDT. My advice is to apply to both every year until accepted into the IDT. The overall experience in Colorado that week is amazing. For that week Denver/Boulder is the center of the Softball world and we love it.

Forgot to mention IDT is invite only...

[PDad]

We have played in both. 5 years in the Sparkler and 6 years in the IDT. If you are into a big "show" with lots of Marketing,vendors,special events, Olympic players signing autographs, Pro exhibitions
Etc then the Fireworks/Sparkler is for you.
If your into College coaches at every game, top competition(PGF Level)) in every game, playing at the same fields every day so the colleges know where to find you then the IDT is for you.
At the sparkler we would see college coaches on occasion but they use like 20 different parks and most days we saw nil. At Boulder our girls will send out there info and the colleges will show up more often.
No entry fee at the IDT, free all star games and they even feed everybody before the all star games. Its really no Contest. The IDT is all about great softball.
Unfortunately it can take years to get in the IDT. My advice is to apply to both every year until accepted into the IDT. The overall experience in Colorado that week is amazing. For that week Denver/Boulder is the center of the Softball world and we love it.

Forgot to mention IDT is invite only...

I haven't heard of IDT recruiting teams that didn't apply, so I wouldn't call them invite only. On the contrary, IDT actually has a way for teams to qualify for Boulder 18U via placing high at Louisville. Otherwise, teams send in their entries and IDT is extremely selective about which ones get the few spots available.

TCS is similarly very selective about which teams get into their Power Pools. The difference is TCS will put the ones that don't make it into one of their lower events (i.e. Fireworks or Sparkler) so they can keep their entry fee.

[Dowhatulike]

IDT tournament is where all the big dogs are at!!! You must earn or be invited to this tournament, skip all the other sparkler stuff unless your team has a plan which fits with TC or sparkler.

[Dowhatulike]

We have played in both. 5 years in the Sparkler and 6 years in the IDT. If you are into a big "show" with lots of Marketing,vendors,special events, Olympic players signing autographs, Pro exhibitions
Etc then the Fireworks/Sparkler is for you.
If your into College coaches at every game, top competition(PGF Level)) in every game, playing at the same fields every day so the colleges know where to find you then the IDT is for you.
At the sparkler we would see college coaches on occasion but they use like 20 different parks and most days we saw nil. At Boulder our girls will send out there info and the colleges will show up more often.
No entry fee at the IDT, free all star games and they even feed everybody before the all star games. Its really no Contest. The IDT is all about great softball.
Unfortunately it can take years to get in the IDT. My advice is to apply to both every year until accepted into the IDT. The overall experience in Colorado that week is amazing. For that week Denver/Boulder is the center of the Softball world and we love it.

Forgot to mention IDT is invite only...

Correct!!

[Dowhatulike]

Never been to either, but from what I can tell, Sparkler and Fireworks are run by Triple Crown Sports while IDT is its own entity. I have "heard" that IDT is more selective and thus may be a tougher tournament, but I'm not claiming that.

IDT tournament is where all the big dogs are!!! Top schools go there hands down.

[shortslappy]

Just got back and I was surprised at the number of organizations with multiple teams entered. There were a couple in years past but not 3 teams from the same org. Of course all 3 went deep in the tournament so it's not like they just threw some slouches in the event.

Not surprised by the multiple big-org teams, but is there a reason why the Firecrackers don't play in IDT?

[sftballguru]

Because Rico has ownership in TCS