Calif teams VS everyone else!! what are they doing better?

[TheCloser]

I think girls need to say hungry and each tournament has to mean something. From talking to some of the Texas parents, they play in something like 20 to 30 tournaments per year before they get to nationals. That leaves little time for practicing and refining game strategies and tactics. It's not like Texas teams are getting blown out in nationals but they seem to end up losing due to the sum of all the little things.

[sftballjnkie]

In Texas, at the younger levels, that seems to be a definite part of the problem. Too much time spent on chasing trophies and not enough practice and teaching of fundamentals. In the fall, teams start practice in late August and will be playing tournaments 2 weekends a month in September. Spring is about the same. Not enough time spent on fundamentals. Girls with natural ability stand out but don't seem to be developed to full potential unless they have parents with skills, knowledge and time on their hands to do it at home. I wish Texas would adopt a better outlook on "friendlies" and go to that more.

[honcho55]

I agree totally. It seems to me that there should be no worrying about stealing of players, or worrying that you might know all their tricks. The good teams will see each other every tourney anyway for the most part. Recruiting is always an issue now as it is. So it confuses me why the top 10 teams don't make sure to play each other more. It will help them to be more competitive IMHO

[fastpitchbomber]

One Word...Coaching!! Cal system is built on coaches that have been produced by the "system" and are continually working to refine and perpetuate the "system." Want to do it like they do, find a Cal coach willing to be a mentor or leave beautiful So Cal for your God foresaken softball town. Simple..want a Cal team get you a Cal coach not an ex-baseball player/coach that thinks this stuff looks easy!!! Goodluck with that! That is how the D1's across the country do it!

[dallasfungo]

Sadly, my experience in the Dallas area is that very few travel ball coaches are interested in hearing about teaching points applied at the top D1 (Pac-10) softball programs. (And they don't do research themselves to learn it.). I've actually had coaches tell me "I've never heard of that" and promptly disregard skill-focused drills applied at UCLA, Arizona and Stanford. They fall back on conventional "wisdom" they picked up by hanging around baseball fields and batting cages. Hence, their infielders have inefficient glove skills, take poor paths to ground balls, and hitters have ineffective short games. Then they have short lives at nationals and on their way out say, "boy those CA teams can sure play..."

[play4fun]

Here is an interesting example of Texas "B" teams that I find FUNNY!!!!

This is posted on the VTD by a team looking for "players"

FUSION TRY OUTS by invitation only


The xxxxxxxxx is holding try outs next week on August 14th 16th Thursday and Saturday by invitation only. If you are interested in attending our try out and meeting our players and coaches please contact us so we can put you on our list of attendees.We have generated a lot of interest and want to make sure we set up a try out that will allow all girls serious about joining our team an opportunity to get in some good workouts.We will be making the transition to 14U this fall and have the core group of our team already in place. We will be identifying those special one or two girls that can fill specific needs to help us make our move.Contact us for more specifics.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"INVITATION ONLY"

This is a joke !!!!!!!!

A "B" team that has barely placed in any tournament they have played in the past year and now they are so dilusional that they are holding tryouts for the best of the best to join their team by invitation only.

Someone please explain the logic.

[sbfan]

yes another 12u B team in North Texas. there are about 70 12u teams in north texas and i dont think 10 of them are A.

big time daddy ball being played

no one wants to challenge there girls

They had a so called National tourny in a suberb of DFW and it was all metroplex teams. That is not a National Tourny it was another local tourny.

[3Bsnag]

Sadly, my experience in the Dallas area is that very few travel ball coaches are interested in hearing about teaching points applied at the top D1 (Pac-10) softball programs. (And they don't do research themselves to learn it.). I've actually had coaches tell me "I've never heard of that" and promptly disregard skill-focused drills applied at UCLA, Arizona and Stanford. They fall back on conventional "wisdom" they picked up by hanging around baseball fields and batting cages. Hence, their infielders have inefficient glove skills, take poor paths to ground balls, and hitters have ineffective short games. Then they have short lives at nationals and on their way out say, "boy those CA teams can sure play..."

I have never seen a truer statement on HB than this.

I also enjoy listening to a coach talk about a player by saying, "She should know this by now, I'm not going back to teach it." Every skill should be covered at every practice. How many coaches still teach the art of base running? If you accept a player on your team, you accept her abilities and her shortcomings. How about making a plan for her, including her parents depending on age, so her shortcomings become assets.

You are probably good at your job, right? You do it everyday. Don't expect a girl to have a perfect slide, dive, or OF drop step because it should have been covered in 12U.

I could rant on this for a while, but the above poster said it much more tactfully than I ever could.

[softballjunky]

"INVITATION ONLY"

This is a joke !!!!!!!!

I agree, when these teams think they are elite and post they are having tryouts by invite only. is absurd at a 12 or 14 level........These teams really think highly of themselves ....I could mention a few but won't. I see even the top 2 teams in 12 and 14 didn't consider the invite only tryout.

[StillThinking]

We have blue cups instead of red