Value of ASA Nationals verses exposure (beyond 14U)

[fasterpitch92701]

Here’s a thought that may stir some debate: is there a real, significant value to having attended ASA Nationals beyond 14U as far as college recruiting?

At 16/18/Gold tournaments, camps and skills events you have exposure, the girls have sent coaches there schedules, the college recruiters are at the tournament… they see reality. Conversely, there are teams and coaches pushing ASA Nationals and how it will dress up your resume, possibly at some exclusion of other high-visibility events simply based on not having Bill Gates’ checkbook and having the time/finances to do it all.

The question is… beyond 14U, does playing ASA Nats really… really matter to college coaches or do you believe coaches are more interested in exposure tournaments, skills videos and on-site, first hand looks?

My personal opinion based on limited experience is that ASA Nats are over rated. Yes, I have (my daughter has…) attended Nats several times, all but one, top ten finishes. No sour grapes. However, when it comes down to a team deciding what their goal is for the year, the option to play age-bracket tournaments early and focus on exposure tournaments and camps later in the year could... be an option. Key to the decision is the perception, real or imagined, the ASA Nats actually counts for something substantial in the eyes of college recruiters.

Contrived, mythical question; If given only one choice between 16/18U Nats and Fireworks (or similar)... which would you choose?

Not trying to start a flame throwing exercise and launch bombs one way or the other. Just looking for rational, lucid opinions, observations and comments, experience based.

Regards,

[jag1]

Here are my perceptions, based on first hand experience....ASA natl's or Firecracker, there are going to be coaches around. At nationals, coaches are looking more intently on individual players that may be on marginal teams that are eliminated early, thereby giving more exposure to the talented players on other less dominating teams. At the big exposure events, it seems that all the powerhouse programs are getting the "exposure", because they're in the final brackets....unfortunately for those kids that really have the D1 game in less prominent travel ball programs, they're over-shadowed by kids with the same ability (and sometimes less) in the big name programs...! Unless your kid is on a really kick-a$# team, skills camps and targeting schools are the way to get noticed.

[DaMann]

My DD just completed first year of 16U. During the summer she attended the Las Vegas, NJ and Colorado Boulder showcases prior to Nationals. Between Colorado and Boulder she was invited to several unofficial college visits. Everyone we went to the coaches told us that they would be a 16 Nationals, and they were. If your DD is a starting player IMO 16 Nationals is the biggest exposure tournament of the year. There were more colleges there than at 18 Gold this year. I would suggest if you have the opportunity to go to 16 Nationals that you definitely take advantage of the opportunity (you DD will be seen).