How do we compare?

[dailyjoy]

In each age group...10u, 12u, 14u, 16u and 18u how does Indiana compare to our border states?

Does your team play teams from the border states and if yes why? To see more competition or is it because the competition is better?

Which state would you most likely play? Michigan, Illinois, Ohio or Kentucky? Would your choice be based on location or competition?

If your team is located in Southern Indiana would you more likely play towards Louisville then Indy? For those in the Northwest do you play more Illinois (Chicago area) then Indy? Teams from the Indy area do you travel to border states to play in tournaments?

If you do travel to the border states which tournaments would you recommend? And would you say the experience was worth the cost of travel?

[slapperdad]

We're in 18U, we play whoever shows up in the other dugout. Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, whoever, from wherever.

[dailyjoy]

Slapperdad I can always count on you to reply......

And where is this dugout located? In Indiana or another states?

When you coached younger teams did you travel across the border to play in tournaments?

[slapperdad]

We play mainly showcases at this point, so obviously we travel. Indy, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, went to northern nationals one year in Kentucky, only time I think we've played in Kentucky. Of course we've been to a few others as well.

I'm sure you can find a million different answers to this. I don't get so caught up in the best of the best of the best hype. When they're young, stay close to home, keep the mortgage up to date, have some fun, let them learn the game. If college is the goal, obviously at some point you're going to have to travel and go places to be seen. College isn't the goal for every kid who plays.

When my kid started all the way thru 12U, she played on a B team. There was plenty of competition going no further than Columbus, (literally 20 minutes from my own bed) or Indy. When she moved to 14U it was time to get a little more serious. I just find it completely insane that a 10U team has to travel all over the country to find competition. Hopefully they're all still playing by the time they get to 16U and mom and dad don't have 10 credit cards maxed out.

If you're kid is into Softball or tap dancing or underwater basketweaving for the matter, if it's something you can enjoy together, why not do everything you can to ensure they still want to do it next year, and the year after that, and the year after that?

[Magic01]

I agree with Slapper Dad that you dont have to go far in 10u or 12u. The competition is pretty good in our state (IN) anyways at those ages. Although my team is playing out of state once this year(besides nationals) in Kentucky. We were going to play in Warsaw the same weekend, so it would have been hotel stays for us anyways. We just felt like getting out and away fom all the teams we see all the time just this once. Definitely save your money as much as possible because by at least 16u, if your DD is still playing, your gonna need it as I have a 16 year old playing as well and traveling out of state often. Indiana is lucky to have softbal being so strong and out of state or in state I dont think it matters at the younger ages.

[prdpop]

I say in each age group, if you are winning every or almost every tournament then go play some out of state and see how good you are. It doesn't do anyone any good to just keep beating the same teams over and over. At the older age groups, if you have junior college level players play in JC exposures. If you have D1 level play D1 level events. Some parents are ok with travel and some are not. All depends on you goals and level of team.

[trojan05]

At any age group, if your team is potentially one of the top teams in the country, it is important to go find the best competition in order to peak at the right time and to have some challenging competition. If you are run-ruling all of the teams in your state, or locally, then it is time to go across the border and seek and find some better competition. I do agree however, that for most teams, staying in Indiana to play is quite challenging enough and can get players to the Next Level. Indiana produces plenty of great players and contributing players to College Rosters of all Divisions!