DBat Holiday Camp

[softballrulznut]

Part of it could have been better organized had they had the additional space the boys were taking up. I consider that part of the organization of the event. They have known since deciding to do the camp that weather could be an issue and they knew as much as a week ago that it was highly likely that the weather wasn't going to allow for the outdoor event.

Several of us also discussed the fact that it was probably possible for them to also use the Dbat Frisco location. They could have then divided the campers in half as well as the college coaches. They could have then had the coaches (because it would have been 5 people switching instead of 50-75 campers) switch locations. This would have allowed for the drills and player/coach time to be more individual and more reps in front of each coach.

Also, many many many times today I heard parents and players asking each other and other group members etc where the heck they were suppose to be. That's obviously organizational stuff as well as apparently a lack of communication on the part of the DBat staff.

[Joe]

Part of it could have been better organized had they had the additional space the boys were taking up. I consider that part of the organization of the event. They have known since deciding to do the camp that weather could be an issue and they knew as much as a week ago that it was highly likely that the weather wasn't going to allow for the outdoor event.

Several of us also discussed the fact that it was probably possible for them to also use the Dbat Frisco location. They could have then divided the campers in half as well as the college coaches. They could have then had the coaches (because it would have been 5 people switching instead of 50-75 campers) switch locations. This would have allowed for the drills and player/coach time to be more individual and more reps in front of each coach.

Also, many many many times today I heard parents and players asking each other and other group members etc where the heck they were suppose to be. That's obviously organizational stuff as well as apparently a lack of communication on the part of the DBat staff.

Do you think the problems were organizational or simply due to a lack of communication? It sounds like they should have used an alternative location...if one was available. Did they do any drills outdoors?

[softballrulznut]

I honestly think it was both, organizational (it certainly could have been better although I admit it had to be difficult with the limited space, number of campers, and trying to coordinate all the different college coaches) and there were certainly some major lack of communication problems.

Yes, there were fielding drills that were held outside both in the morning and in the afternoon. As I have mentioned, the cold and rain were not fun, nor conducive for players showing off their abilities.

[Joe]

I honestly think it was both, organizational (it certainly could have been better although I admit it had to be difficult with the limited space, number of campers, and trying to coordinate all the different college coaches) and there were certainly some major lack of communication problems.

Yes, there were fielding drills that were held outside both in the morning and in the afternoon. As I have mentioned, the cold and rain were not fun, nor conducive for players showing off their abilities.

What were some of the organizational problems you experienced and how could they improve in the future? I think is might be important and productive to give some positive feedback to the Dbat group for the next camp. Likewise, what could they have communicated better?

[Rootingforsis]

This camp was great. Was it the same as it could have been outdoors? Of course not. But the little kids were so excited to actually be getting lessions from college softball coaches like Tim Walton of Florida and getting to be in a clinic doing drills side-by-side with Gold players. The kids who were there to get "seen" did exactly that. You could see the players who knew what the objective of the camp really was (recruiting), and it didn't matter if they were indoors or outdoors because they used the day to get their looks.

[HIGHANDTIGHT]

I think camps this time of year are a bad idea just because of the winter weather. JMO.

--Why did you sign up for it? Do us all a favor and don't bitch about something that you disagree with and then turn around and support it.

parents to stand outside for the 90 min fielding session in 40 degrees and rain

!

--Why didn't you go inside you dumb ass?


I think D-Bat did what they could giving the circumstance. Was it idea? No, but my daughter said she had a great time and thats all I care about. Its not about me or you being comfortable!

[Joe]

I think camps this time of year are a bad idea just because of the winter weather. JMO.

--Why did you sign up for it? Do us all a favor and don't bitch about something that you disagree with and then turn around and support it.

parents to stand outside for the 90 min fielding session in 40 degrees and rain

!

--Why didn't you go inside you dumb ass?


I think D-Bat did what they could giving the circumstance. Was it idea? No, but my daughter said she had a great time and thats all I care about. Its not about me or you being comfortable!

HIGHTIT

Why were the parents forced to go outside in the rain and 40 degree temp?

[softballrulznut]

First of all Joe - I love how you all take part of a sentence (about parents standing outside) and want to turn that into a big deal but apparently didn't read anything else as you continued to ask what I thought was wrong from an organizational standpoint even though I pointed out several things and made suggestions on how to change it.

Then the other poster wanted to call names like a 3rd grader by calling someone a dumb ass but they apparently can't type which is evident by the fact they said idea instead of ideal.

But anyway I'm not going to get in to all the CRAP I HATE about heybucket and try to keep to what I do like about HB.

My suggestions as I have clearly stated throughout this tread.

Number 1 thing I would have done was to clear the schedule of all the boys lessons and team workouts.

Number 2 thing I would have done would have been to divide the campers and coaches in to two different groups and used another of Dbat's facilities which would have allowed more individual interaction between the players and the coaches and allowed the coaches time and ability to give more individual instruction. IF the two facilities were not an option at all I would have split the camp into morning and afternoon groups which would have allowed for the same thing. Then considering the second option would mean less time overall I would have then refunded a portion $25-50 depending on how much money was promised to each college coach. I would have done this even if it meant that my program wouldn't have cleared a penny on the camp because ultimately it should have been about getting the girls a recruiting opportunity not about money.

Number 3 thing is I would have had a DBAT employee, coach, or someone assigned to each separate group of students who would have had a clear understanding of what the next rotation, station, etc was and I would have had that person take the group to that place which would have eliminated much of the confusion.

Number 4 thing I would have done would have been to remove all of the parents from behind the cages and kept them out of the way. Without parents there were too many people in the building...players both boys and girls. Had I been in charge I would have confined the pro shop, the bleacher area just inside the indoor hitting part of the building or in the hallway or outside.

Number 5 thing I would have done would have been to designate a cage for all of the players equipment. If you know anything about softball bags and equipment they are huge and every player has at least one, if not two. The bags ended up scattered everywhere and had no organization to them whatsoever and I would have designated a place for them to be placed up against a wall or somewhere so that people (especially the players) could have moved around more freely.

Beyond those things it would be difficult to give more specific feedback without know exactly what the college coaches wanted and without knowing exactly how many campers were there. The things listed above are suggestions that I believe could have been easily taken care of with a little more foresight, planning, communication, and organization.

Finally, let me make it clear, I believe the camp was "ok" but these are thing I think could have made it better and allowed for more opportunities for the players. Also, in defense of DBAT this is the first time they have done something like this on the softball side and hopefully they will learn from these mistakes or shortcomings and will continue to improve the camp in future years. The concept is GREAT and had the weather been better I think EVERYONE would have been talking about how wonderful it was for the girls.

[Rootingforsis]

I would say your intent was to stir the pot, and if you were lucky, to get a bunch of people slamming DBAT, the coaches, etc. for going forward with the event and making a few dollars. My first thought was you were hoping to get enough people complaining that you could ask for a partial refund.

Most of your "suggestions" are not well thought out, and demonstrate your lack of experience. If you split the groups between Addision and Frisco, how do you get a kid who came to meet the University of Tulsa and West Texas A&M, as an example, in front of both if those coaches are also split between the facilities. Some of the younger kids came just to have a chance to meet Coach Walton of Florida. Are you going to have the coaches driving back and forth during the day during the ice and snow? No softball camp I've ever been too has the coaches walking groups from one station to another. Based on that suggestion, my guess . . . your daughter was one of the 9-year-olds in attendance at her first camp and you had no idea what to expect. I'll bet you that your DD has a blast.

Kudos to DBAT for hosting a great camp! The coaches were AWESOME! And, I saw a ton of talented kids in all the age groups.

[softballrulznut]

Actually as a matter of fact I wouldn't have even allowed anyone below 8th grade to attend but that was not for me to complain or decide about considering that information was known from the very beginning. IMHO, the younger players were allowed for two reasons 1. DBAT only has younger teams for the most part 2. Brings in more money Obviously they took in several thousand dollars by letting those younger players in the camp.

As for the college coaches driving in the snow....OMG....I hope you aren't serious. Number one at noon when the switch would have been made it was only raining. Number two I'm sure they've all driven in snow. Number three it wasn't slick. Number four if they were soooooo scared to drive in the snow I would have personally driven them in my 4X4. LOL. Finally, for the amount of money they (college coaches) took in I'm sure they would have gladly driven the short trip up the road, not to mention they would have done it to more closely look at individual players they may have been interested in recruiting.

Finally, on a personal note, money is not an issue for my family thankfully, however I do believe in getting value for my dollar. Considering the price that was paid and what was advertised and what we were sold I do not believe we got good value for the amount of dollars spent. I started the thread to see if others felt the same. Obviously you feel you did get your monies worth. Funny but we have now come full circles as my OP said "did everyone think they got their monies worth?"