What's up with Team Mizuno?

[justawatcher]

I do not know all of the coaches involved but I can tell you that the coaches from 98 Shadows and Rampage are quality people, good coaches and they are trying to do something special for their kids. In my opinion they are more than qualified to have a positive impact on young peoples lives than most coaches I meet in this game. The majority of kids playing youth sports today will look back some day and reflect on thier experience. Did they have fun? Were they treated well? Did they enjoy their coaches and teammates? Did the coach teach them about softball and care about them as individuals? That is what will be remembered. Very few will go to college and play ball but all of them will have memories. I promise you it will not be about trophies, team names or organizations.

I agree with you that both involved teams are great folks. I also agree that the memories are what's really important for most of these girls. I'm not certain that Team Mizuno's vision is simply to create memories though or what any of this has to do with their tryouts.

[dgorsuch]

I do not know all of the coaches involved but I can tell you that the coaches from 98 Shadows and Rampage are quality people, good coaches and they are trying to do something special for their kids. In my opinion they are more than qualified to have a positive impact on young peoples lives than most coaches I meet in this game. The majority of kids playing youth sports today will look back some day and reflect on thier experience. Did they have fun? Were they treated well? Did they enjoy their coaches and teammates? Did the coach teach them about softball and care about them as individuals? That is what will be remembered. Very few will go to college and play ball but all of them will have memories. I promise you it will not be about trophies, team names or organizations.

I agree with you that both involved teams are great folks. I also agree that the memories are what's really important for most of these girls. I'm not certain that Team Mizuno's vision is simply to create memories though or what any of this has to do with their tryouts.

I just get tired of people coming on here and other forums and bashing good people who are doing a good job coaching their kids. From what I have read they are no different than any other new organization in our area. (D-Bats) they want to build a successful program with successful teams and coaches.
Both the big organizations and the little organizations have great coaches who do some good things with their players. Who are we to judge who is qualified to coach GOLD teams, 12U teams, or 14U teams. Quite frankly, if some of the coaches I know who coach single teams had the talent some of the big organizations do, they would probably win more games than the big boys win. That is not a knock on the big organizations. They have done a great job of building their companies and have paid their dues. Attracting talent is the reward. Only time and competition will tell if Mizuno teams will be successful. I hope so and wish them all the luck in the world.
My recommendation to you is to go to the try out or contact the coaches if you are interested in the true/factual answers to your questions. I am sure they will be glad to tell you the facts. Then you can come back on here and let everyone know the truth.
Doug

[justawatcher]

I just get tired of people coming on here and other forums and bashing good people who are doing a good job coaching their kids. From what I have read they are no different than any other new organization in our area. (D-Bats) they want to build a successful program with successful teams and coaches.
Both the big organizations and the little organizations have great coaches who do some good things with their players. Who are we to judge who is qualified to coach GOLD teams, 12U teams, or 14U teams. Quite frankly, if some of the coaches I know who coach single teams had the talent some of the big organizations do, they would probably win more games than the big boys win. That is not a knock on the big organizations. They have done a great job of building their companies and have paid their dues. Attracting talent is the reward. Only time and competition will tell if Mizuno teams will be successful. I hope so and wish them all the luck in the world.
My recommendation to you is to go to the try out or contact the coaches if you are interested in the true/factual answers to your questions. I am sure they will be glad to tell you the facts. Then you can come back on here and let everyone know the truth.
Doug

Well I apologize if my questions came off as bashing. I've always had a lot of respect for the Rampage as well as the Shadows and as far as I know have never said anything derogatory about either team or the future Mizuno. Maybe I'm misinterpreting your rant as being directed towards me. I just don't see how inquiring about how their tryouts went could be considered bashing. I don't have a DD in the 98 or 99 race so it doesn't really make sense for me to haul her out to one of their tryouts. I genuinely wanted to know some information on the state of their older and younger teams. I have, as you recommended, contacted several people that have been listed as contacts for this organization and have received only 1 reply that basically told me to "keep in touch." Again, your words are kind and I agree with you on a lot of what you said. Again, not really relevant.

[pooterfather]

From the responses I've been getting from them, everything is going quite well, tryouts again this weekend, getting alot of 97's on board to come out to tryouts, and possible coaches as well for the 97's...haven't heard about the 2000's team, guess they are going to leave that for another date, but all-in-all, there is going to be quite a turnout, as lots of kids were going to go to the last tryouts...should be interesting to see what they do with all of that talent on the different teams and all, should make for some good competition in the tryouts this weekend, and the next set as well....i am going to take my DD out there, hopefully she can stack up and make one of the teams, whether it's National team or the local Select one...

[1OPNEON]

Inquiring minds want to know (beginning with mine ) i hear you about all the good coaching and all, but are these your typical "daddy" coaches?? I mean what positions do their DD's play?? Are they earned positions? Or are they playing favorites? I'm yet to find a fair coach that doesn't favor their DD, ofcourse unless you talk about those a$$holes who bench their DD's when they pick up players. I think this is a valid question for parents with girls that have talent and want to try out?

[justawatcher]

I have a DD that I would like to play Gold ball. She's talented but very young. I just didn't see the harm in seeing what everyone else thought about what is going on with this organization at the 16U/18U level.

[SlapLeather]

Inquiring minds want to know (beginning with mine ) i hear you about all the good coaching and all, but are these your typical "daddy" coaches?? I mean what positions do their DD's play?? Are they earned positions? Or are they playing favorites? I'm yet to find a fair coach that doesn't favor their DD, ofcourse unless you talk about those a$$holes who bench their DD's when they pick up players. I think this is a valid question for parents with girls that have talent and want to try out?

I can tell you first hand that they are not typical daddy coaches. They will continue to test and challenge all players on the teams to determine what is best for the team. All kinds of situations may arise in tournaments where you have to make adjustments. I personally think the girls capable of playing outfield and infield need to do just that for the experience. We obviously will put the best nine out their during bracket play, but when you start rotating pitchers you have to be flexible and have players multi-skilled. You need to be 2 deep at each infield postition and have a number of girls able to play outfield.

If you think that your daughter is competitive/talented enough to play on a national team, to receive possibly some of the best coaching in the area, then I would say come on out for sure. As a first year team we finished the year with a record of 90-35 and definitely have plans to better that mark next year.

There is no better way to find out who can handle the pressure that goes with playing certain positions than playing against the best competition out their which is what we intend to do. In other words we will be doing plenty of traveling. As a father and coach, we will go with what gets us places and wins, because if we consider doing anything other than that we would be letting down the girls and parents. I can tell you that my daughter plays infield (F5) and outfield because I do not want her to be one dimensional. If girls have a lot of speed they may end up in the outfield in the future anyway so she needs to know how to play that position at a high level now.

I look forward to next year as the '99 team could have a really good year as well as the '98 team. I hope to see all Mizuno teams do well and with great coaching and kids willing to put in the work, they will be rewarded one way or another.

[1OPNEON]

Inquiring minds want to know (beginning with mine ) i hear you about all the good coaching and all, but are these your typical "daddy" coaches?? I mean what positions do their DD's play?? Are they earned positions? Or are they playing favorites? I'm yet to find a fair coach that doesn't favor their DD, ofcourse unless you talk about those a$$holes who bench their DD's when they pick up players. I think this is a valid question for parents with girls that have talent and want to try out?

I can tell you first hand that they are not typical daddy coaches. They will continue to test and challenge all players on the teams to determine what is best for the team. All kinds of situations may arise in tournaments where you have to make adjustments. I personally think the girls capable of playing outfield and infield need to do just that for the experience. We obviously will put the best nine out their during bracket play, but when you start rotating pitchers you have to be flexible and have players multi-skilled. You need to be 2 deep at each infield postition and have a number of girls able to play outfield.

If you think that your daughter is competitive/talented enough to play on a national team, to receive possibly some of the best coaching in the area, then I would say come on out for sure. As a first year team we finished the year with a record of 90-35 and definitely have plans to better that mark next year.

There is no better way to find out who can handle the pressure that goes with playing certain positions than playing against the best competition out their which is what we intend to do. In other words we will be doing plenty of traveling. As a father and coach, we will go with what gets us places and wins, because if we consider doing anything other than that we would be letting down the girls and parents. I can tell you that my daughter plays infield (F5) and outfield because I do not want her to be one dimensional. If girls have a lot of speed they may end up in the outfield in the future anyway so she needs to know how to play that position at a high level now.

I look forward to next year as the '99 team could have a really good year as well as the '98 team. I hope to see all Mizuno teams do well and with great coaching and kids willing to put in the work, they will be rewarded one way or another.

So my question to you now is...if I talked to all or any of the parents in the Rampage 99, and Shadows 98 would they agree with you that you are not playing daddy ball? I'm not saying you are, I am just curious to know what you would do if you acquired a stud F5 or two and there was no sense in putting your DD there??

[SlapLeather]

My response is that I don't think that our parents feel that typical "daddy" coaches are teaching there dd's the game they enjoy playing, and coaching them at a very high level.

As to your daughter playing F5 over my daughter, I would first have to ask if she was a '99 or '98?

If your daughter is a great F5 then it is possible that she could turn a good team into a great team, if on the right team.

The common phrase that you hear through our camp is that the only gaurantee is that there is no gaurantee and that holds true for the '99 team and any DD. If your daughter loves to dive after balls in the hole or down the line and always makes the routine play then she would get the opportunity to play the position that she obviously excels at. I can tell you this....if my daughter has to begin playing outfield along side who I feel is one of the best players in 10U ball in the area, due to an even better F5 that has the sounds of being a dang solid defensive team!

[Team Mizuno Gold]

justawatcher

Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:54 am
Posts: 109 Re: What's up with Team Mizuno?
I have a DD that I would like to play Gold ball. She's talented but very young. I just didn't see the harm in seeing what everyone else thought about what is going on with this organization at the 16U/18U level.

If your daughter is that talented, continue to prepare her, and we will bring her in for a tryout. Mean while send us a profile on your DD.