SportZone

[softballwiz]

I just want to get everyones opinion of the SportZone Tourneys....


I am not a huge fan of Sportzone but I do think it is great from a hitting stand point to see live pitching and to just work on things that you know your girls need to improve on.


With that said I have been there on Several occasions and have seen a certain Team Bring in a pitcher from Louisville and this past week they had a 14U player who is on their 18U team pitching for them. In both cases they had there #1 pitcher that will be with the Team when they go back outside so they didn't need a sub. So makes me think they want that sweatshirt so bad they are trying to bring in whoever they think will ensure that they win. How does this benefit the Team? Needless to say they didn't even make it to the Championship Game.


So I guess I am just curious why they feel the need to try and stack their Team. Is it so they can say they Won a SportZone Tourney? Are they just trying to get the Pitcher some reps and if so how does that make the pitcher they will be using outside better?


I know this is none of my business, I just do not understand the thought process.

[prdpop]

I am not sure what teams you are speaking of, but I know a team that one of my daughters was with a few years ago did some of these same things. They were preparing for the next fall. I am guessing that the 18U pitcher will be playing 16U with that team next year, so they want to start preparing for that now. Getting the girls used to each other and a little early prepaing for the change. Was there a different coach than normal? This is how our teams did it, the coach that was coming back down to take over a team would take them over for the winter to start putting in his style of play and making changes. I'm guessing, for the most part it's not "all about winning." However, there are some of those teams out there too! LOL Doesn't everyone need a SZ t-shirt!

[slapperdad]

Don't get too shook up. Playing this indoor stuff is about finding enough bodies to fill the positions. Work on what you need to work on and let the sweatshirt crowd sort the rest of it out. As one with a DD who fills in regularly with other teams, we just use it go get reps and work on specific things. Technically she could still be playing 14U right now, but she'll play 18's this weekend and 16's the following weekend. It's really not that big a deal. Last month she played 1st base all weekend, which left several people scratching their heads.

[Scoobydoo]

I have seen this done to win and to prepare for the next season. However I am not sold on the prepare for the next season idea. These days who can guarantee a player will be on the same team or in the same organization the next year. Seems like there is more Team Hopping than ever. Indiana Softball has become saturated with Teams but that is a whole other Topic for another day. I am certain I know what team you are talking about. My daughters team played them and I don't think she really made a difference in the game, just to clarify I am not taking a shot at her she is a great Ball Player with a great future. I did notice that the person who runs the organization was coaching so I am guessing he will be taking that team over at some point.

I wouldn't worry to much it is only indoor ball. Use it to work on the areas you need the most improvement and don't worry about what the other Teams are doing.


Dave

[patches]

Wow softballwiz you figured me out i spend all my time with these kids because we need shirts ! I dont think so but just to let you in on what is really going on yes she pitches on my 18u team and yes she is 14 but we are gearing up for 16u at the end of the summer. I am working with this team because i will be taking the team at that point and we need to work out the kinks.

I guess maybe i dont understand we are playing 16u the rest of the winter and when we play college exsposure these kids are playing up and some of them are in middle school. I dont see this kind of talk when a team plays up in 16u and then drop to 14 for state and national's . I started my 18u team in 14u we played 18u in the zone during the winter because I felt we were way to far behind on the learning curve.

I think its nice we have so many people making sure we do the right thing I problably need to rethink how we do things after all we would not want to give a kid a unfair advantage on trying to win a shirt.

I will go out on a limb and say we are trying to get these kids up to speed in an attempt to go to ASA events and college events and show we can continue to raise the level of play in Indiana.

I will finish by saying I dont have a child In the GATOR'S I do this to help the kids and because I love the game so feel free to talk about how many kids we have signing or that we are trying to make great young adults please look at the big picture instead of a shirt.

thanks
Mark Lloyd
The Indiana Gator's

[Scoobydoo]

Mark

I think what you are doing is Great for Indiana Softball. You must be doing something right as I have seen a lot of the same faces on your teams from year to year. Thanks for your Contribution to Indiana Softball. Keep up the Good Work.




Dave

[looking in]

Hey scooby, might want to wipe off that nose now!! Whiz, you must be new to this whole thing. That stuff goes on every weekend at the zone! Sometimes you would think the world series is going on! the one thing i will say about the gators is, one, they always have kids who play everything(VB,BB, whatever! So you see all kinds of combinations of kids to get a full team! Nothing wrong with that! Two, they live at the Zone all winter! Which i've never understood! Once or twice in the winter is good enough! Unless you really like those shirts!!

[patches]

I guess I will play along we play in the zone because it is the best way to get a 2 or 3 hour practice at least 3 times in one weekend and it does give us the chance to see the kids in action.I would agree we live at the zone but just a little history we started 4yrs ago and i think we are competitive and we have been doing this all along so for some people this might work.

I would have to say if you guys would like a shirt we can make that happen most of my kids would give you one they dont need the shirts they just love the game .

thanks
mark

[looking in]

Coach Mark,
If its working, don't fix it!But, where do yo come up 2-3 hours 3 times a weekend? With one hour + game times and a 4 game(or 3) gaurantee, thats only 4 hr a weekend if your winning. And how productive is that 3am game,uh practice! As i said, if it's working, just not my cup of tea!!

[gunshy]

I am a firm believer in the theory of "if it's not broke, don't fix it", so if living at the Sportzone in the winter works for your team......don't fix it. Sportzone for my team was usually a hassle and my parent group would have revolted if I scheduled more than 1-2 per season there. Paying $350/$375 for games at 3am stink, then argue over warm up space, play short timed games, sit 12 hours between games, every parent charged $10 entry fee , etc, etc. If you REALLY added up the all the money your team spent to play 1 Sportzone event, you could take that money and rent a practice facility for many practices during the winter. A very few indoor events was always plenty for our team and those "games" were used to augment practice and reinforce those things we teach each winter session. In our situation, it was not beneficial to work the players into fever-pitch, summer time National form in December or January by playing every event on the indoor calendar. For our team, more was not better and we benefitted from quality over quantity every winter......but that is our team and our situation.
As for the indoor tournaments in general.....they should do away with the awards altogether to help everyone understand that indoor events in January in Indiana are just extensions of practice and organized scrimmages to help make teams better when in counts later.