softballwiz wrote:I retract my post. You all have made a lot of great points.
Booooo!!! Your no fun!!!
IN
Too Many Travel Teams in Indiana
25 posts
• Page 2 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
Booooo!!! Your no fun!!!
-
sofbal1234 - Posts: 726
- Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 2:04 pm
- Location: So Cal
This is a great topic.
First of all, I agree that the more girls involved in the game, the better it is for the sport. There is a place for anyone that wants to have fun and improve their game.
There are lots of things going on that create this situation. In 12U:
Too many “A” teams are classifying themselves as “B”. This has created a problem for tournament directors because there are not enough “A” teams for their own tournament. Now they put them together in one tournament (with exception of state). You then have lopsided games that are not good for the strong teams because they are not challenged, and bad for the weaker teams because they get pounded. Playing teams much stronger has educational benefits once in a while, but when done weekly is nothing but discouraging.
I know ASA is not the big thing around here, but they are clear on the classifications, If you are made up of kids from different communities you are “A”. “B” teams are all star type team from 1 league. That makes it pretty simple.
The rec league problem is a self fulfilling prophecy……we leave rec because it is weak only serves to further weaken rec league. Both my daughters played rec ball before switching to travel, one through 12U, the other through 10U. I can tell you that neither suffered because of it. Is the coaching better in travel- usually, but most travel coaches cut their teeth in rec ball. The time you spend working with your kid in the yard is going to go a lot further than team practice at 10 years old anyway.
Honestly, I find it funny every year when the ads come out for 12U “seeking experienced travel players only”. Kids can either play or they can’t and I would suspect that there is more than 1 kid playing 12U rec this year that will be playing college softball in a few years. Are you sure you don’t want them……
First of all, I agree that the more girls involved in the game, the better it is for the sport. There is a place for anyone that wants to have fun and improve their game.
There are lots of things going on that create this situation. In 12U:
Too many “A” teams are classifying themselves as “B”. This has created a problem for tournament directors because there are not enough “A” teams for their own tournament. Now they put them together in one tournament (with exception of state). You then have lopsided games that are not good for the strong teams because they are not challenged, and bad for the weaker teams because they get pounded. Playing teams much stronger has educational benefits once in a while, but when done weekly is nothing but discouraging.
I know ASA is not the big thing around here, but they are clear on the classifications, If you are made up of kids from different communities you are “A”. “B” teams are all star type team from 1 league. That makes it pretty simple.
The rec league problem is a self fulfilling prophecy……we leave rec because it is weak only serves to further weaken rec league. Both my daughters played rec ball before switching to travel, one through 12U, the other through 10U. I can tell you that neither suffered because of it. Is the coaching better in travel- usually, but most travel coaches cut their teeth in rec ball. The time you spend working with your kid in the yard is going to go a lot further than team practice at 10 years old anyway.
Honestly, I find it funny every year when the ads come out for 12U “seeking experienced travel players only”. Kids can either play or they can’t and I would suspect that there is more than 1 kid playing 12U rec this year that will be playing college softball in a few years. Are you sure you don’t want them……
- Play Hard
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:42 am
Every girl has the right to play Softball no matter if it is rec or travel. You can't blame the girls for wanting to play. However the coach needs to realize what the talent level of the team is and register accordingly.
I agree with Play Hard there are a lot of teams registered as B that should be playing A, This is usually because they care more about trophys and ego than player development. On the other hand there are some teams registered A that are barely even good B teams, and you hear we are trying to make the girls better. That is fine if it is working to make the girls better but if not it can have a reverse effect and could discourage girls from playing the game. I think player development should be the first and foremost concern for all Coaches.
Also everyone should remember this site is a forum to discuss Softball not a chance to take shots at someones DD. BTW I know Wiz and his daughter is a very talented Softball player and plays for one of the top 14U teams.
Dave Sloan
I agree with Play Hard there are a lot of teams registered as B that should be playing A, This is usually because they care more about trophys and ego than player development. On the other hand there are some teams registered A that are barely even good B teams, and you hear we are trying to make the girls better. That is fine if it is working to make the girls better but if not it can have a reverse effect and could discourage girls from playing the game. I think player development should be the first and foremost concern for all Coaches.
Also everyone should remember this site is a forum to discuss Softball not a chance to take shots at someones DD. BTW I know Wiz and his daughter is a very talented Softball player and plays for one of the top 14U teams.
Dave Sloan
-
Scoobydoo - Posts: 36
- Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:00 am
Play Hard wrote:The time you spend working with your kid in the yard is going to go a lot further than team practice at 10 years old anyway.
If you take only one thing away from this discussion, this is it.
Every man lives by a code:
1.Always look cool
2.Never get lost
3.If you get lost, look cool
1.Always look cool
2.Never get lost
3.If you get lost, look cool
-
slapperdad - Posts: 887
- Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 7:28 pm
Scoobydoo wrote:Every girl has the right to play Softball no matter if it is rec or travel. You can't blame the girls for wanting to play. However the coach needs to realize what the talent level of the team is and register accordingly.
I agree with Play Hard there are a lot of teams registered as B that should be playing A, This is usually because they care more about trophys and ego than player development. On the other hand there are some teams registered A that are barely even good B teams, and you hear we are trying to make the girls better. That is fine if it is working to make the girls better but if not it can have a reverse effect and could discourage girls from playing the game. I think player development should be the first and foremost concern for all Coaches.
Also everyone should remember this site is a forum to discuss Softball not a chance to take shots at someones DD. BTW I know Wiz and his daughter is a very talented Softball player and plays for one of the top 14U teams.
Dave Sloan
I didn't see anyone taking any shots at anyone's DD... Or did I miss something
I'll be sure to go back and read thru it again. I've been wrong before!!! 
-
sofbal1234 - Posts: 726
- Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 2:04 pm
- Location: So Cal
Nope, didn't miss anything!!! But Joe is right... Fastpitch fool ain't no fool!!! Take good notes from his post!!! 
-
sofbal1234 - Posts: 726
- Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 2:04 pm
- Location: So Cal
This past season I started a 14 U B team. It was comprised of a total of 2 full seasons of travel between 11 players, and no travel experience in coaching. I do not regret it, but will not be doing it again. My hopes were to push the kids on the team and expose them to something better than their local league or all star tourney's. We have won a few games, and learned a lot along the way, and have become a competitive team. I am sure that all of the girls could play a part on different teams, but together we do struggle. My hopes are for them to be able to take the experience from this season and continue to push themselves forward as they grow and mature.
- clayface74
- Posts: 277
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:24 pm
What there are too many of is Gold teams. Where does one find 14U Gold tournaments?
Every man lives by a code:
1.Always look cool
2.Never get lost
3.If you get lost, look cool
1.Always look cool
2.Never get lost
3.If you get lost, look cool
-
slapperdad - Posts: 887
- Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 7:28 pm
slapperdad wrote:What there are too many of is Gold teams. Where does one find 14U Gold tournaments?
What he said. Maybe we'll go platinum.......
- Play Hard
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:42 am
This fall we're going Platinum Elite.
The eteamz ad is ready to go, waiting on the last tournament. We've got a flashing banner in big bold letters, all caps text, multi-color. We have shifts scheduled to repost around the clock so it never gets below third from the top. The poor inexperienced start-up schmucks who only post once....we'll have them buried on page 6 in 15 minutes. I'm being reigned in a little bit with the powers that be, my thoughts are: why wait for the season to be over, why not send a message to those kids we don't want back NOW!
The eteamz ad is ready to go, waiting on the last tournament. We've got a flashing banner in big bold letters, all caps text, multi-color. We have shifts scheduled to repost around the clock so it never gets below third from the top. The poor inexperienced start-up schmucks who only post once....we'll have them buried on page 6 in 15 minutes. I'm being reigned in a little bit with the powers that be, my thoughts are: why wait for the season to be over, why not send a message to those kids we don't want back NOW!
Every man lives by a code:
1.Always look cool
2.Never get lost
3.If you get lost, look cool
1.Always look cool
2.Never get lost
3.If you get lost, look cool
-
slapperdad - Posts: 887
- Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 7:28 pm
25 posts
• Page 2 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
Main Menu
User Menu
Login
