2011/12 is getting started soon....who are THE 12/11u teams?

[insoftballnut]

So far as I see here, this discussion about teams,chemistries and everyones diffrent experiences, eveyone has a valid point, everone here seems to know what really makes a good team, the only problem is that, why then dont we all have the perfect team.

Is it our egos, I'm always rite attitude, our inability to say; ;yes, your rite i'm wrong.
Our looking through the mirror instead at the mirror, seems like none of us here have any problems calling each other out with the keyboard, but in reality were all somewhat either shy, embarrassed , don't wanna hurt somebodies feeling, I think we all get what i'm trying say, ''It's not over till the fat lady sings''

[bucket sitter]

This team chemistry discussion stems from the DISBANDING of the Energy team. (Call it what you want Joy, the team disbanded).

The issue isn't team chemistry, team logo, or team loyalty, it's about doing your due diligence before signing a roster spot. This TE coaching staff has a history of starting teams and disbanding them before nationals. Look it up.

Look in the mirror Energy parents. If you HAD done your homework you would have known this would happen.
Guess what future Team X parents? If your sign a roster spot with this coaching staff, regardless of the name, it will happen again.

[dailyjoy]

Bucket Sitter currently the issue is about team chemistry since that is what is being discussed.

Team Energy was not the topic of the conversation. The topic was, especially in 12u ball, how important is team chemistry and is protecting it one of the roles of the coaches.

Since you wish to discuss Team Energy I am more than willing to respond.

Team Energy had five outstanding coaches. Before joining the team I researched the three coaches listed as primary coaches. I found information about their coaching experience in both high school and college. I read article after article where former players credited these coaches for the success they achieved in softball.

I spoke with 3 high school and 2 college coaches who knew the coaches. I spoke with 2 umpires who had experience calling games where the coaches teams had played. I also observed the coaches during try outs and had extensive email conversations with the head coach. I spoke to two division I players who where coached by one of the coaches and looked up the coaching history of two of the three start up coaches. I did my homework.

Do I feel I was mislead regarding the coaching ability of these individuals. Not at all. Even if I may not have agreed with all the decisions made by the coaches I have respect for each coach and would recommend them to anyone. If they decide to coach another team next year we will be the first at try outs.

They chose dd for the team, not because of her skills, but her potential and because of their instruction she now has a firm foundation on which to continue building.

Finally as I stated before the coaches achieved the goals they laid out when they started the team. They took a group of girls, played tough competition, and qualified for Moline.

Team Energy "disbanded" not because the coaches didn't have a clear vision of the goal or the coaching skill to get the girls there. Nor was it due to a lack of commitment and hard work by the girls. Team Energy is not going to the ASA/USA National Championship in Moline because the parents never made the transition from seeing Team Energy as a group of players to a team.

[Likeitornot]

Since no one is going to say it I will... Joy did your research show all the firings off one of the coaches from multiple schools including the one he coached this yr? I'm going to say you didn't do enough research because all you have to do is say his name in Nwi and you will get an earfull.... Allegedly.I personally wouldn't have let my kid within 5 miles of that guy.

[elwood]

daily joy- you must not have done very much research on ALL the coaches........like the creeper that wore the batting gloves while coaching bases! dig a little deeper and you might find that he has been let go from i believe 5 high schools now! ask around and i'm sure you will find out why.........better yet ask around south central or wheeler HS and i'm sure someone can tell you why he was "let go."

[dailyjoy]

Likeitornot I don't find it that odd for a coach, who has coached for over 40 years, to have coached at several schools.

I don't listen to rumors so if someone tried to give me an ear full of allegations I would choose to not listen and instead talk to people I know and trust who based their opinion on personal experience and not speculation.

I can not base my opinion of the coaching staff this year on anything other then my experience. I respect each coach and would recommend their ability to instruct players and knowledge of the game to any one.

There are many coaches and programs in NWI where saying their name can get you an earful.

I am starting to love NWI and their passion for softball but take it from a gal who is not from the area.......NWI Indiana is a whole different softball culture from the one here in NCI.

Crazy things happen there........Probably the craziest thing I witnessed this year was someone letting off fireworks over the field during game.......

So since people are bored with the chemistry discussion how about a new one.

What is the craziest thing you have seen happen while at a 12u tourney?

[Likeitornot]

To be released and have that allegation brought up sooo many times? No not fishy at all. But , it's your dd and your business. I also did my research when the team was announced and did not hear one pleasant thing, from multiple reliable people. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck.....

[DLauck]

Boy oh boy - I thought I was gonna have to try to explain the importance of team chemistry to some 12U gurus (elwood, bucket sitter, Bigdog6610, etc). Thankfully gunshy and slapperdad made their way to the discussion!!

I coach HS ball (insert joke here), so team chemistry has to be the #1 objective in order for us to be successful - in my opinion. Certainly skill development is worked on just about every time we have a workout/practice. You know, coaches can be creative and have practices/workouts that incorporate both skill development and team chemistry (crazy I know)?? I never said skill development wasn't important!!??!? That's absurd!!

Lastly, I've coached a whopping 8 seasons of HS ball (4 varsity) and have yet to encounter "perfect team chemistry". It took roughly 25-30 games each of these last 4 seasons for the lights to turn on my varsity teams re: team chemistry. Also elwood, bucket sitter and Bigdog6610, I was kidding about the 12U guru comment!

DL

[elwood]

i guess i should have been more specific.........when the situation is right, for example- any college sport, any high school sport, and any major league sport, chemistry is important just as well as skills. the BIG difference with all 3 of these is the ability to recruit(college sports), trade(major league sports), and in most counties not have a kid say that they want to go to this school or that school to find what fits(high school sports). seems to me from what i've seen over the years is that travel teams are under pressure to win immediately at all cost as to keep the PAYING parents happy. like someone else said earlier, the coaches/managers are like CEO's and the parents are the stockholders who, in every right, want to see results. i've never understood teams that like to hide all of their stats and financial information........seems to me like you are hiding something if you are not willing to share that info........i believe if you find a group of parents/players that are willing to be patient and coaches/managers that are up front and HONEST about everything, then your team chemistry should not be a problem

[insoftballnut]

Boy it is easy to see the parents who have never been a part of a team rendered dysfunctional by bad chemistry. Chemistry is not a coaching "type" and has nothing to do with x's and O's. You have to understand the difference between coaching and chemistry. Chemistry isn't sitting in circles singing songs or even being close friends off the field, but it IS focusing on TEAM rather than on ME and doing whatever it takes to be team-successful when the uniform goes on. Easily one of the most talented groups of players I have coached had work ethic, skill, experience and all things that look good on an INDIVIDUAL resume, but led to the longest travel summer and most disappointing Nationals I have ever endured as a coach. They had horrible team chemistry and regardless of teaching or talent, couldn't suceed as a group. #2 hitter doesn't want to sac bunt for lead off because it makes lead off look better than her, #2 pitcher who is CLEARLY #2 whines every game that #1 pitches and makes the dugout miserable, Outfielder's parents convince their daughters that, since they played infield for their crappy high school teams, they are better than the all-verballed infield regardless of what practice tells us, there are whispers and giggles in the dugout late in the game at Nationals with the team down 4-2, and the list goes on. This team had no chance for success because of above the shoulders issues and influences from outside the dugout. They could never get anywhere, regardless of their great talent, because they were never paddling the boat in the same direction as a group. If you think chemistry is not a major factor in a team's success, you are SADLY mistaken.

#2 batter, If she has to bunt to advance lead off once and awhile when needed, I can see that,,but if the #2 is a slugger and she is doing this all the time, then you need to put a kid that is not a slugger and an expert bunter in the #2 spot,,thats if the leadoff gets on base the majority of time, like 90% of the time. Even though your #2 is good for this option- your wasting her heavy bat 90% of the time. move your #2 over to the #3 spot and get your worst slugger with some speed to do nothing but be an expert bunter.

Put your #2 pitcher at the end of the dugout with an ipod on with her favorite music untill it's her turn to pitch and tell her to chill on the tunes, this will relax her,, or put a dugout strict mom or dad in there to keep them all cheering and focused on the game instead of stewing in their pew.

All these kids should be focased on the game at hand, like being at work. When work is over then it's time to do whatever,

Parents job is to make sure lil debbie knows when it's game time {work}. No parents should question the coach during a game, befor or rite after,, make arrangements with him to voice your concerns,,

Dammit!!!!
Every kid out there on a team, has a job to do,, Go do your jobs and eveything falls in place.
You want chemistry ,, take it in School