GOOD/BAD Coaches Organizations, where to play in 2013-14?

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This is going to be a loaded thread and sure to stir things up, but I am feeling ornery this morning. For those looking to change organizations next year or for those very happy where they are at, please share your experiences this current season good/bad and the age group, we are 11-12u. I know the season is not over yet and it is very tough to be "honest" in a public forum, but we'll see what happens. Be great to know some personal experiences about organizations, coaches, maybe you watched a team play and were impressed or turned off, etc. Might be helpful to add to all the info as we get ready for tryouts and choosing the team that will represent our families and vice a versa. I'll start off by saying that our family will look to the Ohio Outlaws and Warren Wolff before any other opportunities as Warren has been great to our family and myself personally. The Outlaws offer multiple year round facilities, access to fields, excellent resources, with clinics and such, and are always looking to do their best for the girls with an eye on present and future development. I have found that the coaches of the older Outlaw teams are more than happy to assist the younger teams and coaches and Warren is available nearly 24/7. We will be sure to give the Outlaws a long look to stay with this organization. For our families decision, adult drama period needs to be a minimum and coaches need to be positive teachers of the game, respectful roll models, and not emotional roller coasters, so hopefully some of you can share good experiences with coaches/orgs such as this as well. Hoping to shed light on some of the better experiences and warn about others. Good luck to everyone!!

 

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My daughter was a first year player on the Ohio Stingrays '00 team coached by Mike Marcum and Charlie Duncan. Coming from what would be considered an entry level travel team, she didn't know what to expect and the step-up in competition that she saw as a member of the Stingrays was eye opener for her. The first fall tournament the team played last year was hosted by Valley Extreme and my daughter performed decently but realized that she had some work to do. I can say without any reservations that my daughter has improved as a player from being around other skilled athletes and positive teachers of the game. The families and girls all get along very well and there has been no "adult drama" as you put it. Overall, we are very happy and look forward to many years of continued growth with the Stingrays.

 

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In all honesty, in my 6 years of travel ball, I have heard enough to determine that all organizations are great and all organizations are horrible, all coaches are great and all coaches are horrible, all parents are great and all parents are horrible, and all umpires are horrible.....

 

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While many of the big name orgs are usually of the top caliber in what one may be looking for playing wise, be sure to find that one where no individual is greater than the organization. Once you find that one that lives for that, those are the ones you want to play for. The ones that say if you act like an a## you're not playing here. That goes for both at the field and off the field at hotels etc, as if you're wearing their gear, you're representing that org.

 

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find a coach that gets as worked up (or not) about his kid succeeding/failing as he does his/her own. The rest will fall in-line.

 

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My wife & I are very happy with our daughter's coach this year . Unfortunately She has to move up next year , also this was our first year of travel ball with her . However, our son played several years travel ball and played sports year round and is now in college -so we've seen and had all kinds of coaches. Anyway Our
daughter played 14 u for sabotage out of marysville and her coach was Todd Pees and he did an awesome job and the girls as well as parents have a great deal of respect for him , and that says a lot right there.

 

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My dd played (plays) for Ohio power black 13u this yr. Coming from the Ohio emeralds after 2 yrs she wasn't sure what to expect. By then way she still talks to all those girls from the emeralds, always buds. Anyhow, her first yr. now with power has been a pleasure. Great coaching, instruction, and all around good people. Parents are awesome, girls welcomed her with open arms. Plan on sticking around next yr as well. Great organization!!!!!!

 

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I will always want DD to stay with a team that:
1. Gives her playing time that is deserved
2. Lets her grow as a young woman
3. Surrounds her with good, fun, but serious-about-softball kids
4. Has good role models as coaches
5. Looks to improve through tryouts year to year.
As far as college exposure goes, I have learned that an organization can and only should do so much; 90% of the "heavy lifting" is up to the player and the parents.

 

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I will always want DD to stay with a team that:
As far as college exposure goes, I have learned that an organization can and only should do so much; 90% of the "heavy lifting" is up to the player and the parents.

So true but that 90% is lot lighter on certain teams... Because coaches know they are consistent in producing kind of player they want and kind of connections they have with college coaches can't be bought.

 

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I will always want DD to stay with a team that:
1. Gives her playing time that is deserved
2. Lets her grow as a young woman
3. Surrounds her with good, fun, but serious-about-softball kids
4. Has good role models as coaches
5. Looks to improve through tryouts year to year.
As far as college exposure goes, I have learned that an organization can and only should do so much; 90% of the "heavy lifting" is up to the player and the parents.

A huge part of the lifting players need to do involve their grades. A lot of coaches will not even look at a player if they are below a certain GPA and perfom below a certain score on their ACT/SAT's. The risk becomes too high for them when they try to build a solvent program.

 

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I think we should start one about good/bad parents , with names .

 

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I think we should start one about good/bad parents , with names .

Ill start right after I get my new username.

 

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How about a thread nominating the player who has played on the most teams !!!! . No jokes about mine , we were ridin' the corporate ladder ! LOL Ky Badcats , Scioto Co Wildthangs ( dont laugh --- spawned a Washington U and LSU verbal and several other D'1s) Ohio Stingrays , Cinci Doom . Plus just a couple fill in's .... Ok a bunch of fill ins .. buckeye heat , laser silver , TNT from west viginny , and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few .

 

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I will give some props to two Org's -- Personally from being around Ohio and tight in the travel world I'll say I'll never heard a bad word said against the Buckeye Heat or The Ohio Classics. Those two seem to a great job of producing solid teams and being classy in the process . A tip of the hat to both. ( and every team/org my kid played on was great as well)

 

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I will give some props to two Org's -- Personally from being around Ohio and tight in the travel world I'll say I'll never heard a bad word said against the Buckeye Heat or The Ohio Classics. Those two seem to a great job of producing solid teams and being classy in the process . A tip of the hat to both. ( and every team/org my kid played on was great as well)

I'm not involved with the Heat any longer, but thanks for the nice words.

 

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DD played Classics 96 yesterday at GAPSS. I agree classy kids and parents. Their SS is very good.

 

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After 6 years I think I can sum the question with this idea:

90% of the orgs are only a couple of really good/great coaches (usually only 1)

10% (or less) of the orgs you are going to get good/great coaching all throughout the teams

The issue is and always will be finding quality coaches. Every Org I know is looking for coaching. It is a non-stop quest to find talent.

 

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It seems like most of the orgs there operate as a loose confederation of independently run teams. Which orgs provide more than a name and what is it (e.g. guidance, mentoring, recruiting help)?

 

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It seems like most of the orgs there operate as a loose confederation of independently run teams. Which orgs provide more than a name and what is it (e.g. guidance, mentoring, recruiting help)?

Yes, I would describe most orgs as a loosely connect group of independent teams.

I have found that in general follow the money. If the org has an independent source of funds outside of the players than it is very likely they will have a much more centralized way of doing things. If 99% of the funds is derived from the players in some way (fund raisers....ect) then they are suddenly a bunch of independent teams branded under one name.

At the end of the day it is about sustaining the brand and holding people accountable. And without some type of financial rock to use in the club, it is very hard to build and maintain a softball club/org.

 

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Well I think there is a lot to be said for org's letting you maintain your own money instead of a single person controlling it. In the grand scheme of things you are just playing for a named org and what you get out of it is what makes the difference, that's why the better players and teams for that matter migrate to those org's its no secret. Its taken me a couple yrs to figure it out plus some useless poaching from our fearless leader to figure out. I want to wish Dan Kepple and his group a peaceful transfer to the Lasers next season and all others seeing the light. I will make a formal announcement on here soon to tell everyone where we will be next season. Good Luck in your try-out seasons everyone.