Queen of Diamonds World Cup Tour - France Edition

One of our players was asked to go to France next year on the World Cup team run by the Queen of Diamonds.

Is it worth it? Are their any benefits to it? Would the money be better spent somewhere else or is this worth it?

Please give feedback on this one. She's a junior now, next year at this time hopefully she'll have her college picked out where she wants to go.

put the money towards a new car for her! I'm sure she'd like that one. She'll forget all about going to France. Just kidding. My dd got wind of it and wants to try and make it happen in a couple of years. But its ALOT of money. Something to the tune of at least 6 grand for her and I to go (and she isn't going across the big pond by herself, if she does). don't want to put it down, since I really know nothing about it. But we have a few players on our older teams in our organization who are going this year and another who is going next year. I'm going to wait and talk to them after they make the trip before I'd even remotely consider it. Sounds like fun and something interesting for a teenage girl to do, but the costs have to be somewhat of a factor. If you're loaded then, what the heck, take the fam and get what you can out of it with your dd heading off to college soon after. But for me, if you don't have 6 grand hanging around with nothing else to do with it, like me, I can't fathom spending that much. But, as always, its relative to what we each value. Though from what I've read, there are some fundraising ideas to help offset the costs. Sorry I can't be any more help...... yet. I'll also be interested in following this thread to see what others think.

Also they play in a gymnasium with softie balls

Unless something has changed, they actually go to play in the the Netherlands. They do spend two days in Paris at the end for fun. I see Kirt is saying the 2010 team is complete (though, until everybody pays, it's not 100% complete).

It's very expensive - but so is any trip to Europe, and in this case, there is the opportunity to fund raise (all on your own, but many players are quite successful doing that, including covering their accompanying parent's costs), which can make it a very good way to visit Europe. Kirt and his helpers have the trip down to a science and are extremely knowledgeable and always willing to help.

Overall, to me, it can be a wonderful experience, one that will vary based on the player's teammates and roommates (in our case, that worked out great), and Kirt really does try to recruit good players who are also team players. It's indoor softball, in a gym, with indoor restriction rules (go up to bat with one ball and one strike, time rules, etc.). The teams you play against are unlike any you'll encounter here, and the experience of exploring Amsterdam and Paris will be a once in a lifetime thing for many.

Feel free to PM me with specific questions.

It was an experience you will never forget! Where else can you play against Olympic teams? Yeah it's indoors, but they mostly play the short game and gave our girls a textbook lesson in how to do it. It's fun for any 15-18 yr old to have the chance to play against some of the worlds best! Kirt and his crew have it down to a science and the trip was flawless last year. Our two DD's played and 5 of us went. We told Kirt to get it to Ireland, as softball is the only way we will most likely ever get there as well.

The kids history related learnings could not be realized in school, standing right where Hitler gave a speech, being inside Anne-Frank's House, the windmills in the Netherlands, walking Notre Dame, the Champs Elyse, the Arc de Triumph, Eifel Tower, Lady Di's death tunnel. the culture of both there and France and of course coming home with a Prom dress from France!

If you have the chance do it! The days are long, but you **** it up and go with the flow and they will remember it forever.

We went in 2005 and DD returned on her own in 2006. Kirt and family do a great job of organizing this trip. If you don't know much about the Netherlands or Paris, the Whiteside clan is softball's version of Rick Steves (though I'd still recommend getting the Steves books before you go).

If what you want to do is have a great vacation in Europe, you are probably better off not combining your trip with a softball trip. We are enough softball nuts in our family that we were every bit as excited about the softball as the Europe part. The indoor situation isn't the best venue for softball, but seeing your kid out there playing against Great Britain's team or one of those awesome Netherlands teams is really special. (It also reminds you how young your kid is, as she will be playing against women; I never thought of our Anneke as tiny until she took the circle against those women).

And as I said, Kirt and family do an excellent job of giving you the most bang out of the travel time that is available on the trip. Pricey, yes. Do we have any regrets? No.

As with AnotherSoftallMom, feel free to PM me if you have questions.

I spoke with someone this summer who saved money by booking his own flights and hotel rooms for his family--except his daughter who was playing on the Cup team. Thought I'd put it out there as a thought.

Anyone have the website where I can check this out and sign my daughter up for the showcase?

Boy, do I feel out of touch. Looks like Kirt has developed a new web site since we were involved. Check out http://www.theqsport.com/cup.asp

I see on Kirts resume that he started the first youth indoor fastpitch in the late 80s.
I believe the first league was in westerville in 1986. It later moved to Sportsite in Columbus an ran each winter until 2007 when Sportsite closed.