Curious about the "Rec" tournaments in Ohio

default · Feb 11, 2009

I am curious to how the sign-ups are going for all of the "rec" tournaments IFA is hosting around the state. First, this is not a loaded question. I truly believe what you all are trying to do is a nobel cause (Tim C. Ricky, 3dm, UrbanaFan, etc.) There are many more rec girls in the state than travel girls and the concept is a great idea IF they come. However, from my area of the state I just don't see the rec people having the commitment to pay $350-$375 for a tournament. The rec league that my kids used to play in went to "All-Star" tournaments held by the local town teams that charged anywhere from $150-$175 and used parents as umps. This is a chunk for parents who only pay $40-50 to play in the league to begin with. I can tell you that if a team wanted to attend a $350 tournament our commisioner would choke. It's not that it is not a good idea, I just think the rec people don't understand how we nuts thinks. Most are playing rec because, its cheap, its LOCAL and not a big commitment. I really hope you guys succeed and I'll be happy to eat crow if you do but I just don't see the rec people stepping up to the plate (I know, bad pun).

default · Feb 11, 2009

I run the rec- program for a small town. We have a total of 10 teams in all age groups. We go to at least 2 sometimes 3 tournaments per year and they are all $ 350.00 or $400. But our parents are used to paying $85.00 for rec ball. I think the rec tournaments are a great idea. It gives the kids that are on the fence, a taste of what they could be doing all summer. Just the fact that we go to the tournaments has increased our rec registration by 100%

default · Feb 11, 2009

Ringer,

I won't lie, registrations have been slow to this point. Many coaches have contacted me saying that they do not even form their teams until March. I have extended my original registration deadline from March 30 to April 15 to help with this. I really think this could go a long way to help grow the popularity of travel in Ohio.

Speaking from experience, when my dd was eight we had no idea that there was anything beyond our local rec. I had a good friend that was with the Ohio Emeralds (had no idea who they were then) and he enlightened us. We went to a couple of clubs tryouts and the rest is history.

That is why I am running a Rec tournament at the same time as the Travel tournament all at the same fields. This will show the Rec girls what the difference is and hopefully light a desire in many of them to play at a higher level.

It looks good on paper anyway. LoL

default · Feb 11, 2009

The3dm said:
Many coaches have contacted me saying that they do not even form their teams until March.

Our rec league teams also are being put together and it's normal for the coaches to not see rosters until early March (random assignment in most cases) - so they also rarely get to see their team in action until early April.

Even for our local year-end league tournment in SOGFSA, a lot of the coaches waited until late in May to see if they had a competitive team before committing.

I think they will play - it will just be a delay in the wave of commits...

default · Feb 11, 2009

Well, it seems that in Ohio the Rec girls are left behind sometimes and this is why I wanted to be serious about rec ball... as we all know the fact that some become our future elite girls as stated above.

I have talked to many coaches and organizations and it looks like late March and early April is when they all get together. I've contacted the local SOFGA Association and spent most of the winter digging out city rec depts. and finding out who runs the rec girls leagues, etc.... Actually, I haven't sent anything out yet on the event except to a few that asked... because when you send it out too early... it gets lost in the shuffle. I have asked the people to contact me when they have their registrations, etc... The Southern Ohio League which covers the area I am in... has been notified as the Goshen Park gentlemen are a part of the league. IFA has covered some "new" rec leagues throughout Ohio in registering teams due to our low team sanctioning fees and being more affordable to league organizaions.

The 350-375 is the norm and understand that it 3 game pool and double elimination. A lot of these girls haven't played that much ball at one time. Being our IFA events here in Ohio covers 10 states as an Region 10 Championships... we hope to draw some out of staters. I know in the 18u group I have a few from up North in Ohio already and 1 out of New York as they saw it posted on Eteamz.com. The 18u New York team is coming for the once a year trip with his girls for Kings Island and he himself wants to attend the Reds game.

default · Feb 11, 2009

Well Ringer it will be a big challenge to make it all come together. But I think calling it a "nobel cause" is a little over the top.

? Sign Ups are going as I felt they would at this early stage.

Nothing to be surprise about with the numbers, I'm seeing at this time. Most Girls softball Rec and Youth league sign ups or registration are now just starting or coming to a close.

That why Timing is just one of many Keys for success, when talking Rec-Youth League Tournaments. I have some other Keys to success I would love to talk about. But that will have to wait for another day.

As were still working out the final details at this time. And I feel that these detail will have a major impact to the success of the challenge ahead.

So far we have "4" Teams in the "Rec-League & Youth League World Series Tune Up" that I'm hosting July 17, 18, 19 - 2009 in Zanesville, Ohio.

I'm happy with them Numbers for now. That the only Rec - Type tournament I'm hosting beside the World Series.

Now the Rec-Youth League World Series, I'm kind of surprise in one way about the Number of early commitment so far.

But my wife said I shouldn't be surprise, I guess she has a good point I've been working on this event for over 4 years. Here the list of Youth Program that have made a early commitment to attend the "Rec-League & Youth League World Series" in 2009. Now with that said these programs have only made a early commitment.

Any Rec-Youth team can do the same by sending in the $25 Dollar fee with your entry form. "No Deposit required"

Programs that have sent in a entry form and the $25 Dollar fee.

Zanesville, Oh
Buffalo, NY
Hamburg, NY
Cleveland, Oh
Canton, Oh
Akron,Oh
Ashland, Ky
Huntington, Wv
Columbus,Oh
Pittsburgh, Pa
Richmond, In
Lexington,Ky
WaterTown, Ny
Erie, Pa
Dover, Oh
Wheeling, Wv
St,Louis, Mo
Chicago, Ill
Erie County, Ny
Jefferson County, Ny

Now I like them numbers so far. As I said I've been working on this tournament for over 4 years.

Now here were I stop ! I won't give away any of my secrets.

But don't be surprise if you see me reach my Goal of 150 teams in 2009 and 15 different States.

I agree with almost all your points Ringer. allot to overcome.. Now all the hard work begins.

God Bless
Ricky Moorehead

default · Feb 11, 2009

If a rec team travels to a tournament, do they now become "travel" teams?

I love this idea btw, keep it up guys and good luck.

default · Feb 12, 2009

are rec little league useually they make up an all star team at the end of the rec season and that team will go through the little league tournament. We useually don't consider them a travel team if they go through the season with all the other players in the league. If then they take all of our kids the next year out of our league and dont play in our rec season first. We consider them a traveling team useually.

default · Feb 12, 2009

If I am thinking right....................

Like in our case, our Norwalk 14u team that plays in the North Coast League (along with Sandusky,Bellevue,Monroeville,ect....) would be considered a Rec team. Along these lines are what these tournaments would be looking for?
Basically 'community' teams to shorten my guess.

Again this is just my guess.

default · Feb 12, 2009

The "Rec" teams that are in my neighborhood are comprised of girls who only want to have fun and spend a couple of nights a week at the ballpark.

They(boys & girls) are broken down into 3 age groups:
Mosquito(boys)/Minor(girls) Leagues(coach pitch): Must be 7 or 8 on or before Aug. 1, 2009 or grades 1 & 2
Intermediate(boys & girls) Leagues(kid pitch): Must be 9 or 10 on or before Aug. 1, 2009 or grades 3 & 4
Little(boys)/Major(girls) Leagues(kid pitch): Must be 11 or 12 on or before Aug. 1, 2009 or grades 5 & 6

Each Softball group has about 40-60 girls which makes up approx 4-6 teams. These teams are chosen by a completely blind draw after each child is ranked by previous coaches and board members. The teams are loaded with the same amount of talent (hopefully) and then a coach assigned to a team, again a blind process. If the coach gets a team without his daughter - someone must sacrifice a same level player so the coach gets the team with his daughter.

Does it always work to be even? For the most part, yes, but sometimes you do have the surprise player and team. Bottom line, IMO, this is true "Rec" ball.

default · Feb 12, 2009

Okay, I had to chime in. I have had a team for the last three years, of girls are "not quite ready for prime time" but sure as heck don't want to play our dumbed-down ruled rec ball around here. I have never done tryouts. I find it's pretty easy to find the girls by just asking if they want to play. I also go on referrals of associates. We do Kettering league rec division, and four recreation tournaments. When I set out to find tournaments, the search was arduous. Not only that, I have entered what what billed as "rec" and found out when we got there that, "the rec division didn't get enough entrants, so we opened the registration to "select" teams". Yeah, won't go back to those two tournaments!
If there are more rec tournaments out there, post em' them will come.

default · Feb 12, 2009

LakeErieHillbilly said:
If I am thinking right....................

Like in our case, our Norwalk 14u team that plays in the North Coast League (along with Sandusky,Bellevue,Monroeville,ect....) would be considered a Rec team. Along these lines are what these tournaments would be looking for?
Basically 'community' teams to shorten my guess.

Again this is just my guess.

You have to be careful with "community" teams. My DD got picked up for community Team only tournament a few Augusts ago. The rule on rosters was 90% of your roster had to reside in your community. All 12 players played some level of travel on this team. They just steamrolled everybody but were within the rules.

So that is a question I kind of have regarding rec ball tournaments. Is there a cap on travel kids or a way to put caps on them for tournaments? Obviously the time of year you hold it will help, but would stop a community like Springfield or Anthony Wayne taking their 7/8 graders to a tourny as a bonding experience even though they have kids that play for the Lasers, finesse, Buckeye Heat, Stingrays etc.

I am just curious as to your thoughts.

default · Feb 12, 2009

You would think that a cap could or should be put in as for the exact reason as you say for fairness, but again you really couldnt put one in due to it wouldnt be fair to a community because they just happen to have many travel players in their community.
Some community teams would roll (as you mentioned in your post) and that cant be fun for the girls. Of course the girls from the other loosing team might not play in these tournaments anymore if steamrolled by a few powerhouse teams loaded with travel players.

Our 12u travel team alone has 5 girls from Anthony Wayne. I know that community does have travel girls spread out everywhere as you mentioned.
As in our case,even though Norwalk has about 18,000 people whom live in this town, we only have 2 players that play travel ball,which is truely sad.
Little ole New London which has about 2,000 people that live there (one traffic light) has 18 girls that play travel ball. They actually won Martin`s spring league tournament last spring against much bigger towns. If our teams was in the same tournament they would just kill us.
Some towns just get into fastpitch much more than others.

I myself would like to hear what the ruling on this would be.

default · Feb 13, 2009

I hear all of you! I don't know how, other than word of mouth to know if these teams are truly rec or should be considered select. The team I just walked away from tries to claim they are a rec team but hold tryouts and cut girls. They go into these rec tournaments and rock and roll all of these teams with a straight face saying, "we're all from the same town, we play in a local rec league...we're not a select team we're a rec team" One, the organization isn't doing these girls any favors by not having any challenges to make them better and two, they artificially think they're top-dogs because they kick in the teeth of all of the teams they play!

default · Feb 13, 2009

smiles04 said:
I hear all of you! I don't know how, other than word of mouth to know if these teams are truly rec or should be considered select. The team I just walked away from tries to claim they are a rec team but hold tryouts and cut girls. They go into these rec tournaments and rock and roll all of these teams with a straight face saying, "we're all from the same town, we play in a local rec league...we're not a select team we're a rec team" One, the organization isn't doing these girls any favors by not having any challenges to make them better and two, they artificially think they're top-dogs because they kick in the teeth of all of the teams they play!

How can you have tryouts and not be "select"? Isn't that the whole process they are saying they avoid? By selecting the players they want - I think this should be considered at least "B" class ball.

Also, wouldn't you love to see this team step out of their usual realm and head to a "real" tournament? I bet a beat down would ensue

default · Feb 13, 2009

Dont be so sure about a beat down would ensue. In `07 we took our community team (one travel player on roster) to a strong 10u tournament in May. First game was ugly, (host squad ran it up) but the other three games our community team hung right in there by the scores of 7-2, 8-4,10-1. These werent young or weak organizations either. All 3 teams we faced are well known in Northeastern Ohio.

Yeah is some cases,probably in older ages, it could get ugly but not in all cases. We are actually going to take our 14u community team to a travel tournament (or two) with only 2 travel players on the roster.

default · Feb 14, 2009

The fact that they do tryouts and cut girls, makes them a select. As far as beat down, they at least would have SOME kind of competition. If you have a team that you field in late September, practice all winter like that group does and then just play with the rec crowd, you are NOT playing at the level the girls should be playing. At that point, your just trophy-hunting! It is unfair to the players and certainly unfair to the teams that truly are rec teams and go to these tournaments to test what they've learned in a couple of months of practice.

default · Feb 14, 2009

To me, picking the best from the rec league teams is like having a tryout generally ... so now you are a "B" teams in IFA rules.

Rec tournaments are for rec league teams and this is why we have our events in July.. as rec ball is now over for most leagues and they can bring the girls to one season ending events as most rec teams don't play in many tournaments at all.

The problem is the rec teams in Ohio have went to tournaments mentioned before.. where a TD allows "select" teams in to fill his tournament... they get smoked... and never go back and forever have a bad taste in their mouth for so called Rec Tournaments.

Pick the best players from your rec league to me is like having a tryout. They are no longer rec. status.

default · Feb 14, 2009

most rec leagues around our area pick "All-Star" teams to send to the local "All-Star" tournaments. These teams are far from travel teams but they still are picked or selected. This is a gray area that needs worked out.

default · Feb 14, 2009

No gray area in IFA. They are now "B".

Curious about the "Rec" tournaments in Ohio

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