“A”/National/Premier teams

[Eddie Hoffmeier]

Following the 2024 season, I am thinking of having my 09 daughter tryout for “A”/Premier/National team. Currently we are located in the Cincinnati area. Who are the best organizations in Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana to consider?

Thanks

 

[CARDS]

Following the 2024 season, I am thinking of having my 09 daughter tryout for “A”/Premier/National team. Currently we are located in the Cincinnati area. Who are the best organizations in Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana to consider?

Thanks

A team that plays a true "A national schedule" tends to draw players from 2-4 hours away from their home and the team recruits during the season from other A teams looking to do the same so, spots are generally limited. (Every team however will generally make room for a stud pitcher, catcher or hitter).

A lot of theses teams have ladies that have been playing A schedules since 12/13u. Most are allready committed to a college by the time they hit 15U but as you go through 2024 season try to get to events that have have the better teams playing in. EX: If you are playing at Recruit fest try to swing up to Stingrays to catch some games and check out teams.

With this said, In KY I would say top programs would be Louisville Lady Sluggers, Southern Force (long drive to SW KY). Louisville Stunners.
Indiana has a lot of good programs; Indy Dreams, Magic, Gators, Shockwaves just to name a few.
Ohio: Lasers, Doom, Hawks have teams that play a national schedule. Ohio has a lot of good teams as well but many do not play a national schedule you are looking for just playing around the state or just over the border vs many of the same teams tournament after tournament.

The family has to want to play great competition and not worry about the cost of travel as fees can be as high as $2400 with rosters 15+ on top of travel expences.
If one is thinking about joining one of these teams for a scholorship most are dissapointed.
There are a ton of college opportunities to play that does not require a lot of expence or travel. Heck, some JC and DIII have ladies that only played HS ball and some DII-small DI have open tryouts.
Sites like Field Level is a good site to join as you can search travel teams from about 150 mile radious of Cincinnnati, have travel and college coach connections and look at what is avaliable. Keep in mind a lot of these teams on the site are lower teir A or B that do not play a national schedule. Your HS coach can also be a big help as many of the top programs in SW Ohio have long term coaches that can get players alligned to the right spot.

 

[Stedman00]

Following the 2024 season, I am thinking of having my 09 daughter tryout for “A”/Premier/National team. Currently we are located in the Cincinnati area. Who are the best organizations in Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana to consider?

Thanks

there are several levels to your question above.

Ohio Hawks have A level teams as well as National teams that play the highest level events nation wide. Cincy Doom also has both A level teams and national that play more of a national schedule. Lasers, Stingrays and Outlaws are all based in general Ohio area and have teams that play big schedules outside of Ohio.

And yes, Cards is right that there are a large number of Ohio teams that never stray far from home for games, but that does not mean that they are Not "A" level teams. Part of the problem that you may be seeing is the teams that 'self declare'' that they are A level (or B level for that matter) and are really just not that skilled to be honest. They play few events close to home, are very competitive in those events and figure that means that they are A or B level, when in reality they not nearly what is required for A or national level. Look for a team playing PGF or Alliance events is a good first step.

WARNING - Any true National team is going to have heavy duty team fees and a taxing schedule for cost and time involved. You don't play 4 day events in San Diego or Denver, and not have big hotel and travel bills.

Just because any team starts adding Elite, Premier, platinum, Unobtanium, tungsten, carbide blah blah, to their names, does not equate to high skill level.

And I would be very cautious as to HS coaches and their knowledge of travel teams. There are several in SW Ohio / Cincinnati area that are REALLY, REALLY, REALLY good, been around a long time, know the game, etc...... but there are far more that are not.

 

[Passion4theGame]

Beware. Do your research before you have your daughter tryout.
Tons of Orgs out there with quality teams. Also tons of Orgs out there with not so quality teams.
Follow teams on Game Changer. Hit the tourney circuit and watch them play. Watch the coaches and see how they coach.
Do they have a daughter on the team? If so see where she plays? If she's the main pitcher or SS and bats 1st most likely run. Lol.

If a team claims to be an "A" level team and plays shit bag schedule RUN as fast as you can! If they claim to be an "A" level team and get SMOKED EVERY Game RUN as fast as you can! Understand that your daughter is not going to put them over the top and make them that much better. It's a team sport so it takes an ENTIRE team to make the TEAM Good.

Let your daughter make the decision. Obviously you pay the tab but let her pick the team & coaches she wants to play for. Just give her all the pros and cons of each option.


In all seriousness she is at the age to start taking it serious. Next year and the following 2 years very important for her if she is wanting to attend college and play college ball.


some of the Top Orgs in Ohio (No Particular Order) ALL have some solid "A" level teams & some have "National" level teams.

Ohio Hawks
Cincy Doom
Ohio Outlaws
Ohio Lasers
Finesse

I wish you the best of luck in your search! Enjoy it because when it's gone you will miss it!

 

[IRdad09]

Following the 2024 season, I am thinking of having my 09 daughter tryout for “A”/Premier/National team. Currently we are located in the Cincinnati area. Who are the best organizations in Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana to consider?

Thanks

I think a good piece here to understand is, what is your definition of Premier/National? Are you looking to travel more and get to "showcase" events OR are you looking to have your daughter pushed to get even better? Is she a pitcher and looking to hone her skills against better competition? There is no right or wrong answer here, just trying to see where you are coming from.

I can agree with Hawks as they do have a 09 National team
Lady Sluggers also tends to travel a good bit.
09 Outlaw teams tend to stay local/regional, except for 1.
Indiana does have a good amount of options and all of this really comes down to the amount of travel you want to do just to get to practice, assuming the team you could be on practices.

As someone that has an 09 daughter that's been playing on a "Premier" team since 10u there are also varying level's to "A" teams and really the amount of travel they do.

 

[grandpa]

Stedman
Who would be the high school coaches you consider to be very good? I have a granddaughter about to enter high school. Who would you recommend they play for?