2017 Travel Tryouts- Start doing your homework NOW

[Converse Kid]

With the travel season now winding down, tryouts for the 2017 season are just a few weeks away. With that being said, it is time for parents to step up "Their Game" and to start doing their homework on the teams they are considering allowing their daughters to play for. Research, research, and more research should be done before committing your time and money to todays travel organizations. New families with no previous travel experience should be the most diligent when seeking answers. Based off experience, your first step should be to list what you expect and what level you feel your DD can compete at. What are her goals and what is she trying to accomplish? Also, how much are you willing to spend? Costs add up fast! More often than not, I see parents and players who either don't fit in with a current team or that team has not lived up to the expectations of said family. A few issue that I would recommend you solve before deciding to try out for any team are the following. First, and most important, are what level are you trying to play? There is B, A, Premier, Elite, Gold, etc. You hardly want your DD competing out of her level of play. Two- What is the teams schedule? Do they play run of the mill tournaments, state qualifiers, or showcase only? Three- The Coaches, Are they trusted, experienced, or have proven traits and results you are looking for? Do they have daughters on the team, or are they looking to promote all the girls? Four- The Money. A very important factor for all families. Fees can range from a few hundred dollars up to thousands. Five- The fellowship. How well do the coaches, families, and players interact with each other. Some may go their separate ways in between games while other teams spend most of their free time bonding with each other. Just a few things to consider for all the people out there and would love to hear any additional comments that you feel can contribute to a happy travel ball season. With that being said, good luck to all on the upcoming season and your quest to find the right fit in today's crazy world of Fastpitch Travel Ball.