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Flarays, My stance is if you have an organization, you should provide the training necessary for that activity - whether it in house or outsource. There is a cost involved - ranging from yearly fees to individualized instruction. That part is ok, it is what it is. Some cost more than others. I have to come to terms that it is a business, and not everything is not for profit. Most everyone on this forum have made strong cases for their stance, and I respect that. Yours and most everyone are valid, and even though I may not agree with it or someone else not agree with mine, the game of softball moves forward. I do think sport is healthy. Sport is a major contributor for my profession and what I have endured in the past. You ask what can I do, I have volunteered coaching high school football with urban programs when I was in state and until I was physically unable to keep up with the grind. I have volunteered with baseball and softball for years with inner city, and my almsgiving stays private as the bible intended it to be. I have seen softball as one of a few sports that have moved from something that every kid could do and have the opportunity to take it to the next level, whether with an organization or in a rec program-to a program that is still great but having many athletes eliminated from contention due to the cost. tjsmize2 makes a great post on the teams that even though there is a charge, there are benefits that can be life changing. I agree with that, and I in no way think that should be taken away from a person or family if they can afford that. I hope people will gain some insight though that there are many individuals, and not only poverty stricken and urban, that will miss out on the opportunity because of financial restraints. It isn't that way in all sports, but softball is becoming harder and harder to find that urban or struggling success story. My ideas to try and help this may be as cynical as trying to convince people not to stay up with modern technology. As the emails came back stating their organization's charges and instructional charges, there are benefits - benefits that do come at a cost of hard work and sweat and one of financial. If many of the adults reading this thread remember back to the days they competed, where there activities that due to financial restraints, you were put at a disadvantage or eliminated. That's my "beef, rant, soapbox, agenda, issue, vendetta, or problem," call it what you want, but it has changed over the past five years- I hope the change over the next five years doesn't get that much more out of hand financially. For the people I have ruffled, I grew up in a time when boxing, baseball, basketball, and football could be considered a poor man's sport. We boxed because there wasn't as much expense. Basketball was always the same way, especially for the inner city kids. Baseball could be played anywhere, or at least a version of it, a stick - a ball we could handle - no equipment needed. Our skills were learned by watching, observing each other. Golf, not a chance, they wouldn't let an Whop, Mick, Pollock, and most definitely a person of color. I still believe if you are good enough in football, they find a way; basketball and track also; but it seems as if softball (maybe their brother baseball) has gone the other way. Flarays, I do applaud you for your post on the efforts in Orlando - you would enjoy meeting if you don't already know Coach Fobbs at Michigan State - amazing man, even more amazing resume.