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He stttttutters a lot. 
Thanks Bear, glad to know someone is watching out for him.
Thanks Bear, glad to know someone is watching out for him.
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Hey Sbwatcher, you may be on to something here? With the Ohio Classics 14U going undefeated up at Thunderplex and Buckeye Heat-Clark doing the same at Galligers Field of Dreams and MVX-Red placing 2nd over at Indy Sportszone last week, there does seem to be a new breed of players/coaches on the rise here in Ohio.
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It looks like the sbguru has been reborn again in the name of lazersb. He or she likes to stir the pot and get everything going negative towards the purple. Let the girls play on the field to decide who is the better team guru.
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With the Ohio Classics and Buckeye Heat going undefeated in their respective tournaments this weekend, makes me realize how loaded the Classics Fall 14U tournament was. Does anyone remember who the 9 teams were that was in attendence that weekend back in Occtober?
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MV Express Red
MV Express Blue
Buckeye Heat-Clark
Buckeye Heat-Woods
Lasers Green
Stingrays-Tolar
Stingrays 14U
Ohio Classics
Cincy Doom
I believe this to be correct.
MV Express Blue
Buckeye Heat-Clark
Buckeye Heat-Woods
Lasers Green
Stingrays-Tolar
Stingrays 14U
Ohio Classics
Cincy Doom
I believe this to be correct.
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Let's see.
Buckeye Heat (Woods)
Buckeye Heat (Clark)
MV-Express (Blue)
MV-Express (Red?)
Stingrays (Toler)
Stingrays (forget other coach's name)
Classics
Lasers (forget color)
Westerville Ice?
Buckeye Heat (Woods)
Buckeye Heat (Clark)
MV-Express (Blue)
MV-Express (Red?)
Stingrays (Toler)
Stingrays (forget other coach's name)
Classics
Lasers (forget color)
Westerville Ice?
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This is a very interesting topic for me. I have been concerned for a few years now that the entire system is hamstrung because so many parents decided to start their own organization. It almost seems like we all need to come together with a developement program with some standards and expectations so the elite athletes can experience top level training and success. Any other ideas?
Joe: Interested in hearing your perspective here please.
Joe: Interested in hearing your perspective here please.
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If you want to attract the best of the best in players then have great sponsors. It has been a few years but my experience with the boys it that by the time you are 16 many of the top teams are sponsored fully. By fully I mean travel expenses, team fees, facility rental, gas cards to help get to practice, everything. Some of the top fastpitch organizations may be doing the same but none that I know of. Providing complete sponsorship would be a big step towards one superstar team for the state or region.
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Sponsors are great, but you don't need sponsors to attract the best players. You need a good organization, a team that competes with anyone, good coaching, and an aggressive tournament schedule.
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purplejack you are correct, but their are many organizations like you describe. try the no pay, you play route and i think you would get the best from the great organizations. this would be the condensing of the talent refered to by coach dad, to compete with teams from western states.
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JMHO here! In the past several weeks I've seen several age groups playing ball at the GFOD complex, and I would say that alot of these teams could hit with just about anyone.
A big problem that I saw was in the execution of the short game, or lack of a short game.
But the biggest problem I have been seeing, is quite possibly the easiest thing to coach and teach, and that is defensive execution!! I just do not see the aggressive, attack style of defense that the west coast teams play. Until we start playing better defense, I just can't see us competing against the "Elite" teams.
Alot of the close games I saw could have been easily turned one way or the other with 1) an aggressive short game 2) an aggressive defense that executed, and reacted, not overreacted.
Again JMHO.
A big problem that I saw was in the execution of the short game, or lack of a short game.
But the biggest problem I have been seeing, is quite possibly the easiest thing to coach and teach, and that is defensive execution!! I just do not see the aggressive, attack style of defense that the west coast teams play. Until we start playing better defense, I just can't see us competing against the "Elite" teams.
Alot of the close games I saw could have been easily turned one way or the other with 1) an aggressive short game 2) an aggressive defense that executed, and reacted, not overreacted.
Again JMHO.
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Jjen and others: I have a couple of thoughts. First, I'm not sure how much it would help things overall to have one team at maybe 16-U and 18-U that was clearly the top team in the state. Yes, we would have one team at those levels that could compete with probably anyone in the country and that's nice for a dozen girls, but how much good does it do overall?
Overall, I don't think we in softball are going to see our Ohio girls get scholarships like our Ohio soccer and basketball girls until we create a different culture. Basically, softball isn't taken as seriously as those sports by families, especially soccer. I think we'll start to make some inroads once travel ball parents think nothing of paying the top coaches enough to allow those coaches to coach softball as their main or only job, just like in select soccer. Parents will have to think nothing of a regular November-February training regimen. I understand Ohio Premier in soccer makes its kids spend about $800 each to attend off-season training at MaxxSports in Dublin. In addition to whatever those families are paying in player fees, they apparently pay another $800 or so for that training.
Right now, even those of us who spend untold hours coaching and coach 12 months a year are still just part-time coaches, who are mostly volunteers (at least travel ball coaches). Even most of the top travel teams have a parent as head coach who will likely be finished after his daughter(s) reach college. Do the top select soccer teams have mostly dads coaching? I'd venture to say practically none do.
I could go on and on. The bottom line is that it's going to take a culture change. It's going to take enough coaches who spend the time to develop the coaching skills necessary and then dedicated families who are willing to put tons of time and money into softball.
Overall, I don't think we in softball are going to see our Ohio girls get scholarships like our Ohio soccer and basketball girls until we create a different culture. Basically, softball isn't taken as seriously as those sports by families, especially soccer. I think we'll start to make some inroads once travel ball parents think nothing of paying the top coaches enough to allow those coaches to coach softball as their main or only job, just like in select soccer. Parents will have to think nothing of a regular November-February training regimen. I understand Ohio Premier in soccer makes its kids spend about $800 each to attend off-season training at MaxxSports in Dublin. In addition to whatever those families are paying in player fees, they apparently pay another $800 or so for that training.
Right now, even those of us who spend untold hours coaching and coach 12 months a year are still just part-time coaches, who are mostly volunteers (at least travel ball coaches). Even most of the top travel teams have a parent as head coach who will likely be finished after his daughter(s) reach college. Do the top select soccer teams have mostly dads coaching? I'd venture to say practically none do.
I could go on and on. The bottom line is that it's going to take a culture change. It's going to take enough coaches who spend the time to develop the coaching skills necessary and then dedicated families who are willing to put tons of time and money into softball.
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In this neck of the woods, Soccer coaches dictate which girls will play softball by having huge bankrolls, even at the H.S. level. The soccer coaches tell the girls that they will not play soccer if they play softball. They want a 12 month commitment. With all the money, the coaches take the girls and families to amusement parks, pro ball games, and other perks which get the freshmen girls interested in soccer right away if nothing but for the fun stuff. The soccer coaches around here actually tell the girls that if they miss soccer practice because of softball then they are off the team. (This is all under the table so to speak). Let a softball coach try that and he would be fired. Money does talk, at least around here. The ads in the papers promote soccer,soccer,soccer and not one ad about the upcoming softball games. The soccer coaches have a monopoly on the local P.R. and we need to try to change that. God knows I have tried, but little headway made.
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I agree that the west coast definitely has a softball culture that is well above our level in the midwest, but I also think that the rate of growth in softball here is much higher. Michigan winning an NCAA championship won't hurt midwestern softball.
Just in the five years that we've been involved with travel ball, the amount of growth in participation is really amazing. So, I am not sure the softball community is doing anything wrong. If we are growing as rapidly as we seem to be, we must be doing something right. On the other hand, trying to taylor the community for the "elite" player is going the opposite direction if you ask me. Bring them all, let them play. There's a place for everyone.
Lady Knights, your comments are interesting. I've been to a handful of regional ASA qualifiers with California teams, and an ASA national. I would totally agree with you that the Cal teams
are masters of the short game and are defensively way up there on the skills scale. I don't agree though that our teams here can hit with anyone. The Cal teams I saw were just amazing with hitting skills. What I found really interesting with them as well is they frequently don't have as good pitching as many midwestern teams, not that their pitching is bad by any means.
Typical "good" midwest team: good pitching, above average defense, above average hitting, able to move runners with the short game. Typical "good" Cal team: adequate pitching, outstanding defense, very strong hitting, not only bunt to move runners, but also mastery of short game for hits at any time.
Just in the five years that we've been involved with travel ball, the amount of growth in participation is really amazing. So, I am not sure the softball community is doing anything wrong. If we are growing as rapidly as we seem to be, we must be doing something right. On the other hand, trying to taylor the community for the "elite" player is going the opposite direction if you ask me. Bring them all, let them play. There's a place for everyone.
Lady Knights, your comments are interesting. I've been to a handful of regional ASA qualifiers with California teams, and an ASA national. I would totally agree with you that the Cal teams
are masters of the short game and are defensively way up there on the skills scale. I don't agree though that our teams here can hit with anyone. The Cal teams I saw were just amazing with hitting skills. What I found really interesting with them as well is they frequently don't have as good pitching as many midwestern teams, not that their pitching is bad by any means.
Typical "good" midwest team: good pitching, above average defense, above average hitting, able to move runners with the short game. Typical "good" Cal team: adequate pitching, outstanding defense, very strong hitting, not only bunt to move runners, but also mastery of short game for hits at any time.
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Wave, Is soccer a pro sport? I thought people went to those to get a nap?
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Let me preface my posting with a couple of facts. In 2000 ASA stated there were 1.5 million fast pitch players in the country. In 2005 there were 3.5 million players. Granted the sport has grown which is a good thing but at what cost. I have been coaching for 20 years. I started before my 3 daughters played and am still coaching 6 years now after they are all done. Two of them did not play college ball even though they had offers and one played on a full ride. I coach a TB team now with one of my daughters. The question that seams to permeate this posting is ?How will a team made up of elite players help the area?? Here is a thought. If there was at least one team from the region that played true GOLD ball this would pull in recruiters from around the county to look at all of the other talented players that are in this area. You may not need to play GOLD to go D1 but it sure would help. Yes let them all play the more the merrier. But most organization have one or two possible GOLD players the rest may be good players but the coach teaches at the good level and the GOLD players suffer because they don?t get what they need to catapult them into the best that they could be. I have talked with coaches from West Coast teams and they practice every day for a couple of hours we practice maybe twice a week for two hours at each session. We need a culture change in this area but that change is more for the organizations than the players. They need to come together and put together a true GOLD team and forget about the politics that runs ram pit through this area. With places like the Thunderplex, Spano Dome and HHH the softball community should be able to get this done. There are dedicated coaches and players out there who could complete this task. The WPA / Eastern Ohio area has many talented players that could care less about the communist sport soccer and would dedicate themselves to this endeavor. The challenge is to get the organizations to agree on this. Build it and they will come and so will the sponsors. More than my two cents worth but this is one of my bet peeves. Sorry for the length.
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Hilliarddad3 I agree with the nap thing. I say lets just get more girls involved....period. It all starts at the younger ages and also at the community level. The :-X#$%&*&%$# Soccer coaches start recruiting at 8 yrs old at the community level just to keep them off the softball fields. I think the comminites should do a little more p.r. work to promote fastpitch. My stomach turns when I look at the local papers and advertisements for the soccer games are on the front 2 pages. Like I said, around here, soccer has become 12 months or nothing because of the coaches. I am done whining. :-X
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I know many of you have more experience, but the few coaches I have talked with from areas like Calif. all indicate they compete for their players just like Ohio teams. Every time I have seen discussions on this and other boards about Ohio trying to put together 1, or just a small number of Elite teams there are always a couple of things that strike me as odd.
1). These discussions always seem to be dominated by posters that I perceive to be parents, (could be wrong), but there seem to be few players involved in these.
2) Seldom is much mentioned about the commitment in terms of time, travel, and money to make this happen. Spano dome, thunderplex etc. do not get heated and lit for free. Someone on here mentioned daily 2 hour practices, at what cost?
Are there enough players/parents/coaches willing to make the shift to adopt the philosophies of some of the top level teams?
1). These discussions always seem to be dominated by posters that I perceive to be parents, (could be wrong), but there seem to be few players involved in these.
2) Seldom is much mentioned about the commitment in terms of time, travel, and money to make this happen. Spano dome, thunderplex etc. do not get heated and lit for free. Someone on here mentioned daily 2 hour practices, at what cost?
Are there enough players/parents/coaches willing to make the shift to adopt the philosophies of some of the top level teams?
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A lot of "Elite" travel teams west coast and southern travel teams have Paid coaches who put in very long hours and are paid well for it. In fact part of the team budget is for the coaching staff. I read an article from a link off of the Texas fastpitch web site and the coach actually quit his job to coach this team who had an $60,000 year budget. He didn't tell his salary but I am sure it was fair. My point is that a 5 hour a day 300 day schedule requires more than just dedicated dad and his spare time.
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I am happy to coach at my currents salary ($0.00 per year). ?I would almost feel embarrassed to accept any money for something that give me so much enjoyment.
A parent from Toledo area asked me this weekend why I coach seeing that countless hours are spent on organization, practice, scheduling, tournament, travel etc. ?I told him simply, I enjoy it. ?I think many coaches will tell you the same thing.
A parent from Toledo area asked me this weekend why I coach seeing that countless hours are spent on organization, practice, scheduling, tournament, travel etc. ?I told him simply, I enjoy it. ?I think many coaches will tell you the same thing.
