Elite 14U Showcase teams

[Mr. Soft Balls]

My DD, if good enough, wants to play for a showcase team next year(2016). Who are the top teams to consider that play the best tournaments? Are they showcase only, only travel and play best teams, or they have a great program with a history of getting girls discovered? DD would like to play for a team that stays somewhat local, however, teams practice site(city) as well as schedule may dictate who she wants to try out with. Located in NWO, we are willing to travel for the perfect fit.

 

[Concrete]

There are different levels of Showcase Teams. The Teams that play Ohio Showcases and Teams that Travel to other States Depends on how much you want to Spend. I am a Ohio Showcase Team 16-U. Moderate Exspensive for Parents 4 over nighters and 1 Drive able. With a Higher level of Tournaments Mixed In. Figure on Spending with Fees $ 3000 to $ 8000 a Summer. All Depends if you stay in Ohio or travel to other States. It's My Opinipn there is a lot of Great Ohio Showcases and don't have to Break the bank to do them.Hope this Helps in your search.

Sam
Valley Extreme Black

 

[wvanalmsick]

There are a lot of "Showcase" teams. But the first question you need to ask your DD is what has she done, or going to do, to get herself "discovered".

Just getting on a showcase team does not guarantee getting a scholarship, or getting noticed by a college coach. She cannot just get on a "Showcase" team and hope to get discovered while playing in a tournament. There is a lot of groundwork that needs to be done by the girl. College coaches are attending these Showcase Tournaments because other prospects have perked the interest of coaches and these coaches are there to see the kids that have communicated with them. Every once in a blue moon, a college coach finds a prospect that wasn't on their radar screen but it is far and few between.

She has to reach out to colleges that she has researched. Colleges that have the academic programs that she wants. She needs to research the NCAA rules about recruiting and she needs to communicate with coaches about when and where her team will be playing.

She needs to attend the softball camps at the colleges that she has a strong desire to attend. This is face-to-face time with a college coach that she has an interest in playing for.

Just saying, there's a lot more to it than just getting on a "Showcase" team.

 

[Concrete]

You are absolutely Correct . You are Advertising a Product . Coaches are going to go to Showcases looking at a girl they already Know .I have been through the Process with my Older Daughter and it is a (Process that needs followed up on by both player and Parent)

There are a lot of "Showcase" teams. But the first question you need to ask your DD is what has she done, or going to do, to get herself "discovered".

Just getting on a showcase team does not guarantee getting a scholarship, or getting noticed by a college coach. She cannot just get on a "Showcase" team and hope to get discovered while playing in a tournament. There is a lot of groundwork that needs to be done by the girl. College coaches are attending these Showcase Tournaments because other prospects have perked the interest of coaches and these coaches are there to see the kids that have communicated with them. Every once in a blue moon, a college coach finds a prospect that wasn't on their radar screen but it is far and few between.

She has to reach out to colleges that she has researched. Colleges that have the academic programs that she wants. She needs to research the NCAA rules about recruiting and she needs to communicate with coaches about when and where her team will be playing.

She needs to attend the softball camps at the colleges that she has a strong desire to attend. This is face-to-face time with a college coach that she has an interest in playing for.

Just saying, there's a lot more to it than just getting on a "Showcase" team.

 

[Mr. Soft Balls]

Sorry, I guess I should have elaborated somewhat. My oldest DD is a Junior at a D3 school so we know all about the work it takes to get coaches/scouts interested in a player. Everyone,(including myself) thought she was good enough to go D1 but not playing on the right travel team really hurt her chances. She excelled(All State) at the HS level but the coaches just didn't have the time or desire to attend the lower end tourneys my DD was playing. Hard work(emails, videos, camps) is the only reason she got offered. My youngest is the most athletic, and has a drive that is rare for a player of her age. She already knows what it is going to take if she wants to play college ball. With that being said, I should have posted that I was looking for specific teams and or programs that maximize your DD's potential. Which teams have the most bang for their buck? Teams that play a mostly (60-80%) Ohio schedule. I am also considering long distance travel teams but not sure? I need help! H E L P! A great group of girls along with a good coach is all I can wish for my youngest. I just want to give her the best opportunity to showcase her talent>

 

[CARDS]

Check out the various teams websites and see how many they have moving to the next level. Most of your better programs also have recruiting links or e profiles as well.
If you are looking for teams playing Elite showcase events EX; Lasers,Wizards; Outlaws, Classics, Static, Doom, Stingrays etc. most of them fill quick and expect the ladies to play fall and summer events.

The elite teams or your strong out of state teams like the Bandits, Southern FORCE etc. have complet a strong fall showcase schedule and now their players will be attending college winter camps so they will have schools looking for them this and next summer.

Your best bet would be to call the coaches of what you consider "elite" within a reasonable area of where you live especially; since you prefer to play a 50% or better Ohio schedule.Just pull up the order of finish from the 2014 and 2015 Buckeye showdown, GAPSS, LASERS you will find several ohio teams that continded deep in all of these events you can contact.
You say you would like to see your DD get D1 looks...You need to go to their camps. Stingrays has a good collection of D1 coaches in attendance but the other Ohio events are very heavy DII and below.
There should be at least a half dozen 14U teams looking to attend Lasers, GAPSS, Recruit Fest, Best of the Best and a couple in state PGF events at 14U willing to pick up another strong player in 2016.If you look at 16U you will find another 6/12...

 

[wvanalmsick]

Sorry, I guess I should have elaborated somewhat. My oldest DD is a Junior at a D3 school so we know all about the work it takes to get coaches/scouts interested in a player. Everyone,(including myself) thought she was good enough to go D1 but not playing on the right travel team really hurt her chances. She excelled(All State) at the HS level but the coaches just didn't have the time or desire to attend the lower end tourneys my DD was playing. Hard work(emails, videos, camps) is the only reason she got offered. My youngest is the most athletic, and has a drive that is rare for a player of her age. She already knows what it is going to take if she wants to play college ball. With that being said, I should have posted that I was looking for specific teams and or programs that maximize your DD's potential. Which teams have the most bang for their buck? Teams that play a mostly (60-80%) Ohio schedule. I am also considering long distance travel teams but not sure? I need help! H E L P! A great group of girls along with a good coach is all I can wish for my youngest. I just want to give her the best opportunity to showcase her talent>

I apologize for jumping to the wrong conclusion.

Don't be afraid to look at some of the PA teams also. Depending on how far from home your DD is wanting to go to college will also play a part in which team you would be interested in. If she is wanting to stay in the region (in-state and surrounding states), then there are a lot of teams out there that will be looking.

Showcase teams reload every year so she should be able to get onto a team. I invite you and her to come to the Stingray Tournament this year, www.stingraysfastpitch.com . The 16U's will be at Hilliard and Ohio State. It doesn't cost anything to get in so come down and watch the teams, watch how a particular coach of any team interacts with their team. Watch how the college coaches do their thing at a tournament.

Best of luck on her hunt for her college.