Explosive softball

[yossarian]

It sucks to be in a crappy situation where you feel like you've paid for something you're not receiving, but hopefully you can find a way to prepare her for tryouts in late July and early August. A few years ago, in 10U, we knew we were leaving a team and we took our daughter to a fielding coach and a batting coach to get her to a higher level of preparedness than we could on our own and I feel like that was a big help. I agree homework is key. Luck favors the prepared. Checkout the tryouts section of this forum. It'll start to get real active over the next few weeks. And check out the team profile section and read what coaches list about their teams. You can start to get a sense. Also, check out the tournaments section and maybe you can find a nearby tournament where you could observe some of the teams/coaches you may have interest in. You may even be able to approach a parent or even a coach between games and ask what type of players/families he/she is looking for.

I'd say hit as many tryouts as you can. And know that coaches are evaluating parents as much as players, maybe even more sometimes. I've seen players passed by because dad or mom had a reputation, and that's incredibly sad. No offense meant here, but you don't want a bunch of coaches seeing you calling out orgs and coaches by name in public, regardless of your beef being legitimate or not, and then having that in their brain when they see your kid at tryouts.

I can relate to not knowing my a** from my elbows when we jumped into travel ball, but this forum was a powerful source of knowledge that helped me process the ins and outs of what can be the crazy world of travel ball. I can see why you started a thread, feeling the way you do about that team. But I bet if you started a thread called "help a guy learn the ins and outs of travel ball parenting so I can get my kid on an awesome team", you'd get crushed by all kinds of good input.

Good luck to you and your daughter.

 

[Danno]

Absolutely great advice. Some of which I've already used. I know I'm complaining, but the biggest reason is to inform everyone what could happen. This situation is one that nobody should ever have to duplicate. If you are from the Cleveland area I'd like the contact info.

 

[lewam3]

I am happy that you are taking advice from the readers and contributors on this forum. There is a wealth of knowledge gained from scores of summers of experience and hopefully you will consider it as you enjoy many great summers with your DD. One piece of advice I have for you however, is try to bite your tongue when it comes to other players even if they are six years old and don't belong on the team. There will come a time when your own DD might become the weakest link on a team, or in a lineup, and you will appreciate it if other parents aren't overheard complaining about her and her abilities. Same when it comes to coaches and organizations. Travel softball is a very very small world and like Yossarian alluded to: Coaches talk, news travels fast and you don't want to be the reason your DD has a hard time finding a good team. One can vent and voice their frustrations on this forum, but there is a reason why you RARELY see them called out publicly. Hitter may channel his Sam Kinison, but it is usually posted tongue-in-cheek.

 

[Danno]

Please know I am not in any way degrading the girls or parents. For their age most are decent ball players that give their best effort. It's not their fault they were put in a bad situation. However no one ever said we were going to be put in this situation. 3 6yos, 3 7yos and 3 8 yos does not and cannot make up an even average competitive team.

 

[Danno]

If they weren't going to be even a crappie tourny team, we should have been informed. Instead we were lied to. It's fraud, pure and simple. And from what I understand at least 3 girls did not pay.

 

[24GahannaLadyLions7]

3 6yos, 3 7yos and 3 8 yos does not and cannot make up an even average competitive team.

I am with you now Danno after u explained yourself paying $1000 and haven't even played 1 tourney, if true is unbelievable, but I cannot agree with the above statement. Gimme the right coach, average accurate pitcher and they can compete in B/C level type tournaments. Are they going to compete with the top 10 prolly not, but many of these other travel teams you can small ball to death.

and.. those girls can't be but 4 ft tall so that tiny strike zone in 10U will do wonders..just take until u get a strike!!

 

[Danno]

I could have lived with that. Never given the chance.

 

[Run26]

I am with you now Danno after u explained yourself paying $1000 and haven't even played 1 tourney, if true is unbelievable, but I cannot agree with the above statement. Gimme the right coach, average accurate pitcher and they can compete in B/C level type tournaments. Are they going to compete with the top 10 prolly not, but many of these other travel teams you can small ball to death.

and.. those girls can't be but 4 ft tall so that tiny strike zone in 10U will do wonders..just take until u get a strike!!

I'm sorry GLL but I disagree with you and that doesn't happen. There is NO way 3 6 year olds should be on the field @ 10U. 6 year old kids need to be playing tee ball or coach pitch not 10U softball and I don't honestly care what the level of play is. Reactionary time alone is borderline non-existent. The youngest team I would ever roster is 8U and you better have some older infielders. IDK, this whole story seems off to me.
I'm wondering if this team can't play in sanctioned events because they can't get insured? There's no way ASA would ever insure them if they knew the ages.

If this organization really did put this roster together and took $1K per kid then there are problems all around. What 6 year old parent is willing to pay 1K for a sport? Sounds idiotic and ridiculous to me.

 

[Danno]

Catch us at the fireworks frenzy tourny this weekend..explosive pink.

 

[24GahannaLadyLions7]

Reactionary time alone is borderline non-existent. The youngest team I would ever roster is 8U and you better have some older infielders. IDK, this whole story seems off to me.

I agree about the reactionary time, and I am not going to roster 3 6 year olds.... that would be a 2010 birthday.... I could see a '10 participating in C level or All-star rec tournament, but I agree 3 on a team is crazy --- I must be an idiot as I have paid close to $1k in fees for my 6 year old to play. Im sure down South that is a norm as they have tons of 6U travel teams

 

[Danno]

Who, if anybody, oversees softball orgs?

 

[lewam3]

Who, if anybody, oversees softball orgs?

Danno we get your point. I'd stop if I were you...

 

[bleacherbum]

Who, if anybody, oversees softball orgs?

I heard Trump had someone in place, but fired him. So have to wait for new appointee.

 

[Long Baller]

Who, if anybody, oversees softball orgs?

Nobody. You're expected to exercise your due diligence while researching the organizations, but it is highly frowned upon here if you have anything negative to say. If they really did put 6 and 7 year olds together just to field a team, then you have every right to be furious about that. That is just a straight up money grab. There is nobody that could look you straight in the eye and defend that!I would have been a little bit more subtle about the way you handled it. I think you should have been entitled to a full refund, since they did not deliver what they promised you. If they deny the refund, then by all means I would go to social media and blast away! People need to see theses stories when they are researching "organizations" for their DD to try out for.***DISCLAIMER*** I am not bashing Explosive Fastpitch with my above comments. I am just making a generalized statement.

 

[Long Baller]

And this is why it is always urged for parents to " do your homework". Research orgs, teams and coaches!!!!

But if people don't tell about their bad experiences, then other parents would not know what they are getting themselves into. If they are legit, then people need to hear about them. It seems that people's negative opinions of organizations try to get suppressed on this board.

 

[Danno]

I tried many times to discuss and deal with the owner of the organization. Was completely blown off.

 

[TheSoftballZone]

As a practice we don't take down negative post on the forum. In most cases the OP will edit out his/her original post and make it blank. After that they usually call me and ask to have the post remove. Once we move to the new forum software, edited your Original Post will be handed thru the Admin Panel. You can edit your posted but it won't be updated until its been approved by the Admin.

 

[DW@SBC]

I tried many times to discuss and deal with the owner of the organization. Was completely blown off.

Org owner was at the tournament the whole weekend. Probably still there right now.

An established org with a long positive history.

 

[Farmdad]

Org owner was at the tournament the whole weekend. Probably still there right now.

An established org with a long positive history.

This post does not sound like "positive history" to me...was the org owner willing to discuss these issues at the tournament? I would really like to know how this turns out for the OP because my daughter wants to try-out for 12u travel this year. We went to the tourney to check out Explosive as well as a few other teams. I am completely new to the world of travel ball and have been relying heavily on this site to do my "due diligence."

 

[b lesh]

Thank but that's 2 hrs away.[/QUOT

Welcome to "travel ball"...
My family and I live in Navarre (south of Massillon) and my DD plays for Cincy Doom Gold....4 hrs away. You'll come to find out, there's a team for everyone, sometimes your gonna have to make the sacrifice and travel for trave ball.

Wow 2 post and you have all the answers. LOL, JK. couldn't resist.