Well Middletown...I am working on that. Maybe I should have named this thread the dilemma of a rec program. As a director for a rec program I have given up on trying to fight the fact that we we lose girls to travel. In fact I have learned to embrace it. First don't over-commit or try to make it happen over night, I have learned that this year. Second and this may not go over well, but I think trying to become a feeder program for the schools, might be lost cause. IMO it will lead to too many daddy-ball/ politics issues. Give the girls a chance to learn and compete in tournaments and make the school coaches sort the talent. I don't think the minor differences between ASA/NSA/USSSA and OSHAA/NFHS should be hard to coach in school. (Sorry if I left our a sanction or two and sorry for trying to include everyone, I guess that is the rec ball half of me.
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Our tee ball program and coach pitch teams do well. We have 5 tee ball teams so we can keep them local and the coaches work well with each other because the the kids they are playing against this year may be on their team next year. I am working on a development program for the coach pitch, 10u and 12u. I held open gyms in the fall and winter months for the first time this year where we focused on some basic skills, like throwing glove work, batting and pitching mechanics. There was a small participation level this year but I expect it to grow.(Keep in mind I was the one instructing and I am far from being an expert in any of these areas. I love the fact I learn more every day.)
Here are the biggest issues. The league our rec program plays in now has too many jacked up rules. The 12u's can't steal until the ball crosses the plate, no dropped 3rd strike,and worst of all there is a softball comissioner but no requirement for a sanctioned umpire. So, half of the time there is a parent behind the plate that doesn't know how to call balls and strikes let alone enforce the important rules that the girls need to learn. Pitchers are rewarded for their hard work by watching batters get walked because the person behind the plate decides that the batter deserves to be on base. Some other lame rules are that all players must play 6 defensive outs, the entire roster must bat, and the league requires you to accept sign ups through the 2 weeks after the league games start. So the girls that practice at home every night are forced to share time with girls that play only because mom and dad say they have to. Talk about setting the girls up for failure in school ball. An option that I considered was the I-270 league. Both of my daughters that played for travel programs, played in the I-270 league last year. I thought about having our rec program participate in this league, but the problem is that games start too early for as much as you may have to travel for a game, and I think that trying to squeeze 2 games in one night is a bit too much. Plus there doesn't seem to be any separation of skill level. If these things were to change I believe it would be a great option for rec organizations, developing travel teams and tip teams that want to play more game with other good teams in central Ohio. Hint, Hint;&.
The other major issue is getting the quality coaches and getting some of the travel girls to play in the rec program to share their experience. Most don't want to because of the league rule, as stated above.
My plan, first change the league or get out. I would like to share some of my ideas so that other rec organizations can do the same or make similar plans. Being idealistic we could partner to form a better league or join one that would provide as a good option. Next I would like to continue to build the off season development program for the growth of the girls and new coaches. Again, idealistic. W considered partnering with a local travel program but we cant commit to a partnership with a single travel organization because it would ultimately lead to the demise of the rec program and IMO the best part of travel is the athlete can find a team that fits them Of course they make the team. IMO if it truly is a good fit they will. I hope to barter with travel coaches with their time in assisting the off season development for time using our fields for practice and games. As for keeping some of the talented girls playing in rec leagues during the week. The more girls the better the competition. I would only anticipate that they would only play on average half of the league games. It would be an opportunity to play more, and get some game time experience at the position they want to play, but maybe haven;t earned on their tournament/travel team.
Coaches, I would love to find the gems that stingrays99 mentioned, and if any of them are reading this I will leave my contact information at the end. I would also love to have some of the college and high school players that have reached the end of their playing career that still want to be a part of the game, share their experience and get some experience as a coach. For the parents that decide to coach their daughters, I would like to have them participate more in the off -season programs to either learn how to coach, learn the game or both. But what I have learned as most that took the time to read my long-winded rant, the best way to learn is to coach in tournaments and take the time to go to clinics put on by college coaches and pro's. I don't mean just pitching and hitting.
Sorry if I went on too long, I love this game. I am anxious to hear if OFCers think this would work or if I am just dreaming. Hopefully this sparks some thought for rec directors that might be reading. If so, please reach out to us to share ideas or league opportunities. I don't think seasonality is holding us back. Ohio may some day compete with the mythological west coach creatures.
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