How Do You Find a Tournament Team to Play For?

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We are newer to fastpitch softball. My daughter is a 12U and started 2 years ago. She's turned into a very good hitter and pretty decent outfielder. She wants to play tournament ball this fall and next season. We are in NE Ohio (Aurora/ Solon area). She hits down at Pinnacle 2-3 nights per week. Currently has the highest batting average on her local travel team. Please share some expertise on how to find a team. Is there a list published somewhere of all of the teams in my area? Thanks so much for any help you can offer.

 

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Check the http://www.game-ex.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=Registry board for teams in your area. You can also create a post on the http://www.game-ex.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=player board stating that you're looking for a team. Also, check the http://www.game-ex.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=tryouts board for teams currently looking.

 

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Try-outs are typically in August and many will be posted on this board under Teams Looking For Players. You should start looking in July and decide which teams you may want to try out for. If you are new .. check out a few of them and ask questions such as cost, which tournaments and where they will play, when and where they will practice, the coaches background, .. talk to other parents at try-outs to get their opinion (with a grain of salt). Good Luck

 

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Welcome to the world of fastpitch softball."Nothing soft about it"

1.There is an area that is called "Team Registry" thats a good place to start.
2. Also when tryout season starts you will be able to find the organizations, times and places in another area called "Coach need players,Team Tryouts" The date and times start showing up the beginning of August.
3. And finally check out this web site and follow what some of the teams are doing and dont be affraid to ask questions on this general area. You will come to find this site and many, not all of the people very helpfull.
4. Talk to people who have Daughters that play or have played to get advise.

Good luck!!!

P.S. Beware: Fastpitch softball is a disease and there is no cure.

 

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I would also add

Try to go and watch a tournament nearby-
Watch not only your expected age bracket but also other ages. ?Talk to parents; observe the teams and coaches.

I know there is the Nailbiter coming soon (not too far for you- I think). ?Info can be found at www.northcoastspirit.com for that tourney

Since your DD is working out at Pinnacle already there are several teams in that area. ?Also Coach Glen could be of a lot of help

Fastpitch11-- we call it "yellowball fever" and you're right-- not only is there no cure--- it is highly contagious
Good Luck

 

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Absolutely, before tryouts, get out to tournaments.
Don't hesitate to ask parents what they like or don't like about a team.
Evaluate what will best fit your daughter's interests. ?For example, some teams practice more than others.

Nailbiter will be a nice tournament for for you to visit.
Also, this weekend, check out the NSA "B" States at Softball World in Brook Park (on W. 130th Street, about 3/4 of a mile South of I-480).
Please check your personal messages (see top of the page on this website). ?I will send some other ideas.

Best wishes, and heed that warning: fastpitch can be VERY addictive! LOL.

 

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can your daughter play next year as a 12U ?

 

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12ustingrays...no, I don't believe she can play next year as a 12U. She will be 13 as of 1/1/08. What is the age cut off?

 

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Actually if she is a new years baby then she is still eligible to play 12U-that is the perfect softball birthday.lol. Be aware that not all teams are listed in the registry. There are a lot missing. The best is to ask around-at a tournament would be the best place to start. Watch for posts for try-outs coming up soon. Be prepared to travel to several try-outs possibly in the same weekend. We started looking late but still attended try-outs for 4 teams then private try-outs for 2 more. If your daughter wants to play a specific position make sure that the team you are trying out for needs that position. I asked through OFC before we went to try-outs because if they weren't looking for her position it wasn't worth going. Hope this helps too.

 

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Thanks for the suggestions...anyone else have thoughts on this?

 

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Greenman:

How much of a commitment are you, your daughter, and the rest of your family willing to make? Tournament travel ball teams vary wildly with respect to demands on time and money. Some play every weekend (starting in May for the younger girls and you should know that more and more tournaments are playing all day Friday and sometimes even starting Thursday), practice during the week in the summer and on weekends during school (assuming such practices don't endanger eligibility for school ball), travel out of state to play a national or other tournament, play a few fall tournaments (again, sometimes out of state), and charge $600 or more (which doesn't include travel expenses for you and your DD). Others play 4-6 tournaments that are mostly within driving distance and charge around $300.

Once you've decided what your level of commitment is, maybe you should post that description and ask for people that you can PM with respect to various tryouts that you are considering. It doesn't make sense to attend a tryout for a team that obviously doesn't fall within your description. I'd offer to be a contact person, but I am not familiar with teams in the Cleveland-Akron area.

And yes, be prepared to catch the softball fever. Our DD is not playing summers anymore (she plays Division III ball), but this weekend I'm a softball widow while spouse is in Colorado as an assistant coach for an 18U team. I'd be there as well but I didn't have sufficient vacation time at work. This might give you a hint of what can happen once your DD joins a tournament travel team. :

 

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CGS,

Thanks for the additional information. I can only tell you that what you're describing (with all of the practices, traveling, games every weekend, etc...) is what we are already used to for the past 5 years. I have 2 sons that wrestle from October through May in state and all over the country. They are outstanding but love it and the travel element. My daughter has wanted to do this for the past year. I believe she hits well enough to play for most teams but her fielding isn't "top notch". She is extremely coachable though. But, I'm fortunate to be in a position that financially and time wise we can handle her doing this. If it's what she truly wants then we will support her. I don't think she's good enough to make a "high level/quality" team yet. I guess we'd be looking more for team that travels to 6-8 tournaments mostly within a couple hours of home and see how it goes from there. Thanks again for your input...everyone on this forum is very helpful.

 

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greenmen,
hope you are reading this soon, and can get over to the NSA "B" States at Softball World in Brook Park(3/4 mile North of I-480 at W. 130th street exit).
12u and 14u championship rounds started at 1:20 p.m. today and run through last games of today that ?start at 7:20 p.m.
5 fields going at same time. ?Lots of opportunity to watch, and note what you like or dislike, and ask parents for their thoughts.
Sunday starts at 8 a.m. (but more teams at 16u then, but still the last games for 14s).
Best wishes.

 

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Akron Sapphires are based out of Hudson and it has a great group of girls and families. Check for tryouts in August on the "Coach Need Players" Board. Tryouts for teams are usually posted there for all teams.

Good Luck to you and your daughter!!

 

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Hello, first post here, have been lurking for a while. I read this post and felt like I had written it. My DD is a 10u pitcher and this is her first year playing. WOW, talk about family get bit by fastpitch bug. ?My daughter is looking to go to a tourney team next year. ?She has a decent team behind her now but it is time to move on to a better program now that we have seen other teams. Thanks to all the posts and some valuable info.

 

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We got started at 10u by just seeing an Ad in the local "suburban" newspaper and thinking that sounds like fun, and then checking with a bunch of friends to see who was going to the local travel team try-out. That worked great to get started thru several fun 10u years - excellent/upgraded competition & challenge over rec/travel, while still playing with some good friends for the social & "security" aspects (important to baby daughter at the time).

When it was time to move on from there at 11u, we checked this board, and were OVERWHELMED with opportunity under "Coaches Need Players". We could have scheduled incremental 2 hour try-outs from 8:00 - 6:00 on Saturdays & Sundays for a month straight in August and early September. We literally picked out the various teams (for various reasons) which we wanted to explore and set up a "grid" of try-outs. We narrowed it down to around 4-5 try-outs and dove in. First one, we were thinking might be over our heads compstition & commitment wise, daughter was even re-thinking whether she wanted to get out of the car ( :-[ LOLOL!!), but a returning team member greeted her & and was friendly, and the rest was history.

We also read board comments on the various organizations quite a bit, and asked around. This can be good and bad, and as always "all information is good information" HOWEVER "don't believe EVERYTHING you read". :

I strongly agree with others though, that if you are interested and you know it now, an incredible resource would be to go to a few tournaments in July and check out the action, level of play, various team interactions & expectations, coaching styles, parent sections, etc. Different teams may differ tremendously in expectations for practice, travel, performance, etc. I have been approached in both my obnoxious screaming role as a psycho-dad in the stands, and as a asst coach in the past by inquiring parents and it is always enjoyable to chat about it - so, ASK!! You'll find "the one" that feels right - it's different for everyone.

Another thing, you may find teams looking to pick up a player late in the year for Nationals, or injuries. Might be a great option for YOU to "try out" a TEAM, if your season is over and release is secured.

Just some thoughts. Hope you don't mind the integrated trip down memory lane, fun to reflect on how we got here (to a year round fastpitch dominated happy life ), but also I remember how confusing the process can be when you are thinking about commiting to the travel/tournament level. :-/

 

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greenmen,

Are you the one I spoke with this past weekend at NSA States in Tealtown ? If so, it appears you have found the OFC site. Looks like you are getting some good advice from the posts above. Good Luck in finding the right team for your DD. As I said, there are many fine organizations in NE Ohio.