How Many Teams are enough

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Seeing a great deal of Tourney's with only 4-5 teams in an age group. I have noticed most of the time it is 10U or 12U. Seems that either TDs should do more to promote the tourney other suggestions? Does not appear to be a bunch of new tourneys.. Hate to think we are losing interest in the sport by younger players. You ideally would like to see a min of 8 teams per age group. What are others seeing and or thoughts.

 

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My DD is new to tourney play this year having joined a team mid-season, so I can't comment on what TDs do or don't do. While 8 teams does seem like a better number, with at least 4 it works well for 3 pool games and elimination round games.

But I think the bigger problem is probably the promotion of the travel teams themselves. There is a travel team near us (in central OH) that isn't fielding a team in my DD's age group this year because there weren't enough kids trying out last August. My DD has played the past 6+ years in the local rec league that this team should draw from and I don't think I even knew about the team before, let alone that they had tryouts last August. In fairness we weren't really looking for a travel team last summer. But it seems like I heard a lot more about select and travel teams the first couple years my DD played than I have the last few years.

I know we weren't ready to consider a travel team until our DD proved that she was serious about the sport and maybe other folks are like that as well. Our perception is that it would be a big time and money commitment (which is true). But what is being undersold by at least some of the travel teams is the access to better coaching and a better quality of game that is being played.

 

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I like to have no less than 5 teams in our bracket (including us). I've come to expect 6 or so and the 12u bracket looks like "greener grass" than the 10's. I can round up a scrimmage for a lot less at the 10u side of things then playing just 3 other teams.

Team/player interest is high from my point of view. Seems like more in our area are trying to get the higher level of ball and they are able to get in touch with us easier, good reason is this web site. Part of that could be due to SW Ohio not as established as the northern parts of Ohio and other established areas. We have so much slow pitch in our rec programs that might be hindering interest. Microcosm maybe, anomaly possibly? Cycles of the ups and downs that naturally occur.

 

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But the 10u bracket of 2009 is the 12u brackt of 2010. 1`0u is small this year in numbers. Seeing many 10u events cancelled at tournaments.

 

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But the 10u bracket of 2009 is the 12u brackt of 2010. 1`0u is small this year in numbers. Seeing many 10u events cancelled at tournaments.

wonder if the are canceling due to many groups trying to make their own tourney and fundraisers...

 

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quacker
10U has always been small. Many kids don't get into travel till 12u. Also more tournaments means more options means less teams at some.

 

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We had to go searching to see what was available. Coming from a rec league or slow pitch league that isn't affiliated with a travel fastpitch team can make them difficult to find. As far as the cancellations go, we were cancelled from our 1st home tourney at the 10u level. Fortunately we have 6 for the 2nd home tourney. Hoping the Jaguars are able to draw the minimum for 10u at their tourney too. Good luck to them.

 

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What is everyone's opinion about why 10u numbers are so low? Lack of coaches? Not enough interest? Are coaches standards too high (not willing to take the developmental player)? No pitchers? No catchers? Cost is too high? Maybe it is a combination of these things and more, but I hate to see players not accepted, or teams not formed at 10u because they "aren't quite good enough". This is truly the development age for good 12u players. Any thoughts??

 

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from what I've seen in our area teams are not known or not promoting themselves enough. Slow-pitch is still strong in our area and that takes away lots of girls. That's our small pocket of SW/NW Cincy area. This even occurs with a strong High School program in the area. We grow as our name gets out but it's still lagging. I will say lots of people want better coaching and they are coming out in greater numbers each year but that doens't explain the cancellations... we also compete with a game that requires lots of running and round ball that you kick around endlessly.