Just Curious - Why a new team/organization?

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With tryouts coming up I've seen quite a few posts for new teams/organizations. I'm curious as to why someone is starting a new team and that team is the only team within the organization. Seems mostly at 12U or 14U but I've seen one or two 16U's as well. We all can and will speculate but I'm curious anyway.

I'm guilty of doing it myself a few years ago. My reasoning then was that we had a good group of rec girls that had won a couple of All Star tourneys. Many of the parents had talked about travel ball but weren't sure if it was for them and their DD. I took that All Star team and made a travel team for their first year of 12U so they could get the experience and see if it was something they wanted to pursue. We kept costs down by playing mostly local tourneys and only having one uniform, among other things. Now, some of those girls continue to play travel ball (some for me, some on other teams) and some have stopped playing ball all together.

I am now coaching with a great organization but I feel what I did by starting that team was a good thing overall. It opened the parents and their DD's eyes to travel ball and I learned a lot from that year. At that time, I didn't realize how many teams there were and I now realize it really is getting watered down.

By posting this, I'm not trying to offend or discount anyone or any team. I'm just curious as to all the reasons why a person(s) starts a new team instead of taking their DD and friend(s) to existing teams tryouts. I've told you my reason. What's yours?

 

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I think most do it because they are coming up from a rec/allstar team that did really well in the local tournaments and they want to try travel ball but want to stay together. They are afraid if they go to tryouts everyone in their core group of girls won't make the same team and they will be split up so they start their own team in hopes of keeping everyone together, which most of us know rarely happens.

 

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If your daughter can't make a team in tryouts, just start your own team.

 

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fpitchdad, that definately is a reason.

 

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fpitchdad, that definately is a reason.

It's the biggest reason of all. Thats why travelball especially at the 12u and 14u is so watered down......

 

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I would also think its so they can dictate their own tourney schedule.

 

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I would also think its so they can dictate their own tourney schedule.

I never thought about that one.

 

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I started the Blazers with Tim Bagoly 3 years ago because I wanted to control who played for me and what tournaments we played. I had girls that were definitely being approached by a number of organization just as I was being approached to coach in a few different "name" organization. Is travel select watered down? Yes and no. The Rec coaching that I have witnessed (as a coach, spectator/scout, and umpire) has been dreadfull in many cases and I think many girls are going the travel select route to get better as a player. Honestly if you are serious about your game, you need to be playing Select ball. And let's face it, not every team plays the Stringrays, GAPPSS, Laser Nation, etc. but there are still avenues to get better.

 

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Good point Coach. There are definitely a lot of different level tournaments in our area for a lot of different level teams to play. I agree with you also that if girls stay in rec they don't have as good of opportunity to get better. I believe if you play better competition you get better, if you can handle the challenge.

 

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Anything else?

 

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Maybe they dont wanna drive 50+ miles for practices anymore?

 

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I started my current 14U team (to be 16U next season) when this group was in their first year of 10U. We did it first as an "All Star" team and played in 3-4 tournaments. The next year we played in 5-6, then when we hit 12U we went full travel with no rec league supplementing our schedule. I believe some of the reasons others pointed out were the case for us. We had a core group of girls that wanted to stay together. The league we played in had a sponsored travel team at all the age levels but their reputation was not very good. So, we wanted to control our schedule, start a team with a clean reputation, and keep our core of girls together.

Since then, I have maintained the same 4 girls since that first year, and have added 3 more that have played for me for 3 seasons. We always add a player or two each season as some decide to go other directions, but our intentions are always to go the independent route and control our own schedules, uniforms, and player fees.

I have been involved in larger organizations, and have seen some larger organizations falter at times. The challenge for independent teams like mine is getting talent to replace what you lose year after year. Once again I will be looking for 1-2 players for next season, but think we have built a good reputation to where we will have 2-3 looking to join us.

 

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I think the reason given about starting a team because some coaches don't think their kid can make a team is a pretty arrogant statement.

We kept our girls together from a slow pitch team that was good enough to win the USSSA World Series in 2008. We were a great slow pitch team, and have developed into a pretty good fast pitch team.

I started the Hammers to give the girls in our area a local team that would compete at a higher level and we have had moderate success. Our 14U team has three of my nieces on it and they do not win as much as our 16U Black team, but they love playing together and are getting better under two very good coaches.

I think if we would have split after the 2008 season, there would have been some bigger organizations all over most of the girls from our team to fill some of their spots on their rosters.

Honestly, I have had the chance to leave before this year and take my daughters to other organizations and have chose not to because I would have abandoned a team that I started. I didn't want to leave out of stubborness to prove that we could get things done and prove all the naysayers wrong.

If someone wants to start a team and they are doing for all the right reasons, have at it. It gives more kids opportunity to play, especially at the younger ages. It also creates a bigger pool later on for teams in the 16u and 18u level. Some people on here are so arrogant and think their way is the only way.....Ticks me off a little.

These same people say slow pitch is a waste of time. I have about 11 girls I know that would say otherwise.

 

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If your current 14u team started in slow pitch, I would argue that it's time we'll spent. Based on how you played against us at Gem City. Nice job!

 

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I'm guilty of doing it myself a few years ago. My reasoning then was that we had a good group of rec girls that had won a couple of All Star tourneys. Many of the parents had talked about travel ball but weren't sure if it was for them and their DD. I took that All Star team and made a travel team for their first year of 12U so they could get the experience and see if it was something they wanted to pursue. We kept costs down by playing mostly local tourneys and only having one uniform, among other things. Now, some of those girls continue to play travel ball (some for me, some on other teams) and some have stopped playing ball all together.

I am now coaching with a great organization but I feel what I did by starting that team was a good thing overall. It opened the parents and their DD's eyes to travel ball and I learned a lot from that year. At that time, I didn't realize how many teams there were and I now realize it really is getting watered down.

I think many beginning travel teams are like this. Less and less each year as organizations get bigger but I think they are still the majority. My son's baseball travel took a similar path to what you did. I know you said 'guilty' to show you did what you are asking about but I feel you should be commended. Many players get a chance to figure out what playing at an All-Start or above layer is all about. While many take the same paths as your players (still with you, moved on, stopped playing) many would have never taken that leap if not for what you did. Salute to you.

 

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Hammers has it nailed..

I told my very competitive 10u team parents to get them traveling years ago. The spread out and played for great organizations like Grand Slam, and 2 Ice teams as well as others...8 out of ten girls!

A few weeks ago the girls came to me and wanted to come "home". (To start preparing to play together in high school like other powerhouse high school programs-- Strasburg and Elyria come to mind).

 

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Some desire to "keep the girls together" even if some of them could play elsewhere. Typically these teams progress more slowly than your straight travel team but there are other aspects to this which many forget. It's not always about the brutal, "nose to the grindstone", "if you aren't moving up you lose" viewpoint. Some want to play ball and prepare for high school. Face it, with the exception of a few high school programs you aren't jammed full of platinum showcase elite players. Typically there is room for players who have done nothing more than played a mid-B travel schedule and get good instruction.

 

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Thanks WM_83. Many people have said it, as long as it's for the right reasons then it's all good.:yahoo:

 

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If your current 14u team started in slow pitch, I would argue that it's time we'll spent. Based on how you played against us at Gem City. Nice job!

A large majority of those girls on the 14U team played slow pitch. Over half of our 16U teams this past year played slow pitch. Thanks for the props.

 

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I find, more often than not, behind the really good player is a parent who takes their kid to the field or hitting/pitching coach during the off seasons or off days. Travel versus rec.? There is noo doubt you will see better pitching in travel, and the game is more intense and strategic, but if you really desire to improve, it will happen with the extra hours of personal work whether you are taveling or playing local.