Low Turnout at Tryouts

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This is always an interesting topic..... some say don't let them play tournament ball until they are ready.... the problem is that the rec ball programs don't do much to get them ready. I say throw them in and let them sink or swim..... btw, let's teach them something about staying afloat, swimming and more.
The best coaching on the most part is at the tournament level. What use to suffice to be a tournament coach is no longer true as far as I am concern.
A few years ago I saw on a tournament's program website that the reason they didn't have more teams was because there was a "lack of quality coaches". I don't agree with much that this program says but I sure was in 100% agreement. Now, the difference is that they lowed their number of teams and we decided that we would start training coaches. We have sent 27 coaches through Right View Pro training and I lost track how many through Howard Kobata's clinics as well as the Best in the Midwest clinic. We do training meetings during the winter with some of our top instructors working with the more inexperience as well as using a former D-1 College coach to work with our coaches and teams.
We believe everyone has the right to learn how to be a "tournament player"; it's up to them to decide of they want it.

 

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The only reason there is a debate about too many teams or girls trying to play travel ball is because there are adult males involved in the game. Macho men, ego's.

Why should they care if there are too many teams and they are attracting "rec" type talent? Because it lessons their image as "elite". It takes away from the distance they want between them and the peasants, rec players. It's not about the competition they face because those rec/travel teams are not going to the likes of Stingrays, Lasers and Gapss. And if those tourneys aren't tough enough for them they can play "Gold" or "Premier". They can find tough competition without running into the peasants. But they want to walk around with their chests pumped out and be able to look down at those that haven't reached their status. If the peasants venture into the travel world the distance just isn't far enough.

I say the more the merrier. Plenty of room for everyone. Some rec kids are doing to try the travel world, get excited about it and work to develop into a decent may great player. Others may fall out, maybe for lack of talent or maybe they just never got the passion. Any that want to try should be welcomed, encouraged. JMHO :cap:

 

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Players are better off being on the #2 team in an organization that provides guidance and support than on a new team that is being run without previous travel experience. There are different levels of travel ball and an appropriate one for every team. JMHO

 

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Wow Musty you hit the nail on the head...I was just saying the exact same thing to somebody. I am not sure how I feel about my line of thinking being so in-line with yours haha

 

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Thanks Musty and Uber, for a while I thought that I was the only one with this line of thinking.... they laughed when we started the Wizards but they ain't laughing anymore!!!!

 

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The only reason there is a debate about too many teams or girls trying to play travel ball is because there are adult males involved in the game. Macho men, ego's.

Why should they care if there are too many teams and they are attracting "rec" type talent? Because it lessons their image as "elite". It takes away from the distance they want between them and the peasants, rec players. It's not about the competition they face because those rec/travel teams are not going to the likes of Stingrays, Lasers and Gapss. And if those tourneys aren't tough enough for them they can play "Gold" or "Premier". They can find tough competition without running into the peasants. But they want to walk around with their chests pumped out and be able to look down at those that haven't reached their status. If the peasants venture into the travel world the distance just isn't far enough.

I say the more the merrier. Plenty of room for everyone. Some rec kids are doing to try the travel world, get excited about it and work to develop into a decent may great player. Others may fall out, maybe for lack of talent or maybe they just never got the passion. Any that want to try should be welcomed, encouraged. JMHO :cap:

Go Musty!

 

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The only reason there is a debate about too many teams or girls trying to play travel ball is because there are adult males involved in the game. Macho men, ego's.

Why should they care if there are too many teams and they are attracting "rec" type talent? Because it lessons their image as "elite". It takes away from the distance they want between them and the peasants, rec players. It's not about the competition they face because those rec/travel teams are not going to the likes of Stingrays, Lasers and Gapss. And if those tourneys aren't tough enough for them they can play "Gold" or "Premier". They can find tough competition without running into the peasants. But they want to walk around with their chests pumped out and be able to look down at those that haven't reached their status. If the peasants venture into the travel world the distance just isn't far enough.

I say the more the merrier. Plenty of room for everyone. Some rec kids are doing to try the travel world, get excited about it and work to develop into a decent may great player. Others may fall out, maybe for lack of talent or maybe they just never got the passion. Any that want to try should be welcomed, encouraged. JMHO :cap:

Best post I have read in a long time.........

 

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We had enough show up to our tryout to make 2 teams but we don't want 2 teams. Why have 2 mediocre teams when you could have 1 good one? When you increase the quantity, you decrease the quality.

Yeah, those "mediocre" girls should stay home and bake cookies.

 

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No, they should find a team that fits their talent level, not sign up for a team where the talent is above them because then they will get limited playing time. No kid gets better sitting on the bench so find a team that suits them so they can improve. Plus when the girls do this, it produces alot of disgruntled parents..wink, wink....that blame the entire fastpitch community for their misery because they don't know how to pick an appropriate team.

What the heck is wrong with baking cookies??? I bake nearly everyday as well as my 3 girls. Having some knowledge of typical domestic activities in NO WAY makes you less of an athlete.

 

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The only reason there is a debate about too many teams or girls trying to play travel ball is because there are adult males involved in the game. Macho men, ego's.

Why should they care if there are too many teams and they are attracting "rec" type talent? Because it lessons their image as "elite". It takes away from the distance they want between them and the peasants, rec players. It's not about the competition they face because those rec/travel teams are not going to the likes of Stingrays, Lasers and Gapss. And if those tourneys aren't tough enough for them they can play "Gold" or "Premier". They can find tough competition without running into the peasants. But they want to walk around with their chests pumped out and be able to look down at those that haven't reached their status. If the peasants venture into the travel world the distance just isn't far enough.

I say the more the merrier. Plenty of room for everyone. Some rec kids are doing to try the travel world, get excited about it and work to develop into a decent may great player. Others may fall out, maybe for lack of talent or maybe they just never got the passion. Any that want to try should be welcomed, encouraged. JMHO :cap:

Very well put!

 

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Klump. Mediocre might describe the organization you have been affiliated with the last couple of years. How would you know the talent level of some of the travel teams unless you go to the tryout to see? You can't tell by the name of the organization alone because some organizations' talent varies with the age group. JMHO

 

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I didn't say mediocre talent, I said why split them into 2 mediocre teams when you could make 1 good team. In regards to having a good enough turn out at tryouts for 2 teams.

 

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every year you here this argument travel is watered down travels not as good? but pretty sure ohio just had one of its most well represented years in the nationals and not just lasers gold winning it several ohio teams finishing up well.I think everyone should play when they outgrow the talent on there team or the coaches vision for there team they will move on.with more girls playing and getting better only means more future talent for ohio if playing on a b team for 2 years keeps a great athlete in softball instead of another sport and gives her time to develop into a stud then that is great.There is a team and tournaments for every level of player and team it is coaches and organizational leaders job to pick the right ones to fit there talent level and not trophy hunt.I dont believe is all male coaches that cause problems i believe it is adults there are some bad male coaches and also some bad female coaches so squash that idea.It is unfair to judge any parent coach or kid in a broad spectrum now i am steppin down from this soap box lol

 

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People keep talking about how its the talent pool of girls that is watered down, when the real problem is that there are not enough TALENTED coaches that can teach the game.

 

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People keep talking about how its the talent pool of girls that is watered down, when the real problem is that there are not enough TALENTED coaches that can teach the game.

so who are the talented coaches... let's find them and load them up... sure would keep from wasting time...

 

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in our area(lake county) there is not much of a talent pool of girls because of the lack of talented coaches.

 

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JMHO, but maybe there are plenty of talented coaches who choose not to come back. Instead, they went on to do private lessons, hang out with families, etc.

 

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My DD's team merged with another team and decided to check out other teams and do the rounds of tryouts. Tryouts were mixed this year-we went to one tryout and there were quite a few girls there, then another tryout only had a dozen girls. One tryout there were only my daughter and 5 other girls...so it's been weird this year...not sure if it means anything...just an observation.