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Is it just me or are more and more kids at the 14u+ age group playing on out of state travel teams: Indiana Magic Gold, Beverly Bandits, New Jersey Intensity, Louisville Sluggers etc. etc.
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I see Ohio team rosters that have girls from Pa, Ky Indiana, NJ, Delaware, etc.............
So everyone tends to like the travel & be able to say they are playing for a quality team that no one else from their area is on........
So everyone tends to like the travel & be able to say they are playing for a quality team that no one else from their area is on........
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I guess some folks are better off now then they were four years ago. LoL
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How about an Ohio/Florida team?
Seriously - This has been an age old question. Personally I see no reason for a team other than Showcase age to do it anyway. The problem is simply the cost. Trying to get 14 players that are willing and able to spend the money to travel to 3-4 Big events a summer and 2-3 Big ones in the fall is tough. Another issue is that teams that try think that simply because they "want to do it" they can do it. Wanting to doesn't mean the TD's of these events will accept those teams into their events. Relationships with the TD's is key. You have to earn your way. In most cases it takes 3-4 years. Most teams/organizations turn over rosters and coaches over that period of time. Older teams move on as the players graduate. So do the coaches - and their relationships. So the structure of the team trying to go this route has to be in place and show consistancy.
Can it be done - heck yes. Can Ohio - and other states - do it? Most can, some do, others can't. I actually have a player coming to two of our fall showcases from Montana because there are no opportunitites in her area. That is not the case in Ohio. But finding the right mix to pull it off is always the challenge.
Seriously - This has been an age old question. Personally I see no reason for a team other than Showcase age to do it anyway. The problem is simply the cost. Trying to get 14 players that are willing and able to spend the money to travel to 3-4 Big events a summer and 2-3 Big ones in the fall is tough. Another issue is that teams that try think that simply because they "want to do it" they can do it. Wanting to doesn't mean the TD's of these events will accept those teams into their events. Relationships with the TD's is key. You have to earn your way. In most cases it takes 3-4 years. Most teams/organizations turn over rosters and coaches over that period of time. Older teams move on as the players graduate. So do the coaches - and their relationships. So the structure of the team trying to go this route has to be in place and show consistancy.
Can it be done - heck yes. Can Ohio - and other states - do it? Most can, some do, others can't. I actually have a player coming to two of our fall showcases from Montana because there are no opportunitites in her area. That is not the case in Ohio. But finding the right mix to pull it off is always the challenge.
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Out Of State Travel Teams: When bragging to your neighbor about being on an Ohio travel team isn't enough ...
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These kids go out of state to get opportunities that they cannot get in state. Flarays said it best, very few teams can get into the big shows and if that is something you want for your kid, you are going to have to find a team that has the connections and/or reputation to get into those showcases.
I think this year there are MORE Ohio teams getting into the better showcase this year than ever that i can remember- Lasers Black, Gold, Blue and a few others teams like the Classics and MVE are playing in some great fall showcases. Grant it, the Beverly Bandits teams are doing this three fold.
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From what I have seen on OFC over the last few years, the vast majority of OH girls going on to the biggest college programs were recruited while playing for OH teams. Sure they went out of state for many tourneys, but it can be done from teams based in OH.
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two fold. one of the teams is entirely from Ohio.
What I observe is this. The name on the front of the jersey helps to get the colleges interested. look at the bandits website. ALL the girls are commited and not just to smaller schools. Sure all the girls are excellent players, but there are ohio girls just as good as some that are on the bandits and they are not commited as of yet.
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IMHO, the local teams are saturated with average talent or girls who just don't want to be there (mommy or daddy wants them to be there). If your kids takes this sport seriously, she gets sick of playing with girls that have average talent, or who are there just to have fun and mess around. The girls who take it very seriously want to play with others that take it very seriously. Sometimes we have to drive farther to find the perfect fit.
(Both my DD's are playing for Ohio teams BTW.)
(Both my DD's are playing for Ohio teams BTW.)
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I thought most of those girls were already committed before they went to those teams ??
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Mili28 ... what age level are you referring to in your statement that "teams are saturated with average talent or girls who just don't want to be there (mommy or daddy wants them to be there)"?
Certainly some girls say 14 and up figure out after they are on teams that they have other interests and don't either have enough talent or don't want to make the commitment any more ... and there are probably quite a few girls younger than that who are there because their parents want them to do it, but you certainly don't have to go outside of Ohio to find 14-U, 16-U, or 18-U teams where all of the girls want to be there and have a common goal of wanting to play in college.
Certainly some girls say 14 and up figure out after they are on teams that they have other interests and don't either have enough talent or don't want to make the commitment any more ... and there are probably quite a few girls younger than that who are there because their parents want them to do it, but you certainly don't have to go outside of Ohio to find 14-U, 16-U, or 18-U teams where all of the girls want to be there and have a common goal of wanting to play in college.
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As flarays mentions in his post, you have to have kids (& committed families) who want this first & foremost but that doesn't mean you can do it. Yes I have kids from three different states now & not a one of them has a Cincy addy but I believe that is because these girls feel they are with girls who have the same desire to play at the next level. Not only do you need this commonality of a goal but you better put a schedule together that also meets their desires. For my team, this is why our Sept - Oct schedule includes the Midwest Signature Showcase, Tanel 360 Top 50, & the Diamond Gold Exposure Showcase in Chattanooga. Supplimenting these three w/ with a few camps should get them a quantity & the quality of looks they are expecting.
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Are the kids from OH, KY and IN? It's easy to do when you are located on the border of 3 different states lol.
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I think most of the girls go to prepare themselves for college ball. U can't get that type of experience in local tournies, period.
JMHO
Herb
JMHO
Herb
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I have 3 players from Antarctica and 2 from Australia on my team... and my dad is bigger than yours!!!
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All I can say is that if you have ever had the pleasure of running a practice were all 12 girls wanted it verses only 5 or 6 you would understand. HUGE difference. It is really easy to coach when you are not spending all your time convincing the Barfers (some of you know the reference Bottom 1/3) to work harder. When you ask the girls to sprint and they all kill each other.....that is when the real magic happens. Until the player herself wants to do the work at 100% you can never get that from them. Because to truly give 100% is only know between you and you.
And once a player has been on a team like this she will never want to go back.
And once a player has been on a team like this she will never want to go back.
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Not saying local qualifiers, but I think there are a handful of in state tournaments that can give you good competion then mix in some out of state showcases. ( Pennsbury, Sparks, Tanel, etc) This would be plenty
to keep your daughter ready for college.
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I don't see why people get worked up over this topic. My daughter played with many of the girls who last summer played with the Beverly Bandits so we know these families personally. It was a decision they made that they felt was in the best interest of their daughters, just like we made the decision to have my daughter remain with her team for the last 4 years because we felt that was best for her. It was not some super loyalty on our part, if I had not felt that it was a good situation for her to reach her goals I would have had no problem putting her on another team.
I think some people who don't know these families believe that people who go to these out of state teams are doing it because they believe that their daughters are superior to other Ohio girls. From my personal experience I never got that impression. The daughters and families had goals and as I said earlier they felt that was the best path to follow to reach those goals. This is no different than choosing a pitching or hitting coach you believe is the best fit for your daughter.
There are some Ohio teams and organizations heading in the direction of the out of state teams that girls are going to and in time with the right person leading it Ohio may develop an organization like the Bandits or Intensity. But for now it is a decision that some girls will have to make and if that is their choice I wish them the best of luck.
I think some people who don't know these families believe that people who go to these out of state teams are doing it because they believe that their daughters are superior to other Ohio girls. From my personal experience I never got that impression. The daughters and families had goals and as I said earlier they felt that was the best path to follow to reach those goals. This is no different than choosing a pitching or hitting coach you believe is the best fit for your daughter.
There are some Ohio teams and organizations heading in the direction of the out of state teams that girls are going to and in time with the right person leading it Ohio may develop an organization like the Bandits or Intensity. But for now it is a decision that some girls will have to make and if that is their choice I wish them the best of luck.
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You must have gotten an "A" in geography in HS. Unfortunately Columbus, Canton, & Sandusky does not border either IN or KY. Anyways, I fly in from Utah every Thurs to keep my committment to these girls until they graduate. I just can't seem to convince any of the Morman softball players to come play with us - something to do with a choir of some sorts.
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very well stated and so true mili28!!!!!
