Next Year Fastpitch Survival

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No one will want to think of next year as a survival year...... School Levy drops in sports travel ball parents cut backs. This may be the best year for fastpitch out of the next three years coming. Smaller & local tourneys could be the norm. Scrims replacing tournaments, maybe more leagues forming to keep players playing ball as well. A set back maybe next year?? Networking has helped our team stay on the go. This could be a way to stay active more with the use of networking events. What great ideas can be created to keep the players playing ball when times are tough and tight on the cash flow? I think everyone here would like some insight on planning ahead to keep the ball players playing ball. I know I would keep a open mind.

 

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We have made our schedule with the economics in mind for sure. More local Tournaments and local scrimages. No doubt about it. It is about survival

 

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We will be starting a program soon to help next years players, and do a lot more friendly scrims on top of season play. Planning for a rough 2010 season as far as parents and money to keep the kids playing. Starting now to work on the teams hard times coming.

 

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I have to agree. Many more scrimmages and belt tightening will be the way to go unless we can get a big ol' stimulus check!!! I know Doug with the Hawks has done a tremendous job of the scrimmage layouts although we haven't had a good timing to hook-up with him. I do know a new Fall League is going to be something worth looking into for the Middletown/Cincy/Dayton area teams.

 

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After October people will know how tight things will get for next years season. I know this year the parents we have were stressing. We had to curve all plans we had for 2009 but that made us think smarter for next years planning. That is where we plan on making the best of scrims. All the players want is to be in as many live games as possible. Maybe equipment prices will be lowered to keep sales going? We can only hope........

 

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Maybe I should have said August due to some of the school districts failed attempts.
Spring will have many players standing outside looking in. Money seems to rule in more areas than Travel ball. MONEY, JOBS & SCHOOLS make a big factor in the survival math.

 

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wondering what all the south western city girls will be doing in the spring to get themselves ready for summer ball...at least getting the chance to work out, now nothing..gotta be a bummer

 

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If your team is planning on only local tournaments, what do you do at 16u when your players want to be seen by college coaches? Wouldn't staying local put a crimp in their plans? Getting the college coaches to "buy into" a scrimmage format may be an answer, but how do you get those coaches to your location? It seems like you would be back to a standard tournament format - and someone would still have to travel.

 

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I understand friendly scrims but what about straight up regional games? Is it considered a bad thing to play a legit game during the week against a team that you could end up playing in a tournament?
A pool of teams could be set up for an age group within a region and all teams could play each other once over a period of a few weeks. Not a league, a region like the H.S. playoff format. Good teams squaring off at a relatively low cost.

 

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Smaller tournament should be the norm. I mean, you can go to a 16 team event and see only four or five of them. Wait around all day to play in this big event.... wasting time... and had a better experience playing in a smaller tournament with a lot less time involved.

I don't know... just don't understand some thoughts of some coaches.


I mean.. I got a tournament in Savannah Georgia. It's a six day event. 8 games for $500.00 Can find beach front property to rent for teams.

Now, go to a winter tournament at a favorite domed facility. Pay the cost of the tournament, the two night stay at what 75 to 100 a room (if you are lucky).... and could have enjoyed the whole week playing ball. One team that is in Savannah tournament found they could go to Savannah, spend the week playing ball, at a cost of 125.00 per girl and stay on the ocean in a rental house. Now, that's not including the cost of the parents... so the cost per child goes down with more parents attending.

Now, where are you going to beat that in the Winter ? And play full games and no time limits. Let loose on the city by 5 pm each day except Thursday and Friday (double elims dates).

 

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No one will want to think of next year as a survival year...... School Levy drops in sports travel ball parents cut backs. This may be the best year for fastpitch out of the next three years coming. Smaller & local tourneys could be the norm. Scrims replacing tournaments, maybe more leagues forming to keep players playing ball as well. A set back maybe next year?? Networking has helped our team stay on the go. This could be a way to stay active more with the use of networking events. What great ideas can be created to keep the players playing ball when times are tough and tight on the cash flow? I think everyone here would like some insight on planning ahead to keep the ball players playing ball. I know I would keep a open mind.

A handfull of leagues would be a great Idea. Leave them Open , at least a Few so they dont have all these roster restrictions. Its nice for kids to be able to play ball with kids from their community. Currently you can only have a Total of 4 girls from the same school. But Places like Candlelight Knolls are a Great place to get a League going. I am sure every county in Ohio has one or two of these facilities.

 

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Sign of the times continue. There are a few fall leagues that seem to be struggling to fill up. Teams seem to really be struggling to fill rosters. Where have all the good times gone? The fall league that has advertised the best price is filling faster but not full, and the other in the area is extending registration date. Many teams still trying out players into september seems more than usual. I would expect some teams to start to fold as players get nervous and look for a team with a nearly complete roster.

 

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When things get tough the sport will bring dedicated people together who are all for the sport. The best example late 1930's into the 1940's during WW2 and the depression era, baseball united the country for a recreation and as a stress relief, the great american spirit. Fast pitch softball can be played without all the money being spent as well. If there is a will there is a way!