October 1st Deadline

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By just looking at the two local fall ball leagues for travel teams I see that there are several teams with possibly 3 strong players then 6-8 that are somewhat marginal. Everyone wants to play travel and I am a little concerned with the direction this is taking. by diluting the circut with marginal teams and then not classifying these teams it:

1. Takes talent away from ALL organizations.
2. Lessens the ratio of Quality Coaches per organization.
3. Makes talented young ladies more succeptable to quitting earlier due to the fact that they are not pushed by quality competition.

These are real problems. Maybe not for the 16 - 18 divisions which are set with young ladies with a purpose but definetly at the younger levels 12 - 14 where the girls are more impressionable and likely to lose love for the game at no fault of their own. Sometimes winning is as equally damaging as losing. You'll learn more in a hard fought loss then you will in any blowout victory.

I see this only as a problem for the scouts/coaches at the next level in the purest sense. The better players will standout more and the there will be more effort from the players to get the coaches to come watch them.

I am looking at this from the point of a pitchers parent. If my dd looks good and is successful with a avg defense behind her, how well will she do with a great defense behind her.

I do agree that the talent pool is much shallower than it used to be, but most teams are in the same boat. That much more reason for the top tier teams to travel out of state.

 

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I see this only as a problem for the scouts/coaches at the next level in the purest sense. The better players will standout more and the there will be more effort from the players to get the coaches to come watch them.

I am looking at this from the point of a pitchers parent. If my dd looks good and is successful with a avg defense behind her, how well will she do with a great defense behind her.

I do agree that the talent pool is much shallower than it used to be, but most teams are in the same boat. That much more reason for the top tier teams to travel out of state.

My only response to this and I too am the parent of a picther is how good does she look pitching to hitters that can't hit. Sure a good pitcher can make an average defense look good but we can never hide the facts as to who they are pitching. There may be no definitive answers but it makes for great conversation.

 

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My only response to this and I too am the parent of a picther is how good does she look pitching to hitters that can't hit. Sure a good pitcher can make an average defense look good but we can never hide the facts as to who they are pitching. There may be no definitive answers but it makes for great conversation.

you know that is a good point. As a former baseball pitcher, when the hitter was not good you could just blow it by them or throw how ever you wanted to because the weak hitter was not going to hit it anyway. But the great hitters you have to pitch with a purpose. You cant give away pitches, you cant give the hitter any advantage what so ever. You need a game plan to pitch to them, which is often going all the way to a 3-2 count.

Can a pitcher truely learn how to be great when faced with no challenages...

 

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you know that is a good point. As a former baseball pitcher, when the hitter was not good you could just blow it by them or throw how ever you wanted to because the weak hitter was not going to hit it anyway. But the great hitters you have to pitch with a purpose. You cant give away pitches, you cant give the hitter any advantage what so ever. You need a game plan to pitch to them, which is often going all the way to a 3-2 count.

Can a pitcher truely learn how to be great when faced with no challenages...

On the reverse side of that, a pitcher needs to be extra careful when the defense is avg. as sure outs become base hits. Remember, a good pitcher never really throws strikes they only appear to be. I can't say I know a pitcher that can turn it on/off just like that. You're either a gamer or you're not.

Baseball is an easy sport anyway. LoL

 

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The great hitters will wait for that one pitch that they know she is going to throw. Trick is not just to appear to be throwing strikes, not to just pitch to her strengths, but to also pitch to the hitter’s weakness, pitch to your defense, pitch to the umpires calls, pitch to the situation and to not be predictable all these things is what a pitcher should be doing to be great. Do they do this for every pitch with just average hitters.

 

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By just looking at the two local fall ball leagues for travel teams I see that there are several teams with possibly 3 strong players then 6-8 that are somewhat marginal. Everyone wants to play travel and I am a little concerned with the direction this is taking. by diluting the circut with marginal teams and then not classifying these teams it:

1. Takes talent away from ALL organizations.
2. Lessens the ratio of Quality Coaches per organization.
3. Makes talented young ladies more succeptable to quitting earlier due to the fact that they are not pushed by quality competition.

These are real problems. Maybe not for the 16 - 18 divisions which are set with young ladies with a purpose but definetly at the younger levels 12 - 14 where the girls are more impressionable and likely to lose love for the game at no fault of their own. Sometimes winning is as equally damaging as losing. You'll learn more in a hard fought loss then you will in any blowout victory.

Everyone wants to play travel...GREAT. Don't get why that bothers some. I love it!!! The only problem I see is the whining adults do about it diluting the travel world like it some elite club only for the exceptional player. IT'S NOT. If the 3 strong players want to play on a team where the rest are marginal at best then let them. Don't let what they do bother you. If they don't like it they should get off their rears and get on a good team. There are plenty of great teams. And there are more than enough great tournaments for the great teams to play. Play the ASA/USA or Premier tourneys. Go to GAPSS, Lasers, Stingrays, Dayton Metro etc.

If your DD is on a team and you think your DD is a stud but the team is being dragged down by marginal players, did she try out for the better teams? If she did and didn't make it maybe she is one of the marginal players. Time for a reality check.

JMHO and this IS NOT directed at 99STARZ. This is directed at all who see a problem with too many young girls wanting to play travel and think it's getting in their way.

 

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Everyone wants to play travel...GREAT. Don't get why that bothers some. I love it!!! The only problem I see is the whining adults do about it diluting the travel world like it some elite club only for the exceptional player. IT'S NOT. If the 3 strong players want to play on a team where the rest are marginal at best then let them. Don't let what they do bother you. If they don't like it they should get off their rears and get on a good team. There are plenty of great teams. And there are more than enough great tournaments for the great teams to play. Play the ASA/USA or Premier tourneys. Go to GAPSS, Lasers, Stingrays, Dayton Metro etc.

If your DD is on a team and you think your DD is a stud but the team is being dragged down by marginal players, did she try out for the better teams? If she did and didn't make it maybe she is one of the marginal players. Time for a reality check.

JMHO and this IS NOT directed at 99STARZ. This is directed at all who see a problem with too many young girls wanting to play travel and think it's getting in their way.

Good post Musty. Let the FREE market work.

 

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I am one of those Wildcat Pride coaches looking for a player. I have 11 rostered and if that is what I go with I will. However, I have been deep on a hot summer day and see what that does to these players. I also have one with an injury and history has shown that 10 can be risky. Whether you have the philosophy of 10-12 players, there are a lot of teams still looking to FILL a roster.

Ditto on the 18U comment.

 

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Good post Musty. Let the FREE market work.

I like that, Let The Free Market Work.
Says it all. I'm stealing that. lol

 

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Great post Musty, it's ludicrous to say there are to many kids playing. I find that laughable, pitchers pitching to kids that can't hit etc., All I can say is get in better tournaments, if your dominating hitters your age level in good tournaments move up an age bracket. There's always somebody better. I'd say the problem isn't to many kids playing a game we all claim to love, it's to many coaches or parents don't know either how to set a challenging schedule, trophy hunting or don't really know what their looking at.

My daughters have played in Stingrays, Laser Nation, Colorado Sparkler, Orland Sparks, Dynamite Classic in SC, ASA/USA nationals etc., if you want to be challenged or you want your kid challenged there are teams, coaches, organizations and tournaments out there will do just that. If you just want to play locally and aren't being challenged move up in age level, play left handed, play blindfolded whatever, but quite blaming the lack of competition on a bunch of kids trying to learn the game. An unfortunate byproduct of playing lower level teams is in general the coaches are inexperienced...but cut these people a break.

 

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Btw that wasn't direct at any individual lol, I'm a firm believer in inclusion. If a kid is willing to work, be part of a team, be coachable and has a love for the game she deserves a chance to play. Even Bustos was a first year travel player at one time.

 

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Great post Musty.....and thank you.

My DD and I are new to travel ball...so maybe this isn't necessarily correct....but isn't part of the point of fall ball to get the girls playing together, learning strengths and weaknesses? It just seems early to me to say that there are marginal players on a team when the girls are just learning to play together and the coaches are just learning their strengths and weaknesses.

I mean, my DD made it on to a really great team with great coaching...they played in very high level tournaments last year at 10u. If you look at my DD in her fall ball games, particularly in the field, she has made mistakes.....she would most likely look like that "marginal player". Although, she has been hitting very well. She makes mistakes on defense because she is 11 and she has never seen anything like this before...we came directly from rec ball. Honestly...until about a year ago....we didn't even know this travel-ball world existed -I didn't play softball and she is my oldest daughter. Had I known about it, and knowing her love for the sport, we would have become involved at a younger age.

Personally - I am very grateful that this team took her on because I believe her being around the really good players (and coaching) will only improve her. I believe that over time (particularly the rest of fall and winter training), she will not stand out quite as much on defense. I don't think she will look like a marginal player anymore....but just look like another good player on an awesome team.

I just feel like there are so many good players that are "stuck" in rec ball with other kids that just don't have the same drive and passion for the game. Amber loves the fact that everyone on her team loves the game as much as she does. Don't get me wrong....I have nothing against rec ball...my daughter learned her basic skill set from an awesome rec coach to whom I will always be grateful....but I also don't think there is anything wrong with girls who are a little too advanced in rec ball playing travel - even if in the travel world they are only considered marginal. Let them play at the higher level...because otherwise they are stuck in between with no place to go. As many others have said, there are still those high level tournaments where the elite teams can get awesome competition. JMO

 

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BTW...I hope I didn't sound too offensive in the post...it wasn't really directed at anyone in particular. I just also believe in letting the girls play...and was using my DD as an example of how it can be beneficial to a girl to move up and play....even if she doesn't seem like she's quite at the level yet

 

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Of course girls can play - TDs are very happy to take money and parents (like me) love to spend it on our DDs. :yahoo:

If my kid was sitting on a team of 7 - 9 players still looking for a key position, I would be worried.... that is if I knew better. If this is my DD's first year in travel ball, why wouldn't I believe this is perfectly normal? Maybe the coach is telling me not to worry, there's plenty of players to be found.

Not every family has the benefit of all the advice on this board, and I feel that some of those become the teams who suddenly forfeit on Sunday or even Saturday games, if they play at all.

 

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Great post Pinky! Everybody has to start some place.

 

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Great post Musty, it's ludicrous to say there are to many kids playing. I find that laughable, pitchers pitching to kids that can't hit etc., All I can say is get in better tournaments, if your dominating hitters your age level in good tournaments move up an age bracket. There's always somebody better. I'd say the problem isn't to many kids playing a game we all claim to love, it's to many coaches or parents don't know either how to set a challenging schedule, trophy hunting or don't really know what their looking at.

My daughters have played in Stingrays, Laser Nation, Colorado Sparkler, Orland Sparks, Dynamite Classic in SC, ASA/USA nationals etc., if you want to be challenged or you want your kid challenged there are teams, coaches, organizations and tournaments out there will do just that. If you just want to play locally and aren't being challenged move up in age level, play left handed, play blindfolded whatever, but quite blaming the lack of competition on a bunch of kids trying to learn the game. An unfortunate byproduct of playing lower level teams is in general the coaches are inexperienced...but cut these people a break.

Uber - Mustohio - Hornet;
I guess you guys are missing the point of my post. I first and foremost am NOT saying that EVERY girl should not have a chance to experience the joys of travel ball because I believe they ALL should if they desire. My dd and family enjoy our weekends together and it is a great personal experience where lifelong friends can be made and not just an athletic event.

Secondly, I am not saying that my dd is in any way a stud D1 prospect at 11 years old. She has some natural ability and works very hard but is not held above any of her 10 teammates. What I am saying is that I witnessed first hand last year several teams that folded mid or late season because parents couldnt take the fact that their kids were getting beat up week in and week out. It was apparent that skill and coaching were equally to blame. I agree that travel ball is a great place to learn the game and younger coaches who are dedicated enough to heed advice, read books , watch DVD and learn the game themselves can contribute much to expanding this great sport but, in order to do so I think the younger girls 10-14u need to be on SOMEWHAT equal ground. The three most important words in my original post were "without classifying them"!

Do I know how to accomplish this? No, but I do have some ideas and would love to be a part of some roundtable discussion to figure it out. I just hope that no one takes offense of my original post, it certainly was not meant to say that anyone should be excluded from travel ball or that only the "elite "
can play. Nothing is perfect but with a little effort everything can be made better.

 

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I'm pretty sure I didn't miss anyone's point. There is a free market at play here and in a sense we have softball Darwinism. If a program isn't offering what people wants it will fold on it's own. There is no need to regulate or force it.

I forget who, but someone on this board once said that there are hidden hierarchies within the travel ball realm. This is absolutely true. Just as there is probably a travel team for most girls who want to play, there are varying levels of commitment and competition.

The same can be said of tournaments and those hierarchies are often shaken out before the first game is played based on registrants and who gets accepted depending on the tourney.

If the real complaint is how well we Ohio teams stack up against teams from other states, then our best players who also have the desire and the means to compete at that level need to seek out a program with the goal of competing nationally. There is also a market for that.

 

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I'm pretty sure I didn't miss anyone's point. There is a free market at play here and in a sense we have softball Darwinism. If a program isn't offering what people wants it will fold on it's own. There is no need to regulate or force it.

I forget who, but someone on this board once said that there are hidden hierarchies within the travel ball realm. This is absolutely true. Just as there is probably a travel team for most girls who want to play, there are varying levels of commitment and competition.

The same can be said of tournaments and those hierarchies are often shaken out before the first game is played based on registrants and who gets accepted depending on the tourney.

If the real complaint is how well we Ohio teams stack up against teams from other states, then our best players who also have the desire and the means to compete at that level need to seek out a program with the goal of competing nationally. There is also a market for that.

Fair Enough. I just wanted to clarify a few of my comments.