shortage of 12u players?

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I do not disagree with you Johnnies, I would just like to see enough girls come to one of our tryouts to be able to pick and choose a little bit. I also do not mind focusing on one or two players more if they need extra help either, this is where the assistant coaches can step up and help a little bit more as well.

 

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Let's be honest. Unless a team is just forming most rosters are pre-determined. Most teams play "Daddy" ball and most "daddy" girls have friends. Very rarely do you see a travel team coach where the pitcher is not the child of the coach. I know this will bring a huge debate. Most pitchers parents know they game and the train right a long with their pitcher. I am not knocking talent. We have all seen it where dd's can do no wrong or dd's are yelled at all the time.

My niece tried out for an "A" team this year and she made the team. They were given the coaches number to call and he straight out said that his daughter was the #1 pitcher and we are looking for the backup and that my niece probably wouldn't see much playing time. Now this being said--the coach never saw my niece pitch. Only the evaluaters. How could a coach make that assumption without seeing or practicing? I was happy that my niece made the team. However, the family chose not to go with that team because it wouldn't benefit my niece.

I would like to see a true competitive team arise. Where they are looking for top talent and top talent only. I would like the team to be picky and not be afraid of saying no to friends or family. That is the team I would like to watch. I realize that top talent would have to show up to try outs. But once the word got out that that is what the organization is made of they just might start showing up.

 

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OK, explain this one. A few years back, at 1st year 14u, DD wanted to try out for a top level travel team. Her reason was she wanted to play late on Sundays, which wasn't happening on the team she was on. We narrowed the choice down to two teams for tryouts. Not bragging, but these two organizations are probably the most popular in Ohio. WE KNEW NO ONE on either of these teams, including the coaches. She was offered a spot at the first team's tryout, and after a few days debate, she accepted the spot. We cancelled the second tryout.

She knew going in that the head coache's DD was the starting pitcher. My DD was OK with that. I had some reservations, but she's the softball player, not me. She convinced me that she just had to work harder to prove herself, and with only two pitchers, she figured she would get plenty of time.

By the end of the first season, my DD was getting the majority of the pitching time. Before the end of her second year with this team, she was clearly the starting pitcher. In the process, our family formed a great relationship with the coaches family.

The moral to our story is don't judge all coaches the same until you know them firsthand. This particular coach had the guts to put the team's success above everything else. Honestly, I don't know that I could have done that if the tables had been turned, and I told the coach that. This coach earned my lasting respect, and I will never forget the opportunity he gave my DD. She earned a college scholarship to play ball through HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION, not by mom & dad kissing up to get her opportunities, or through so-called "Daddy-ball".

This coach didn't train my DD to pitch - we, as parents, helped and encouraged her. My wife even caught her up until she started into 18u. How many moms do that? Her mom & I sacrificed many busted shins in a gym catching, and many hours in the garage hitting into a net. Her work ethic carries with her to this day.

Sorry about the rant, but I get frustrated with parents who make excuses. Get down in the dirt with your DD and quit blaming someone else for your daughter's lack of accomplishments!

 

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Something thats not been mentioned about picking up 11u girls this yr (which is like trying to find a needle in the haystack) .There were several very solid ?10U teams last year . Alot of the 10U girls that moved up ,...stayed put ,with there core group . It wasn't like ,... one team dominated ,..there were several 10U teams that had great overall talent . Thats also a great attribute to the good coaching ?in 2006.

Great post Sammy ,... hard work and commitment from all involved ,....can move mountain's.

 

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Sammy-I agree with you. I didn't want my post to be intended as an excuse. We make no excuses and I know my niece is harder on her self than her parents or coaches.

When you go out and watch ball this summer--you can see the teams that relect it.

I also think that the more other girls see their peirs trying out and playing for travel teams the more others will want to join. They just have to catch the fever. We didn't even discover the travel ball world until last year when my niece was 11. Her parents catch and spend countless hours at lessons and clinics. (Like most successful ball players and family)

We as family members of travel ballers should be spreading the "germs" and getting others to catch the fever.