"Showcase" and no coaches

[Stedman00]

Did anyone here happen to play or attend Comets Showcase event this past weekend in Mason, OH? And were any college coaches there???

I was there for 6 hrs Sat and talked to numerous others who also saw none.

I realize coaches can be sneaky and not sporting any swag etc.

Just curious if any others saw or spoke to any coaches in attendance.

 

[Mad Hornet]

They're all up in the press box, right Kirt?

 

[CWB1970]

Saw absolutely none at Mason Varsity field from 7:15 - approx 1pm on Sat. Saw none at the Warren County Sports Plex from 7:15 t0 2pm on Sunday. Also...where were the schedules and results. There was literally so little information that was put out by the event. Ump crews were good on our games. Facilities ridiculously great. Where the heck did that Warren County Sports plex come from. Wow.

 

[Stedman00]

talked and messaged multiple people and all shared same experience. not a sign of any College coaches at this 'Showcase' until the pay extra camp late Sunday afternoon. And opinions of the camp were not favorable either.

Buyer beware for the next Comets "Showcase" event.

 

[CWB1970]

Right now I would be happy with a location for results. I don't even know who all was in our division.

 

[Stedman00]

only results i saw were checking couple teams's gamechanger scores. Nothing else.

Also, never saw a published schedule, to the public that said "wart hogs 16u vs honey badgers 16u, MSP field 5 9:45 Sat.". makes it hard for this 'showcase' event to be visited and seen by random coaches, if they can't find schedules.

 

[Passion4theGame]

Sounds like someones pockets got a little fatter from this event.

 

[Brian Blinn]

We were at the Mason Sports Park and coaches were at our field both days. I'd be curious from those asking if coaches were actually in attendance...did your girls send the coaches emails/tweets/tetxts with their schedule? College coaches don't just randomly stumble upon Showcase events and walk around looking for talent. They usually go to see certain kids play - kids who have reached out to them asking them to come watch. I know kids on our team invited coaches to come watch. We even saw some there that weren't a part of the camp on Sunday. I saw some question on results too...not sure why results would matter if it's just a showcase for exposure and not a tournament with a bracket? I thought fields were in great shape all weekend too.

 

[Kareninthestands]

I heard all the College coaches were watching some big 10u tournament.

 

[Stedman00]

We were at the Mason Sports Park and coaches were at our field both days. I'd be curious from those asking if coaches were actually in attendance...did your girls send the coaches emails/tweets/tetxts with their schedule? College coaches don't just randomly stumble upon Showcase events and walk around looking for talent. They usually go to see certain kids play - kids who have reached out to them asking them to come watch. I know kids on our team invited coaches to come watch. We even saw some there that weren't a part of the camp on Sunday. I saw some question on results too...not sure why results would matter if it's just a showcase for exposure and not a tournament with a bracket? I thought fields were in great shape all weekend too.

I watched your game versus the Sluggers which i believed ended in a tie. And honestly, saw no college coaches in attendance. Nor any take a player profile sheet from the fence. They always could be in 'stealth mode'.

 

[Captain_Thunder]

I think people are getting the tournament mixed up with the camp...
Here is the advertisement for the tournament. I don't see it saying Showcase or offering anything of the nature.
Now they offered a camp on Sunday afternoon after the event that was called a Showcase Camp hosted by various College Coaches.
But the tournament that the Mason HS Softball Booster ran did not make any false claims.

As has been mentioned - players have to let coaches know! I have seen more coaches show at a small local event than I have seen at Scenic City for many teams paying $2000 to play!!!
I think in today's world, as mentioned "Buyer Beware"! Make sure you are doing your homework no matter if playing 5 miles down the road or traveling 500 miles! Because you might be surprised where you find the real money grabs!

 

[Brian Blinn]

I watched your game versus the Sluggers which i believed ended in a tie. And honestly, saw no college coaches in attendance. Nor any take a player profile sheet from the fence. They always could be in 'stealth mode'.

I can't recall if any were at that game or not. I was just enjoying watching my daughter play. I'm not privvy to all the coaches schedules of what kids they were going to see and when...but I saw coaches both days.

Player profile sheets are nice but if a player is in contact with them directly, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't take one. I know my daughter has already emailed that to the coach before hand along with her schedule for the weekend.

I dunno...I guess some people understand the "process" and others don't maybe?

 

[Stedman00]

it is what it is and you are 100% correct- players need to be reaching out. And I was only there to watch softball. No team playing, no player playing. It got me out of doing yard work for a few hours.

BUT when you are billing this event as a showcase with coaches from numerous colleges listed as attending, you as a fan, should be able to sit in a central location on that field and at least see college coaches walking by, trip to concessions, etc. I've sat and watched games at Berliner quads many times and see coaches walk by, watching games, talking to players etc, etc. None of that at this Comets event. And other than yourself, noone I have contacted, saw any coaches until the paid camp event.

 

[Passion4theGame]

I think we all completely understand Scenic City is a Huge money grab but at the same time as long as the girls & coaches do the emails and communicating with college coaches they show up and watch because they know your playing against solid competition. Same as some of the other “Showcase” labeled events in Ohio and other states.

Scenic City basically slapped us in the face this year by adding the $412 gate fee on top of the $1675 or whatever it is. Plus don’t forget taxes. They will charge u tax on that too. Our total cost ended up being $2137.25. Then u have to rent rooms through them that have been market up way more than the standard $40 mark up for most stay to plays. It’s really frustrating but guess what…. We are all gonna keep going and playing that event till something better comes along that weekend.


As for the Comets event based on the picture Russ posted doesn’t look as though it’s a showcase but just an ordinary tournament. They may of held a showcase camp afterwards or something.

 

[Passion4theGame]

I can't recall if any were at that game or not. I was just enjoying watching my daughter play. I'm not privvy to all the coaches schedules of what kids they were going to see and when...but I saw coaches both days.

Player profile sheets are nice but if a player is in contact with them directly, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't take one. I know my daughter has already emailed that to the coach before hand along with her schedule for the weekend.

I dunno...I guess some people understand the "process" and others don't maybe?

So u are basically saying @Stedman00 doesn't understand the process??

I believe you don’t know the process. If ur a coach of a “Showcase” team and you have coaches there why are u just enjoying watching ur daughter play?

You should be talking to coaches about ALL your athletes and promoting every single one of them. Playing them where the coaches want to see them. Talking to the ones that said athlete emailed and discussing her.
not all can do it. Some focus only on “Their Darling Daughter”. She should be equal to all the others during the process.



Sir I can tell you @Stedman00 and Tim Adams probably know more about the recruiting process than anyone in this thread. They have helped many many kids reach their goals of playing ball while earning a degree.

They have been able to do all of this with an OHIO based Organization and didn’t have to reach out to a Commercial money grab Org that collects a fee off ur players and parents every month.

Russ Smith has helped many as well and I’m sure he could help teach u a few things too.


But keep going and playing the lower end “showcase” events such at the Comets event and let us all know how that pans out. Of course your team will look outstanding but college coaches want to see their future student- Athletes facing top level competition.
I can guarantee you there was no top level competition at that event.
If u disagree please share a lineup of all the teams that played.
From what I have heard OFC Conley was the best team there by far.

All these coaches going to out of state Commercial Organizations just doesn’t make sense. You are feeding someone’s pockets and that name means absolute ZERO here in Ohio and other states that have some prestigious events.

Get with an Ohio Org that has built a name over the years. Hawks, Doom, Lasers, Team Ohio, Outlaws, Thunder Elite, & Express will be back at the top like once before 13-15yrs ago.

 

[Brian Blinn]

So u are basically saying @Stedman00 doesn't understand the process??

I believe you don’t know the process. If ur a coach of a “Showcase” team and you have coaches there why are u just enjoying watching ur daughter play?

You should be talking to coaches about ALL your athletes and promoting every single one of them. Playing them where the coaches want to see them. Talking to the ones that said athlete emailed and discussing her.
not all can do it. Some focus only on “Their Darling Daughter”. She should be equal to all the others during the process.



Sir I can tell you @Stedman00 and Tim Adams probably know more about the recruiting process than anyone in this thread. They have helped many many kids reach their goals of playing ball while earning a degree.

They have been able to do all of this with an OHIO based Organization and didn’t have to reach out to a Commercial money grab Org that collects a fee off ur players and parents every month.

Russ Smith has helped many as well and I’m sure he could help teach u a few things too.


But keep going and playing the lower end “showcase” events such at the Comets event and let us all know how that pans out. Of course your team will look outstanding but college coaches want to see their future student- Athletes facing top level competition.
I can guarantee you there was no top level competition at that event.
If u disagree please share a lineup of all the teams that played.
From what I have heard OFC Conley was the best team there by far.

All these coaches going to out of state Commercial Organizations just doesn’t make sense. You are feeding someone’s pockets and that name means absolute ZERO here in Ohio and other states that have some prestigious events.

Get with an Ohio Org that has built a name over the years. Hawks, Doom, Lasers, Team Ohio, Outlaws, Thunder Elite, & Express will be back at the top like once before 13-15yrs ago.

Appreciate your feedback Jeff. I am not the coach of this team...my daughter plays for them. That's why I was enjoying watching my daughter play last weekend. Guess you jumped to conclusions before asking. As for knowing the process, I wasn't accusing Stedman00 of not knowing anything. I was simply pointing out that there seems to be people wondering why coaches aren't wandering around aimlessly at an event - when that isn't exactly what coaches do. I'm not sure why you assume I don't understand the process....you know absolutely nothing about me or my background. Seems an unfair assumption.

I'm sorry you have a negative perception of our team just because of a name that isn't local. We chose this team for my daughter due to the coaches. Knowing a lot of the other coaches/teams I had to choose from, it was more important to my daughter and my wife and I, that she end up with a team that respects her as a person/player/teammate and can teach her the game the way it needs to be taught while taking part in her becoming a well rounded woman that strives for what she wants out of life. We also look for a positive environment...something youth sports is lacking these days. We found that with the coaches on this team and have been very happy with the experience! I would have been just as happy finding a local no name team if it was the right fit! Everyone has their own path. I can't imagine pointing my finger at someone in here and telling them they made a huge mistake or are part of a bigger problem - without knowing more about them or their situation. As a staff member of this site and moderator -I am a little surprised at how combative you seem to be coming across.

Call the Comets event what you will, but the event was simply a warmup event with some exposure opportunities for my daughters team. We thought it was a nice event and was what we expected...and we were actually there. Recruiting calendars only allow for certain level teams to attend this early and those were the teams we saw in attendance (as well as other schools that were contacted by our girls and came but had nothing to do with the camp!). A list of coaches attending the camp and their emails were sent out to all head coaches prior to the event so the girls could reach out on their own to send schedules and field locations. I don't think anything underhanded took place here at all. All tournaments are a money grab to some degree...but as Russ pointed out, this one was being used as a fundraiser for the Mason High School Softball Booster program.

The OP asked if anyone had seen coaches at the event. I responded that I did. And I believe I saw them becuase they were asked to be there. Have a great season everyone!

 

[Passion4theGame]

Appreciate your feedback Jeff. I am not the coach of this team...my daughter plays for them. That's why I was enjoying watching my daughter play last weekend. Guess you jumped to conclusions before asking. As for knowing the process, I wasn't accusing Stedman00 of not knowing anything. I was simply pointing out that there seems to be people wondering why coaches aren't wandering around aimlessly at an event - when that isn't exactly what coaches do. I'm not sure why you assume I don't understand the process....you know absolutely nothing about me or my background. Seems an unfair assumption.

I'm sorry you have a negative perception of our team just because of a name that isn't local. We chose this team for my daughter due to the coaches. Knowing a lot of the other coaches/teams I had to choose from, it was more important to my daughter and my wife and I, that she end up with a team that respects her as a person/player/teammate and can teach her the game the way it needs to be taught while taking part in her becoming a well rounded woman that strives for what she wants out of life. We also look for a positive environment...something youth sports is lacking these days. We found that with the coaches on this team and have been very happy with the experience! I would have been just as happy finding a local no name team if it was the right fit! Everyone has their own path. I can't imagine pointing my finger at someone in here and telling them they made a huge mistake or are part of a bigger problem - without knowing more about them or their situation. As a staff member of this site and moderator -I am a little surprised at how combative you seem to be coming across.

Call the Comets event what you will, but the event was simply a warmup event with some exposure opportunities for my daughters team. We thought it was a nice event and was what we expected...and we were actually there. Recruiting calendars only allow for certain level teams to attend this early and those were the teams we saw in attendance (as well as other schools that were contacted by our girls and came but had nothing to do with the camp!). A list of coaches attending the camp and their emails were sent out to all head coaches prior to the event so the girls could reach out on their own to send schedules and field locations. I don't think anything underhanded took place here at all. All tournaments are a money grab to some degree...but as Russ pointed out, this one was being used as a fundraiser for the Mason High School Softball Booster program.

The OP asked if anyone had seen coaches at the event. I responded that I did. And I believe I saw them becuase they were asked to be there. Have a great season everyone!

Wasn't trying to come across combative. Sorry if it came across that way. I tend to do that quite often.
Yes I may have jumped to conclusion thta you are a coach for the team. It looked as though you coached. My apologize.
I pointed out a big problem with not just Ohio fastpitch but alot of states. These Big orgs coming in and farming out all the local talent teams and charging them to be part of their organization. Just to wear a big nationally reconized Orgs name across the front of the jersey. That doesn't help get in the pools they need to be in or get accepted into the invite only events.
I am glad your DD found a team that fits her needs and she's happy. Thats all that matters to most.
Personally I would love to see all Ohio coaches continue to build the Great Orgs we have here instead of going and feeding money to these out of state Orgs that do nothing to help an Ohio Athlete. I have talked with several coaches from Ohio that moved their teams to Nationally reconized orgs and they all said the same thing.... It's about the money and there's really no support from the org leaders.

 

[Brian Blinn]

Wasn't trying to come across combative. Sorry if it came across that way. I tend to do that quite often.
Yes I may have jumped to conclusion thta you are a coach for the team. It looked as though you coached. My apologize.
I pointed out a big problem with not just Ohio fastpitch but alot of states. These Big orgs coming in and farming out all the local talent teams and charging them to be part of their organization. Just to wear a big nationally reconized Orgs name across the front of the jersey. That doesn't help get in the pools they need to be in or get accepted into the invite only events.
I am glad your DD found a team that fits her needs and she's happy. Thats all that matters to most.
Personally I would love to see all Ohio coaches continue to build the Great Orgs we have here instead of going and feeding money to these out of state Orgs that do nothing to help an Ohio Athlete. I have talked with several coaches from Ohio that moved their teams to Nationally reconized orgs and they all said the same thing.... It's about the money and there's really no support from the org leaders.

Appreciate the apology. I get what you're getting at, but honestly, this team has opened a lot of doors for her, so we have had nothing but a great experience. Hate to say it, but it doesn't cost any more than most of the local teams we could have played for! A lot of those teams are money grabs too unfortunately. That's youth sports in a nutshell! Have a great week Jeff.

 

[DJB11]

Interesting thread with a lot of negativity. I will give credit to the Tournament Director for putting in a ton of work, along with many other people to pull this off. This is just the second year of this tournament which started at 14 teams last year and grew to 34 teams this year. They are trying to create something good here in SW Ohio and it takes time. They added a Coaches Clinic this year and that also takes time to develop. Keep working hard Mason and TD, it will continue to get better.

 

[Stedman00]

Here's their FB ad. line #2, the word Showcase is clearly stated. As are all the colleges listed that will be in attendance for the event. This entire thread was started to see if any others even saw any coaches, and the resounding replies that I have received is "NO".

Never said that the tourney was not well run. Facilities and fields were great, concessions on point, games appeared to be running close to on time and umpires were doing solid work. Crowd moans on close pitches were minimal. haha