Guess I will weigh in on this one, some may recall the fun we had with this topic in the spring, for the record there are a huge majority of people on this site that never post publicly, but at that time the e-mail and responses I received to the thread ran about 12-1 in favor of trying to start an alternative to HS ball in the spring.
The reality is a player could play 25-30 games or more from april to the middle of may and practice a great deal more in a spring travel season, there are quality tournaments in Georgia and with some great teams from GA/AL/TN/FL during this time, the reality is that either their HS season is during the Fall or their HS Governing body allows players to play outside their HS team during the season. Face it you are talking about 5 weekends, with the rest of the time dedicated to practicing and perhaps playing other teams from the area that choose this route.
Not declaring what anyone should do just stating it is workable, and a viable alternative to another season playing for your HS team.
And just to clear up some info that was posted,regarding the players currently playing in college,in past years Calif HS allowed contact and interaction with your travel team it has only been in the last 2 years this has changed, as such this situation in Calif is in the process of shaking itself out, like in many things the past has no bearing on the present, any research into players currently playing in college and personal testimony while interesting is immaterial this is a situation that has changed and appears to be changing fairly rapidly.
Having said all this before I will end with I think if a PLAYER, NOT Mom or more likely Dad (I offer that because how many dads relish the idea of the press and the local noteriety their daughter gets when she routinely dominates the majority of rec ball players she plays against in HS, Think about it and be honest at least with yourself), continuing if a player wants to play HS ball, she should play if she doesn't then she should have an alternative, believe me I have talked to so many PLAYERS!! that are sick and tired of the attitudes they deal with and many have told me it seems they are coaching the team in some cases.
Well I guess I have stirred the pot enough, remember folks, adults, I said ADULTS, can agree to disagree about most anything, politics, religion, and softball. I respect the HS coaches and those that feel strongly about it, and I do understand your feelings, but I also hear and talk to players coaches and my friends from California and there is a change taking place, very definitely, and sticking our heads in the sand will not do a bit of good, at one point in the spring Joe A. offered his opinion that if HS softball doesn't want to lose these players they need to offer a better product than is currently offered.
nuff said by me for now!