trophy hunting or improving skills

[default]

We're playing in the Laser's Pony tourney so we can play the Gold, Black, Indiana Thunder, etc... Who is attending the tourney means more than the sanction. You can view Doom 96's schedule at www.cincydoom.net

 

[default]

You never know who is going to be at a tournament when you sign up. We had already committed to the Toledo Tune-Up before we knew about the Summer Rebellion. The Indy Thunder '96 and Laser Gold were in Toledo last year and the competition in "A" is always good. I still don't know who is in the Tune-Up yet. You know some of the big tournaments always draw well like GAPSS and Stringrays but they are only two weekends. A hidden gem around our area is the Muncie Memorial (NSA). They always draw well with the Indy Diamond Chix, Indy Dreams and Indy Thunder '96 etc. However, I do not know the field for that yet either, just that we are playing. Also, I know the economy is dictating where a lot of teams play this year, trophy hunting or not.

Our schedule includes:
Our two Rip-It tournaments
Toledo Tune-Up
Muncie Memorial
GAPSS
Beavercreek (just for the walking tacos)
Jami Snyder 14U
and Nationals (ASA "A" Eastern and the Midwest All Sanctions)

 

[default]

It's about team & individual goals, and where you want to take the girls.

As said, it does seem like a mob mentality at the younger ages, when everybody wants to "prove" something (trophy based). As they get a little older it seems like it becomes a little more about preparing for High School, and then College a little older from there (challenge/competition/skill based).

As an older 14u team this year, we would like to "trophy hunt" every week, but we will be doing at the best tournaments available at our age group, and playing up on other weekends. We think it is important to win, but also to stretch a little, especially now that most of our girls will be playing against 16-18 year olds in HS, and many have hopes beyond HS.

Scheduling?? - some of our tournaments are no-brainers (Stingrays, etc.), but some of them are sort of a wait & see (who signs up?) - hope that doesn't sound bad, we just want to make sure that we are facing the appropriate challenges given our beliefs about the quality level of our team, good or bad, and realizing that we have weaknesses also (don't want to get "bludeoned" every week either).

As Classics points out, that "science" is not as easy as it used to be though because at 14u many players have changed teams for economic reasons, or to play with certain others from their area, or to be more local to support the HS farm system, etc., ....... and one or two players can change things fast. Plus, I am still wondering about all of the Sanction noise this year, and where certain philosophies will take some teams, along with the horrible economy??

Anyways, a good mix of competition that is over your head (growth), but with the opportunity to win some tournaments (success) is what we believe is best (for our group).

Growth + Success = Happy.

 

[default]

Great post pickledad

 

[default]

Our schedule is at the bottom of our web page.

http://www.ladylasers.net/black.htm

Mike Wilson
Lady Lasers Black 12U

PS - JEMIII - Heart, Rebellion, GAPSS & Stingrays - if we aren't best buds after this summer something's wrong. Hopefully (thanks to Bruce) it ends with us both staying at the Baymont in Normal. See you Memorial Day weekend, I've heard rumors its almost a guarantee we will end up in the same pool. :lmao:. Good luck this weekend.

 

[default]

Hey Mike,

Looking forward to those tourneys. It will be like last year when the Lasers Silver, Stingrays Caton and Doom 95 battled all year at 12U. Wasn't a tourney unless you had at least two of them there.

Great job at Spano.

John

 

[default]

You schedule what you think you can comepete in , if your a straight USSSA or B team and you barely have a winning season your not gonna go schedule games where the big dogs that chase a straight ASA/Usa schedule go and kick each others brains out week after week, but on the other hand if you dominate at that level youll try some NSA/ASA and test the waters to see what metal your team is made of, if they can compete, at that level or will learn to compete over time youll hang around, thats why theres so much of a mix of different sanctions different teams try each year. find where you belong, imporve and advance the skill level of your girls and play to win...

Tim

 

[default]

It is important for girls to develop a taste for winning. Then it makes it sting more when they lose, causes them to work harder, repeat cycle. I think it is funny to read many of you posting how wrong this is when most teams have done this at some point. We all know where the weaker tournaments may be. So don't play dumb like you have know idea.

 

[default]

Surely shouldn't trophy hunt. But, there is nothing wrong with playing in your age bracket and coming out on top alot. Though they have to be in the right tournament. There are definitely some, as most would consider, "B" level tournaments that most good teams avoid. Nothing wrong with those tournaments, as sometimes those, who most would consider, "B" teams surely can beat what most consider an "A" team. But if your goals are to make your girls better then you surely want to enter tournaments where you're a little iffy on where you stand amongst the teams. On the flip side, I don't see a great benefit from playing the same teams over and over and over again. Even if they're the best teams out there. First off I think it takes some of the fun out of playing. Save your money, get some local fields, and just pay for the umps and play. Second I think your team loses something if its done too much. You have to put the girls in a position, and the coaches, of not knowing what to expect sometimes. Especially if you're going to nationals in any sanction. Because even if your girls constantly face that same 58 mph pitcher 12 times a season, it doesn't mean much when facing a different pitcher who can throw 58 but has a different release point, or a quirky windup, etc. Players need to be able to adjust and they can only do this by having to adjust. My opinion, especially at the younger age groups, 14u and under, is to have a good mix. Find some tough tournaments that you have to travel to and then mix in some of the better locals to give your kids and parents a break from the travel. Come nationals, whatever sanction, your kids will be better prepared for the unknown. Our girls will play 3 locals, early, this year and then we'll all be sick of seeing those same teams, win or lose. Definitely some very strong teams, but will be just sick of playing them. Its boring for the girls, parents, and coaches. At least for us. Come 16u, go where the exposure is. Which is usually the better tournaments in any case. Usually.

 

[default]

The problem I have isteams get on the "POLL" and claim how good they are and we won this, this and this. But don't come out of there little corners of that state or hold a tournament every weekend and say we are locked into playing here so come to us. Come on change your schedule and go where the top teams are IF you are claiming to be one of those top teams. If you are happy chasing trophies that is fine but please stop claiming how good you are.

 

[default]

its pointless to claim how good your team is. The polls are just for fun. Sometimes people lobby to get on there or get offended if their team is not listed. Why care? Its just a poll. One done with the voters knowing they don't have all the info on every team. Even some teams that stay in their "little corner" could be teams that could beat some of the top teams. Who knows, who cares. If your team is that good, stay under the radar. Cracks me up when I see someone from a particular team posting how good their own team is or their team is one to watch out for. Maybe they are, but that will be shown on the field not in a poll. Relax.

In the end, this all has to be about getting the girls better and then in the older age groups, 16u and above, getting them exposure so they at least have a chance of fulfilling their goal of playing college ball if thats what they want to do. Along the way, all involved have some fun, good times, and lasting memories. There are many, many teams that I've personally watched or our girls have played over the last few years in OH, PA, WV, IN that are very, very good teams. Who is the best? Who knows.

And people can look down on Pony Nationals all they want, but our girls played Pony Nationals last year and I guarantee you the alot of those teams from CT, NY, NJ, VA, MD, etc would hang with any of the teams in our little corner of OH, PA, WV, IN. Not like those teams are full of second rate players when compared to our teams. Especially the PA Krunch. Playing ASA Nationals is the granddaddy of them all, no doubt, but not the only place you'll find the best teams. Travel, expense, getting it all synced up, has alot to do with where you play. And its not like there are a bazillion ASA qualifiers around. In western PA there are barely any. Once you get into the ages where getting looks from coaches becomes a concern, then ASA is surely the way to go. But 13u and under, to me, to plan to go to ASA year in year out is alot of money being spent that could be used to bring in Kobata again, or Hillhouse, or Howard/Bustos, or whomever. Send the girls to a camp, etc. You have to travel, and pay for it, to the qualifier. Then qualify hopefully. Then travel, and pay for, to god knows where for Nationals> To in all likelyhood, as history has shown, get 4 or 5 games in and get eliminated by some CA team that plays year round. Because if you're not devoting yourselves and your players like the Slammers do, good luck. And even they have had mixed results the last 2 seasons at ASA nationals. Seriously, lets say your team actually wins ASA Nationals 12u or 14u. The girls wouldn't really even realize, fully, what they just accomplished. The parents and coaches would for sure. But this is supposed to be about the players. Sure the players will be happy, jumping up and down, etc. But they are playing for the fun of it at those ages more than anything else, including future scholarships. And winning it doesn't guarantee your girls anything except the listing on the ASA site that they won the tournament. Winning is great, and does help the girls develop confidence. But advancing their skills should outweigh, by far, the desire for winning/trophy hunting. If its done right, I'd image both can be accomplished.

 

[default]

This is weird. I just complimented the age groups posted 10U through 14U. Go figure. In 14U, it takes 4 or 5 vasity high school players to make a team very competitve. Who knows what teams have these players. They could be half the teams in a tournament. Again, I am curious about this post. If any team is entering a tournament, no matter what the expected level of play is (must be several levels of play. Hmmm this is travel ball right). Why would a team be labelled as trophy hunting. Is it because other teams players are not able to play as well?

I absolutely do not agree with that at all!!!!!!!!!!! I've seen plenty of 8th grade 13 yr old teams that could smoke 90% of varsity teams. So to put a statement out there like that is nuts. Now if you were to say "4 to 5 varsity high school players from rock solid programs" then you would be on to something. 5 varsity players from a poor program couldn't come close to competing 14U ASA. Actually 14U IMHO is one of the toughest hard nose ball out there. They still play without distractions like boys, and jobs.

 

[default]

good for you buckncm

 

[default]

I was a varsity coach for a number of year at a very successful varsity program and a long time travel coach - and I speak with experience when I say - some of the better 14U teams can defeat, and in some cases, easily defeat a number of HS varsity teams.

This is not a slap at HS softball but, it is a fact.