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Plus the Minnesota Irish aren't a bad org.....lol :lmao:
Plus the Minnesota Irish aren't a bad org.....lol :lmao:
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This is the first step to oversaturate softball like they have baseball. DJ has his hands in everything and unfortunately none of it is done forthe good of the kids, but to keep filling his wallet. He hires college kids or recent graduates who, depending on what program they came from, range from OK to have no idea how to teach the game to have no clue how to see what a kid is doing wrong. Just like in education, there are good, average and poor math teachers, science teachers english teachers. The bad part is you try out, but have no clue what team you are actually trying out for - honest truth based on their baseball programs. You may get put on a team with a coach that knows CPR like the back of their hand, but wouldn't know an illegal pitch if it hit them in the head. If you are a talented player, you might get put on their A team, but if not, you are paying a heck of a lot of money for substandard coaching and very little attention from the few in the program that do actually know how to teach the game.
If you would like proof, he just added the fourth and fifth baseball "organizations" to his stable - Orioles, Giants, Blue Jays, Diamond and now a "rec" developmental out of the HITS facility. What happened quality over quantity? Not where the allmighty dollar is concerned for this group.
If you would like proof, he just added the fourth and fifth baseball "organizations" to his stable - Orioles, Giants, Blue Jays, Diamond and now a "rec" developmental out of the HITS facility. What happened quality over quantity? Not where the allmighty dollar is concerned for this group.
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If the org is adding new teams, then there must be a demand for it and AA is doing nothing more than supplying teams for the demand. It's not like they're putting a gun to anybody's head forcing them to join their org. If the supply dies down, so will the number of teams from the acadamy. If the product is not equal the cost, the number of participants will diminish. It is nothing more than simple economics. Don't gripe about Aspiring Athletes. If you do not like their system and the fact that they are growing quickly, then just look elsewhere. Remember, they are not forcing you nor anyone else to do anything.
Len
Len
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Oh come Lenski, where would we be without our boundless resource of righteous indignation? This wouldn't have been allowed in the old days. 
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I have talked to several people who have had sons on the baseball side of this org. and all agree that they sell the sizzle more than the steak. They keep way too many things under their hat and they definitely do have that used car salesman aura about them. I think most parents that have been around fastpitch for a couple years will be able to see through the BS that they are selling.
I went on the site that they are using for college recruiting videos. There were very few videos available, and the ones that were on there were atrocious! There was a girl in her batting video that was hitting pop up after pop up. Another girl featured a ground ball that was probably rolled to her go between her legs! I guess you have to pay extra to get your mistakes edited out of a video that you are attempting to impress colleges with!!! WTH??? Really top notch stuff you are offering there guys!
I went on the site that they are using for college recruiting videos. There were very few videos available, and the ones that were on there were atrocious! There was a girl in her batting video that was hitting pop up after pop up. Another girl featured a ground ball that was probably rolled to her go between her legs! I guess you have to pay extra to get your mistakes edited out of a video that you are attempting to impress colleges with!!! WTH??? Really top notch stuff you are offering there guys!
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All I know is I can't take a cooler with water and snacks in there park that says greed all over it
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Ive been around fastpitch along time and they got way to much sizzle and very little steak for 1200.00. the coaches, not all of them, only the ones that i innner acted with are very imature and will tell you straight up front that they know nothing about pitching, hitting, fundamentals or mechanics, i (coach speaking) was a right fielder at CSU and i only know practice drills. THEY ARE BY FAR NOooooooooooooo PROFESSIONALS. And yes they are paid.
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Just perusing the tryouts and ran across this statement from another organization:
REALLY????
REALLY????
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It buys DJ a new car every year. He's all about selling the kool-aid. ;&
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I have a friend whose dd played on one of their softball teams. Got nothing for the money they paid nor what was promised them in the contract. Needless to say my friend is on the move to get her dd to a new organization for next year. That old saying "You get what you pay for." Definitely doesn't apply to their softball organization.
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Seems pretty simple to me. Don't play for that team or any team that you don't want. You write the checks. Seems like a no brainer.
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Its easy to say just don't play for them, but what is happening is people are trying to warn those that don't know any better. A statement like that is making an assumption that everyone knows all the ins and outs of travel softball or baseball for that matter. There are people out there who are bringing girls out of rec ball for the first time and may not know any better. This program preys on those people or there would not be so much negative posted on a cleveland travel baseball forum.
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I find the whole situation very disturbing since they are in my back yard. My organization goes out of their way to provide a quality experience for our girls at a fair price (so does Todd's group) and when the snake oil salesman start pitching their product as better with all the promises, it hurts our efforts and just might turn some girls away from the game (or parents for sure).
The girls only have so many years to play and develop, a single lost year could be devastating in the long run. Just because you were/are a good player doesn't mean you can coach. The game is far more than mechanical and I don't see how a 1st year coach can be that effective without guidance from a seasoned mentor. To start these young ladies off as head coaches without providing any mentoring is a crime. JMHO
The girls only have so many years to play and develop, a single lost year could be devastating in the long run. Just because you were/are a good player doesn't mean you can coach. The game is far more than mechanical and I don't see how a 1st year coach can be that effective without guidance from a seasoned mentor. To start these young ladies off as head coaches without providing any mentoring is a crime. JMHO
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everyone thinks softball is exspensive i payed $1550 for my son to play baseball because he loves the game and wants more
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Maybe I'm not on here enough to see this particular group. I'm lost. I will pay closer attention from now on!
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My son's baseball team was $1300. The fees included paying for the coaches hotel rooms during out of town tournaments. 2 weeks before the last tournament, they hit us up for another $50 each.
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You might have a good chance to win some of you baseball fee monay at a fundraiser for our girls HS softball . 100.00 cost --60% payout. To be held Aug 21st in portsmouth Oh. at the local CAY building. PM me if interested will be lots of food and cheap beer prices. cash tables , cash buy in etc etc MD
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He might be annoying, but at least he's READING the posts he's trying to hijack - gotta give him credit for that!
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Lady Orioles also had to pay for the coaches hotel stays for tournaments, and then the coaches booked at the hotels that would give the coaches a free room if so many booked the hotel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also had to pay additional for Camps and if you wanted coaching in one specific area. The bottom line is-if you are going to pay 1200.00 plus, make sure you get your moneys worth.
Proffesional training in all areas pitching, hitting, fundamentals, mechanics,
and well experianced role models for coaches, which was what they led you to believe you were going to get. I can pay half the money and get more for the money and also pay for professional training. When my daughter goes to college, wie will first look for Acedemic in mind first, then softball. At local colleges if you played softball and have some talent they will take you, but OHIO STATE, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA< ECT that a different story. They want you to pay additional to someone within their facility for any training.:yahoo:
Proffesional training in all areas pitching, hitting, fundamentals, mechanics,
and well experianced role models for coaches, which was what they led you to believe you were going to get. I can pay half the money and get more for the money and also pay for professional training. When my daughter goes to college, wie will first look for Acedemic in mind first, then softball. At local colleges if you played softball and have some talent they will take you, but OHIO STATE, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA< ECT that a different story. They want you to pay additional to someone within their facility for any training.:yahoo:
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My boss just back from taking his 12 year old son to Nashville for a baseball tourney. They faced a southern team that rostered 19 and each families fee was $4000. To tryout...it is a $600 non-refundable fee. Granted in baseball pitch count is a major issue so they carried 6-9 pitchers with various abilities.
Now... I can't imagine the politics, drama, and issues coming from those kinds of fees. It would have to be my job for me to do this. My team for the past 3 years were set at 300-350 and they actually paid 225, 138, and this year isn't finalized (because we refund all left over money) but I believe its close to 300. We didn't fundraise as much and our parents are at the point that they'd rather play more ball, less fundraising, and more check writing. About 55 official games each year and up to 20 scrimmages and freindlies. Now, we do have them pay for their bags each year and we split the cost of any indoor activity. Not bad to me.
Now... I can't imagine the politics, drama, and issues coming from those kinds of fees. It would have to be my job for me to do this. My team for the past 3 years were set at 300-350 and they actually paid 225, 138, and this year isn't finalized (because we refund all left over money) but I believe its close to 300. We didn't fundraise as much and our parents are at the point that they'd rather play more ball, less fundraising, and more check writing. About 55 official games each year and up to 20 scrimmages and freindlies. Now, we do have them pay for their bags each year and we split the cost of any indoor activity. Not bad to me.
