watered down

[cincystorm]

The problem with the number of teams NOT increasing is that you are keeping kids from playing and adults from not being interested in improving the level of play. Personally I have no problem with having more teams at the 10/12/14 level, with the increased number of schools offering lacrosse in the spring and the opportunities for young players to switch to lacrosse at an earlier age than their freshman year, HS Softball is feeling the pressure to find participants. Much of what many of you are saying is true about the need for players to compete for a roster spot and measure themselves by their peers. The problem with fewer teams is you are turning players away, and nobody can tell me that they can look at a 10 or even 12 year old and assure me they have no chance at learning the game with hard work and a focus on fundamental skills, throwing, catching, running, the sports world is replete with stories of late bloomers who if they hadn't been given the opportunity would never had discovered inside themselves that burning desire to work, learn, and excel. For this to work coaches, ALL COACHES need to focus their attention on teaching the basics, quit worrying about hitting with power at 10/12/14's, teach your girls to throw and catch, to understand team concepts of defense and offense, learn to make routine plays into routine outs, teach them when to shorten up on their swing and how to take that outside pitch the other way, teach your girls to play hard on every pitch and to learn to handle failure AND SUCCESS, respect the game and your opponents, most of my girls are grown now and they relish the memories of coming of the field whether winning or losing knowing that they have given their "last full measure" on that field, and the vast majority have taken those lessons of hard work and their self satisfaction of becoming the best they could become with them into their adult lives and careers. Who among us is able to judge whether a 9 or 10 year old should have or not have that opportunity, for my part add as many teams as there are players, with one caveat, teach the basics and insist that every player from the most talented to the least talented all work as hard together as they can, it not about wins or losses it's about doing the right thing over and over again, granted I was always blessed with highly motivated and a majority of physically talented players, the wins and losses took care of themselves, and some of the players I have the most respect for were the players that had to work extra hard to keep up. You get what you put into it and as long as we can honestly say that the level of play throughout the state is improving we are headed in the right direction. Sorry for going on and on!

 

[CARDS]

The game as others have stated has more watered down coaching than players.
As most know there are A and B level teams and both should have an opportunity to tryout players.
Fastpitch Softball is no different than any other travel type sport. Generally those that complain the most find themselves on the tier three or four teams and blame other player involvement on the reason why their DD did not make a tier one or two team. Tournament directors also have some skin in the game with accepting any team that has the $$$ to be in their event. (Most TDs combine A and B level events to reduce the awards they have to hand out).

Now some are thinking what the heck is the difference between a tier one and tier four team? IMO....
Tier one teams never has to say the talent pool is watered down... They attract the best and play in the best events across the country. Solid coaching and recruiting means they have little turnover and look for 2/3 players per season.
Tier Two teams have good coaching generally play above .500 ball at an A level and grab the top talent not already picked up by tier one teams. They play 50% of their schedule in top tier events.
Tier three teams struggle at A level..They compete at B level events or vs. other B level teams at A level events. They generally have a winning percentage well under .500. Coaching is weaker as they are learning how to coach like the ladies are learning how to play. These teams tend to try to play B events but tier two teams dropping down or tournament directors bunching teams to fill tournaments gets them spanked 3 out of 5 games.
Tier four teams struggle to make it a season. Players and coaches are learning how to win. Players generally have attended several tryouts and landed here. Tournament directors place these teams in A level events where they get crushed. They struggle vs. B level teams but pick up a win here and there.