watered down

[chixdad]

DD was on one of those third teams in an organization at 11u, it was a rough year only one or two wins on Sunday.But she and six or seven of the girls worked on their games and are still playing today at 18u. Most of them are now on much better teams, looking at our HS program I wish more of the girls were playing on the club teams and working on their games year round, like most teams in our conference have girls doing. I would stay away from certain teams or organizations personally but it's up to each individual, it's nice to see the girl's have the chance to play.

 

[jt7663]

Alot of Great Opinions. The Best Answer would be if the Tournaments had enough teams so a registered "C" Team does not have to play against a Great "A" Team. Tournaments normally can't get enough teams & group all teams in same bracket. Oh & I have been on both ends before someone suggest sick of getting beat up on. lol

 

[FastBat]

Why do people think like this??? I wouldn't deter any kid from playing anything!

In the end, it's the player's that won't quit, that are the last standing. Not, the player that made the best team at 10 or 12 years old. Just keep plugging away!

 

[fpitchdad]

Lets just cancel travel ball all together and go get a beer and tell lies about how great our DD's were back when travel ball wasn't watered down. Hitter23 and BouldersDad are buying......facemasks may be required.

 

[daytonfp]

Let's also take a look at the larger organizations that will have 3 teams in one age group to just pull in money and create teams to accommodate the large turn outs...Then register the same tournaments, epsecially their own? Are they quality teams or jusy money flowing in? What's the difference?

I see this $$ argument mentioned quite often. So in what organizations do the team fees just go into some fat bank account? Virtually every dollar I collect from my players go to pay team expenses. Isn't that how it should be? I had an account balance of about $50 at the end of July.....just enough to keep my account open. I would be leery of any organization where they siphon off some portion of team fees and use them for some other, non-team "things"! I guess if the organization owns an indoor facility or something like that, they could collect a small % from each player to cover some of those costs. I guess I just hate when people portray it as a money grab! Most of us aren't getting paid out here ya know! I would venture to say that 99% of us aren't in it for any monetary reason. In fact, my wife would not want to know how much coaching COSTS me each year!!

 

[KillingMeSmalls]

I see this $$ argument mentioned quite often. So in what organizations do the team fees just go into some fat bank account? Virtually every dollar I collect from my players go to pay team expenses. Isn't that how it should be? I had an account balance of about $50 at the end of July.....just enough to keep my account open. I would be leery of any organization where they siphon off some portion of team fees and use them for some other, non-team "things"! I guess if the organization owns an indoor facility or something like that, they could collect a small % from each player to cover some of those costs. I guess I just hate when people portray it as a money grab! Most of us aren't getting paid out here ya know! I would venture to say that 99% of us aren't in it for any monetary reason. In fact, my wife would not want to know how much coaching COSTS me each year!!

Great post daytonfp. We have played for a few different organizations and not once did I feel that the fees were unreasonable or that the organization was making a fortune on our entry fees. I have no issues with them covering expenses, even for Coaches if they so choose. As a parent, you should be asking up front how the funds will be spent and even check during the season if you don't feel you are getting the value you had expected.

 

[mogsoftball]

The more girls playing, the more high level players you are going to develop. The more girls playing travel the better high school ball will eventually get. The more girls that play travel the more you will have play at the next level. the more girls playing travel the bigger the sport grows and the more girls form Ohio playing at the next level is great for our state and the sport.

It's nice to see the majority of people smack down the idea of not having girls play the sport they love.

 

[Fairman]

If the teams weren't watered down your dd wouldn't have a place to play! Very few girls show up at U10 as superstars. Very few don't need some time in the outfield picking daisies and watching the clouds at that age. You can't pick your high school varsity from two dozen ten year olds no matter how good you are; and you sure can't pick your college players let alone the starting pitcher in the college world series. Thank goodness for water-downed teams.

Who will get bit by the bug and out-work everyone else for the next decade? Who will grow 2' and develop a nasty drop? Who will stay after school all year to work out in the cage or throw just a few more times? Who will find the right coach (or team) at just the right time? Who will decide to play softball instead of getting a ccar? Who will finally get to pitch in meaningful games because the number one had to go to Disney for two weeks?

You've got to have a large number of teams at the base of pyramid in order to raise the peak. I say its's great to have a bunch of 'watered down teams' in order that more players get a chance to play and more players can then decide to move to a higher level.

Rec ball used to do that now it's B level travel teams. The proof is in the pudding, never before has the quality of the player been at such a high level for the actual elite teams.

Can't field a competitive national team...you need to bring more players into softball and some will just pick daisies and some will hit the ball to fence.

 

[Linedrive21]

If the interest is there and the girl wants to play, let them play and find their niche talent wise.
More teams equals greater opportunity for that to happen, they are only little for a short while, let's enjoy them while we can at any level.

 

[HITTER23]

Lets just cancel travel ball all together and go get a beer and tell lies about how great our DD's were back when travel ball wasn't watered down. Hitter23 and BouldersDad are buying......facemasks may be required.

Tim drinks all those crafty beers that are like motor oil, no thanks lol.

75% of the replies on this thread dont come close to addressing what the orignal poster brought up.

 

[lewam3]

Tim drinks all those crafty beers that are like motor oil, no thanks lol.

craft beers pair very well with hot dogs Chris

 

[wow]

Tim drinks all those crafty beers that are like motor oil, no thanks lol.

75% of the replies on this thread dont come close to addressing what the orignal poster brought up.

OP ...Organizations need to take a look at there mumbers in tryouts. If your numbers are lowyou should fold. In my opinion you do nothing but water down the game. You'll pick anyone up just to have a team , then you get destroyed all season long. How fun is that for the girls

This is a true statement.. However there are different levels of travel. As far as numbers at try outs? Irrelevant. Most of the best teams don't need 4,5,6 kids. 1 maybe 2. But VERY true about taking anyone to field a team. Every team can't be the best. You have to do your homework about teams, coaches and orgs. Then know what turneys you are getting into. Some coaches want to play at the higest level, but don't have the team to compete, others have the team to compete but don't play the best turneys. The right mix is critical. Of course the girls want to win. Its the coaches responsibility to make sure the team is in the right events to accomplish the goals. Loosing every game is no fun. Those are the teams who fold or don't get a core group.

The game has to evolve and grow. This means increasing numbers and talent level. Just a part of the popularity of the game. Accept it and play with the best, avoid what you want. You have a choice. Sure you will run into weaker teams at a point but the chances are lower and fewer if you are in the best events. Be selective and the talent question solves itself.

 

[HITTER23]

craft beers pair very well with hot dogs Chris

the legend continues......

 

[okiedad1961]

Don't like the "watered down" beers either Tim ,keeping w the direction of this thread

 

[Bigdog]

OP ...Organizations need to take a look at there mumbers in tryouts. If your numbers are lowyou should fold. In my opinion you do nothing but water down the game. You'll pick anyone up just to have a team , then you get destroyed all season long. How fun is that for the girls

This is a true statement.. However there are different levels of travel. As far as numbers at try outs? Irrelevant. Most of the best teams don't need 4,5,6 kids. 1 maybe 2. But VERY true about taking anyone to field a team. Every team can't be the best. You have to do your homework about teams, coaches and orgs. Then know what turneys you are getting into. Some coaches want to play at the higest level, but don't have the team to compete, others have the team to compete but don't play the best turneys. The right mix is critical. Of course the girls want to win. Its the coaches responsibility to make sure the team is in the right events to accomplish the goals. Loosing every game is no fun. Those are the teams who fold or don't get a core group.

The game has to evolve and grow. This means increasing numbers and talent level. Just a part of the popularity of the game. Accept it and play with the best, avoid what you want. You have a choice. Sure you will run into weaker teams at a point but the chances are lower and fewer if you are in the best events. Be selective and the talent question solves itself.

Well said. Its the coaches responsibility to find the tournaments that best fit your team. Most of all, its the coach's job to "know who you are" as a team.

 

[BouldersDad]

yes - it's a new day - we have moved away from Neighborhod Rec teams - they no longer are enough, girls want more. So low level travel teams are the new Rec -

Now a girl can take pride in making THAT {Insert name of THE BEST TRAVEL TEAM here}TRAVEL TEAM.

There is still PRIDE to be had.

Finally someone nails it. Its not that the teams are watered down by players its more that the teams are watered down by lack of coaching. The game is growing. More kids are playing travel over rec. More kids want to experience a higher level. The issue is not enough qualified people to lead and teach. If there were enough people to teach proper mechanics and fundamentals the conversation would be.....why are there so many good players for so few teams. All the complaining about watered down talent begs the question...... how can the kids be held responsible. Should not the adults that are supposed to be responsable for their training be held accountable? Now that i have farted in in church i will set back and watch the stumbling and the rumbling from the crowds that blame everyone but themselves.

As fas as beer goes i prefer a beer with taste and body ( Weizenbier and heff I brew my self. Have tried to educate Chris about beer but some people would rather drink the pi$$ that flows from St Louis and Milwaukee.

Tim

 

[Lenski65]

More kids are playing travel over rec.

.........Now that i have farted in in church i will set back and watch the stumbling and the rumbling from the crowds that blame everyone but themselves.

As fas as beer goes i prefer a beer with taste and body ( Weizenbier and heff I brew my self. Have tried to educate Chris about beer but some people would rather drink the pi$$ that flows from St Louis and Milwaukee.

Tim

Oh how I wish the old OFC was still in existence. I predicted the downfall of rec programs and lack of coaching talent for TB back in 2008 and people told me I was stupid and crazy. The truth of the matter is it was happening back then.

I also tried to convert Chris over to drinking real beer, but I stopped trying when he wouldn't move past Summer Shandy.....what a skirt!

 

[Pacerdad57]

i really feel there is no such thing as watered down. how do you expect to keep kids in the game and wanting to play if you tell them "no thanks, you're not good enough, you're messing up the quality of play, we don't need you".
there should always be room for whoever wants to try, exactly why there are "A", "B" & "C" divisions so that you can find a level of play that you can have fun and still compete. if a coach is throwing a bunch of neophyte players into an "A" tourney, it certainly isn't the girls fault. some of those girls are going to find that they love the game and want to work harder to move into a better level of softball. if the coaches can't coach and better these players, then it's the coaches that are watered down, not the players with enough passion to want to give it a go. more power to those kids. let's not try to keep out more kids who want to experience the game and make some memories for themselves and family. it is after all a game for the girls, not for the egos of the adults.
and as for the craft brew, particularly taken by the four string red rye IPA that is out now. there is no beer out of St. Louis or Milwaukee........just colored water......

 

[daboss]

Oh man, like many of you I knew this topic would be entertaining. lol. Something happened that wouldn't let me chime in yesterday and now 4 pages strong with most missing the the point. lol.

With that said, let me ask a question with a different twist in hopes of throwing fuel on the fire. How about considering the problem is there aren't enough qualified coaches out there for the teams we have now? That might be a better statement than judging the talents of the girls. lol

 

[Pacerdad57]

Oh man, like many of you I knew this topic would be entertaining. lol. Something happened that wouldn't let me chime in yesterday and now 4 pages strong with most missing the the point. lol.

With that said, let me ask a question with a different twist in hopes of throwing fuel on the fire. How about considering the problem is there aren't enough qualified coaches out there for the teams we have now? That might be a better statement than judging the talents of the girls. lol

good call daboss