Who's the largest Org?

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Largest Org would probably have to be Hawks. To me it's quite interesting too considering it's a relatively young organization without a true success record. I don't remember ever seeing or reading about an elite team coming from this org with the exception of the Lenos' team. Even so, there's been little of a complete track record within the 20 team population. I'm actually not sure what the goal is with having all of these teams. It may be to get as many girls additional instruction all together (for the girls) or it may be an ego thing to see how many teams they can put on the field. Either way, they get the rosters to supply this many teams so they must be doing something to drive the interest.
For me I would want to know who has the most quality versus quantity. IMO, this has to be Lasers above the rest and then you have Stingrays, Doom, MVX & Wolfpack. All you have to do is look at their track record and see how many kids they have put into college. They usually have 2 teams per age group and groom their groups by keeping them the same age versus a mix.

 

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Les I remember a few years ago we were at River Shores and I said look at those Hawks flying and gliding on the winds.

You asked me if I hunted much and I said no!

You said you have been hanging around Doug and Boulders dad too long as those are turkey buzzards and just look like Hawks too most people! :lmao:

I recall that conversation... killin' me!!!!:lmao::lmao::lmao:

 

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Wizards have 20 this year, one 8u, four 10u, four 12u, four 14u, five 16u, three 18u.....oooops, make that 21 teams.

Hawks website shows 20 teams.

 

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Largest Org would probably have to be Hawks. To me it's quite interesting too considering it's a relatively young organization without a true success record. I don't remember ever seeing or reading about an elite team coming from this org with the exception of the Lenos' team. Even so, there's been little of a complete track record within the 20 team population. I'm actually not sure what the goal is with having all of these teams. It may be to get as many girls additional instruction all together (for the girls) or it may be an ego thing to see how many teams they can put on the field. Either way, they get the rosters to supply this many teams so they must be doing something to drive the interest.
For me I would want to know who has the most quality versus quantity. IMO, this has to be Lasers above the rest and then you have Stingrays, Doom, MVX & Wolfpack. All you have to do is look at their track record and see how many kids they have put into college. They usually have 2 teams per age group and groom their groups by keeping them the same age versus a mix.

I am not sure what the Hawk's goal is but ours is to develop more girls into quality players. It is starting to work for us however we still have a long way to go to catch up with the top programs in Ohio. Last year we did send two teams to the ASA Nationals and another two teams to the Regional ASA Nationals as well as one to the USSSA World Series. We did have another team qualify for ASA Nationals that did not go. We expect some better things this year.

 

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The Hawks 18 has been very successful. In the last season and a half we have put 10 kids into college. Played a straight ASA schedule and won 75% of our games. Our schedule has consisted of tournaments such as Lasers, best of best, gapps, firecracker in Indiana. What is needed more than that to be successful im not sure of. The only tourny in Ohio we have not been able to crack of yet is stingrays. Given time im sure on our present course we will have a college exposure team there in the next few years.


Tim

 

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The Hawks 18 has been very successful. In the last season and a half we have put 10 kids into college.


Tim

That, is a very rewarding accomplishment.

 

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Fun to see the banter! I would say depends on each organization's goals. I would think that they would be either:

1. Prepare girls for college - get recruited

2. Make girls the best high school players that they can be.

3. Have fun with your friends

All are pretty cool playing the best game out there but definitely different. Coaches should be honest about what the player's goals are and then direct them accordingly.

 

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What Coach Murph said in breaking it down makes sense to me. I'm sure there's maybe a few more you could add but in general that would cover it. Either-way everyone gets better, many will quit try other sports or do something else, many will get better and achieve their goals of being a solid high school player and many will realize there dreams and play college ball. And some (don't know the percentage) will play at the D1 level. Also I wonder without specifics are fees different for these types of teams vary depending on goals, tournament scheduling and training, but that's probably a different thread.
Thanks,

 

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That, is a very rewarding accomplishment.

You are right that is very rewarding, especially when your DD is one of the ten that went on to play college ball. Thanks Hawks ORG. AND ALL THE COACHES WHO PUT THEIR TIME INTO THESE YOUNG LADIES.

 

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8 14u teams ? dang . MD

 

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8 14u teams ? dang . MD

What they don't tell you is all those 14u teams are still looking for 6-7 players....:lmao:......jk

 

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Largest Org would probably have to be Hawks. To me it's quite interesting too considering it's a relatively young organization without a true success record. I don't remember ever seeing or reading about an elite team coming from this org with the exception of the Lenos' team. Even so, there's been little of a complete track record within the 20 team population. I'm actually not sure what the goal is with having all of these teams. It may be to get as many girls additional instruction all together (for the girls) or it may be an ego thing to see how many teams they can put on the field. Either way, they get the rosters to supply this many teams so they must be doing something to drive the interest.
For me I would want to know who has the most quality versus quantity. IMO, this has to be Lasers above the rest and then you have Stingrays, Doom, MVX & Wolfpack. All you have to do is look at their track record and see how many kids they have put into college. They usually have 2 teams per age group and groom their groups by keeping them the same age versus a mix.

The funny thing is...team keep seeking out these organizations to be a part of...tells you that quality coaches are drawn to them.

 

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It is always interesting to see who takes the question of the thread and turns it into something else. Answer the posters question as best you can or start another thread.

"Hey can anybody here recommend a good pitching coach?"

"THE BETTER QUESTION IS WHY DO THOSE DARN HAWKS BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!"

I always get a kick out of it.

 

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I have heard plenty of Hawk bashing over the past few years, but their teams don't fold and seem to be stable in that regard. I don't have the kind of time some do to investigate records and what not, but it seems to me that if you are putting girls in college and the teams stay together through the summer, you are doing what many teams/orgs wish they could be doing...

 

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I like what Martin and Wizards are doing ... we are on the same path - training, instruction, etc.

We sent the majority of our teams to college camps all last fall, and many are still attending camps this winter as a team at OU, Miami, Ohio U, UK, Akron, Toledo, etc, etc. We have started bring in x-college players to work with out our girls at our HIT Center on a regular basis as well. All of our teams train at least 2 hours weekly indoors all winter and have gone non-stop since September.

We used to hold indoor friendlies at SWOBAT but decided this year to rent SWOBAT 6 weekends in Feb and Mar and get every Hawks team in for a 4 hour workout/training session. We look to have as many teams as we can field with the coaches, parents and players that want to play and train year round. That is critical to their development as a player, esp at the younger ages and will translate to their success on the field.

Honestly, size of org has little to do with quality of softball being taught and played... it has to do with the org's focus on proper training and instruction that really matters for most parents.

Reverse Ditto Doug.... I frequent your website to "borrow" ideas and we admire your program as well.... Can you change your name to the Southern Wizards??? Or maybe we should change ours to the Northern Hawks.....LOL. I think both of our goal is to train and develop as many girls as possible. Our Elite and Gold players know that there are girls working hard to take their spots.
Having a good number of teams does help to afford an indoor facility and definitely helps the cash flow and bargaining buying power when it comes to tournament entries, uniforms, equipment and the like. While most teams have to pay for tcb balls, our teams get them free (wholesale prices and money made from sales). We buy wholesale from a number of different companies and can sell at a better price because we do not pay extra rent for our store front nor do we have retail employees. We do utilize some parents and credit them on their fees to help out with some retail and program work. In our view, it is a fundraiser for those that really need it.
I would not recommend what we do for everyone. There is alot of work with the program, tournaments that we host, coaches and players clinics, Spring ball and fall ball with about 70 teams in each, tryouts for about 300 girls. Can you imagine order 500+ sets of uniforms???
We are blessed to have some awesome coaches. While some programs hire high school coaches, we train coaches to become high school coaches. It is not unusual for me to get a call from an A.D. or Superintendent asking if I would recommend someone for an opening.
I admire all of you that are there for the right reasons, regardless how many teams you have in your program.

 

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What they don't tell you is all those 14u teams are still looking for 6-7 players....:lmao:......jk

Actually No ... they all have at least 10 players ... 4 are at 12 ... we ask our teams to no exceed 12 and stay at 10 or above.

Appreciate Centervill FP's comments .. we are still a young org, we are growing in our relationship's with the college programs daily... as BD said, He and Bower have put all their 18u kids that wanted to go, into a school last season. So far their team this season has all but 2 committed already(and 1 is a Jr. (my DD) and the other is still considering)).

 

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It is always interesting to see who takes the question of the thread and turns it into something else. Answer the posters question as best you can or start another thread.

"Hey can anybody here recommend a good pitching coach?"

"THE BETTER QUESTION IS WHY DO THOSE DARN HAWKS BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!"

I always get a kick out of it.

And then we'd have a zillion threads. LOL
Blogging is a conversation and the nature of conversations is a subject to start it and then it takes off. Keep getting a kick out of seeing where it goes. This isn't a question and answer forum. For that read Dear Abby. Or maybe we can get an OFC'er to start a softball column. Who should we recruit? Katjoebenmom? Bluedevildad? Manitou Dan?

 

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And then we'd have a zillion threads. LOL
Blogging is a conversation and the nature of conversations is a subject to start it and then it takes off. Keep getting a kick out of seeing where it goes. This isn't a question and answer forum. For that read Dear Abby. Or maybe we can get an OFC'er to start a softball column. Who should we recruit? Katjoebenmom? Bluedevildad? Manitou Dan?

My vote is for Dear Kat. Has a better ring to it. :lmao:

As for the "on topic" discussion : I am more familiar with the Hawks being from the southern part of the state. They are doing something that a lot of organizations would run from, giving more girls the opportunity to play at a higher level. Whether that is a good plan or not remains to be seen in the long term.

 

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And then we'd have a zillion threads. LOL
Blogging is a conversation and the nature of conversations is a subject to start it and then it takes off. Keep getting a kick out of seeing where it goes. This isn't a question and answer forum. For that read Dear Abby. Or maybe we can get an OFC'er to start a softball column. Who should we recruit? Katjoebenmom? Bluedevildad? Manitou Dan?

I nominate you Musty for the "auto reply" or the "other side of the fence" replies... you are a master at that. Not quite Yoda... but...

 

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My girls were on three Hawks teams last year. My impression having been in, and now out of, the organization: They set goals, and work hard to meet them. They state them upfront. You know what to expect. They dream big. The organization is big and made up of real people, so things don't always go as planned. When things didn't go as planned, I didn't see a lot of whining; rather the folks I was around just got after things and tried to make changes. My daughters got not only a fair shake, but I felt the organization cared about them as individuals. The organization, especially Doug, talks openly about goals, which in and of itself is offputting to some people. But I enjoyed that the Hawks are willing to "go big or go home."