Why Don't Organizations have ???????

[default]

I like to bounce ideas off people and this is a thought I've had in my head for awhile as well as the idea of the Circuit of Champions.

I have never understood why organizations don't have what I like to call "Instructional" teams. "Instructional teams" is somewhat in line with minor leagues for professional baseball... a developement team so to say.. with the 12 and below age groups.

As we know, most rec leagues are done at the end of June.

As we know, some organizations are looking for players day in and day out on the OFC.. even at this time of year.

I would think that any organization would like the idea of finding some rec girls just fresh out of the rec leagues and play them in Instructional tournaments in the month of July and finish with them at say like the RecLeague / Youth league World Series

It does these things:

1. Get the girls interested in travel ball and what it takes to step up as a player. Gives them the opportunity to be "seen" by the travel ball coaches of the same organization.

2. Gives the parents a look at travel ball and if they like it or not.

3. Gives organizations a "feeder" program year after year and introduces the younger players to the organization itself.

4. The cost is minimal ( 4 entry fees into four tournaments in July) and end up at the World Series. Some of these rec girls have NEVER seen a tournament.. let alone a big one.

5. All it takes is the network of parents that are already in place at the travel level ........ who can make suggestions about certain rec girls in their area . For each organization to have two coaches ( not current travel ball coaches) in place at the 12u and 10u levels to take these girls every weekend in July and the first weekend in August to "Instructional Tournament" that are held without travel teams entered. That way they are fresh for the August tryouts.


I've always wondered why no organizations have that implanted in their system.

 

[default]

For one.....The reason the rec league is over toward the end of June or early July is the fact that those players and families do not want their whole summer commited to softball. Get a little ball in and then time for family and vacation.

Those kids that want to play on...they move on to travel.
Thats the main reason we got into travel...wanted more time on the field against quality competition.

Sorry...but I don't see it as a viable option.

 

[default]

They go to travel what? Travel tryouts in August? I think the idea is Shayne.. It's just not a "team" from a rec league... It is the "individual" girls... one from here and one from there that would make up a "instructional team". The ones that want to play travel ball for a certain organization, Stingrays, Madness, Buckeye Heat, Hawks, Lady Irish, etc... Nightmare.

I bounced this idea off 8 organizations so far and everyone one of them loved the idea and said "never really thought about that" ... so I guess this is why after talking with them... I started this thread.

 

[default]

I think it's a decent idea, although I think probably most families would want to make the regular team or nothing at all. If there were an entire network of these teams, then it may be viable, but otherwise I don't think parents would want to get their girls into a situation where they are playing tournaments completely outgunned.

I think many parents would think this is a good idea, but for someone else's daughter.

 

[default]

Joe
Great Point agree 1000%

 

[default]

Well, I don't think they would be outgunned... especially if it is only a "instructional tournament only" teams and probally some rec all-stars.

Teams would have to trust a TD wasn't worried about "money in the pocket" OR allow any slight chance of a travel team popping up in the event.

 

[default]

I understand your concept..."Girls that don't want their season to end can jump on these 'instructional' teams in preparation for fall tryouts."

My point is...Girls that want their season to continue are already on travel teams.

I'm going to take heat for this...but here it is in my eyes....
Travel softball is indeed beginning to become "watered down" never really thought that till recently. Is that good/bad...I'm sure there is good in it that we are introducing more girls to the game, which in turns gives us a larger pool of athletes to pull from. But the other side is that there are way to many "mediocre" teams and organizations that are diluting the whole pool. Travel softball is becoming more like club volleyball...everyone that shows up to tryouts gets on a team if they can afford it. If you don't make the "gold" team we will put you on the "silver" team and so on.

When we got into travel ball quite a few years back, if you made a team it meant you were pretty darn good. There were alot of darn good ball players that didn't make it who worked harder so they made it the next year!!! The competition was better at every tourney and you didn't have to worry about TD's making their tourney a "invitation" only to weed out the "startups."

Sorry Tim...but again I don't see the necessity in an instructional league for organizations. The top organizations at the older levels want the best players that come to tryouts. They don't want or need to develop players. I would be very surprised at how many coaches would pull players off one of these "instructional" teams within their own organization. Plus if I am "X" organization developing these players, what keeps them from jumping ship and going to team "Z" after we invest time in them.

Your idea is what I now call "fall ball." Takes very little, if any time or effort from an organization who can now just pick that player up when they come to tryouts.

Just my 2 cents worth...which ain't much.

 

[default]

I think it's a decent idea, although I think probably most families would want to make the regular team or nothing at all. If there were an entire network of these teams, then it may be viable, but otherwise I don't think parents would want to get their girls into a situation where they are playing tournaments completely outgunned.

I think many parents would think this is a good idea, but for someone else's daughter.

The whole idea... join the say "(place name of team here) instructional team to be seen by the coaches of the (place name here) and be asked for a tryout with (place name of team here).

Network is eight so far who liked the idea

 

[default]

I understand your concept..."Girls that don't want their season to end can jump on these 'instructional' teams in preparation for fall tryouts."

My point is...Girls that want their season to continue are already on travel teams.

I'm going to take heat for this...but here it is in my eyes....
Travel softball is indeed beginning to become "watered down" never really thought that till recently. Is that good/bad...I'm sure there is good in it that we are introducing more girls to the game, which in turns gives us a larger pool of athletes to pull from. But the other side is that there are way to many "mediocre" teams and organizations that are diluting the whole pool. Travel softball is becoming more like club volleyball...everyone that shows up to tryouts gets on a team if they can afford it. If you don't make the "gold" team we will put you on the "silver" team and so on.

When we got into travel ball quite a few years back, if you made a team it meant you were pretty darn good. There were alot of darn good ball players that didn't make it who worked harder so they made it the next year!!! The competition was better at every tourney and you didn't have to worry about TD's making their tourney a "invitation" only to weed out the "startups."

Sorry Tim...but again I don't see the necessity in an instructional league for organizations. The top organizations at the older levels want the best players that come to tryouts. They don't want or need to develop players. I would be very surprised at how many coaches would pull players off one of these "instructional" teams within their own organization. Plus if I am "X" organization developing these players, what keeps them from jumping ship and going to team "Z" after we invest time in them.

Your idea is what I now call "fall ball." Takes very little, if any time or effort from an organization who can now just pick that player up when they come to tryouts.

Just my 2 cents worth...which ain't much.

We are not talking about older level age groups... This is 10u and 12u only. When they are older.. the time has come or has gone.

Until the day that TD's have the guts to make "A" and "B" divisions in their events... you'll have "watered down tournaments" and will continue to have them year after year.

 

[default]

The whole idea... join the say "(place name of team here) instructional team to be seen by the coaches of the (place name here) and be asked for a tryout with (place name of team here).

Network is eight so far who liked the idea

I would be curious to see those eight teams/organizations, and you don't need to post them here for scrutiny...but I would be willing to guess that they would be teams/organizations that take everyone that comes to tryouts and puts them on a team...continuing to add to the watered down pool of teams and tourneys.

 

[default]

You just might have your wish...lol.. if I want to take the time to form it. One tournament in each corner of Ohio... that way teams have the opportunity to play close to home at least once.

Talked to some TD's loving the idea... I keep myself out of the picture so the silly thoughts of " well it benefits you" don't come seeping through the cracks at me....lol

 

[default]

I would be curious to see those eight teams/organizations, and you don't need to post them here for scrutiny...but I would be willing to guess that they would be teams/organizations that take everyone that comes to tryouts and puts them on a team...continuing to add to the watered down pool of teams and tourneys.

It's exciting to grow as an org... but to do it for shear numbers and to say you have "XX" amount of teams....well, we all have our own "model". For us, we'd rather stay smaller than large amounts of growth year after year and unfortunately turn kids away. But... when we do... we provide girls with other coaches numbers and their tryout dates. We understand your thoughts L_K.

 

[default]

I respect your intentions Tim and my thoughts and expressions are merely my own so don't think me to be spiteful or malicious. And I enjoy your flavorful threads.

 

[default]

Well, the instructional teams are ineed being noticed by the coaches that coaches the and turns over any information to the trvel ball coaches like " You might want to ask this girl to the tryouts, etc...."

An organizations gets to see the palyers in action and not jsut a couple weeeks of tryouts... and the team is set with players come FALL ball time .. instead of what we have now... Teams looking for players and it is December !!!!

 

[default]

Lady Knights.. never would I think that at all. I just like bouncing these ideas off of people. I love the feedback from respected members of the OFC and their thoughts.

This is a community of very good people on here. I love ideas and thinking out of the box and the people of the OFC is always wanting to share their thoughts... about the number one thing everyone has in common and concern for... the girls. Bottom line.

 

[default]

Joe hit on the sticking point......Parents.

If my kid is not good enough for the "Varsity" or "Major League" team, then I we will continue to look for a team that take her. Little do the parents realize that they will end-up on a "Minor League" team.

 

[default]

One last comment before I have to do my daily chores...

Don't we already have this in place throughout Ohio??? Teams such as the Blaze, Vipers, Heat, Bullets, Express, Doom, HOH.....Start up 10U and 12U teams, develop those players into fine, outstanding ballplayers, who when they hit the 14U level are gobbled up by the Lasers or similar teams?!?!

They have been doing it for years Tim, so don't pat yourself on the back to hard over this "new" idea. Were all feeder teams. lol

 

[default]

I know a girl here in Goshen...15 years of age. Got a cannon and plays a mean third base. Good hitter.. never been instructed more than her father. A little instruction and she could be a very good hitter... Un-noticed by anyone. She came to watch the Lady Lasers event last October and told her Dad she liked this type of ball...lol Finances I am sure might be the some of the reason she doesn't play.. but maybe the parents don't know about the fundraisers, etc.. teams have to raise money. Don't understand travel ball and what it takes as a player or parent. But, the talent is there.

At a younger age, it would be so much easier to adapt them into travel ball versus an older age.

If we can catch these "un-noticed" girls at a young age and introduce them to travel ball at a young age (Instead of at 14 or above)... and a little instruction by the people in place..... could be some very good players by the time they turn 13 or 14... who would have went un-noticed.

The girl next door... fast as the wind... always racing the boys and beating them by three steps or more. To me.. I see a base stealer in a tight game and with a little work.. a slapper and standing on first base fixing her hair by the time the ball gets there....lol

 

[default]

One last comment before I have to do my daily chores...

Don't we already have this in place throughout Ohio??? Teams such as the Blaze, Vipers, Heat, Bullets, Express, Doom, HOH.....Start up 10U and 12U teams, develop those players into fine, outstanding ballplayers, who when they hit the 14U level are gobbled up by the Lasers or similar teams?!?!

They have been doing it for years Tim, so don't pat yourself on the back to hard over this "new" idea. Were all feeder teams. lol

I'm not thinking feeder teams to the 14u teams in place... I'm thinking feeder teams to the 10u and 12u.

Actually, two of the mentioned.. like the idea.

 

[default]

Back to work for me, too.... I'm in Kentucky right now doing a similar Circuit. Can't wait until tomorrow when Expressway Park comes up with their dates for entering the Circuit of Champions. I'm very excited about having them onboard... but not as excited as when I heard the ASA State Tournament was willing to come onboard.

I think it is going to be a fun Summer for the girls.