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

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It would be great to give the start up kids a taste of better competition and a chance to play a weekend tourny.

Just have to beware of the travel teams playing rec tournaments (trophy hunters)
seen it for years.

 

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Tim the local rec league just outside of Marion, Ohio tried to put together an All Star Team together, for those that could not afford the Fee's associated with Travel Ball and play in a couple of tournaments for the later part of summer. They tried it with the younger ages of 12 and 10, it lasted one year as far as I can remember. Never took off, not enough interest from Coach's or Kids.

 

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I know.. That has ruined so many Rec events.. so many....

That's why I say you have to have TD's willing to not look at the bottom dollar.. and NOT allow travel teams in the events... even if it is a "B" travel team so to say. It has to be TD's that a person can trust that this WILL NOT happen. I think if you can find 10 - 14 orgs willing to do this... you KNOW nothing silly is going to happen like that as they are all there for the same purpose. Getting some look-sees for possible 10u and 12u players for their travel teams.

 

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Tim the local rec league just outside of Marion, Ohio tried to put together an All Star Team together, for those that could not afford the Fee's associated with Travel Ball and play in a couple of tournaments for the later part of summer. They tried it with the younger ages of 12 and 10, it lasted one year as far as I can remember. Never took off, not enough interest from Coach's or Kids.

I know Roger.. but I think that if you took players wanting to do this... and not just a centralized group of kids from one area.. it might be a good thing.

 

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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

11:44 AM and you DON'T have your chores done?

 

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Lady Knights I keep hearing you make reference to parents wanting to play ball till June then have vacation not useing up there intire summer with softball. I think the underlining message in Quakers post is that a lot of girls playing ball on club teams have no business playing any way! Its many of there parents living through there kids wanting them to be this tremendous athlete! Like I allways say you cant make a Donkey win the Kentucky Derby.

Back to Quakers idea it makes some sence and Ill take it one step further...Many make fun of competitive mens slow pitch but let me break it down what hey do right and the girls travel teams do wrong! Strong competitive mens teams get sponsered to play ball so someone foots the bill for tournament fees and uniforms and the players are responsable for getting to the tournament and hotel. This is and idea that could draw more of the stronger players from the state togather and go out west and down south and compete.....This was something portrayed to a group of players on this Lasers Akedema Gold team that Akedema was going to sponsor the team but I dont call buying 2700 dollars in there clothing with there name on it a sponsor at all! That sounds like your paying them to use there name! MEY_OWWW!:lmao:

 

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Like I allways say you cant make a Donkey win the Kentucky derby.:lmao:

Im impressed........ pretty soon youll be speakin like a real hillbilly

 

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No... that's not my message.

I sit and watch teams looking for players. With an instructional type tournaments.. filled with nothing but organizational teams ... teams can "help" their 10u, 11u and 12u organizational teams in place... by maybe discovering a girl or two or three that is in some rec league with talent... or a mediocre player that with a little help by the instructional team's coach... maybe will stand out by August tryouts.

That's what I am thinking.

 

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Tim the local rec league just outside of Marion, Ohio tried to put together an All Star Team together, for those that could not afford the Fee's associated with Travel Ball and play in a couple of tournaments for the later part of summer. They tried it with the younger ages of 12 and 10, it lasted one year as far as I can remember. Never took off, not enough interest from Coach's or Kids.

Tim, this is one of those GREAT ideas for the right scenario. Anderson Youth Softball League has done wwhat rdelawder states above for somewhere around 10 years now with their 10u, 12u, 14u, in which the kids/families that have that desire to see what MORE there is to the game get a chance to play 2-3 tournaments the rest of the summer. It is amazing to see how many kids/families DON'T KNOW there are many more levels to the game. (THIS IS A SO CC ER INTENSE ENVIRONMENT), and what AYLS does each year has contributed to luring some girls into FastPitch as their primary sport.

The obvious OPPORTUNITY here is to have our TRAVEL programs identify the Rec Leagues/Teams that are in this mode and build a relationship in which these Rec/League teams ARE THE FEEDER teams to an established Travel Organization. Matter of fact, STATIC has been doing this since their inception with the Harrison Rec League teams/org and almost each year you can count on a NEW 8-10u team being formed from many of their own rec league members sprinkled with a few others that attend try-outs. Certainly a recipe for sustaining an organization and making it much easier to build/field teams year in and out.

GREAT IDEA TIM. I'm sure there are 4-5 other Rec League programs on the East Side of Cinci alone that would love to partner with an existing Travel Org.

AYSL, YOUR THOUGHTS?????????

 

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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

At one time the xpress , lasers, doom, xtreme, classics, and nightmare were competeing for the best kids in the state, the teams that you called feeder programs ( and I think your right on the money by the way with that name) will always be feeder programs unless they adopt the same type mentality that the top teams have.I dont know who the top teams are anymore, but alot of the so called feeders are starting to get the idea. College exposure teams. good exposure tournaments, helping their kids get the info they need to get in front of college coaches. Recruting info for the parents. It all plays a part in keeping kids. Thats why kids go to those top teams to begin with after 16 is to go where they think their best shot is at getting at least a chance of getting to college

Tim

 

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I just thought the idea of finding them coming out of the Rec Leagues when they were young for organizations to "supplement" their existing teams might be a good thing. Find that one or two that are hidden "gems" in the rough and with a little instructional help... maybe make that organization stronger.

It was just a thought.

 

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Tim, this is one of those GREAT ideas for the right scenario. Anderson Youth Softball League has done wwhat rdelawder states above for somewhere around 10 years now with their 10u, 12u, 14u, in which the kids/families that have that desire to see what MORE there is to the game get a chance to play 2-3 tournaments the rest of the summer. It is amazing to see how many kids/families DON'T KNOW there are many more levels to the game. (THIS IS A SO CC ER INTENSE ENVIRONMENT), and what AYLS does each year has contributed to luring some girls into FastPitch as their primary sport.

The obvious OPPORTUNITY here is to have our TRAVEL programs identify the Rec Leagues/Teams that are in this mode and build a relationship in which these Rec/League teams ARE THE FEEDER teams to an established Travel Organization. Matter of fact, STATIC has been doing this since their inception with the Harrison Rec League teams/org and almost each year you can count on a NEW 8-10u team being formed from many of their own rec league members sprinkled with a few others that attend try-outs. Certainly a recipe for sustaining an organization and making it much easier to build/field teams year in and out.

GREAT IDEA TIM. I'm sure there are 4-5 other Rec League programs on the East Side of Cinci alone that would love to partner with an existing Travel Org.

AYSL, YOUR THOUGHTS?????????

Tripethreat is correct about our organization working with HGS. It has helped our program immensely. Matter of fact, we are even taking it another step further in 2010 & 2011 & making it more officially. This year we have actually combined 6 girls from our 10U team & another 6 or so from the Southwest Express (HGS competitive program) to form a really nice team. More to come in 2011.

Our relationship with HGS has been made espeically easy since Coach Sonny (our 18U College Exposure Coach) is the president of HGS. I think we have found a nice little way of working together to meet the needs of young lady athletes. However, as Les stated earlier, we want to make sure our teams are competitive & have the right coaching so girls can grow year after year. The size of our org will vary depending on talent level so to not dilute the game further. As I have said a numerous times, you get nothing out of beating or losing to a team by a 1000 runs

 

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I think if they have a hard time fielding one team, how are they going to fill a whole feeder program? It's a good idea, but would be hard a heck to start up.

 

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This Mind set of Ohio teams being watered down is really out of text. These are the teams or coaches that want the best of the best to take to tournaments. With these kids life is easy for a coach, the girls are dedicated and so are the parents, cost to play is not an issue, coaches dont have to teach or train the girls to play, coaches dont need to teach the basics of the game to the girls. etc. These teams are still around and are the top teams in Ohio year after year, you know who they are. They travel to other states to play, play year round etc.

These teams will get bigger and better, as there is now even more talent to choose from.

 

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Some orgs though it wouldn't be tough.... I have heard from a few actually that are interested.

Kavin: I know the rec in Harrison as I umpire it there many nights. Know the Southwest team as well. Saw them step out of rec (where they won the league) last year after their season ...... to a Middletown tournament (SDS) as the same full rec team.

The interest seems to be in the larger organizations so far from my e-mails. I think grabbing 5 or 6 from the same rec team is not what I am talking about. I think grabbing one here and a couple there is the interest of most so far. Parents of these orgs can comb the rec leagues searching for girls... one here and two there from this team. I don't think they are looking for 1/2 the team. So that is where the difference lies actually.

I saw a rec league all-star combo come out of Clinton County one year after rec season was over.. With 7 players they was thumping on travel teams. 16 runs in the first inning in one game. Another game it was 12. First time ever travel ball tournament at 12u.

I think it is about recruiting kids. Recruiting happens at all ages actually.. But, I'm thinking the recruitment of 9-10-11-12u players. All-Star rec tournaments are the best way to recruit girls actually. These are girls who form a team from their rec leagues. Actually, some are very good. Greenfield, Indiana has some tournaments throughout the year for all-star recs and "B" teams that are out there trophy hunting. Nice event. Good place to recruit some travel ball girls and make your organization stronger.

Actually, at the Rec League / Youth League World Series last year in Chillicothe... I saw travel ball coaches there recruiting girls the whole tournament.. Something like a college showcase for rec kids...lol

 

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i'd love to add that this might be happening already in little towns where there is one school and the youth program is good..i'm thinking in the Lakewood and Sheridan area, alot of those girls dont play travel, they play in their youth league and dont stray far from that area. maybe i'm wrong, but i've spoken to some parents from that area, and they just dont, but they have outstanding varsity teams..or better than average at least.
doesn't Lancaster kind of do this already with their summer league?
I think the majority of good orgs use the lesser known teams as their feeder programs. Girls get their brains bashed in, loves the approach of the opposing team and come for tryouts, or they meet coach in parking lot
quaker, i wonder if an independent house could do this well, without the influences of travel orgs all fighting for one girl..of course, this probably wont ever happen
i do like corporate sponsors, thats the way the men played, it would seem to work for the girls to eliminate the need for all the parents with funds to only stay in one area or org

 

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Regardless of your intent, it all comes back to the parents commitment level. The statement about PARENTS wanting time in summer for vacations, etc. (NOT sports) hits it squarely on the head.

Prime reasons why parents "say no":
Too much time to commit - interferes with traditional family vacation
Too expensive - especially compared to rec.

I've known several kids (boys & girls) that are great athletes, but mom & dad are not into it. There are as many excuses as there are people.

The Farm teams are already there - they're called 10u to 14u. The parents that commit to these teams have shown that they are willing to get involved in what it takes to provide their kid the "travel ball experience" - with an opportunity to take it to the college level. Hooking the parents is more than half the battle. The instructional level is these 10u to 14u teams. The kids/parents with sights on college ball will put in even more time with a private instructor somewhere.

No offense intended at all, because I think your intent is to build girl's fastpitch. But it sounds like yet another level of rec. If the parents are willing to commit to a whole summer of softball, why not just steer them to an existing team that's in dire need of players?

To me, travel ball is for committed families that have an athletic kid who wants to play college ball - period. What the sport really needs is quality "rec. scouts" to beat the bushes at the rec. level and help spread good information about travel ball. I know that when we got into travel ball, it was like jumping into the abyss! We knew absolutely NOTHING about what we were getting into. I think educating parents about what it's all about would go a long way towards getting some of the younger kids involved. After all, if the parents are on board, it's MUCH easier to train those little athletes!

 

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I agree Sammy with the rec scouts. That's the theory... Using rec scouts to find this one and that one and another one... and after rec leagues are over.... organizations that have been out there doing the rec scout stuff... can watch these girls in action in July in events against other orgs instructional league teams and before tryouts in August. That's my point. Instead of watching them come out of rec.. wait a month or so they go for tryouts. The instructional tournaments give orgs that look-see to see if they are good enough to be asked to tryouts in game situations.

 

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my opimion is if there is a girl out there that wants to play she can find a so called travel team to match her ability there is already a feeder program in place girls go play for teams they can make and stay there till there desire and ability level permits them to play for someone more competitive. if you want to do something more competitive to build teams help me find more 8u tournys that is where you have oppurtunity to start early. a league for that sign me up a competitive league

 

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OQM,

Definitely understand where you were coming from. The situation this year happen to be a unique one at 10U. As mentioned, we are trying to keep quality vs quantity in our org. Numbers have never been a problem for us (had 50 10U's at tryouts) but we don't take to take. The 6 coming from the Express happen just to have what we were looking for.

This past year on my 12U Black team actually took two girls coming from being rec All Stars. Both ended up being my main stays in the outfield with one who hit about .350 & the other ran like a deer to boot. Both girls now have continued up in our org to the next age group. Finally, for my '97 team this year we had another girl make the team coming from rec ball. It is amazing to me how some of these girls have gone unnoticed or really did not understand about travel ball & the opportunities.

So yes my coaches & I go watch a lot of games both in summer & fall looking for these players & typically always leave a spot just in case we find one who has what we are looking for & who wants to commit to becoming a better player & the rigors of our schedule (80 games plus).