Calif teams VS everyone else!! what are they doing better?

[sbcoach]

What a question....I think if you sit back and think about it, you'd answer your own question.

But my opinion is that it comes down to one thing. It's not rocket science.

California teams (SoCal to be specific) are simply more committed and dedicated to the game of softball. That is why they can hold a 3 hour practice on Tuesday and Thursdays during the school week as well as a 4-6 hour practice on Saturday and friendly on Sunday.

It's not about the number of tournaments they play, but the quality of the games they play. It's not about the number of trophies they win. It's simply about the conditioning and development of their young players.

Now, is this the norm around other parts of the country? It is my opinion that this is not the case. Take Texas vs. California for an example. Year in and year out, these two teams are the back bone to softball. It was evident at the NCAA CWS this year. The number of players from California were more than Texas, but between the two states, there was more players from these two states than anywhere else across the country. Does that mean there is a bigger talent pool in California and Texas? I would say no. But using Texas again as an example. They tend to be lagging just behind some, not all, the California teams. If they just put the same time back into the game, maybe things would be different and the results would show out on the field.

Again, this is just my opinion on this topic...

[Martin]

While not taking away from the dedication of SoCal players/coaches/parents, I've already shown that LA is the largest warm-weather city in the country with 1.4 million more people and twice the population density of Houston. I would therefore disagree with your assertion that SoCal does not have a larger talent pool to draw from.

[Skarp]

"INVITATION ONLY"

This is a joke !!!!!!!!

I agree, when these teams think they are elite and post they are having tryouts by invite only. is absurd at a 12 or 14 level........These teams really think highly of themselves ....I could mention a few but won't. I see even the top 2 teams in 12 and 14 didn't consider the invite only tryout.

Awww...go ahead and mention away. Everyone already know that you have a hard-on for Anderson (now Firecrackers) and Nemesis.

I saw the ads for CA and Impact (now Victory), and neither list a time and location. You have to contact them. And CA explicitly says that they are only looking for extremely strong players.

Fact is, every top team requires you to contact the coach--ostensibly "for information about the tryouts," but actually to give the coach a chance to vet the players interested in coming out. Mizuno Pride does the same thing, and for good reason...they don't want 30 rec ball players showing up. Wastes everybody's time.

btw: Pride is a great team, but you diminish your own accomplishments when you so obviously look for any opportunity to rip teams that did better than you. It's transparent and lame.

[dittoz]

Brings to mind when you mention the Pride. We played them in our 1st game at Western Nats a few weeks ago and in about the 6th, after 5 innings of 0-0 ball, I mentioned to my wife that "boy, they just never make a mistake..."

Suddenly, there's a stoppage and a 10 minute discussion on the field btwn the Blues and pretty soon, the UIC comes lumbering over and joins in. Turns out, Pride had swapped Flex for DP and the wrong one was batting. If I remember right, the penalty for an illegal substitution is forfeiture. Our coaches called time after a new pitch had been thrown to the subsequent batter, so it was all a moot point.

Still, Mizuno is a team with talent as you said and I have nothing but respect for them. We wound up losing that game and I'm not really sure why this story matters, but it seemed like a good time to tell it.

Sorry - back to where you were...

[Sam]

While not taking away from the dedication of SoCal players/coaches/parents, I've already shown that LA is the largest warm-weather city in the country with 1.4 million more people and twice the population density of Houston. I would therefore disagree with your assertion that SoCal does not have a larger talent pool to draw from.

We have more teams at these age divisions than any other area....more choices....no team gets all the best players....fierce recruiting competition between teams for players.

Being a coach....I think our advantage really is....the coaching.

[Martin]

I would tend to agree, Sam. Although I think you know where I stand on the overall disparity between Cali and everyone else (it's shrinking) one of the chief reasons why there is still an advantage is due to coaching, especially at the younger ages.