Why are you considered "GOLD"

[someonecares]

I always thought that "GOLD" teams were considered cream of the crop but lately it seems like there are more and more teams claiming this title. Is there not a certain criteria that you have to follow to be considered "GOLD"?

I have watched some "GOLD" teams play that have been beaten pretty badly by regular 18U teams and even some 16U teams. Is this not an embarrasment?

When will Texas start to establish a "GOLD" level criteria (if not already done) and enforce it.

[Fastpitch360]

You are right on. I think when and only when they Qualify for Gold Nationals should a team be able to call themselves a Gold Team until then we should just consider adding nothing to their name. It is a disgrace when you see something like the Xtreme Gold or Bandits Gold roll out there and a good 12u team could beat them..Make them earn the name, and let it mean something.

[TEXASGLORY]

I think that teams/coaches who have qualified gold in the past should be recognized by using the gold name. However, I think that many of the teams that are using the name feel that it gives them a recruiting advantage or that others may think them better than they are by using the gold name.

It has been clear during the last few years that we have way more teams trying to qualify to play at gold nationals. Because of that we now have more berths offered from the state of Texas. The more teams we get qualified, the more berths that will eventually come our way. I can remember when only 6 berths were given to the Texas region. Today we have 12. I think it will help to make teams work harder to get better. Playing better competition will make them better. Maybe not better enough to qualify but will surely inspire the players to work harder to be able to compete.

[3Bsnag]

There is some very interesting info and a good debate going on over at the "Region 14..." thread, http://www.heybucket.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3338&start=0.

I think that teams/coaches who have qualified gold in the past should be recognized by using the gold name.

Maybe not. If I'm a 1st year 18 team or re-loaded with talent, I shouldn't get the opportunity to qualify for 18G nationals? Local case in point, Fusion & TT-Marks. The problem is ASA has almost killed the 18U classification. What college coach wanted to see a 17 or 18yo at 40'? Yes, they've fixed it now, but most teams go from 16U to 18G because their are more scouts at those nationals, 18U has no merit whatsoever, and recruiting is happening earlier. 18U has really turned into B ball for seniors.

The flip side is we have teams at Gold that have NO business of being there.

So what do we do? Nothing, it's really not that big of a deal. Coaches are trying to do the best they can on getting their girls noticed. The only draw back I see is having tournaments limit the number of teams and half the field entered are scrubs. That's when early registration or invitation only tournaments/round robins will take off. Or how about opening a tournament to certain teams, then post it for fill-ins?

[Abracadabra]

3Bsnag, Thats why I never have to post you always say what I am thinking.

[3Bsnag]

3Bsnag, Thats why I never have to post you always say what I am thinking.

There is another poster on here that I feel the same way about. Everytime I read his/her comments, I just think "yeah, what he said".

[Fusion Gold]

I agree and disagree with some of these comments. There are way too many teams calling themselves Gold when they shouldn't be. It is hard to say who should or who shouldn't, the easy answer is for previous teams that have qualified but that’s not really a fair answer either.

1) If you call yourself Gold, then do everything within your power to play a Gold schedule. Make every attempt to qualify for Gold Nationals. To me that should be the top priority of any Gold team, getting recruited is a part of that process. We want all of the players to get scholarships, and there are tons of opportunities for the players to get those scholarships but I think a lot of teams emphasize college showcases more than they do competing for Gold Nationals. We saw first hand that many of our ‘09’s from last year will be signing soon because of their hard work and ultimately the team’s success. Qualifying will help get the kids recruited, and qualifying is going to be a challenge for every team every year. Playing showcases is the easy way out, there is no accountability or expectations, the college recruiters know this also. They want to see players playing with something on the line, in a competitive arena.

2) Eliminate multiple Gold teams in the same organizations. Now there are circumstances where multiple teams from the same program may be legit and two may very well qualify. But think of how talented the team would be if those multiple Gold teams where consolidated into one team, that is similar to what the Travelers did last year. I honestly don’t know how many Gold teams are in the Glory, Elite, Bat Busters, Travelers, etc.. but I think we would all agree that there are too many. Change is never easy, people are very resistant to change, and changing the culture of North Texas softball will be very difficult and at times painful. But in the end, nothing worth having is ever easy.

The link that was referenced is a different topic, because they are trying to prevent so many teams from trying to become Gold. In North Texas there are a lot of teams that are using the Gold label, but they don't really have the talent or desire to qualify for Gold Nationals. Another thing that I really don't like is that so many young kids are moving up too early, we have way too many 7th & 8th graders playing 16U, then as freshman playing Gold. There are circumstances where that is appropriate but they are few and far between.

When we coached the '91 Texas Elite we played 14U with a mix of 8th graders and freshman and those kids have the experience of a lifetime by finishing in the top 5 at ASA 'A' Nationals. Many of them have gone on to get D1 scholarships and are now playing Gold, my point is that it didn't hurt their growth to play 14U, it actually helped them. Too many kids that are that age now are playing 16U and some Gold and it is getting to the point where it is almost spiraling out of control.

Don't make these kids grow up too fast, 12U & 14U should be some of the most memorable and enjoyable times for youth softball. I know this is a different topic, but in a way the culture of moving kids up too early manifests itself into kids playing "Gold" that aren't ready for that level of competition. Some kids can play 2 years of 14U and never play 16U and they are ready, others need at least a year in 16U to be ready. And I think it is everyone’s responsibility to help develop these young players, the coaches as well as the parents. Finding the right coaches that can develop players is the key, and quite frankly we are hurting for good coaches in this area. It all starts on the practice field, parents want their kids in a tournament every weekend, but how is that going to lay the ground work for teaching them the game. Tournament experience is just one piece of the puzzle. In many cases it is easier for a team to call themselves Gold instead of playing 16U because there is no accountability for the coaches to succeed. If they play Gold then they can play showcases in the fall, go to a few qualifiers and have the excuse that they are too young to compete against the best teams anyway. We used to see that a few years ago with teams playing ‘B’ instead of ‘A’, and now we are seeing a similar mindset with some of the older teams.

Slade Maloney
Texas Fusion Gold

[Lori]

You know I cannot keep quiet on this one

Here we go--

GOLD Teams in DFW--actually classified as Gold(not complete I am sure)
Midlothian Quest--NOT GOLD!!
Bandits Gold--NOT GOLD!!
Tx Sluggers Gold--NOT GOLD!!
Texas Fusion Gold--MAYBE GOLD!!
Tx Rapid Fire Gold--GOLD!!
Batbabybusters Card--NOT GOLD!!
Batbabybusters Clay--Maybe GOLD!!
Batbabybusters Mitchell--NOT GOLD!!
Batbabybusters Anderson--NOT GOLD!!
Batbabybusters Graves--Don't know yet, depends if girls he stole from other BB teams gel!!
Tx Glory Beard--Maybe GOLD!!
Tx Glory Adkins--GOLD!!
Tx Glory Shelton--GOLD!!
Avengers Sonny--NOT GOLD!!
Avengers Segal--NOT GOLD!!
Tx Elite Bancroft--GOLD!!
Tx Elite Gold--GOLD!!
Tx Elite Bell--NOT GOLD!!
High Voltage Gold 18u--NOT GOLD!!
Tx Travelers Gold--Maybe GOLD!!
Tx Sox Gold--NOT GOLD!!

Teams with GOLD in their name, but classified as 'A':
High Voltage Gold Kimberling--NOT GOLD!!
American Freedom--NOT GOLD!!
Texas Xtreme--NOT GOLD!!
High Voltage Gold--NOT GOLD!!

There is truly not that many true GOLD teams out there in DFW that can compete nationally--I think the Region 7 Gold Qualifier proved that this year.

Sorry(not really) if I hurt anyones feelings, or left you off the list, but the record books don't lie.

[Lori]

And don't forget SWEEET GOLD 10u--LOL

[Joe]

...and which one of the 'NOT GOLD's' do you spend your weekends with?