Select Ball???????

[rhpft]

I'm gonna try to speak my mind here and be as anonymous as possible with the sincere hope that it doesn't have a backlash on my daughter, because I am fully aware that many coaches, parents, and softball organization directors are subconsciously trying to relive or live their sports lives through the kids, and they would just assume take it out on a kid versus explain their decisions to an adult.

I have been involved with high level select baseball, softball, football, and basketball for over 11 years. So I think I have a little experience when it comes to select sports. I was once told by the directors of at least two of the largest “select” softball organizations in Central Texas that they were modeling themselves after the elite select softball organizations in the DFW and Houston areas. I am not at all sure how the elite softball organizations in the DFW and Houston areas work, but I am going to go out on a limb an guess (and hope) that they do not operate like the Central Texas “select” softball organizations do. In recent history, what I have noticed from these Central Texas "Select" Organizations is that they have appeared to have become money making opportunities for directors in which they try to get every girl who can swing a bat or throw a ball to wear their logo. They speak about developing players, but some of the PAID former college softball players used for coaches in these organizations couldn’t coach their way out of a paper bag, whether it be in fundamentals or game situations. What’s more, some of the directors themselves never played high school or college ball, and best case MIGHT play in their local slowpitch league. Then these Central Texas “select” softball organization directors become PAID instructors such that everything they teach, they learned from a fastpitch softball video or DVD. Then, in the next breath these directors are talking about going to USA/ASA A or Gold Nationals, all the while making as many teams as possible in a certain age group, watering down or evening out the talent by putting girls with different talent levels on the same team, trying to make several equally talented teams. You may say that putting less talented player with more talented players helps develop the less talented player. I agree that is true, but what does it do for the more talented player? I know, I know, get them ready for Texas High School softball, where they have no choice except to play with less talented players…the worst quality softball around. Bottom line here is that these Central Texas softball organizations are no longer select, they are "select". "Select" because virtually everyone who tries out in a certain age group gets on a team. I say virtually because the only ones who don't get put on a team are the ones who have vocal parents or think like I do.

So, my question is, is this what we today call Select Softball? What happened to the days where the best 12 or 13 players worked hard, developed themselves with the help of their parents or individual coaches into great players, tried out, made a team, and the rest went home or went to try out for another team or played rec league until they developed into select players?

I may be wrong, but from my experience, I have heard and perceived that the Central Texas "Select" Softball Organizations are second tier compared to the Select Softball Organizations in the DFW and Houston areas. Since these Central Texas "select" organizations have claimed in the past that they are modeling themselves after the elite organizations of the DFW and Houston areas, is this how those organizations work? I have begun to consider taking my daughter to DFW or Houston from Central Texas to try out for these organizations, but I am not going to waste our time and gas money if the case is the same. I know the Heybucket world will try to answer my questions, and I will have to sift through all comments from the daddy ballers, individual select teams, little leaguers, pony leaguers, etc., etc. And to you, I say, thank you for your input. However, I really would be interested in those still involved with organizations like Houston Power, Texas Travelers, Glory (even with all their perceived problems from these boards), Texas Elite, etc

[frito_burrito]

Yea its pretty much about the BENJAMINS here in SE TX. There are several organizations that seem to be making a lot of money. Fortunately there are several of us parents who continue to coach and teach girls using local softball leagues without going to one of these money making organizations.

[Cipher]

For some reason, people seem to think that because a person played college softball, they can COACH softball and that is simply not always the case.

One of the elite organizations in Houston has a team that is being coached by a former player and I have yet to see her do anything on the field that leads me to believe she knows anything about coaching. She knows some great drills for the kids to practice, but game management does not seem to be her strong suit.

There are really good coaches out there that berate kids on the field to the point of humiliation. Good coaches, with horrible on field "etiquette" I wouldn't want my DD in that situation either.

At the end of the day, all you can really do as a parent is ASK QUESTIONS of ANYONE AND EVERYONE that knows that organization, the coach, and the parents. Ask the coaches what their plns are for your daughter and ask in front of everyone. NO SECRETS! NO MISGUIDED EXPECTATIONS! Everything up front!

You have to put your daughter in the best situation for HER! Changing teams 4 times in a season is NOT good! (not that you have, I have ZERO clue who you are), but that is why you need to make sure that YOU take the lead and ask the questions! An established coach/organization knows their plans and in my experience, the good ones will tell you the truth, not what they think you WANT to hear!

Look at logevity of the programs! In Houston, the Hawks, Power, Hit Away, Impact, Storm, MC Elite, Magic have all been around 10+ years. If your kid is not ready for Gold ball, ask the coaches of ANY of these teams, they KNOW the legitimate teams and coaches in the younger ages.

[hit4power]

You would not be the first Cen Tex parent to bring their DD down to Houston to play. My DD previously played for one of the org's mentioned above and presently plays for another one. When I asked those Cen Tex parents why make the drive all the way to Houston the answer was organizational reputation and bigger talent pool in the Houston area (not necessarily better, just bigger so more competition to play against). When I listened to what they meant by organizational reputation I think they were really talking about better college exposure opportunities and the org's rep for getting their players seen and signed. And I would be the first to agree that the long established org's (like those mentioned above) for the most part deserve their rep's for doing just that. They go to the big exposure tournaments, their coaches have contacts and they can (and will) help and advise you on how get your DD seen and recruited. Their prior experience is very valuable.
Having said that, don't think for a minute that there isn't drama/change/turnover/issues/problems, etc within these org's the same as anywhere else.
Like Cipher said, you need to be ask a zillion questions, LISTEN, and then do what's best for your DD. Just because it's a long standing org with a good rep doesn't mean its right for your DD and certainly doesn't mean its immune from the issues we all have to deal with from time to time in TB.

[pbj2000]

I've been itchin to get at this one...but my pwd locked me out

Anyways to be frank (call me Frank) there are those teams that are out there that are in it for the money...and let me be clear...just because you have a big name (like the ones you listed above) doesn't mean your in it for the girls development...just look at how many of those teams have 2 or 3 teams in the same age bracket...and how many players sit on the bench or get lost in the shuffle.

We are from north texas (df-dub) and i'm not sure about the talent level down in Central Texas, but I can assure you...for the majority...majority...it's 75/25 here too. 75%'ll take a kid who has some talent level and the coach thinks they can make them better and either A. they do develop them....or B. they let them on the team because they need the registration fee and the monthly dues...or C. it's a bad choice and they regret it later....and then you have the 25% that will be honest and say you know what...this isn't a good fit for our team or your daughter and she wouldn't see much playing time.

Start up teams are begging for players...so those teams will take anyone with a pulse...established teams can be a little more picky to find the right talent to make there teams better, but not all of those teams want that...some want a check and a smile ...so I guess to answer your question is your scenario occurs EVERYWHERE. Probably less in DF-Dub because we have soooo many teams and your DD can try out for about 5 teams and you'll know as a Dad what to look for...can they throw? can they field? can they hit? does the HC do any coaching or is he talking with his buds? do the assistant coaches do anything???. But it does happen everywhere...and be leary of the big names...because some of them do it too.

[qwikvr6]

Names mean nothing. I've coached teams that gave me nightmares at the beginning of the season, but developed into a excellent team. I just work on fundamentals and getting girls to understand why they are doing things.

[fastpitchfan]

Sounds like your gripe is our society today. Everyone plays somewhere, everyone gets a troqhy , nobody gets cut, we will find a place for you. This is the BS that we live with on a daily basis. What happened to the day that you didn't make the team and you went out and got better and came back a better player and person. No one can cope with being cut, so we don't do it anymore. That is our society. I was told to "live with it " by a high school AD. But it is even in some "select ball". We are not teaching our kids how to deal with failure. I have seen some kids go through HS and never touch the field , but are still on the team. By doing this they never learn "life leasons". They know that no matter what, they will get a snow cone !! Just a rant !!! LOL

[pbj2000]

I agree...when have you ever seen a team (startup) say you know what, we'll take these 5 or 6 players and tell the other 7 or 8 to keep working and come back next spring???

poor things just end up sitting on the bench while the coach looks for bigger and better players...