Parents and tryouts

[2muchparents]

@ old darter, I'm not pumping up RR, if you split up the brackets, everybody wants to make the gold and I get that. But it's hard to develop players and move them around when you have to win every game and try to shut everyone out to make the top bracket. Sometimes you have it easy on Saturdays and can move people around, but usually they put the top teams against each other and then every game is like an elimination game. That's all I meant by it. The central valley has a lot of teams, and some good ones, we should have better tournaments to choose from!

[Old Darter]

The central valley has a lot of teams, and some good ones, we should have better tournaments to choose from!

So true. And being an "old timer" I long for the old days when game 1 on Saturday morning began the double elimination tourney. Sorry, pool play doesn't teach anybody anything and certainly does NOT prepare the girls for the VERY competitive world of LIFE - or college softball. But pool games mean TD's can charge more $$$.

[Iluvblue]

games, games, games. I want as many games as possible as ex[eroience is the BEST teacher. Teams would simply not go to tourneys that had pool play starting on Saturday.

Now the really good teams wouldnt care, they would whip butt on those sorry teams and move on EVERY WEEK. Those shitty teams would be in turmoil after the 3rd week of playing 2 games and going home with parents quitting.

Young players need to play to get better.

[Battle]

The central valley has a lot of teams, and some good ones, we should have better tournaments to choose from!

So true. And being an "old timer" I long for the old days when game 1 on Saturday morning began the double elimination tourney. Sorry, pool play doesn't teach anybody anything and certainly does NOT prepare the girls for the VERY competitive world of LIFE - or college softball. But pool games mean TD's can charge more $$$.

It's not the TDs fault that pool play is so relaxed. They give a XX game guarantee. What you do with that is up to you as a team or teams. It's the teams that feel since they don't count for anything, they can play for nothing. Play every game to win no matter who you have on the field and play every game as if there is no time limit...Pool and bracket...

[rbi]

teams are not going to pay $500-$600 to have bracket play start on Sat morning, and potentially be "Two and BBQ"... Pool play gives you a chance to try some things, all the while teaching the kids to be competitive regardless of format. Come Sunday your focus should be the same, be competitive, learn something new each weekend, and have fun doing so!

[Old Darter]

I understand the reasoning for pool play, and agree no one would pay $550 for double elim (hmmm, a way to keep costs down? Fewer games to pay umpires, etc. but then the TD's also make less). As for those habitual 2&q teams? Well maybe, just maybe there would be fewer teams, and those that survived, would be much stronger. The others: B division where they belong.

Just my opinion, but pay your money and play 5 guaranteed has always reminded me of rec ball. You get to play no matter how good your team is. You want to play more games? Then win....... and be rewarded for doing more than paying and showing up. That's what friendlies are for!!!!!! You're fooling yourself if you think you are teaching them how to be competitive by playing pool play (exception: seeding for a major tournament). Being competitive means learning how to fight to move on, to earn it, to dig deep and get the extra bit of heart needed when it's all or nothing. Pool play? Please...

With all the comments about how diluted the talent pool in NorCal is, imagine if teams were required to be competitive through natural selection! And then, with only strong teams in A ball, it would not be a cakewalk for anyone. Survival of the fittest!

How many teams play double elimination before going to a Nat Qualifier or Nationals? How do you possibly simulate the pressure of fighting thru the losers bracket, the heart it takes, if the kid has never experienced it? And don't tell me a single elimination bracket on Sunday is the same. It isn't. Single elim is one loss go home. Double elim means if you lose one, you have to immediately gather your team composure, get past the loss, and push ahead. Not a skill learned in pool play with a Sunday single elimination, yet a skill needed to be successful in life!

Again, just an old guys .02

[Battle]

I understand the reasoning for pool play, and agree no one would pay $550 for double elim (hmmm, a way to keep costs down? Fewer games to pay umpires, etc. but then the TD's also make less). As for those habitual 2&q teams? Well maybe, just maybe there would be fewer teams, and those that survived, would be much stronger. The others: B division where they belong.

Just my opinion, but pay your money and play 5 guaranteed has always reminded me of rec ball. You get to play no matter how good your team is. You want to play more games? Then win....... and be rewarded for doing more than paying and showing up. That's what friendlies are for!!!!!! You're fooling yourself if you think you are teaching them how to be competitive by playing pool play (exception: seeding for a major tournament). Being competitive means learning how to fight to move on, to earn it, to dig deep and get the extra bit of heart needed when it's all or nothing. Pool play? Please...

With all the comments about how diluted the talent pool in NorCal is, imagine if teams were required to be competitive through natural selection! And then, with only strong teams in A ball, it would not be a cakewalk for anyone. Survival of the fittest!

How many teams play double elimination before going to a Nat Qualifier or Nationals? How do you possibly simulate the pressure of fighting thru the losers bracket, the heart it takes, if the kid has never experienced it? And don't tell me a single elimination bracket on Sunday is the same. It isn't. Single elim is one loss go home. Double elim means if you lose one, you have to immediately gather your team composure, get past the loss, and push ahead. Not a skill learned in pool play with a Sunday single elimination, yet a skill needed to be successful in life!

Again, just an old guys .02

Can you not opt out of pool play and start with bracket letting the TD know that you're doing so?

[luv2teachthegame]

@Old Darter....very good points in that reply! I think bracket play starting Saturday could produce many benefits as well. I don't want to repeat your response, but have to agree with bracket play on Saturday raising the level of competition throughout the whole weekend and building all of the intangible character builders you mentioned. It would also most likely lessen the number of teams and therefore building stronger Nor Cal representation. Ball players would learn how to overcome that first loss on Saturday, feeling the pressure, and having to fight to make it to Sunday...the exact experience you want them to possess going into Nationals.

Your response was on point. Not bad for "an old guy's .02"!

[SoftballSoccerDad]

There's a bunch of reasons why parents would not be open about their DDs tryouts, but I really don't think it's anyone else's concern in most cases, especially when it comes to girls moving from rec to TB.

[Bleacher bug]

I have a few questions on parents and tryouts.

First Parents.
Why would a parent bring their DD out to try outs and not talked prior to about accepting a spot. I have seen a few different versions of this.

Obvious one is the Athlete who is hoping to make another team over yours.

The one that makes me wonder tho is the player coming out of rec gets offered a spot on a TB team and the response is... Great let me talk to my wife and little Suzzy and see what they think, can I get back you? I have seen this go either way many of end up saying yes and joining the team, I have also seen my share who said well we have decided to stay in rec... My thought has always been wait a second didn't you talk about tryouts and the possible chance your DD would get offered a spot before you showed up. I understand TB is not for everyone but why would you bother coming out to try outs unless you had really given it some thought prior.

Final Coach
Does anyone else think the tryout process should be revamped. Teams still have open tryouts posting all positions open. (Everyone knows most only have a few spots) When you look at the rosters after tryouts for the most part the teams still have the same large core group. My daughters coach last year and this year had meetings with his players and parents prior to tryouts and offered spot to those he wanted to return the next season. nine of us returned. Is it worth having a tryout for 2 or 3 spots or would open workouts be a better way to fill the few spots open. My thought with an open work out as a coach you get a better one on one look and as a parent you might be able to see more from the coach or even talk with existing parents.

Any Thoughts on either question?