Nor Cal To Play Softball in Italy "America's Team"

[Sftball Junkie]

That one sounds like it struck a little cord there Wilson I just had a simple observation that until a few days ago her name was never posted on the 18g tryout info and that the Italy team tryout was posted prior to hearing she was coaching 18g. A few things I have learned in many years of being a business owner and employing 20 something's, it's always fun trying to depend on them and when they leave it's always the big bad bosses fault. It's been my experience over the years most of these instructor's either... (A) Don't do this very long or (B) Tend to try it on there own as a business. I don't know many who go to school for 4 years with the plans of coming home and being a part time softball instructor for the rest of their life.

#1Fann must have missed the Italy tryouts. I stopped by for a few just to check it out, 1 from Sorcerers and 1 from AASA that I noticed. A descent showing of girls, about what I think most would expect.

Like her or not one thing I know for sure she has never been in a fight with her female coaches at Nationals like another Org leader we all know right Mr Darter.

[CheckWriter]

Some are fans, some are not.

To quote myself:

Did the KJ thing for couple of years.

Hindsight is 20/20.

[jonriv]

My daughter did the Team USA thing to Italy a few years ago with players from Connecticut- their trip was in August after we had gone to Nationals

Pros-

1) The Team USA on the jersey meant a lot to her- there was special pride in playing for your country
2) Played against a semi-pro team near Milan that featured several foreign Olympic medal holders(getting a hit of a 40 yr old Australian pitcher was a big deal)
3) Although my DD had been to Italy several times before-she saw different parts and got to experience it as a team
4) My wife's cousins got to see her play
5)College coaches liked the fact she played there(it was something that POPPED on her resume- some even knew the pitcher she faced

Cons

1) It's expensive- might be cheaper to arrange a tour yourself with your own team
2)Competition varied- some real tough, some not even rec quality
3) Drinking age is 16 in Italy(and they do not enforce that) there is no way for chaperones to truly control
4)it's expensive


Overall she loved it and still keeps in touch with the girls she played with

[Old Darter]

Like her or not one thing I know for sure she has never been in a fight with her female coaches at Nationals like another Org leader we all know right Mr Darter.

Well shoot, that makes everything KJ has done okay then! As we all know, two wrongs make a right! Thanks for pointing that out Junk.

[luv2teachthegame]

I think that no matter what was brought up about KJ that some would stick by her and defend her. In my experience, when various people are saying that she may lack some moral or ethical fibers in her decision making, it may have some merit. I think it is like that for anyone. Most of the timewhen you see someone's name repeatedly come up in negative conversation, usually there is at least a little truth behind what is being said. I have heard a great deal of comments outside of HB that make me think she might be questionable. But since I don't know her on a personal level, I choose not to mention it unless it has been proven true. What I do know is that when you require players in your organization to take lessons from your instructors, one should start to question a leader's ethics.

It would be nice to hear that all of these things that people have heard or experienced are not true and to hear some good things about people in the softball community.

[kl43dad]

Luvtoteach...
I tend to stay out of all of the talk out there. I will however make a comment on this. I get asked this almost everytime someone looks at joining our team or coming to try outs. The Lessons issue is probably one of the most false statements concerning the Mizuno All American teams or Kelly.

Would I like to be able to walk into our facility and talk with one of my players batting instructors or pitching instructors about what we are seeing in a player week in week out? YES!!! Would this help us or be a benefit to us as coaches? Probably
Does Kelly make our players take lessons with All American? NO!!!

As many of you know I coach a team for Mizuno All American.
I have 11 players on my roster of which 4 of them take lessons at All American. Like all players and parents out there who take lessons, they attend All American for Lessons because they like their instructor and/or like the program.
(Oh and yes it's still the same 3 main instructors who have been there for a couple of years now.)
Do the teams get charged to use the facility for batting practice or fielding practice? NO!!
Do any of our Players team fees go towards supporting All American? NO!!
Do our players have to buy there merchandise from All American? NO!!
Is it convenient to buy merchandise at All American when we are there all the time? YES!! I would much rather buy it there when I am in, then drive around looking for it.

Like most rumors out there I am sure either an ex coach or parent had an ax to grind either with Kelly or a coach in the Org and the easiest way to get revenge is talk shit at a softball tournament. In the world of Softball it takes about 30 seconds to spread anything about anyone and change everyone's opinion of a person or even a group. Prime recent example Team CA, Great Kids, Respected Coaching, Strong Funding and gone in 4 or 5 tournaments. Not sure if all of the off field BS had anything to do with it but I am sure it didn't help. At present time the Mizuno All American Org has about 100 Athletes playing on their teams, most of which returning players. If it is so bad would they all come back year in and year out? Just My Opinion.

I too would like to see something positive posted about anyone on HB, so here you go.
Thanks KJ for everything you do for the Mizuno Lep 12u team. The girls and parents have really enjoyed the team batting lessons lately.

Sorry I said I was only going to comment on the Lessons but as I typed this I happened to think of a few other rumors I hear and laugh at when try out time comes.

Hope everyone has a great Holiday Season
Jamie

[2muchparents]

So you are saying that the players don't have to pay to use the facility for batting or fielding practice? They also don't pay for it out of their players fee? How does the complex get paid for then? Do the teams get a set practice time at it every week? I heard that the players fees are about $2000 for summer and spring, so you are saying that none of that money goes toward paying for the complex? That's weird, that's a lot of money to go towards just tournaments, uniforms, and equipment! But for sure it doesn't go towards the complex or for using it???

[kl43dad]

So you are saying that the players don't have to pay to use the facility for batting or fielding practice? They also don't pay for it out of their players fee? How does the complex get paid for then? Do the teams get a set practice time at it every week? I heard that the players fees are about $2000 for summer and spring, so you are saying that none of that money goes toward paying for the complex? That's weird, that's a lot of money to go towards just tournaments, uniforms, and equipment! But for sure it doesn't go towards the complex or for using it???

Hey 2much Thanks for asking how it actually works.
That's the problem with hearing. Nobody ever ask's anyone who really knows. Most of our teams have their cost break downs at tryouts for anyone to see. PM me your email address and I will send you my 4 page break down I give our parents when they join the team it breaks everything down from teams rules to a detail on where the $$$ goes. It's pretty straight forward our teams have nothing to hide. Our typical 10s-14s team is $750 to $1000 depending on # of tourneys played and where, if they have to pay to rent fields, if they have lighted fields, etc... 2000 is way off base for our teams. (At least 10s, 12s and 14s. I am sure 16's and 18's are more $$$ do to travel but not sure what they budget. Never asked) my team fees for 15 tourneys in 10s last spring $700 plus $300 in fund raising. Fall my teams fees were more then most in our Org. I was $500 we played 7 tourneys however I rented lighted fields so we were able to practice until 8pm every Tuesday and Thursday @ $66 per night. 12u fees for Spring 13 tourneys scheduled $750 plus $300 in Fund Raising. Basically $700 to $750 out of pocket and $300 in things like Tamale sales etc...

Hey PM me if your interested in Tamales 2 more weeks left!!!

Our fees cover bags, 3 jerseys helmets and expenses like the typical reg, insurance, tourney fees, balls, nets etc... For spring my team also rents lighted practice facilities from feb. 15th until it is light long enough to run practice until 8pm. (Normally mid to the end of April) Over the last year we have had multiple times where either one of the All American instructors or 18g coach would come work with our team during a practice at no charge just to get a different feel. 6 weeks of team conditioning 2 nights a week with Ron Cervelin and team fielding/batting lessons on those same nights with Kelly starts Jan 9th. Team fees pay for Ron's conditioning course however batting and fielding with Kelly is free.

As for the indoor facility. Our teams pay no money to use the indoor facility. We schedule our teams for different days and times during the week. (Example) Right now my team is in every Thursday during the off season at 6pm for batting. Normally at 7pm we move to the back cage and work on fielding while another team rotates in at 7pm and follows the same pattern. The facility is large enough that lessons can still go on while the teams practice. The deal is we work around the lessons... after all (to answer your other question) Lessons, Clinics and the Sales in the Pro Shop is what pays the bills for the facility. (Not The Teams) It is pretty easy with 5 batting cages and 2 fielding areas to work around lessons though. Like I said in my earlier post, our players and parents are not told they have to buy from the Pro Shop but it makes it a helluva lot easier when the items you need are there when you are in for practice. Also keep in mind most of our teams are only indoors during the winter months when it’s to cold from October until March or during the rainy days of spring.
As for individual team members, Players are normally welcome to come in and hit or field with mom or dad if a cage is not in use for lessons and teams are not in. depending on time of day and availability they might get a $10 fee for use of a cage. Normally it is pretty full so you don't see a lot of that going on, I do have a few on my team that take advantage of it when they can though.

Sorry for the length but I Hope this answers your questions
Jamie

[watchtonsofsoftball]

Jaime your fighting an uphill battle. Everyone has their experiences with all american. I really dont have a problem with KJ or All American, but what I will point out is as the kids get older you see less kids stay in the program. Im not saying its KJ but what I am saying is, there is a reason. For starters they have great intentions but the coaching is definately lacking throughout. Yes, you will have a couple that do well but look at the older groups. The 16s team (argueably one of the most important) is a mess. That team is joke on so many levels. 18s have changed several times in the past 3 years. IMO Rich and Jerrry leaving was a mistake since they have a ton of experience and brought some stability to the program. I have a lot of respect for those guys. And your forgetting the mandatory workouts all of your team members have to pay for So KJ does get a slice. Ron is a good guy and does his best with what he has but I dont think there is a real conscious effort to get and KEEP quality teams and players. Your at 12's right now so everything is great. After your kid moves on from 14U you will have to make a decision. 16-18g is when you have to make important decisions about where your kid/team are at. You have to treat it like a business and what is best for your dd. This may include you not coaching a team or her moving on to a program that better suits your needs. Recruiting starts at 16s (yes I know they do pay attention at 14s) and its important to have a team that has your best interest at heart. KJ gets a lot of kids to college so I do respect that, but if your dd is looking at a bigger program, this may not be for you. She is exceptional at getting small time schools to pick up kids from her program ( you probably havent heard of most of them). Lastly , she catches crap because everything seems money driven. I dont blame her for this part as she is running a business, what the hell is she suppose to do. HOWEVER, I think the cost of her college prep program is beyond ridiculous and when you spend 5k-10k and then end up playing for timbukto state, your going to be alittle pissed. Parents drinking the kool aid and not doing the work themselves, and KJ is the blame. WOW that got long. I could go on forever

[kl43dad]

Jaime your fighting an uphill battle. And your forgetting the mandatory workouts all of your team members have to pay for So KJ does get a slice.

I did hit on the 6 week conditioning we have to do when I went over my team fees. Again something people outside don't see. That money goes directly to Ron for the conditioning. Teams had their choice to pay it to All American as a pass thru or to Fitness Train Today. My team as well as a few others paid Fitness Train Today Direct. So again No KJ is not getting a slice and yes that $120 for the 6 weeks with Ron is included in that same $750 - $1000 for team fees.

The Point I was trying to make is more to the fact that All American is not taking money from our teams. I here this all the time and it is simply not true.

I get what you are saying about the older teams at the same time I think a lot of people forget this Org has only had teams for 4 to 5 years. Who knows Kelly Coaching 18g might be what the program need to turn those top age group teams around and get them where they should be. Hopefully as we continue to build strong teams at the lower level and bring them up thru the program together that will help those future 16 and 18 teams as well.

As for the College prep, I believe the actual number is more like $2500 for the four years. I Might be wrong I haven't looked into much since my daughter is only 11 however I have seen the paperwork and $2500 is what it says. Again College prep is not forced on our teams and that money has nothing to do with the teams.

Thanks for the feed back

Jamie