Tryouts over....

[Iluvblue]

Does an affiliation with a established org make a good coach great?
Magic-Sorcerers-Grapettes-Gold-Breeze-Sting-etc.



How would that help a coach be a better coach? Unless they were doing monthly meetings with all coaches and discussing softball related issues (parents, philosophy. mechanics etcs,.) why would that help?



Which coaches are having 5-6-7 tryouts to make a team

I think the only ones doing that are in the younger ages. The top org are not having multiple tryouts searching for players. Many of the younger teams are because as parents enter into the travel ball arena, they dont have any idea who is who.


IN our case, we held our tryouts, didnt get exactly what we needed, but we are done with tryouts. I now am dealing with a player here or there on an individual basis as we move forward. I have other things to do in my life than sit around and have tryout after tryout in hopes of some little superstar showing up.

SCREW THAT. I learned a long time ago, my life does not change one bit based upon how many games we win in the Summer. We try to do the best we can with what we got.

Now that doesnt mean we just take the first 12 kids that show up. We wait, and wait, and wait to see if eventually we can fill a need by being patient. If not, oh well, life goes on.


I dont think it is fair to say that if a coach has many tryouts it is because they suck and people are learning their deal and deciding not to go tryout for said coach. Some coaches work their butts off trying to build the team and get the players they want, thus they keep going.

Want to judge a coach, I say look at two things. Obviously look at how the team plays, then look at player retention. That says a lot in my opinion, more at the younger ages than the olders. In the olders there are so many factors that make kids stay with teams/coaches they dont like. That college dream is like heroine to an addict. People do some crazy crap in search of the softball scholarship.

[Iluvblue]

Not talking about u ILB. Like you or not, nobody is questioning your coaching ability. I'm talking about teams and coaches that have always cherry picked the top players, and did very little to develop them.


Isnt that what most "Top" Gold teams do? How can you develop a player when you dont get them till they are sophs in HS or older? Those kids go into Gold (most of them) already having their skills. Look at how many kids go to a gold team, and in the first FALL season with said team, they commit to a school. It certainly isnt because the great Gold coach developed that kid in 2 months into a college level superstar. So in some respect, ALL Gold teams are sitting back trying to "Cherry Pick" that next great star player.


We had that just happen with us. Great SS joins our team because her team disbanded. Kid gets seen at an exposure tourney down south while playing for us. Following week kid is on a visit and verbals. While I am positive the kid is learning things while playing for us, it certainly wasnt anything we did that made the kid play a kick ass shortstop in 2 months with us that got her a scholarship. But I dont mind "Cherry Picking" a player like that.

By the way, she Cherry Picked me, not the other way around.

[triplecrown]

PERCEPTION, is a powerful word!

What one perceives to be the best (coaching,org,team,), might not be the best...

If I were to do it over again and I mean this truthfully, I would look for a program that has strong LEADERSHIP that would be the person at the top (could be 18G coach, could be org's president, or could be one the same), and strong DEPTH in coaching.

Then I look at the org's history, what have they done over last 5-10 years. This will tell me about the quality of player they are attracting, therefore I know that over a extended period of time parents with talented kids keep coming their way. The coaching part is just a byproduct (they come and go as do the kids), if the good ones keep coming, you know they are doing something right, and typically that means winning at the highest level, and that does not mean the local Halloween Tournament wearing face paint playing against teams that cant make routine plays and make you look good (sorry folks).. Im looking at the DEPTH of the program, and I dont mean in numbers as I see more and more programs loading up in age groups for the money grabs (sad) therefore not only diluting talent but coaching big time. Im looking for QUALITY not quantity in a program from 12's on up, what type of coaching do they attract, again perception is a strong word but, the proofs in the pudding folks.

Then Im picking up the phone and making calls to past players parents, and not just the disgruntled ones that left for greener pastures cuz Suzy got no p.t, or the starting SS leadoff hitter that can do no wrong, im looking for that middle of the road parent that will give me a good opinion...

I am a real fan of finding a program that has coachs that ONE played the game at high level and knows how kids should be treated, TWO doesnt have a kid on the team, i know thats not easy and its not a deal breaker but, I just see less drama and more success on those teams..

When your kid is of age for "gold" what ever that may be, be realistic on your expectations. Teams post rosters everywhere, look at them and see where the kids are going. Is the team loaded with PAC-12 kids, is the team loaded with mid-majors or D-II, and plan accordingly. You dont want to stick your kid somewhere she is going to not play. On that note I hear time and time again, college coachs telling their verbelled players "get off such and such team, you need to play against the best", that is a case where the kid was playing below where they need to be, so it works both ways. Again rosters are posted everywhere, if your kid is PAC-12 potential then it doesnt take rocket science to figure where she needs to be, if she is mid-major or D-II, those are everywhere. Good thing is each of those TB coachs have built relationships with the schools they deal with each and every year, and will find you a home...

We all learn from our mistakes on this softball journey but, we can also learn from other peoples success's, so dont be afraid to ask....

[watchtonsofsoftball]

Great advice triplecrown. Have to agree with most of your post. Especially about finding a team with a staff that doesnt have a kid on the team. Not many out there but to me it is very important at the 16/18G divisions. At younger ages, I have no probably with the daddy ball coaches (some are great and some not so much) but when the kids get older your not doing them any service by continuing to coach them. There has been very few out there that I can say that about. The ones that carry on to coach at the upper levels and have success are really networking and growing as coaches, not just doing it to coach their dd. Again, few and far between. ILB, I'm surprised a bit at your SS. And I dont mean this in a bad way but I have seen her play several times and I thought she would land somewhere a little bigger. Now maybe she didnt want a big time school, I'm not privvy to that info. I really like her play though. Happy she found a place that fits her.

[Vipers99]

I know that there are good quality teams in every area you just have to look in that area and check them out for yourself. We are in an area that has a ton of talented girls in all age groups. What we fight is that there are too many people saying you can't compete against the Stockton teams and organizations. Our team has competed with every team in the tournaments we played. We have beat big organization teams as well as small ones. Win some loose some that's life. If you look close enough you can find a team talent wise that most kids can fit in with.
I guess I'm trying to say that there are a lot of teams in every area I just think that at least at the 10-14u age groups the kids should look for that local team to play with to grow together and become a family because there's still plenty of time from 15-18 to find that cutthroat team to play for.

[6to4to3]

A&&hole Coach wrote:
I hear the Breeze 97 added 2 stud Pitchers to an already very strong roster. Could be their year...

What teams did the pitchers come from?
I am curious since team Cali broke up, where did their players go?

Looks like they added 1 from Mizuno, 1 from Hype, and 1 from NV Lady Aces.

[Iluvblue]

I am a real fan of finding a program that has coachs that ONE played the game at high level


Im curious as to how many of the top college coaches in the nation played the game at a high level.


There are plenty of former athletes(magic johnson) that played the game at a high level that cant coach worth a lick. On the flip side, plenty of top coaches that were never stud players(Belicheck, Bill Parcells).

They have nothing to do with each other in my opinion.

[triplecrown]

Well their are white basketball players in the NBA that can jump too, so to bring up Magic or Parcells as examples is ludicrous, besides if Magic showed up in my town and said he was going to coach AAU, THAT is where my kid would be shooting hoops.

Take a look at some TOP schools in the country that have the most respected coachs, majority of them were the best of the best, in either the mens game or womens game.


Plus I am not even talking about the college or pro level, I am referring to TB and having someone coach your kid that PLAYED THE GAME at somewhat a high level. They not only know how to teach the game, but more importantly they know how to RELATE, they have been through the highs and lows, they know how to handle situations because THEY had mentors (coachs) at a high level themselves and they carry that over to their coaching style. Some had numerous mentors that they watched coach day in day out. Im sorry you cant duplicate having gone through the ropes of playing for a great coach, playing against great competition, and taking all that knowledge and experience and developing a style yourself. Is there people that coach at a high level and are successful that NEVER played the game , sure probably but they are greatly outnumbered. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PLAYING EXPERIENCE, especially at a high level, and you bet your ass they have a lot to do with each other IMO.

[triplecrown]

Sure I have heard the saying; how about Earlywine, White, Fernandez and cant think of his name but ASU (pitching coach), they are four of the best to ever play the game and also happen to be VERY good coachs. What is the pct of former players that now coach at the D-1 level and are successful, I dont need to do any research, its HIGH.

Again, I am not talking about Phil Jackson, or Tony LaRussa, or Bill Walsh, I am talking about TB coachs being former college players or mens high level fastptich or even baseball, do ALL of them make great coachs, hell no, but there are very good ones out there, and some of which did not even play softball but other sports, but they have that "knack" and learned from a mentor how to be a TEACHER and not just a coach.

My point is choose wisely when it comes to TB coach, even college coach...

[Iluvblue]

Im sorry you cant duplicate having gone through the ropes of playing for a great coach, playing against great competition, and taking all that knowledge and experience and developing a style yourself.



Why cant you just discuss the issue we were discussing without turning it into an insult to me and being a TOTAL ASS. I disagree with you, so you want to get personal?

Start naming ALL of your top TRAVEL coaches in Norcal. Now start naming those that played the game at this high level.

I know several players that played at a very high level but that doesnt mean they can coach worth a shit.

As a matter of fact, I know many UCLA players cant stand Lisa Fernandez, and I dont think you can get much better than her. So does she relate? She relates so well that the player I am aware of wanted to transfer after her Freshman year, she couldnt stand it.

So start naming these coaches and lets see how many in NORCAL of the top travel teams played at a high level. Also, some of the coaches of the elite programs in norcal have some of the worst relationships with players.

People that played in good programs have a few advantages, and if they are smart, they can learn and bring it to the ASA level. But many of those people are players, not coaches. that is a skill that also comes with ones personality. They are simply leaders with good communication skills and a competitive desire.

The common thread of all great coaches is communication skills, not what level they played the game. Have you heard Magic speak?? Thats why he isnt on the NBA shows doing pregames.

Joe Montana?Same thing, great player, terrible communicator