SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT OVERFLOW OF TEAMS

[whowhatwhenwherewhy]

Here's some reality for you... look up "Dumb ass" in the dictionary and I believe you'll find YOUR "stride".

I found it and it had the word "Joe" beside it! Hit yur stride Joe, go for it!

[dueceduece]

I sure wouldn't want to be the one to enforce some stupid rule on who can be a team or not.

I have to agree that there are teams that should be playing A and not B. And looking at the tournaments listed most are B or Open because teams will NOT play A. So the TD's can't fix this if the teams don't sign up to play A tournaments. It is all on the teams to move up and play A. Until there is a system in place that acutally forces players to move up.

[tex]

I sure wouldn't want to be the one to enforce some stupid rule on who can be a team or not.

I have to agree that there are teams that should be playing A and not B. And looking at the tournaments listed most are B or Open because teams will NOT play A. So the TD's can't fix this if the teams don't sign up to play A tournaments. It is all on the teams to move up and play A. Until there is a system in place that acutally forces players to move up.

The whole point is there are too many select teams. The # of teams some be reduced which increases the player pool for everyone else. The rest can play league until they get the skills to move up. But from the comments most are happy with B teams that play 4 games go home and then do it again and again and again until they break up and then another team is formed and them another. Etc etc.
This post was suppose to identify some items that could be used to inforce some areas. Instead everybody when around that and said we had a and b which was great. But it is not great. The good A teams are playing tournment to get ready for nationals. The rest are playing just to play.

When I did this Post I felt this was the response I would get. I justed wanted to verify.

Good luck to everyone and I hope all of you have a good fall and spring of 2011.

[whowhatwhenwherewhy]

Go back to the first sentence on my reply "It is the parents fault". They should be open minded enough to know that their dd belongs in league. Sick, so sick!!

[softballfan98]

In my opinion you can never have too many teams. We need to make room for all girls who want to play softball and who are trying to play at a higher level... aka select or travel ball. Lets not fire shots at girls/ parents who are trying to move out of rec and into select, so they can play in tournaments and enjoy the sport to the fullest, and perhaps find a way onto their high school team someday.

It seems to me the question surrounds the overall competitiveness of softball in our area. Have we watered down the talent? Is the fact we have so many teams caused the best players to be diluted over so many teams?

It is at this point we must ask ourselves, that if the organizations in place (VTD & ASA) in North Texas, began enacting policies that made teams gravitate to "A" or "B", then you would see the best players be drawn together to play together on fewer teams so they could compete. By allowing everyone to play "B" without any policies to govern who is or should be an "A" team then the talent stays dispursed. You also end up with many more mediocre teams competing all over the metroplex against each other.

So, is that a bad thing. If the tournaments are full and competitive and the girls are having fun, then should we be worried about the long term ability of our area to compete on a National Stage? The players and parents have to answer this question. At what age, and at what level do we worry about our Texas pride, and stop working for the girls?

I would love to see North Texas begin working a system that encourages, if not forces teams, to play at higher levels, so that beginner teams, and newly formed teams could play "B" while the more experienced teams, and those who have won tournaments or collected points etc... would be forced to move up. If teams are not choosing to play "A" then we should help the sport for its own long term good reward and encourage teams for their efforts. Finally, we should not attack the teams, players or parents for playing select ball or even for playing "B" ball when mayber others think they should be palying "A"... THe system doesn't encourage or reward teams for good play, and in our area if you go "A" in the past, ther were not enough other teams also playing "A" to fill tournaments - so teams perpetuate the current system. Teams stay "B" and fill tournaments competing against each other and you end up with a thread like this every season.

[Joe]

I would love to see North Texas begin working a system that encourages, if not forces teams, to play at higher levels, so that beginner teams, and newly formed teams could play "B" while the more experienced teams, and those who have won tournaments or collected points etc... would be forced to move up. If teams are not choosing to play "A" then we should help the sport for its own long term good reward and encourage teams for their efforts. Finally, we should not attack the teams, players or parents for playing select ball or even for playing "B" ball when mayber others think they should be palying "A"... THe system doesn't encourage or reward teams for good play, and in our area if you go "A" in the past, ther were not enough other teams also playing "A" to fill tournaments - so teams perpetuate the current system. Teams stay "B" and fill tournaments competing against each other and you end up with a thread like this every season.

Fan98...right on! This thread is regurgitated bullsh#t. The bottom line is...do we expand the sport to benefit all or limit it to a few arrogant, selfish, elitest who think their sh#t don't stink. The latter will surely take us where we're already going...down the toilet. In the meanwhile, many other female activities and pursuits are kicking our a$$ (see girl's volleyball)!

[tex]

[quote="softballfan98"]In my opinion you can never have too many teams. We need to make room for all girls who want to play softball and who are trying to play at a higher level... aka select or travel ball. Lets not fire shots at girls/ parents who are trying to move out of rec and into select, so they can play in tournaments and enjoy the sport to the fullest, and perhaps find a way onto their high school team someday.

It seems to me the question surrounds the overall competitiveness of softball in our area. Have we watered down the talent? Is the fact we have so many teams caused the best players to be diluted over so many teams?

If you are referring to my comments I am not taking shots at the girls because they do what their parents tell them to do. Alot of them are forced into situations they are not mentally or physically ready for by a parent who knows little are nothing about the game, and yes the best players are diluted, over too many teams. That is the main reason we have problems at the national level. And yes the Quality A teams main goal is to develope the players so they can win at the national level. They don't play just for the fun of it they are serious about what they do.

Yes I think and strongly feel every girl who wants to play should play. But the players who do not have the skills whether physically or mentally should play league until those skills are developed.

Alot of people say league ball is dying. Yes it is, and alot of it is due to the fact that every one wants to start a select team which leads us around in a circle so less and less are playing league, and more and more play at a level they do not yet have the skills to play at.

[softballfan98]

Tex - I was not referring to any specific comments, but the general feeling I get from good Select Teams and Parents. I agree with your thoughts, generally speaking, and feel the frustration of many of the posters in this thread - but on both sides of the equation. Which is why I think a similar thread pops up here periodically. The problem is hard to solve. Create an atmosphere that challenges and prepares the very best and most talented for higher levels and National competition... Provide a place for girls who want to blossom out of rec and grow into better players, without diluting the player pool or washing down tournaments into lower level "rec ball". It is the #1 problem I believe in N. TX. It will take some real leadership and cooperation from the rec guys, VTD, and ASA - without attacking this problem from all angles the current situation is destined to continue. Nobody is governing for the good of softball as a whole. VTD and ASA are worried about there own fiefdom, and the good old boy rec network, is caught up in maintaining control of their city or league - which goes on and on. I appreciate the discussion and enjoy the ideas and thoughts of others, while hoping the right leader emerges...

[TinaD]

Coming from another state where the travel clubs were made up of the upper echelon players, I was amazed at the number of teams at my first tournament in Texas. Unfortunately, that amazement turned to a big "huh," and I was shocked! Let's face it, it's expensive to play softball. Why would parents pay all this money to put their daughter on a team that doesn't have a fighting chance? I don't think it's fair to the girls and IMHO is not the goal of a "select" system. (Although I am seeing that money has become way more important to both softball clubs and the system, than actually providing a place for players to compete.) But that's another topic. So, what is the answer? I can only deduce that there's an issue in the rec league programs. What are they doing to develop players? What are their rules for play? Do they draft? How many games do they play? I just don't know. We signed up for rec ball when we got here, went to one practice, and my DD was told she couldn't play because she was going to hurt someone. They referred us to the VTD website. My DD played both rec and travel in our prior state. Rec ball gave her the fundamentals, select ball polishes her skill set. If the rec leagues were doing their job, then these girls would be developing and competing against others with a chance ... then they move up, but their obviously not ... or people have a lot more money in Northern Texas to throw away than the rest of the country.

Before you start bashing my post, I am not saying a girl has got to be a superstar player. EVERYONE makes mistakes! However, by 12-U, she better have a head for the game, a good glove, and be able to put a bat to the ball. I am finding myself sitting on the sidelines getting more and more concerned about the safety of some of these girls and for some of these teams.

I also agree with both Tex and Softball 98's comments. Someone has got to step up and get a handle on this situation. With all the money and experience around here, you would think that these organizations would be applying some of it toward the recreational programs. In order to fill rosters, you got to have players. In order to be competitive, you got to develop the talent. I think of the recreational league like a farm team. Get the girls where they need to be and feed them into the system.

[NoSkillzSoftball]

I'm curious why does someone need to get a handle on it? SO that N Texas can be represented at the next nationals? I could care less if a N Texas is represented at any national, the sun will still come up in my world and my dd's.

I'm most curious what "A" level program is it that your daughters are playing for since you all seem so willing to bash these so called rec players that are playing travel ball. If your so proud of your daughters why not post up what teams they are playing on so we all get an idea of exactly what level of talent you think needs to be represented when playing tournament ball.

No one can argue there are teams that are not true select teams and are just above, if not slightly below, a rec team but who cares? Maybe, just maybe, what they get out of it is FUN. Maybe that group of girls goes to a tournament and has a great time. I realize those of you hunting your kids scholarship might have a hard time believing that but there are girls that at 12U still play this game for the joy of it.

Geez, get over yourselves and let the girls play. If your daughter is such a stud put her on a true A ball team that flies around the country or jets out to Cali every other weekend to play.

For the record so no one calls us hypocrites my daughter is also hunting a scholarship, an academic one.