New Teams Forming

[CheckWriter]

i think there are three simple reasons: Don Mashburn, Kelly Jackson, Kirk Laux

Somebody that has been around Sacto softball before making their 1st post.

[V Mot 4]

The Nor Cal Bruin 14U team is now KG Hitters 14U...

[bmxbaby]

Just like players moving from team to team, coaching staff also do the same. So what this is at least the 3rd or 4th organization for some of this staff. The problem may not be the organizations it could be that the staff can't work will within a stuctured system. Just my thoughts!

Wilson, I agree with you here. and to add on, I'm not in the know per say about what orgs and coaches requirement/negotiations if any are, but lets face it, everyone is jockeying around for player positions and coaches looking for organizational support to get players seen by recruiters. Let's look at Dball situations from some teams out there. Whether daughter or loyalty based, would I be off the mark to say it's getting tougher to find the right fit for players or is this the way it has been? I've seen teams locking the highest full ride potential positions out of loyalty more than skill/talent. Also have seen coaches leave orgs because of lack of support despite winning record. Politics? Im sure there's more if we dig but a good discussion brewing from this thread.

[SoftballSoccerDad]

More teams means more options for the players and families out there who are the TB consumers. The less vanilla a team is, the more flexibility there will be in finding a reasonable fit for the average player.

I am not a Kelly Jackson fan myself, but she's clearly a power broker in the region and has positioned herself to be able to keep her hands deep in the mix for years to come.

[luvmy8]

Softballsoccerdad, obviously you must be new to the travel ball " thing" as a parents of multiple players in travel ball for multiple years, travel ball isn't for average players, that is what rec is for. These girls and families that put in extra time and lessons, have goals and don't want average. THEY WANT TO BE THE BEST NOT AVERAGE! Parents that think little Suzie deserves a chance is what sparks more and more teams! That us why there are so many new teams and below average teams and organizations. Just think what would happen if you combined all the good players to a few teams, NorCal would be just like SoCal, and compete! But dads and moms that believe because their kid didn't make it on an elite team they will start their own team, and dad doesn't know anything and coaches a team and parents move around season after season, because their kid isn't getting a fair shot, because at one time they made any average team trying to fill spots.

As for Ms.Jackson, the only thing that many teams shows is she cares about the all mighty dollar! Anyone knows why not combine them all and make age pure "elite" teams. But what do you expect from someone who gives lessons to 4 kids at a time, and bullies young ladies into giving lessons with her "no compete contract" when they want to leave. They are independent contractors that have the right to work where and when they want. It is a shame the way Ms. Jackson believes she runs this area. Anyone who has been in this long enough knows if you have friends like Mr.Franklin and Mr.Jackson she will sell you the world. Then spit you out when "it didint work out" and you wasted thousands of dollars. The proof is out there just ask around on this very site.

[ICMTM]

Sometimes mom and/or dad are right to start their own thing. I wish people would stop blaming moms and dads. I can make the case that the best athletes aren't even playing softball so there is plenty room for more athletes in fastpitch.

The problem when they do, they run it just like the org they left. It seems to me the most successful model of moms/dads coaching is when they take a core out of rec at a young age and attract other kids or merge with a rec team. If you're referring to the parent that doesn't like their team and starts a new team it has the ability to backfire. Then again teams fold as others are being created so it's kind of a wash.

[Old Darter]

I am not a Kelly Jackson fan myself, but she's clearly a power broker in the region and has positioned herself to be able to keep her hands deep in the mix for years to come.

Kelly Jackson had a HUGE conflict of interest for many years as the GSSA JO Commissioner. She was finally removed from that position last spring. Long overdue. She is only a power broker in her own $$$ filled mind.

[SoftballSoccerDad]

Kelly Jackson had a HUGE conflict of interest for many years as the GSSA JO Commissioner. She was finally removed from that position last spring. Long overdue. She is only a power broker in her own $$$ filled mind.

She wasn't 'removed' from anything. All they did was change her job title at GSSA. If you think she's no longer operating the same as she always did, you're mistaken.

[Old Darter]

Truth is Cassie runs the JO program for GSSA, not Kelly. But with Premier, who cares? Kelly DOES NOT have the power you are so willing to give her. She has an over inflated ego because folks buy in to her self importance.

[Sftball Junkie]

Just wondering if any of you have ever had a DD play on one of the KJ Mizuno All American teams?

My older DD was a pitcher for one a few years ago and our experience was great. We have played for both large org's and with out a doubt the All American experience was far better then the Windy city. It is funny to me how many people ask me didn’t you have to do lessons there if your dd played on their team? Answer No? Even as a pitcher? Answer No!!
Did team fundraising help support All American? Answer No!!
Didn’t you have to buy all your softball gear at All American Answer No!!
Also we were always questioned whether we new knew were your dues went? Answer Yes!! Our team was always informed on what fees went towards. We actually got a break down of exactly what the fees covered. I can tell you for a fact there was never a nickel of team money that went into All American.
I have had talks with Mizuno coaches this past year at tournaments and when asked they all about the org they all was told they liked it because KJ allows them to run there own teams and stays out of team business unless they need something.

If team money doesn’t go towards All American and you are not required to do lessons there or buy equipment there, how would having a bunch of teams make the org all about $$$. Maybe it is more about having a place for girls to play with quality support. Would not argue that with her school she probably is more about the $$$. I don’t know a business owner who is not.
As for non compete clause Have you seen one? I know plenty of girls who have instructed there and moved across town to do the same thing.