Tryouts over....

[triplecrown]

Lack of "quality" pitching is being felt all the way up to the highest gold teams in NorCal and even SoCal, its not just 12's trust me.

Are there too many teams in NorCal, I guess If I were running a org and was having trouble fielding a 12U team right now, I guess I would say yes but, and I speak from experience, once you get that sense your DD is athletic/talented enough at say 11/12 even 13 yrs old, find the top team/coach (where that team has a REAL reputation of development, and plays against the best week end week out), within a give a or take a hours drive, and throw her into the fire. That is where she will develop her skills, play against the best, shed a few tears, have some fun, meet new people, and most importantly prepare her for the next step. It takes a little homework but its well worth it. I have seen it time and time again where a parent shields her talented DD with a mediocre team moving through the age groups, where she tears it up but, never develops her skills, and when it comes time to play with the best, shes not ready, and to me thats cheating your DD. Other than that the too many teams chatter is just chatter, I love the idea of EVERY kid having a place to play this great sport of softball, as parents you need to GUIDE your kid in the right direction, then when she gets old enough (15,16) you give her CHOICES, and let HER make the final decisions as to what team "fits" her. I have seen/heard parents making up matrix's when choosing a team, its not a bad idea. This will give you a sampling of what it will be like when your DD makes the most important decision of her life to that point, where she will live/attend school/play softball for the next 4 or 5 years of her life..

parents once you choose a team or your DD makes her choice, encourage her and motivate her, and be a positive influence, and lastly dont be a s**t stirrer

just my 2 cents

[ICMTM]

It would be nice to hear if travelball orgs work with the local rec leagues to help develop players?

I agree. There isn't that visibility for rec ball parents. The issue that kills the bond between rec and comp ball is boundaries. A ball doesn't have boundaries. I don't care about the local rec teams in Placer County where my daughter has been playing. The giveback opportunity is not warranted given that the buy in is for another community.

The opportunity, and it's a big one, is for these orgs that have hitting facilities to open the doors to rec clubs in their immediate area. Charge them full price, but give them a discount for being affiliated with x ASA/Little League team. Sponsor your local rec team. It's a small investment especially since the probability of getting a player from one of those leagues are high.

This way you're visible. Parents see you and they see a place their kid can look forward to playing for. They see the work and see the commitment. You don't have to explain anything. If you get enough interest move those girls to the appropriate teams.

For me and my kid we ran into daddy ball in Little League. There was a team who when the girls went to all stars the kids from that team got all the playing time. Our closest travel org is probably Mizuno. I didn't know they were there until another girl started going for pitching lessons. I basically pushed my kid out of rec ball against her will because she wasn't on the team. Girls who could not tie their shoes when it came to all stars got to play more.

So then I said we are going to tryout for competitive softball because I know best. The kid wasn't having it. She went to three tryouts and did not make a team. For me it was an eye opener because at 12s these girls had some phenomenal skills. I was not aware at the time how crazy softball was. Athletically my DD fit in but was way behind with the amount of work she needed to excel. She got on with a team. The coach was a tyrant. She actually had some very good moments with the club. The team ended up not picking her up for the summer and she quit the sport all together.

About four months later rec ball started up. One of the moms chewed my DD out for not playing and she signed up. Being through comp ball she had seen where she needed to get to in order to stick on a team. About two weeks into rec ball she said "dad...I gotta get out of here." She put in the work. She made the 1st team she tried out for and has had the time of her life since.

Wow...sorry for the long read.
I just don't see the opportunity for a kid that is gifted that did not start comp ball in 10U to catch up. It was all me and her...and mostly me telling her that she had the talent. At one point she said "but you're supposed to tell me that." My reply was "remember that time we talked you out of being a gymnast? I'm not going to set you up for failure and that would have ended horribly." It's been downhill ever since.

Anyway had their been a feeder program, a lesser A team, or something we could have gotten into it would have been better for her. The other issue is I didn't know my wizardry. I didn't know a sorcerer from a lady magic from which direction the breeze was blowing until AFTER she made a team. It's hard to know what you're getting into.

I just know there were two other girls from LL who are as gifted athletically that not continue on playing the sport at all. One was lost to a different sport. Their parents were scared of the transition and costs. I don't know what the other girl is doing.

[SoftballSoccerDad]

In our part of NorCal, the best female athletes play soccer. They do both when younger 6-9yo, but when they're 10-12yo, one sport begins getting more time than the other and by 13yo, they're expected to specialize. It should be noted that lacrosse is growing, too.

Some TB programs DO have people involved in rec leagues, but while they might be there coaching younger DDs in rec, they're also trying to identify the more talented rec players and steer them to TB where an older DD might be or where they might plan to coach in a year or so. They started asking me about my DD before she even got to 8u. I agree she's a stud , but in my opinion, the talent gap between her and the other good players is not as great today as it was 2 years ago. The field is catching up and that is good for our rec league, which means our league could do a better job of getting girls ready to make the jump.

I'm perfectly content watching her play 10u rec. I know and like some of the current 12u TB coaches out there, but with all the turnover and upstarts, I've got no idea who's going to be coaching 12u in 2 years. When the time comes, I will be looking for the best possible coaching, which may not necessarily be on the team with the coaches who've won the most games.

[SoftballSoccerDad]

I just don't see the opportunity for a kid that is gifted that did not start comp ball in 10U to catch up.

I really appreciate your post and I'm glad that your DD rediscovered softball, but I disagree with this statement.

Many of those talented players might be behind coming right out of 10u rec all-stars and going into 12u TB that fall, but by the following summer, many are going to be up to speed. A few TB coaches have told me that a girl needs to be in comp ball by 10u like you said, but most of the coaches I've talked to don't agree. They would rather get a girl after a couple more years of development. When I'm watching 12u/14u, I'm often seeing the newer players performing just as well as the players who left rec when they were 8 or 9.

Besides, if every good player leaves rec when they're 9 leading to a lot more 10u TB teams, then the quality of play isn't going to be THAT much better than in rec, which offers competitive play in the summer and fall.

[THE GODFATHER]

parents once you choose a team or your DD makes her choice, encourage her and motivate her, and be a positive influence, and lastly dont be a s**t stirrer


I concur!!!!

[A&&hole Coach]

A good friend of mine told me this once; he tells his stud athlete daughter the same and I echo it to my kid every time she looks bewildered if she isn't in a game...If you want to play more...get better! period - dot

Instead of parents telling their kids to improve to earn playing time they move teams. When no other teams will take her, they start their own. This is why there are too many teams with sub-par talent.

[Iluvblue]

Ive been saying this for a long time. When kids move, it is usually the COACHES fault. You tell the kid to get better, but how are they supposed to get better if they dont have a coach that is HELPING them get better.

parents SHOULD switch teams if things arent what they should be.

How many of the 12u and 14u teams have coaches that are helping them?

We beat some teams and do the same thing over and over to them and the coaches make ZERO changes, and yet that coach is supposed to help the player? Yeah right.

[SoftballSoccerDad]

How many players should be on a 10u or 12u TB team? I don't have specific data to prove my point, but it seems a lot of new teams end up being started because players 11-14 on a 14-girl roster aren't getting much playing time. I can't blame the parents for wanting their DD's to be on the field playing. I get what you're saying about having to compete to get a spot, but these young players aren't getting much better by having a lot of bench time when they're 10-11 years old. They've got to be on the field.

I think a young team should have 10 players. Not everyone is the starting SS, but everyone gets lot of time.

[A&&hole Coach]

The player's game, or lack thereof, is the player's responsibility.

[Iluvblue]

10 isnt enough.

Simple for us. 12u will not have more than 12. 14u would have 13 max, but probably 12.

16 and 18g will only carry 14 for us. that works for me.