Team California is back

[watchtonsofsoftball]

Ok alittle perspective here from someone whos payed attention the past few years. I'm not saying Granger isnt any good, but what exactly has she done? I think they have an OK team but they aren't a national level team and doesnt look like they ever will have a national level team. Im not saying you have to win a National, but they are a 2 and BBQ team. Shes had enough years to produce some results and there is a fair amount of turnover which is never good. A couple years back the team looked promising but have never really got over the hump. And winning metros isnt what it used to be. I guess I need someone to give me her coaching resume not her playing one. Im not hating...believe me, I'm not. Im just sayin......

[ICMTM]

I don't think Granger's team or coaching ability are in question here nor are they the point. People usually are up in arms about missing out on the free lunch. The CYPC offered free lunch last time. Everybody needs to eat...the CYPC just changed the game once everybody got to the dinner table.

Please don't tell me it was a play my kid or else deal...IIRC the kid was a 12u player? I don't see how otherwise there can be such a conflicting interest.

[onlooker]

...........

[ICMTM]

How is this any different than most teams put together??????? We used to just call it daddy ball and move on. Why is this incarnation such news?

[watchtonsofsoftball]

I think I'm out to lunch on what the hell is going on in this entire post but what I do know is I'm not seeing a lot of player development over the past several years. Natural progression of a team is to get better, especially by a coach that is so highly regarded by these 1 post wonders. Her playing resume is well known, but not having any inside info on her coaching abilities all I can go on is what I see. I know nothing at the 12U level, but at what point does Granger just let the players play for better programs and stay out of it? I relate travel softball with college and maybe thats my problem (or so Ive been told). As Ive done the past 2 years, I helped out with the opening tourney of the season and from what I saw the team was a shell of its former self. JMO
Any kid serious about pursuing softball in college should seek other more developed programs with proper people in place IMHO. It sounds like the last Team California set kids back a half season in their recruiting efforts, if there were any seeking recruitment. I do agree that drinking the "free" kool aid was a bad idea and I said as much when it was going on. But if your a travel parent, free is just to big of a cookie to ignore for some.

[onlooker]

...........

[ICMTM]

How is this any different than most teams put together??????? We used to just call it daddy ball and move on. Why is this incarnation such news?

No team in my decades here has ever produced the following ad with as much anticipation as Team Cali:

Players are paid for
DeMarini is sponsor
National team members/gold medalists are coaches
Elite team of the finest talent in nor cal

Sure, knuckleheads like LaGabed say they have an Elite team, but NONE have tried to put themselves on as high of pedestal that LK/JT/CE/MG attempted to put this team on when advertising for tryouts. In the end ONLY, it is no different than most teams put together. I agree! But, in the beginning, it was labeled as a team that one should have been proud to make. Nope, not the case. The girls and families were duped as you so well stated by "typical daddy ball". I couldnt agree more.

Money talks! When things are put together quickly, without framework, they fall apart just as quick. It's still daddy ball. I had a crossroad of my own. Do I continue to coach or not? I came to the conclusion that just training my own kids and finding good situations for them would work. I was extremely close to starting up a team. I takes three times the effort to do that versus just training your own kid. Actually I digress. We did start our own comp soccer teams twice (son and daughter). What I learned from that is if you don't have a dynamite core...don't bother. Although we became good teams (taking home hardware in about 25% of the tournaments we entered) we realized that people don't come to you until AFTER you've won something. The exception is free lunch.

Now I am for free lunch...I'm 230...gotta eat, but (and I may be wrong...please correct if so) but the CYPC follows the PAL model. I just think the target audience is severely missed as they are attracting people ALREADY playing (therefore demonstrating the ability to afford) softball. I'm not going to say that is unethical, but it appears the intent is to build a winning program around the kid versus saving inner city youth.

I think I'm out to lunch on what the hell is going on in this entire post but what I do know is I'm not seeing a lot of player development over the past several years.

Player development.....buahahahahahaha!

Parents trust their hitting, pitching, catching coaches but are extremely skeptical of their head coaches. When the winning doesn't happen...greener pastures are sought after. Comp softball more closely represents the NBA. Free agency happens every six months though.

Certain coaches have turnover for certain reasons. There has also been a culture shift of parents allowing kids to quit midseason and join other teams. My mom reminds me of the one time I said that. She said yeah you can quit, but you're never playing again! I made it work. My own kid had an issue with one of our coaches. I told her you can "be right" and sit or make it work. She made it work. The culture has shifted to allow teenage girls to act out. There is little parental culture that says "stay here and make it work."

[watchtonsofsoftball]

While I agree about PART of what you say about sticking out teams, maybe Im part of the new culture. I constantly preach that at the 16u-18g division you have to find a team that is going to "expose" your DD if college is part of the equation. I dont care when that begins or ends. People say they hate the cliche " do whats best for your DD" but it couldnt be more true. At younger ages 10-14u, you stick it out and move on if you think there is greener pastures. But at 16 and up its all about playing the number "game" and getting the right exposure. I've seen really good teams not do things right and end up with some scraps for everyone and I've seen mediocre teams kill it in recruiting. It gets down to your homework , exposure and your liasion. If you are doing your part (by you I mean DD) and your getting opportunity and your liasion will go to bat for you , your in a great situation. If any part of that is untrue to your situation you better change and change it now. We only changed once between 16-18g over the 4 years she was in those divisions but I told her at that time we will do WHATEVER it takes to get you where you want to go. I really meant that. I see a lot of parents who stick it out , lets say on the grapettes because well its a good 18G team and I need to be on a good team. Thats only a small part of the equation. In the end your left with nothing when you could have played in another program and someone out there could of had a need for you. Dont get me wrong you really need to hammer the recruiting and not rely solely on your travel team. It takes dedication by the parents and it helps if you know what your doing. Time will tell if Granger can get her kids to college programs. I seriously doubt it and if people are waiting for her "connections" they will be fooled once again!!!!

[tattsRus]

Onlooker---You spend all this time talking crap about 12 & 13 year old girls. You feel like you need to state your "facts" that Smith and these other girls are not elite players and somehow did not earn the right to play for team California in the fall. What elite team does your daughter play for? If you were a part of one yourself you would probably not be so concerned about everybody else's kids. Sounds like an insecurity problem you have. If you have something to say about my kid, stop being a coward and tell us all who you are. That is unlikely because you hide behind your little onlooker name and talk crap about kids. Find me sometime and talk your crap to me about my kid to my face. We will see how that goes for you. You judge young girls in a public forum and talk about things you know little about. You were not apart of Team California for a reason. The fact that you were at tryouts either means your daughter did not make the team or you were there to watch young girls (very strange). Find me or my husband sometime and make your case in person as to why you think my kid is not very good. She works hard and plays hard and she is a good kid. Leave it at that A-Hole!!!!

Fontana Smith

[ICMTM]

While I agree about PART of what you say about sticking out teams, maybe Im part of the new culture. I constantly preach that at the 16u-18g division you have to find a team that is going to "expose" your DD if college is part of the equation.

You're speaking of the opportunity to showcase the skills you've leanred. At all levels you should put your daughter in the best situation for her to succeed. That goes without saying. Sometimes though (and this happens more often than not with the younger kids) the kid ends up in a similar situation on the next team because the issue(s) of why she wasn't playing the appropriate position or amount of time weren't ever resolved.