I'm so frustrated!!!!

[Gone in 2.6]

I know this topic has been discussed before, but I just can't keep it in. DD is an '09 player & has a couple of schools looking at her, but nothing definite yet. She is on a very good team, but not one with great name recognition nationally. They have had very good finishes at ASA Nationals in past years & have alumni playing at top D-I schools across the country. But at the AFC showcase last weekend, they were put at an outlying field where ONE - count 'em ONE - recruiter showed up. Next weekend at Batbusters, they're not at the Sports Complex, so I'm predicting the result will be about the same. DD writes & emails a boatload of coaches before each showcase, but the reality is that the recruiters stay at the main field & generally won't stray from there.

WHY can't the organizers of these showcases try to get MOST or ALL the teams at least a couple of games at the main complex? WHY should only 40 or so teams get the opportunity to be seen? WHY do the Firecrackers, Hotshots, Cruisers, Shockers, Beach Girls (who haven't been competitive in a couple years) ALWAYS get their games at the main complex? Their players are going to be recruited no matter what. There are a LOT of great players on teams that aren't so widely known. DD's team has played several of the teams that are playing at Huntington Beach next weekend AND BEAT THEM! But we get put at a field 6 or 7 miles away & probably won't seen ONE recruiter!

The Surf City website stated last week that there are TWO HUNDRED 18U teams entered in this showcase. 20% of them were put at HBSC for the weekend. The other 80% of the teams paid the same fees, are staying at the same hotels, and are spending the same money for gas, food, etc. to travel & stay there. So why can't more consideration be shown for the other 80% of the teams? I know it's been said before that it's all about the money for the Batbusters & I do believe that. But can't they make it just a LITTLE bit about the girls & TRY a little harder to get more teams seen at the main fields?????

And while I'm griping, how about the scheduling? Why do they schedule an out-of-town team for a Sunday game at 6 pm? The local teams have all gone home by then, but the teams that still have a 6 to 8 hour drive ahead of them are put into the 6 pm time slot. This is INSANITY!!!

I know, I know, it's been this way forever. But if MORE teams would voice their concerns to the showcase organizers - and maybe even stop coming - they might start listening. As far as I'm concerned, last weekend was a total waste of time and money. And this weekend probably will be as well. We could stay home & scrimmage 5 teams for a whole lot less money!!! And be in bed by 10 pm.

Isn't there something that can be done?????

The College Coaches don't go to Huntington Beach Sports Complex simply because they love the facility. Part of what makes it a "prime spot" is the presence of the teams that you are complaining about. I see less known teams such as Combat Panthers, Pacific Coast Predators, Riverside Rookies, Cal Chaos and So Cal Wicked at the main complex all the time. But them being there does not benefit as much if the Hotshots, Sorcerer and Cruisers are all at Artesia Park.


I remember one Surf city tournament last fall where the Batbusters and a couple other of the "Name" teams were all at Buckingham Park (piece of crap with NO PARKING). Saw Oklahoma, Penn State, UCLA etc etc. Huntington Beach was practically deserted.

Also consider this. College coaches WANT to see the Corona Angels, San Jose Sting, The So Cal Athletics, Impact Gold & the Washington Lady Hawks. Sorry. If Gary starts scattering them all over creation in some attempt at showcase socialism, those coaches will find another tournament to attend in another state where they can get more Marquee clubs at one location.

There are regularly teams at HB that aren't "big name" but it is always balanced with the presence of marquee clubs.

[Gone in 2.6]

I looked, I didn't see any teams that qualified for gold nationals in any of the last 3 years that were playing at the outlying fields.


Look again, our team has qualified the last couple of years and we have yet to play on the main complex on Sat or Sun (although we will be there this weekend, I guess tipping the TD really helps ). Fortunately coaches still have attended our games on the outlying fields, and our girls are being seen.

Explosion came in 4th at Gold Nationals and I saw them at Goldenwest College.

Looking at the schedule I see there is NO Batbuster team and Huntington Beach this weekend.

[jag1]

Unless your kid is the next Mendoza, you aren't going to get seen much on a lesser team..! There are plenty of kids that have the potential to be big time players that are mired in mediocrity because of the team they're on...not every kid has the luxury of private schools, their parents undying devotion, and most importantly..... an open check book that opens ALOT of doors.. ! ( the best equipment,the best instruction, the best camps/clinics, ...etc..) Sad but true....

[watcher]

If your DD has done her homework she will be seen, Letters, E-mails, Videos, etc. And not just once, She needs to keep in contact with schools that she would like to attend, She needs to keep them up on when, Where & What times her team will be playing.

Best wishes

[jag1]

if she is putting up big numbers, or has something the big boys are looking for.....get her on an upper level team where she will be noticed in the tourney finals..! Playing on an average team you have to rely on you personally being able to draw scouts in..(personal contacts, camps/clinics, letters, e-mails....) That same kid will be seen on an upper echelon team that regularly plays in major tournament finals and has other potential college recruits...

[Sam]

Unless your kid is the next Mendoza, you aren't going to get seen much on a lesser team..! There are plenty of kids that have the potential to be big time players that are mired in mediocrity because of the team they're on...not every kid has the luxury of private schools, their parents undying devotion, and most importantly..... an open check book that opens ALOT of doors.. ! ( the best equipment,the best instruction, the best camps/clinics, ...etc..) Sad but true....

Thats just funny. I can't think of a single one player "mired in mediocrity" because of the relative performance level of the team. Gosh...a couple of years ago we had Lisa Fernandez watching our pitcher throw 2 games at a showcase tournament....on a team that couldn't come close to qualifying for Gold Nationals.

[jag1]

Sorry..no offense to the kids on weaker teams..! I'll reword that............if your kid is a good ballplayer, but plays on a sucky team, she won't get seen as much. That is VERY impressive to have a player of LF's caliber watch your pitcher..!

[Sam]

Sorry..must have struck a nerve..! I'll reword that............if your kid is a good ballplayer, but plays on a sucky team, she won't get seen as much.

No nerve struck...its just that many people read what is written on this board and they apply some amount of credence to what they read. I'm trying to express what I know to be true. If a player does her groundwork and contacts coaches from schools she would like to attend, they will likely come to see her play, regardless of whom she plays for during the season. Using your advice, a player might choose to play a lot less for a somewhat better team and not be seen because she might not be one of the starting 9...or maybe she is a leadoff hitter who the better team might have hitting in the 8 or 9 hole...not as many ABs. Personally, I would always advise a kid to join a team where she will play much of the time, regardless of how skilled her fellow players might be...

[Blind Squirrel]

Sorry..no offense to the kids on weaker teams..! I'll reword that............if your kid is a good ballplayer, but plays on a sucky team, she won't get seen as much. That is VERY impressive to have a player of LF's caliber watch your pitcher..!

Seen as much? When my kid played on a "sucky" team she was seen by most of the PAC-10, BIG-10 and other major college coaches, including at non-main fields/complexes. It was more than sufficient. Use common sense. Put yourself in a college coaches shoes. How many players in the NBA, NFL and MLB played at schools you never heard of? Why is that? The reason is obvious, relevant and not lost on college coaches.

Edit to add since I have some time:

The OP Frustrated may be frustrated but from what was written, it is for the wrong reasons. Sounds like another conspiracy victim to me. Guess what? Most kids aren't victimized (WRT to recruiting) by coaches, fields, TDs, etc. Kids and/or their parents either do the right things to get the interest of college coaches or they don't. The kid is or isn't good enough to get offers. The kid either impresses college coaches or not. Call it reality or very often, more appropriately, a rude awakening. Buffy isn't Cat O. WTF? This can't be so! Blaming others may make you feel better but it serves absolutely no other purpose. BTW, folks who make such excuses would be wise to not voice them to others in FP, particularly those that are familiar with the kid's play. The chances are very good that those people are talking and laughing about you mere moments after you walk away.

John

[jag1]

If the kid really has the talent...put her on a competitive team. You will save yourself alot of time and hassle by not having to self-promote your kid and avoid the "marketing campaigns" ..........I wish I had majored in public relations, I could have gotten rich from overzealous FP parents trying to get little Susie a college scholarship..!lol!