Define "GOLD TEAM" ????

sample of Gold news off the wire

*****

Team Recap: Says Coach Rouppet, "After finishing 7th in Gold nationals, our team lost eight seniors to college but we reloaded in a big way.

document.write(insertImage('http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/1156/536802.jpg', '536802.jpg', 0, 210, 150, 1, 'Sarah Hassman, who had one of the top SPARQ Ratings of the summer, is now on the Sting.', '', 1189446353000, 'Hassman, Sarah (San Jose Sting)150x210', 1156, 'Align=Left'));Sarah Hassman, who had one of the top SPARQ Ratings of the summer, is now on the Sting.We have added players from our 16-U team that finished 17th this past summer in ASA nationals and additional players from Northern California teams that folded including a core of players from one team, the California Flames Gold, along with their coach, Gabe Abelia. The Flames had five ASA top 20 finishes including two Top 10 finishes.

We also picked up other players who just wanted to compete at the highest level—we feel that we picked up some of the very best softball players from Northern California and Hawaii.

Many of our players are getting a lot of attention and we plan to showcase all of them including our committed players on split squad teams that will play in all of the Major Surf City showcases.

We are very optimistic with the amount of talent that we have and know that we have a lot of work ahead for all of us but along the way it will be a lot of fun for everyone!"


Players Returning: 6

Alicia Noriega- 08
Jane Alexander-08
Stephanie Ricketts- 08
Caitlin Steel- 08 ( Committed to San Diego State)
Robyn Araujo- 08
Maia Monchek- 09

Players Lost: 8

Val Arioto - Cal
Senoe Kekehuna- Cal
Chanae` Jones-Oklahoma
Katelyn Rouppet- Oklahoma
Nic Perales- Ohio State
Kat Lawarence- St.John's
Stephanie Smith- Santa Clara
Alyssa Esquibel

 

Growing interest

Bubba hut, your experience with the "Gold" really sounds like it was awsome and well worth the sacrafices you and your DD have made to get to where you are. For that I envy you.
Cheeze, so you know, I wrestle with these questions because I went through these same dilemmas with my son a few years back. I really enjoy this time with my DD in softball, and would truely hate for it to be tainted by money, which has already happened more so in other sports. When I wrote about coaches getting paid I was refering to "Gold" coaches not college coaches. Sometimes when money gets involved the best interests of young athletes gets "foggy". I do understand where you are coming from as a Mod.and as a Father and Coach.
Braves, the jelousy,the bragging etc. carries on not just in softball but in everyday life. My DD plays because she loves it not because of what others think. Your insight does make us realize that no matter what team you are on it is up to us to promote and essentially sell ourselves to a program or coach. Great thread.
The one question,Abbyfan listed where this year's graduating class is and how they are doing. One thing I noticed was that all but one is playing in NC/SC. So I assume that playing "Gold" is more about playing "up" the compition level rather than being recruited.

 

the question

One thing I noticed was that all but one is playing in NC/SC. So I assume that playing "Gold" is more about playing "up" the compition level rather than being recruited.

In our case, we had already signed with our school ( Very Happy )before we played the Gold circuit. Had we not, we had many many more opportunities (Auburn )than we had the previous summer.

All of the 07 Blues had signed prior to the summer. 07 were done a year ago, there is always an exception due to injury or etc...

The 08's that played had already made contact with some of the Carolina
schools and their value was greatly inhanced by their play at the Gold level.

The 09 ,10,and 11 are the ones that will benifit the most from this program.

It's only advice, you can take it or leave it. Seeing is believing

 

Good Luck

Bubba hut thanks for the advise.

 

You are a Gold team if you are good enough to be one of the 64 teams who qualify.

 

I take that back because some teams get to qualify in their region where they are the only team who shows.

 

After reading all the posts.....

After reading all the posts in this thread, it appears to me, that everyone is in a competetion over whether to play or not to play Gold or not"?
Let me say, that whether a player plays Gold or not, they can get recruited!
From what I have read: you play Gold to travel further, play teams from other areas, not just local or regional, spend a lot of money!
For starters if you have the money and you are not hurting your family budget by doing it and the DD wants to, GO FOR IT!!!!!
I personally see the money issue affecting every avenue of life, not just athlethics! Someone is always going to try to 1 up, the next!
The most important thing, is not what you do, but more, are you doing it for the right reasons?
I could not care less, if people want their dds playing in Gold competetion, good for them!
My DD was content playing showcases regionally! My neighbors DD was content playing at the neighborhood (rec ball) level. We did not have the money to do the Gold thing, but I don't begrudge anyone who does! I don't feel that my DD played for teams/coaches, that were less than Gold! I don't feel that the friendships we made along the way, mean any less to us than Gold!
In other words I am just Happy that my DD got to play a sport that she loves and that I love to watch! She did get recruited and is playing college ball on a softball scholarship, for the college she chose to play for!
This in itself means a lot in our eyes, because not so long ago, fastpitch did not even happen here!
Girls sports in general, get the shaft most of the time! Fastpitch softball is finally starting to get some recognition and the players are starting to be looked at, as athletes! That is the most important thing of all!
If that has been helped in some way by the Gold team playing in the Gold nationals, GREAT! Maybe that will bring more tournaments our way for the future players. Maybe the future players will have even more opportunites than my DD did, GREAT!