Two, I Mean Too Many Tournaments???

You are the expert travel ball coach, and you are ready to get your team in a tournament. You start looking around, knowing who the real good, bad, and ugly teams are. What you notice is that there are 8 different tournaments within your driving area each and every weekend from now until the end of November.

Puzzled, you come to TBR and post, asking, does anyone else find this discouraging? Does anyone else think there are far too many tournaments that spread the talent too thin? ASA, IFA, NSA, USFA, WFC, independents, and some with multiple tournaments...

 

I wish they filled the fields in the Raleigh area every weekend. The only exception I would like to see is that varsity level pitchers and catchers not play as much on weekends during the hs season.

I see your point about diluting the talent but I would rather see too many teams (players) than not enough.

Of course, if there were a lot fewer teams and sanctions to choose from we could get rid of the "unethical" recruiting that everyone hates. Riiight.

The cream will rise to the top!

 

In my perfect little world...

There would be as many teams and tournaments as there could be up to age 14. This would give as many girls as possible the chance to be ready to play high school ball. After that...

Single year age brackets after 14u, ie. 15, 16, 17, 18.

No "playing up", except in extraordinary circumstances.

Have at least one tournament organization that limits it's tournaments to just highly qualified, invited teams. These would be true showcase tournaments that would draw the college coaches. Also this would encourage formation of high caliber teams that may be fewer in number but would be less watered down. These teams would be made up of players that have the desire and talent to play beyond HS only.

In cooperation with college coaches, hold tournaments at the college venues all across the State during the fall. East, West and Central... help get players exposure.

From 15u up, pitching distance would be 43', get 'em ready now!

 

Softball 247 - Discouraged? You were not saying that after the first Statesville Tournament? I read your blog. One thing I can tell you from experience is there are a TON of girls we have met at the high school level, and through TB, who are exceptional athletes. Some of them would like a chance to play in college. But the three biggest reasons they do not play TB are the expense (and lately the economy), politics, and Daddy Ball. Those things drive more girls and their families away from the game then anything else. We have been part of some teams and have known some phenomenal softball players, but they gave it up becuase they got sick of the way things were run, not because they didn't like the game. If you are not happy with the level of talent you are playing against you are going to have to travel some far away distances to find it, or something is going to have to change at the coaching level of TB. There are too many coaches not developing talent because they either do not know how or do not have the time despite what they tell you. If you have more coaches developing talent instead of looking for ready made players, you might see the level of competition go up. Hope this helps.
Let me add to that we are starting to see teams and organizations build their own private indoor facilities complete with pitching lanes and batting cages. Plus, more players are going to strength and conditioning coaches, none of which any of the teams we played on ever did or had.

 

I'm going to take this opportunity (because I let it slide by last time) to thank Ray Chandler, Rick McHone, Ken Bailey, and many others who do a fantastic job putting on great tournaments to help get players seen. I will also add that I think it's great to have tournaments to choose from, and plenty of players wanting to play.

Please remember N.C. is a very big state. Not every kid can drive many hours to practice, or afford huge expense in pursuing their dream, even if they may be the next superstar. There are teams that may not be great, but may have a few very good players. There are also players who may not be superstars, but contribute greatly to a good team. There are also players, coaches, and parents who do it for the fun, and there's nothing wrong with that either. We all know that to get better, you need to compete against the best.Why would you want to deny someone that opportunity?

If they continually get pounded, my thoughts are they would seek out some other tournaments. I for one am very happy with the travel softball is done here in the Carolinas, although there have been times in the past when I wished there were more teams to play in some close by tournaments.

I like to watch this interview from time to time. Hopefully some of the kids will see it, if they haven't already: http://sssoftball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=677085

 

Agree with the 14-U, and 43'. We already have showcases that coaches attend.

From 9th grade on, if they have talent and physical ability, go ahead and jump up with the big dogs. You play them in high school anyway.

 

I also would like to see the rubber at 43' but until it is moved back in high school, which it already should be, I think it should be left at 40 ft' for travelball. Most of the ones playing will be throwing at 40 ft' after the tb season is over so that is where they need to throw in the summer. Concentrate on where you have to perform now not where you have to perform in a couple years. Most of the players palying tb won't ever play in college anyway. I still would like to see high school at 43' then all tb could be there too

 

way it is versus the way it could be...

If players stay within their age groups and there are just a handful of teams in each age group with exceptional players filling the rosters of these teams, you would see softball played at levels never seen before. This would be just a part of the softball world... not all or nothing.

These teams would have to have true open tryouts each year and be committed to fielding the very best teams possible. There could certainly be more teams playing other tournaments made up of rosters how ever they like but, for the true showcase elite tournaments that I would like to see, those type teams wouldn't be invited, at least until they prove they can play at that level.

I have seen this in baseball and it works! Go see an Impact tournament that has the Dirtbags, Hurricanes and the South Charlotte Panthers competing. You'll see most of the best high school aged talent in the region playing. You'll also see more college coaches and pro scouts then you have ever seen before. There are less then ten of these caliber teams in NC. The vast majority of the players on these teams continue playing in college or in the pros.

Another point about "playing up"... is it that we have an amazing number of younger exceptionally talented players? Or, is it that we have too many "watered down" rosters that need this younger talent?

 

Your views appear very subjective, and who's to decide who gets the chance to play on these teams, or in these tournaments. Again, not everybody lives in Charlotte, or wants to play on a Charlotte team. I don't understand the "haves vs. the have nots" theory, plus I don't think it holds water.

The formula we have seems to work pretty well, so that's why I'm defending it. I would also not sit here, and refer to any team's roster as "watered down", but I don't want every team to be world class either. I think we need a good mix, even at the showcases. Yes, there are a lot of good young players out there, and I think they should move up to get used to playing a faster, stronger game, at an early age. JMHO.

 

GMan is not from Charlotte nor lives anywhere near Charlotte...not sure why that was brought up.