Two, I Mean Too Many Tournaments???

Sorry, didn't know where those teams were from, just saw South Charlotte Panthers. My point is, it's a big state with a lot of players. I think it's great to have teams from all areas trying to accomplish the same goal.

 

Tournaments

Using your example, all but three girls on my team of 18U WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY FOR ME AT 18U! Go to Dynamites, Boulder, even Cardinal Classic if you want to see some top quality softball not that any of the tournaments around here are not good, also ASA Nationals would be a nice visit. I do wish all Showcase events ended with single elimination to bring out even more fire in the girls and teams! With most Showcase events taking three to four days, have less pool games and play out a championship, I know I would love that style and many college coaches would enjoy as it prepares the players for the college game environment.

 

IMO

It would be a drastic change for some teams and, as I said, it wouldn't be for everyone. There could be tournaments being played as there are now... there would just be some tournaments that would be exclusive. The teams that choose not to play or build teams to that level can most certainly keep playing these existing tournaments.
What I'm getting at is that there is enough talent here in NC/SC to build a hand full of teams that would be really top shelf. College coaches would know that when they went to watch these teams EVERY player would be of recruitable ability/talent, not just one, two, three or so per team. And... they wouldn't have to travel to Boulder etc. to see them play against quality competition! This is what Impact has done for baseball and there is no reason it can't be done for softball. It's a process that doesn't happen overnight. It takes a commitment of time and effort to establish this level of teams and events.


ladiesbballfan Quote:
Originally Posted by Braves
GMan is not from Charlotte nor lives anywhere near Charlotte...not sure why that was brought up.

Sorry, didn't know where those teams were from, just saw South Charlotte Panthers. My point is, it's a big state with a lot of players. I think it's great to have teams from all areas trying to accomplish the same goal.

I guess to answer this I would have to modify what you said ladiesballfan. Instead of teams from all areas in the state you would draw players from all areas of the state to just a few teams. If what you mean by "accomplishing the same goal" is getting the opportunity to play beyond high school, then the present situation does not optimize this. Because of the talent spread out over so many teams there is no guarantee that a player will face the challenges that identify her as a top level prospect when a recruiter may be watching her. She could be facing the best pitcher in the state or, as talked about in an earlier thread, she could be facing a rec level pitcher who can't throw a strike. It's not the ideal situation.


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 players will determine who plays on these teams by trying out. Coaches should be college level and know what college level talent looks like and how to coach it.
My DD plays for a team made up of players from NC and SC. We drive 3 hours one way to practice. It takes a commitment from both the player and their family to do this. It's not for everybody, I know... but everybody doesn't get a chance to play college ball either, whether it's because of talent or lack of exposure, I don't want my daughter to ever have to say "what if".


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.


Obviously I don't agree If you have teams that have only a small percentage of players that have the talent to move on to play at the next level, or you have teams that have players that are two or three years younger then the age classification at which the team is playing, then you have "watered down" talent/teams. I'm not talking about teams under 15u... let 'em all play! I'm talking about the ones that truly have the desire and talent to play college ball. The actual percentage that do is very small. A comparable example is the number of high school basketball girls that go on to play college ball... 1%... look it up!
Why not have a few "world class" teams? The biggest thing they'll do is bring more college coaches to this area looking for more "world class" talent. Too many times in today's society it's not PC to strive to be the best, to dominate the opponent, to be a winner. Then, in the next breath, we wonder why we as a society are becoming more and more second rate!

To wrap this up... first, this is a heck of a lot more fun than doing my taxes! Second, I wish each of you that read this would go to the Impact baseball website and then click on the link to the "Dirtbags". You will see what kind of level can be achieved by kids predominantly from the Carolinas. Click on the "alumni" link and see just how many boys have moved on to play at the collegiate and/or pro level. My son is on that list. He played for the DB's and is now playing DI baseball... and continuing his dream!

 

Whoops, I Forgot...

I forgot to add one point to my original post. In saying that I am disappointed, that really centers around the fact that I am seeing so many tournaments on each weekend, there are a higher and higher number that do not 'make.' This is truly frustrating because I see numerous teams signed up for multiple tournaments, then dropping out on Monday or Tuesday of tournament week - causing the tournament not to make, and causing me (or any other TB coach) to have to scramble to find a place to play with ample competition. Clearly, this is not a problem at the showcase level where the field of teams is set much further in advance. But, it has become a more visible issue at the 12U, 14U levels this season. It would be fine with me if there were 25 tournaments every weekend if it meant we could play great competition, and you could be confident when you signed up for a tournament that it would make on a consistent basis.

Scal - Thanks for reading my blogs. I knew there was one out there. My disappointment that weekend came from our play, not the tournament itself.

GMan - I tend to agree about players playing up. For some, there is a race to see how fast you can get from 10U to playing showcases. There are some players that are just so advanced that this is necessary. BUT, go to 14U ASA Nationals. Most of the 14U teams there can run circles around the teams in NC at the 14U, 16U and at times 18U level. I feel like you develop your skills AND your maturity at 12U, 14U. Plus, its the fun and competitive time in travel ball. Sometimes it seems like players advance too fast through this time.

 

yep! that's the time for fun and, hopefully, some competition to develop your players.

"Pressure time" shouldn't be put on these girls until 16u or 18u. Then it's one of the factors that the college folks want to evaluate... can they stand the heat!

 

It seems to me that the burden of fielding an elite team is on the coaches. There are no rules preventing coaches from filling their rosters how they choose. This is where the dreaded recruiting comes into play. Teams like the Virginia Shamrocks don't seem to have a problem recruiting top level players.

If such a team "steals" a great player from any other team they will be stronger and the other team will replace the player they lost and continue on.

I agree there is a place for teams at all levels and the more we discuss it the more likely the cream will rise to the top.

If you want a team to be at a certain level you have to make the effort to put them there. You've got to do your scouting homework and offer them something that lesser teams can't offer.

Same thing with tournament participation. You have to let the tournament directors know what you expect. When you play a team that is beneath you show them on the field that they shouldn't be there. Maybe even let them know you're disappointed at their level of ability.

Question is, I guess, who is responsible for the level of competition? Once we know that I believe we have a starting point.

 

Just curious

If you could make your team stronger in time for the next tournament and after would you replace one or more players?

That is one way of ending up with the best team--right?

 

I think the keys "RED"!!

We practiced over three hours on defense Saturday,and never got to offense. Kids need to learn at an early level so that they want be confused at a later age. Finances are keeping everybody close to home, but we have decided to venture a little to play different teams,and hopefully better ourselves !!

Guru

 

OK

Guru has some points! We quit playing as much in local area as we always played the same teams no matter where we went and the last few tournament our bracket was not very strong and of course does not attract the coaches. We want to play the best every where we go so we can improve and prepare our kids for college. There are a half dozen or so teams in NC that can compete on a regular basis with national teams and a few others that when they play their best are capable. As we saw in basketball the ACC beats up on each other but on a national level only a couple teams were able to compete as they played the best for multiple games. Locally you can rise to the occasion as you play certain teams but to play southern California, Texas, Arizona, Washington, and Florida teams on a regular basis, not to mention Ga, Tenn, Illinois, Missouri and yes the NE makes it tougher and more exciting as all play different styles.

The economy is forcing us to stay locally more this year and we look forward to playing the best in NC and SC to help us improve our game, win or lose. We will attend Boulder and if good enough the Nationals.

One last comment on the two or three super teams, you would get tired of playing each other time and time again and would have to travel to get better as you would know exactly what pitcher to throw, how to defense each batter, plays each ran, and you would become robotic in nature. Lastly, softball has become much like basketball with early signees! Many schools already have all their 2010 classes and some 2011, so pressure builds for the really quality underclassman to get seen or lose an opportunity for the school of their choosing. If you do not believe me take a look at the top schools recruiting updates!

 

I agree with the idea of building a level of talent that challenges and improves ablility. However, there are negatives to focusing only on the super teams (well put LBlues). Don't forget the opportunities needed to build the kid who is not necessarily an extrordinary athlete,but is willing to work and develop over time. The kid who when they reach their jr. year, folks wonder why they have not seen them before. You can call it watered down or you can view as a large crop of development. Either way there is always the assurance (as someone has posted previously) the cream will rise to the top.