Boulder

All true

You can get seen on a less-than-gold quality team but if you're on a team with other prospects it multiplies the number of coaches watching. Also, the fact is, coaches like to watch good teams.

The Shamrocks have been extremely successful. They had a kid from eastern NC play with them the last couple season (see the UNC roster). You can, however, put together very competitive teams with NC girls as Ray, Ben, Rodney and Jeff have done. The difference in NC and CA is that there are several dozen such teams in a relatively small area. Much easier to produce relatively large and competitive tournament fields.

 

Many Different Roads to the Same Final Destination...

There is so much passion for this thread! There are many different avenues to take to get your players recruited and to play at a college that they will be happy with. Some choose to stay local and play showcases, while others choose to travel and play some big tournaments. There isn't anything wrong with either of these choices. Just make sure that you and your daughter's philosophy on this fits with what the team is going to do. I love to travel to different tournaments and find out where our team stands regionally and nationally. For some, they don't want to do this - and I understand. There is a method for everyone somewhere in travel ball.

 

Never doubt the power of PERCEPTION. It trumps reality in almost every circumstance.

Scal this is not a black and white issue.. it is a matter of playing the percentages. You wouldnt pinch hit with the game on the line for a great glove weak stick SS in the last inning with the winning run on second with a player who is batting .125. You would use the girl who is hitting .450. Can the the girl hitting .125 get a hit?.. of course... and the girl batting .450 may strike out but I still send up the girl hiting .450 every time. Going to Boulder is just playing the percentages.

This isnt specifically about the Blues but I have to mention it. Most on here would be stunned at the lack of effort put in by some coaches of so called national level or Gold teams. I often wondered why and I have come to realize after walking this trail that they basically feel they have little to gain by sticking their neck out. There are so many variables... what the coaches want, what the player will do once there, commitment, grades etc etc. They dont want that coach coming back and saying: but you told me Jane was____________. It is easier to do nothing and tell the kids if you are good coaches will notice you. This could hurt the organizations reputation which in turn hurts their ability to get good players and etc etc. I find this approach repulsive frankly but... One in particular said in the first practice huddle "I don't want to hear the first (BLANKETY BLANK) thing about a scholarship".

Nobody at his level works harder than Rodney does for his kids. Many know the health issues Rodney has faced over the past few years. He has faced other challenges as well and yet he keeps on trying to help kids realize their dream. He doesnt make a dime doing it. In fact he bends over backwards to make it affordable for those with money issues. All this in an environment where even the best kids and parents are basket cases because they are on pins and needles over the recruitment process... and as he previously posted he goes all the way to Boulder and eats potted meat and saltines so he can afford it... not me brother! I have said several times I could not do what he does.

Rodney maximizes the percentages for his kids. He shouldnt have to defend doing that on this board.

 

Experience

While I've really enjoyed reading all the post on this thread, I have to ask how many of the people that have either read or responded to this subject would jump at the chance to be a part of something as big as the Boulder Experience. The experience of playing at such an event is a life long memory in itself not to mention the intrest of any of the hundreds of coaches in attendance, that any player would cherish even if they don't have intrest in that coaches school, what a confidence builder for any player. Think of it this way, you have just been a part of something bigger than you have ever seen before and you actually realize that if you never play another softball game in your life you can say that you experienced the best that the game had to give. I'm betting that while it is not everyones desire to attend Boulder that the ones that do are forever grateful for the experience, and they would'nt trade it for the world, regardless of getting any scholarship offers or not. I've have been fortunate enough to be involved in some simular situtations as a player in my day and must say that those memories last a lifetime, so be grateful for any oppurtunity to compete against the best of the best in any sport, who knows when you are playing against the next A-Rod or in softball Jennie Finch.

 

case in point: first year, first day we walk into the complex and bam there is Lisa Fernandez scouting for UCLA. I walked up and asked her to autograph a ball.. probably shouldnt have but whatev... she wasn't going to be looking at DD.. lol

 

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Coach told me once that there is a team for every girl out there that wants to play. Ultimately, everyone has their own thing. Depsite all it's warts, softball is really a great game to be a part of.

 

....let me make this clear right up front, i would like to see more attention from ECU towards the NC/SC/VA girls.
Now, with all do respect to the awesome talent that has come from Greenville, Felts, Sutton, Murad, Riggs, Wainwright....and many more for sure, signed to go to school on their terms not ECUs terms. Help me Duke.
If Meredith Felts or Stephanie Murad, two of the best players ever to play in NC chose to play at JM and UNC then ECU definitely missed out. On a personal side of the ECU non recruiting NC style, well, I've seen it for myself as well, but I've also seen ECU play extremely well with the kids they have and the Hawaii kids can flat out play.

No slander to our kids at all, but I'm not gonna sit here and dismiss the fact that ECU softball is a legit top 25 team. JMO

Fishman

 

....Summary Judgement in favor of BothsportsDad!!!!


Facts are facts, and ABSOLUTELY we all are basket cases along the recruitment trail.....but you nailed the jury of public opinion when you brought up potted meat!

Case Closed!

CircuitFish

 

ECU

ECU started recruiting two of my girls after Boulder and Ray's tourney. One has already committed to UNC but the other one is still considering ECU.

 

Go NC

Excellent! and once again, theres no promises to the kids going to Col., Rising Stars, ie traveling out of state,but news such as your post just goes to validate the value of a kid from NC travelling, and who we all know can play and then is seen playing against top notch teams in Col. etc by an NC coach......BAM! no doubt the kids were on the radar already, but playing in these type tourneys helps bigtime in crossing the T's, dotting the I's and finalizing coaches notepads with a big 'ol !!!!!!!!!

And I will continue to whole heartedly back what Rick/Ray, Cardinals do in this area and would also like to mention that the Hot Times and the Dynamite Classic in our local enough EastCoast area deserve some props as well.


Not to hijack this thread, but I just spoke to an NC coach playing in the Rising Stars in Fla. and things were very positive NCs way!!

Our kids can play, and I'm damn proud of 'em!

UncleFish

Raise the bar!