Question about joining show Case team

How young do you think a girl (or what grade) should be to join a Show Case team? Have a daughter that is going into the 9th grade and wants to play college ball. Very good student and very good player with great work ethics. Would like to hear some advice, from some people that have allready crossed this bridge.


Thanks

 

Skill level not age or grade

I don't think you should be concerned so much about the age as much as the level of skill. If your daughter can play at that level, then she should be playing on a showcase team. If you play against better competition, then you get better as a player. There are the elite players who develops skills at a young age and are ready by the time they are in 9th grade.

Just to reinterate, Don't worry about the year of graduation or age, just the skill level will determine when she is ready to play on a showcase team.

 

the most important thing is for your daughter to be in a situation where she is appreciated... if she can be appreciated in a top quality showcase environment then thats the way to go. If she cant yet better to bide your time and be patient until she can....

generally most top level showcase teams will worry about their rising juniors and seniors being seen first rather than a younger player regardless of talent level.

good luck... enjoy your journey!

 

JMO, 16u has become a much bigger draw for the college coaches than what i saw years back. So if you can get your DD on a 16u team where she pretty much plays every inning, then I say go for it. If your DD will sit and watch then thats not doing her any good and certainly defeats the purpose of "showcasing".

Good Luck

Fishman

 

Once Again the FishDude is right on target !!!!!!!

 

...also, regardless where your DD plays, she's got to be aggressive on the e-mailing of coaches gig NOW!

Cool step that gets a coaches attention is to not only contact the coach but send an e-mail to the schools compliance officer asking for the "what to do's and not to do's" in recruiting.

Trust the Fish on this one. Parents and kids have to abide by rules just like the coaches and schools and don't think for one minute that a coach won't remember a kid who took the time to go the extra 9 yards to learn how to do things right.

Fishman

 

I will agree with Mrs. Heat on this one. I don't see any point in 16-U, unless it's with one of the top ones that can make it to Nationals. Anytime a kid is in high school and has the ability, 18-U is the way to go.

 

....hey good buddy, I know you are one smart man and you know a hell of a lot about our game so when I post this you know I'm on your side, most of the time.
As for the 18us, the prominent nature of that recruiting gig is for sure playing the best that you can play against.
Hello, just lilke 16U, they play the best too.

Bottom line is this, when a college coach has "closed out her rising freshman class recruits" , whether on paper or in her mind, then the 16U group becomes bigtime!

Ya'll can think what you want.......BUT.....do not underestimate the value of 16U in this day and age.


with respect to ladiesBBfriend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fish

 

My opinion at that age is to find a good team that plays at a competitive level; not necessarily a "showcase" team. (Good luck finding a non-showcase team.)

Take the money you save by not traveling all over the country and let your DD attend as many college camps as possible. If she has a particular school she is interested in by all means have her attend as many camps at that school as possible. I can't think of a better way to be seen up close and personal!

If your DD is good enough the college coaches will be at tournaments she plays in--showcase or not.

All the good schools put on camps. Many of the camps have coaches from various schools assisting with their camps.

Carolina, IMO, puts on some of the best camps year after year. They not only teach softball skills, they form teams from the campers and compete as part of their camps.

How many camps can one attend for one trip to Texas? Save those trips for her junior and senior years if you must.

Again, the coach will come to see you play wherever you are. Join a competitive team, let the coaches you are interested in know you are interested in their school. And you can do all that this year, this week.

 

^^^^^^^I agree with him^^^^^^^^