State of D1 Softball in NC

I think any objective assessment would support the statement that, as a group, D1 teams in the NC are at their lowest point in many years. Any ideas why? (I guess this should be in 'the next level' but there seems to be zero traffic there). Did I just answer my own question?

 

The NC school are not able to attract enough of the top national talent we get some but not enough. I believe many of the coaches are also behind on their teaching methods, that is not to say we do not have some great coaches, but as a group we are not that strong. Our local, within state talent is not deep enough to support all of the schools, again I am not saying we do not produce a few high quality players each year just not enough. Our travel ball teams are water down, what I mean by that too many teams with girls who are not ready to compete with the best talent in there age group, so the talent gets spread around. Lastly and this will piss most off, the instruction in this state is behind their are a few people who try to keep up but not nearly enough are dedicated to the cause, and a great deal of kids just will not work hard enough to realize their potential. This is just my opinion I am sure many will disagree, I have been around the sport for 11 years in our state, and I go around to clinics locally and in other states I stay involved in the sport 12 months out of the year and this is just what I have seen from my own experiences.

 

Don't forget that some very talented players from NC are currently on rosters of out of state schools.

 

How many and where are they playing?

 

Yes....and you answered it correctly....

 

I believe we've ignored the competitive part of the sport. Many want to look the part instead of being the part.

Why waste time competing 7 innings when you can get it done in an hour?

How many teams are you aware of who want to beat some other team so bad they can't stand it?

 

You are closer to the truth then most will admit.

 

Some hard data

The RPI isn't perfect but it will put some things in perspective. Only three of the 12 division one schools in the state are in the upper half:

http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/weeklyrpi/2012WSBrpi1.html

 

More hard data

Six of nine D1 schools in SC are in the upper 50%.

 

But . . . .

isn't this true of travel throughout the country? I will say that my daughter played travel ball (for a NC team) several years ago the kids on her team wanted to smack down everyone they played. Losing was not acceptable.