Looking for some education on Softball please

I am very familiar with the youth/HS baseball scenarios that exist out there and honestly don't know much about the softball world other than the passion the girls and the families have for the sport. I would love all of the information anyone out there is willing to share with me. I am not looking to run a team, have a team or anything like that, but I was approached by some people in another state looking for some information on how the whole experience of girls softball could be better.

What are some of the best parts about travel and high school softball and what are some of the biggest frustrations? wondering if the challenges and issues are similar.

1. what is the best part of girls softball at the travel and high school level?
2. is the recruiting process the best it can be?
3. What is the best part of the tournaments?
4. what is the most frustrating thing in softball for the girls and the families?
5. how are the facilities and how important is it to have outstanding facilities to play on?
6. do you think more money and attention is paid to baseball than softball?
7. If you could describe the perfect season in terms of experience how would that look?
8. does softball have a location, similar to Cooperstown for the boys that is a premier destination for the girls to have a similar experience? does that even matter in softball.

I know a lot of people come on this board and just try to stir the pot. I am honestly just looking for knowledge. Appreciate any responses. Thanks in advance.

 

Hey everybody!! It's been awhile since I have posted in here. I have been reading though, particularly the new signees.

The purpose for my post is to introduce this poster (baseball3x.) He is a legitimate member that really does want information from the softball viewpoint. He is in a position to do a lot of good in the softball community and I hope everyone can give him feedback so he has a better understanding of what the softball community needs are.

I thank you in advance for any help you are able to provide. I can tell you that baseball3x is a great guy and you would like him even more in person.

 

Interestingly enough, the poster, maybe inadvertently, completely missed rec ball. While not glamorous, it is where the kids start and most are lost. It is where the girls make the decision about the sport vs another sport.

 

If this was facebook, i would like the hell out of this comment

 

Number 1 To many high school programs get weak coaching. high school umpires are frequently awful
Number 2 We are just starting the recruiting so I will have to get back on that.


The biggest thing that the girls want is opportunites to have people respect their sport. The popularity of the sport is growing. People frequently fuss about baseball being to slow. Fastpitch softball should be played as a speed game. Don't lengthent he fields or change the pitching distances. This game is on a smaller field and is set up for speed. Goi8ng from first to third on a single is what you are supposed to be trying to do. More people just need to give it a chance.

 

Very inadvertently, and my bad. I am really looking for the general feel for what would or could make the experience for the girls the best ever. Maybe it is already great and everybody is thrilled with the opportunities and process from Rec all the way to college and if so that is great. I come from a corporate background where every year we "create a competitor" who is going to get into our space and if they do, what would they do to take our business and our customers. That helps us identify our weakness and work on it.

Again, I am not here to even create a competitor. I want to learn so that I may be able to help raise the bar for all the girls.

thanks for the response and sorry for the oversight

 

kanwj, thanks for the response.

can't help you with #1. don't think anyone can. I think that statement holds true in a lot of HS sports.

#2. Here is something I posted on another thread, but if you are just starting the recruiting process this is a must read from the NCAA

1. If you have not read this and you are a parent of a kid interested in playing at the next level then spend time reading it. It is a great resource and is up to date with rule changes. See page 20-22 for recruiting calendar.
   1. 1. http://www.ncaapublications.com/prod...loads/CBSA.pdf
2. register at the eligibility center if you are a sophomore or older.

It seems to me that fast pitch is continuing to grow fairly rapidly and is getting more and more popular. I believe I heard the the NCAA is looking at moving the fences back to 220? have not heard anything on bases or mound, but then again I am the ultimate novice here.

 

Sounds like the "Miller Heiman" approach to sales.

Customer retention(keeping girls interested in the sport) is what it is all about if you are in the selling side of things for this sport. Analyze all the potential competition. Where are you most vulnerable? It is a great way to evaluate any "product" and improve it.

This goes back to my original comment. The biggest drop in retention rate, in my opinion, is in the 8 to 12 year old group. After that, you lose them for various other reasons but usually not to another sport. You lose them to hormones, jobs, etc... If you get them that far, you are more likely to keep them. However, when the competitor is financial, it is very difficult to overcome.

There is almost a complete lack of professionalism or maturity in softball from rec levels up to and including college levels. There is no standard unifying group that pulls it all together. The fact that Softball was dropped from the Olympics has hurt that path. I am sure there will be people who disagree with me but you only have to look at other youth to college sports and you can find a completely different picture. There needs to be a "USA Softball" that ties the whole thing. I think ASA is trying but they too have competitors.

For example, there is no coach certification process. Oh, we do background checks and the high school coaches have to go to one meeting each year... but even at the college levels, the coaches dont even know the rules.

I attribute a lot of this to the relative "age" of the sport compared to other sports that are multiple decades old.

Is this the direction you were going with this thread?

 

1. what is the best part of girls softball at the travel and high school level?
   Seeing kids develop....not just as athletes but as quality young people who have a genuine direction in life
   
2. What is the best part of the tournaments?
   The opportunity for kids to be successful
   
3. do you think more money and attention is paid to baseball than softball?
   When the last out of the season is made, our fence will come down and the field becomes a parking lot. Never seen a vehicle on the baseball field.
   
4. If you could describe the perfect season in terms of experience how would that look? The day after the last game every kid shows up at the field to start working for next year.
   
   Can't answer all but gotta chime in on a few.

 

Yes, in part and that is great insight. Understanding where the line of demarcation sits for retention is critical because solutions can be formed. IE: the biggest drop off in baseball is right after 12 yrs old. Why, because of the leap to the full size field at 13. Many can't make that transition. Solution? an intermediate field with 80' bases and 54' mound was designed.

If the girls are falling out after 12, what can be done to peak their interest in committing to the game beyond that is a great question right? To ERMS point about the field becoming a parking lot and the girls moving on to something else immediately after the last pitch of the season. I think there is a unique ability in softball to standardize a similar experience for the younger girls as exists in for the older ones because the venue on which they play is the same (the field doesn't change, well unless there are cars on it!) If some of the best things about the sport are watching the girls become better athletes and better young ladies then what can be added to that for the younger girls before they leave the game. I don't have the answer, but I think it revolves around exposure of the game (again to the point about USA Softball, Olympics etc. hurting exposure) if great companies, HS and College coaches get more involved with the younger girls maybe that helps.

Still thinking and processing. Thank you again for responding. As I think of ideas I will post. If the ideas stink feel free to tell me, my wife does. Sometimes the outsider can see opportunity where the insider sees challenges. Hope I can help if needed.