GOLD TEAM

Any true thoughts on this? Can it be done? Do we have the players and who could coach such a team?

 

Just bringing this from the other thread...............

The current schedules the Cardinals and Blues play, I wouldn't say they are playing the same teams every weekend. This year these 2 teams played many different teams in Colorado, TN, GA, KY, SC, & NC and in many of these tournaments there were some gold teams that both the Cardinals and Blues did very well against. (Some of these gold teams went on and did well in the gold nationals last week). So I guess my point is, for now at least, you don't face the same teams everyweekend and teams can play a competitive "A" schedule to still get their players seen without having to travel at least several states away every weekend.

But there is also another very important part to this equation, along with the work Ray and Rodney (and many others) put in getting their players known about and seen, the girls have some responsibility in contacting college coaches and letting them know of their interest and summer schedule.

 

That's part of my point, the Blues and Cardinals are willing to step outside of the area and play different competition. But, when these and other area teams play in the area, they face each other all the time. check this weekends pools, same teams playing each other. If the Blues/Cardinals play some on a national level, then why can we not put a GOLD team together and continue our rise to be recognized on a national level.

 

It can be done. But I know personally of the expense involved of a schedule like this. These gold teams many have coaches that are being paid so coaching is their summer job and may be their only job. Most true gold teams are on the road continously at least 3 weeks at a time, June-August. There are only a very few (if that many) parents that can be away from home and/or work for that long. Also, many gold teams have a number of players that have already played their freshaman year in college so at least those players are somewhat used to the travel that would be involved.

But I do believe it can be done, but it would take some very special and dedicated young ladies, parents and coaches to be a true gold team. A team sponsor would also be of help. (the men's slowpitch teams have sponsors that pay tens of thousands of dollars each summer, so it does happen.)

 

GOLD

There are programs that spend in excess of $100,000.00 to go play "Gold". They are represented by individual girls from organizations as big as most of the little league programs in our state. This would require a great sponsor or a huge organization that would pay for a select few to play Gold. I know our program could compete. We have already played some of the qualified gold teams this year and played them well. The problem is, our group probably couldn't afford the extended travel and I know my boss would love me taking off 3 months right in the heart of our busy season. I would love it but don't think I could afford it. Any sponsors that read this board and want to fund a Gold team, give me a call.

 

WOW!!! $100,000 is a bit overboard. It is skewed information like this, that pushes people away from looking into this. I have been involved with a GOLD team in the past, one that has even qualified for GOLD Nationals and know for a fact it did not cost anywhere near that. It doesn't cost anymore to register GOLD than it does to register "A" It is just a matter of going to your ASA commissioner and letting them know you want to register GOLD. The extra expense comes from any additional tournaments you play in. There are GOLD sectors, and Region sectors that are just as close as some of these ASA "A" qualifers that the Cardinals, Blues and Challengers all go to. So basically how much you spend, how many tournaments you play in and how far you travel is all up to the you.

 

What's the Benefit?

If I'm not mistaken the travel teams my dd has played for have NEVER lost to a "Gold" team. Is the benefit of going "Gold" supposedly that the kids will be seen by more college coaches? I certainly cant speak for "Gold" only tournaments,but I can say that I'm quite impressed with the college coach turnout at most of the big conventional "non gold" tourneys I've attended.

 

Gold

I'm not trying to start a ruckus and I'm definitely not trying to sway anyone away from sanctioning Gold but facts are fact. I would love to see some Gold teams here. I've even thought about it myself. The cost to sanction Gold is exactly the same as "A" is but that's only the start.
One trip to CO will cost $15000.00 to $20000.00 including meals, air fare, rooms, ect..We've already done it.
There are "A" programs here in the state that operate at over a $50000.00 budget right now including all this. There are paid coaches drawing paychecks and expenses for there services. All this is fact. Not hearsay. Does every program do this, absolutley not but the fact remains, if you want to play in the Batbusters tournament, to get there, if you can get in, plan on spending a wad. If you want to go to CO. Plan on spending another wad. Just saying it ain't cheap and the Gold tournaments are not in NC, SC, or VA.

 

fired

yes, like last night on the LL softball world series game (12U I think), they said that one coach's wife or a parent? had been fired from their job because they had to be away from work for 3 weeks due to the tournament trail.

but hey, go for it....knock yourself out.

 

SB FAN

Was not going to get into this topic but after reading your comments felt I had to add my 2 cents! The budget for my 18U Elite team is $25,000 which does not include paying anything for the girls except uniforms, bat bags, and helmets. Since there are no Gold tourneys in NC, SC, VA, we would have to travel every weekend to Ga, Tenn, Fla, Alabama, etc to play. The registration is an extremely small portion of the cost as is the insurance.

Let's say the parents never attend a tournament and U have 12 girls to a team; three rooms for three nights on average @ $80 each = $720 each week for 10 weeks: $7200

Meals: 9 meals each child @ $7.00 = $756.00 times 10 = $7560

Gold Nationals 7 days x $240 a day for rooms = $1680
252 meals for 12 girls @ $7.00 = $1764

By my figures that is $18,204 for 10 tourneys which would usually cover summer only. $43,204 for a very conservative estimate, not to mention the kids and or parents being away from home every single weekend.

The Blues are 10-3 I believe playing Gold teams and we believe we can play at that level, however we would have to have some serious fund raising to get there. Also, if softball is costing U as a parent $10,000 a year, why not put that money in a CD and pay for your kid's college and if she wants to play softball, she can but U have the money to pay her schooling.

Oh forgot Gas, airline tickets, bus rental, van rental etc. U can add another $10,000 to $15,000 easy if U choose to fly or take a bus some of the time. U see the $50,000 to $100,000 figure is not far off the mark. Just depends on what the team is willing to provide.