Let's Start a New Team!!!!!

I agree. My daughter played on a 12u team last year. They were good and cocky. They were in existence for 4 years. At the end of this past summer, we could not put 9 girls on the field. One moved, one quit and there are so many teams, we could not find any players. I agree with everyone on this point. I just don't believe that softball has to be for "A" level teams.

 

Softball 247 wrote:

The proof is in the results. Look at the ASA Nationals results each year. For the most part, it is the teams that have been established, and from established organizations, that rise to the top. It is my opinion that getting your daughter on an established team of the proper skill level would be a significantly better option than starting a new team so she can be the starting pitcher. If a girl isn't challenged to get better, what is the point of her playing travel ball?

I have no problem with what your saying here. My main concern is there is TOOOO much Daddy ball. There are some great organizations out here to include the Challengers (the person running it is a Gentleman), Triangle Lightning, Dominators, Fuquay Bombs, etc.

 

Wouldnt everyone agree that the sport of fastpitch softball is growing and maturing especially here in our region?

I think this explosion of teams is just as much a part of "daddy ball" as it is from the sheer number of new girls entering the sport. With only so many(currently) good organizations available, there simply are not enough of those teams to go around for all the new girls choosing to play non-rec level softball.

Maybe the problem of multi-level play needs to be addressed by the various organizations(ASA, USSSA, AAU, etc...) instead of beating up the new teams.
Should there be levels like A, AA, AAA and GOLD or something like that?
Maybe all new teams need to earn their way up through the levels with wins or some other measure.
Shouldnt creating a new team require earning your place instead of automatically being granted access to every tournament?

 

Let's be logical..

Who's going to judge which girls are at what level. Would that be you 24/7 ? So we pre determine who's should play at what level, and that will take all politics from softball forever. Right! Remember the posts on the NC State Games?
My DD also played for a Non parent head coach and it was the worst experience of her softball life. We were told that it was "all about the girls" but actions speak louder than words. What it turned out to be was for the recognition of that "person in charge". Every practice, every tourny, there was a new young lady to "look at" when there was already 18 on the roster. There was always that search for the "all world player". Not the concept of team. So on that note I'm with you Trooper.
A majority of Non Parent TB teams are not run in such a manner. 99% are top notch great quality teams that great ambassadors for NC softball. I'm just saying that just because you eliminate the Dad that all you problems are solved.
Let's don't go "shootin' all the dogs cause a couple of them have fleas." Here it sounds like a Dad (or Mom) that starts a TB team then it that Dad is selfish and greedy. I know that not to be the case. In fact most of the Top notch "A " teams in NC are run by a present, or past and even future softball Dad (or Mom). In fact some of my favorite teams are run by parent/ coaches. The Attitude, Cardinals, Cobras etc. are orginizations that no one can argue are sucessful on the field and off.
Maybe if we restrict the play of these ladies and only support the elite we can teach the rest to hang out at Malls, stay on"face book" or just cruise the streets. Lastly I think it is a blessing that so many young ladies are working to be the best at a sport they love and that they have supportive parents that will work hard for them to fulfill thier DD's dream. Not only the coaches but the parents that go to every practice miles away, or a tourny that is States away or just throwing catch in the back yard for QT sake. I love going to tounaments and seeing so many parents !!!

 

Well said!!!

 

Is this directed at me?

 

Oh...I thought it was a general question. I did not know it was directed at anyone in particular. But then again I didn't know we have a poster "24/7"

 

sorry..

My mistake... I meant softball247.

 

.....No problem, I was just poking a little fun your way.

I agree with you in your post referring to ASA Nationals, etc.
Check your PMs.

Fishman

 

let's not make this so black and white...

... there should be a place for every girl to play that wants to... and there is! From the rec leagues on up, there are opportunities at many levels.

Many of you are saying that if, in the scenario I've been talking about, there are elite teams with elite players competing in elite tournaments (here in NC, not 3 or 4 states away) that it wouldn't be "fair" to the less than elite players. "Fairness" doesn't have anything to do with it! Talent, skill, hard work, and dedication should determine those rosters. Those rosters are also, or should be, fluid. A player should not be guaranteed a roster spot on a top level team, it should be earned each season, through tryouts and/or player evaluations... this is the definition of competitiveness and it's the way college, USA and the pro teams out there do it.

The first person a player competes with is herself. She has to make the commitment to work towards her highest ability. The truth is there are only a few that are willing to do that. Next, she has to compete for a roster spot on the highest level team her talent level can qualify her for. Then she has to compete with her teammates for playing time. In other words, once a player leaves the "daddy wrote a check so I get to play" leagues/teams then it should be this way. This doesn't mean that a girl who today may be a "B" level player can't rise up, through the previously mentioned methods, to a higher level of play... it all depends on what she aspires to and is willing to work for. If you went to, say, a 14u tournament and polled all the players on if they want to play softball in college I would bet that at least eighty percent would say yes. The reality is that only 3% to 5% will. To be more graphic, lets assume there are 8 teams with 12 players each. About 4 of those players will get to play in college.

The problem that our friend from New York was trying to point out (as I interpret it) is that there are so many teams, with new ones forming, and without any real demarcation between the talent level of most of these teams, there is a lower level of competitive play. Sure there are some elite teams in NC that probably have more "frequent flyer miles" than the average corporate CEO because they have to travel out of state to find consistent competition, as well as quality exposure.

My question is, why not have some tournaments here that are limited to just the top level teams? Maybe it would start out with just a few teams, say four to six. Maybe it could grow to ten to twelve teams max. I know that would not create the revenue that most tournament directors seek, but it would be the best way to promote our girls especially to the schools here in the State/region.

With the growth of fastpitch softball here, now would be a great time to start this. Again, I say look at what Impact Baseball has done for the baseball players in this State. There is no reason the same couldn't be done for our softball players.