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Post by octanefastpitch on Sept 15, 2009 12:22:25 GMT -6
ok, I will try to get some folks talking.
How do you think travel ball has changed in the past 5 years ? In a post on this board, someone mentioned "why not start a travel league? ". Would anyone like to agree or disagree that we are pretty much part of a travel league at the moment ? I can remember, when my first DD started travel ball at 8u, we traveled nearly any and everywhere. Through the years, it has changed a lot. Not so much travel, over all. Southern teams stay south, B'ham teams stay metro and north teams..well...stay north ( for the most part ). So, teams end up playing one another numerous times. Is it the economy ? Is it the number of sanctions ....being able to play within 30 mins - 1 hr from home ? What happened to playing the HUGE tournaments because you knew the best competition would be there. I know after my first couple of years, when making my team's schedule, I based it on the tournaments I *knew* I had to play....The Viper, the Fathers Day classic, The Falcon Friendly ( back in the day ) and back then, there was a Clash for the Cash. It is SO tough anymore to come up with a competitive schedule for a team..due to some not wanting to support this org...or others not wanting to play this sanction..or that one. So then you end up just trying to find a tournament with enough teams to play.
Thoughts ? ..........Anyone ?
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Post by BLUE on Sept 15, 2009 21:27:08 GMT -6
You know what?I have only been in travel ball 2 years.One of my 28 year employees had daughters in travel softball 10 years ago and back then he used to talk about it all the time and I thought it was just another sport kids play and league ball was no different-----Boy was I wrong.They used to travel to Tennessee ,Georgia,and usually finished in Navara(sp) Beach Florida every year. I really like hearing his ventures about how travel softball used to be,PLAY THE BEST TEAMS AND BECOME THE BEST TEAM.but now there are so many teams and venues that its hard to just play the top notch team every weekend.
Just my 2 cents
Chris.
By the way GREAT POST Thanks.
Blue.
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Post by octanefastpitch on Sept 16, 2009 7:16:31 GMT -6
My point, exactly, going back to the travel league. With SO many teams and different sanctions and the ability to choose from at least 6 different tournaments on any given weekend ( within the state )....has it not become a "Travel league" ? Dont get me wrong, Im not putting down what its become, it has its perks ( not having hotel costs for every tournament you select )....but the competition level...week in and week out ?
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comets96
Tee Baller
Comets Softball
Posts: 6
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Post by comets96 on Sept 16, 2009 10:15:54 GMT -6
Here's my take...
For the past four years we (Comets '96) have played over 60 tournaments in 10 different states looking for the best competition and it has really payed off. I also believe by doing this it sort of rewards the girls for all the time & effort that goes along with playing at a certain level. The main goal is to get better but traveling creates so many memories when playing the same teams at the same places might not have the same effect. I think if a kid shows a certain level of commitment then it is my place as both a dad and coach to do whatever it takes to support them. So with that being said I think it very important to figure out what level your daughter wants to play at and then find what team, travel, league, coach, & sanction that will help her do so. Everyone is different but as a coach it is our job to turn their differences into the strengths.
Glenn
FWIW - Nice post Chris...
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Post by octanefastpitch on Sept 16, 2009 15:02:00 GMT -6
Here's my take... For the past four years we (Comets '96) have played over 60 tournaments in 10 different states looking for the best competition and it has really payed off. I also believe by doing this it sort of rewards the girls for all the time & effort that goes along with playing at a certain level. The main goal is to get better but traveling creates so many memories when playing the same teams at the same places might not have the same effect. I think if a kid shows a certain level of commitment then it is my place as both a dad and coach to do whatever it takes to support them. So with that being said I think it very important to figure out what level your daughter wants to play at and then find what team, travel, league, coach, & sanction that will help her do so. Everyone is different but as a coach it is our job to turn their differences into the strengths. Glenn FWIW - Nice post Chris... Thanks Glenn. Can ya tell its a BIT SLOW at my work  ? Bout the only time I post is when Im bored to DEATH !!!! Thats what the post is intended for.....to figure out "whats happened ".. why isnt it like it used to be ? Economy ? |
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Post by fastptch on Sept 16, 2009 18:15:59 GMT -6
Agree with Glenn, some parents want diversity in their childs life at younger ages. Some like it "full speed ahead" in the softball world. Some fear "burn out" of their child and want to take it Some families do not have money to travel or want to spend their money to travel far. Glenn hit it on the spot.. It depends on each families committment and level of play . Travel league no. One up from Rec.... All these reasons have some truth. Bottom line, what gaurantee when you travel that you will find the same as you find here in Alabama (too many local teams) just another team with another name that didn't travel far.... The more you play, the better you get... Have a great year!
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Post by timewise on Sept 16, 2009 20:35:32 GMT -6
The economy has definitely curbed our teams travel. We don't travel like we used to because it's just so hard on a lot of families right now. I really hope it gets better soon. We have been doing this for 8 years and it's totally changed for us.
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comets96
Tee Baller
Comets Softball
Posts: 6
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Post by comets96 on Sept 17, 2009 9:00:27 GMT -6
I agree the economy has a lot to do with it and I also think the big tournament mentality has evaporated. There used to be less tournaments but more teams & now it seems to be more tournaments with less teams. I think it would help if the sanctioning bodies would work together to create more "BIG" local tournaments. There are many talented teams in Alabama but they very seldom end up at the same tournaments. If we all would communicate a little more and work together then we could get back to the 40 - 50 team tournaments that we all know and love.
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Post by fastptch on Sept 17, 2009 12:22:18 GMT -6
Give them a call and make it happen.. Best thing is to get all the coaches together and work out a plan to get the sanctions to do just that. Perhaps the $$$ to these organizations/ball parks are more important than the quality to them. Expecially with the economy like it is now. I like the idea but giving up fundraising and ball park money will be hard for some. Im sure if you try to head up something Glenn, it may work..
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Post by hoosiercoach on Sept 17, 2009 14:14:30 GMT -6
Its hard to get 2-3 coaches to agree on anything, heck regional directors within the same sanction cant even work together, what are the odds of getting the ASA, USSSA, USFA, NSA directors to agree? It COULD happen, I believe, if you could "cross-sanction" like they do in TX. If even 2 out of the "big 3" in NA got together and double sanctioned tourneys, the one left out would go away, and we would be left with a better product.
Eventually I would imagine the money situation will end up forcing us into a CA style, where teams host 1 day 4-5 team friendlies, and only play a few BIG tourneys. BUT, in NA at least there is a severe shortage of available fields and its rare for any team to be able to say "Lets host a friendly next weekend", cuz all the area fields were booked up 4 months ago.
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Post by octanefastpitch on Sept 18, 2009 7:22:26 GMT -6
I dont think the double sanctioning happens in TX anymore. There is a reason and it was explained to me, but I cant remember what it was exactly. LoL It sure would be nice if we could do something like that. And now, with a changing of the guard with one of the sanctions, it might be possible.
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Post by timber3 on Sept 18, 2009 10:05:50 GMT -6
In my few short years involved in travel ball this is what I have noticed: ASA and NSA allow teams to host tournaments for fund raisers which allows those teams to travel and play. USSSA and USFA mainly host their own tournaments. With most teams and families on limited funds they seemed to want to play close and fewer days. We hosted a tournament this summer and nobody wanted to play Friday night because of the cost, so we had a Saturday/ Sunday Tournament but because of fields we could not handle as many teams. Which made the tournament that could have been around 40 teams could only handle 25 teams. This is what I have observed I do not have a solution.
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Post by octanefastpitch on Sept 18, 2009 11:05:03 GMT -6
USFA *WANTS* teams to be able to host. All teams have to do is secure a park...or ask the directors what they may have available. It may "appear" USFA is hosting their own in North Alabama, but, in fact, we are more than willing. If we secure a fields on 2-3-4 different dates, I limit myself to where I can play with my team if no one wants to host the tournament. So, rather than playing in a tournament out of state, I have to host in order for the tournament to happen...LoL.
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Post by Riptide '99 on Sept 18, 2009 13:25:45 GMT -6
USFA *WANTS* teams to be able to host. All teams have to do is secure a park...or ask the directors what they may have available. It may "appear" USFA is hosting their own in North Alabama, but, in fact, we are more than willing. If we secure a fields on 2-3-4 different dates, I limit myself to where I can play with my team if no one wants to host the tournament. So, rather than playing in a tournament out of state, I have to host in order for the tournament to happen...LoL. I concur. USFA will allow you to host a tournament. They have allowed us (RIPTIDE) to host twice. And on top of that, they have gone out of their way to help me organize and promote it. Additionally, they "protect" your tournament, by not allowing another USFA event within a certain distance, unlike other sanctions, where you are competing for teams in the same area. |
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Post by fastptch on Sept 18, 2009 15:15:28 GMT -6
you all got off the subject and point.
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Post by timewise on Sept 19, 2009 9:30:10 GMT -6
That's ok because at least there's some talking going on!
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Post by fastptch on Sept 19, 2009 13:51:35 GMT -6
i just wish everyone would move to this forum. its more organized and different subject areas that you can refer back to if needed over time. change is hard for some folks...
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Post by ballhog125 on Sept 20, 2009 21:32:46 GMT -6
I know after 4 years of travel ball it does make a large dent in the check book. We would get excited at playing a tournment that only required a hour drive or less. However, that does not mean we expected with every tournament. As a parent you do get tired of playing the same teams over and over. I do not know much about the sanctions, but what I see is fewer girls being involved in travel softball. There are so many teams competing for the same players. It is getting harder and harder to find competative players and parents with the same dedication to do whatever it takes to make it happen. I see other sports getting more and more attention. Right now, there is soccer, volleyball, and basketball. Most parents say "choose" and the player will stay with one of the other sports. My daughter played on a team this spring that was constantly looking to add to the roster because they could not find enough stable players. There are too many teams trying to fight for only a handful of really dedicated players.
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Post by jojo3471 on Sept 24, 2009 6:03:17 GMT -6
I agree parents and players get tired of same area. Call yourself tournament team if you play local and travel team if you intend to travel that way you know up front what a team plans to do. I notices also that 14u is hurting for pitchers. My opinion is coaches let some fall by the wayside as they pitch one or possible two in tournaments and not give some girls any game time. The coaches need to work on developing everyone on their team into better all round players, not just a few. I guess that is why you see most coaches have pitcher daughters. that happens for two reasons i think ; 1. no pitching time on "other" team 2. pitchers dads spend more time working with daughters. So 10u-12u coaches use all your pitchers the best you can and help develope all for the future. Thanks
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Post by fastptch on Sept 24, 2009 6:47:33 GMT -6
A seasoned coach will develop all his pitchers and provide equal mound time to all his pitchers if they are pretty much equal all around. One pitcher may be week on one pitch and stong in another. Girls who are dedicated to pitching (practice/lessons) are the ones who are being developed as long term pitchers. This position is not the same as others. It is a skill (like batting) that is worked on. I have watched coaches play one pitcher for game after game after game. Parents don't understand that burnout will set in and there will be no pitching for her later on down the line. What I have witnessed, is the coaches daughter who can only pitch 2 innings because that is all a beginner can pitch before they loose total control and then send in there ace to clean up for her. jojo3471, is totally right on. If daddy coach wants their daughter to be a pitcher, work with her on your time to make her better and encourage your other pitchers who work hard to perfect their skills and PLAY THEM - your daughter will come along.. The mound is not a training ground for beginners. Parents beaware of the coaches who are finding some fault of your pitcher to up their own child's agenda on the mound. Be wary of coaches who will send your pitcher in cold and not warm them up before they hit the mound....... Rotate your pitchers...
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Post by ballhog125 on Sept 24, 2009 11:59:38 GMT -6
I agree with fastptch totally. I have seen a lot of teams not care about the W and pitch all their girls good or bad. They need experience too. They are not beginners. but need experience. I wish all coaches who need to read this will read it. You do not want to lose a good pitcher because you want your daughter to get mound time. Work with her outside of practice and ballgames. Make her deserve to be played. Everyone else has to prove themselves, why not the coaches daughter? This is travel. We pay to play. I do not want to see my daughter sit on the bench because the coach thinks the savior of the team is his daughter, and she is not.
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