Tell me something good about rec ball!

Slappers said:

Where do the kids fit in that actually want to play for enjoyment and not have all the stress that TB supposedly has. Why do all TB teams have to have the goal of college scholarships?

What? You don't want to play in college???? Well then you should go play on a B or C team because you are getting in the way of anothers dream. Or better yet, go play in a rec league that can't cater to your ability.

Where do these types of players go? Rec can't handle them and the TB elitists don't want them until they need them.

Click to expand...

Couple thoughts on the above:

So the 14/16U TB-A teams are all about getting the best D1/D2 spot a DD can get. With all the money that is spent in TB-A it does not make sense to pay TB-A unless you have these dreams to invest in. Ya really rich folks can have their DD pay/play at these levels BUT does a truly good college-launching club want to have players that just buy-in or do they want to be part of the recruiting process and show that success on their websites...?

The TB-B domain I feel is ripe for the "kids" you describe. (even though SB stress just gradually decreases on down the line...) If somebody needs less stress than that then go find a co-ed slowpitch team.....

TB-C are TB clubs that I think exists as rec/LL suppliments for the young girls. These clubs lose most of their players once 12U is over.

To me Rec ball does not exist after 12U because there are no pitchers left. They have all went to TB at that point. (in general)

JJsqueeze said:

... I was commenting more on how even the low level teams claim the same aspirations as the top level teams, there just does not seem to be much differentiation in how they present themselves. It seems that even the low level teams either have delusions of grandeur or are constantly trying to upgrade the roster etc. I have yet to see a team that is stating their goal as creating a space for that player that is above rec all stars but not quite the big baller. Basically finding the girls that are slated in the bottom half of a typical team and grouping them together to continue to learn and grow but not with a goal of using any success to recruit higher level girls, just for the goal of either having these girls move up and replacing them with the next group of bottom half kids, or just keeping them together. Not all TB families are chasing a scholarship, we aren't.

Click to expand...

There are a lot of teams that fill the space you describe - it's just that very few of them have that as the stated goal. Within that space, there are teams that operate in the manner you describe - you just have to look in the right places and be a little lucky to find them.

The biggest problems with the seemingly delusional teams are ego and not realizing how little they know - that goes for both the coaches and the parents. The smart ones know where they stand in the grand scheme of things, put their egos aside and take a rational approach of focusing on development and playing in appropriate events.

After 6 years of TB from 12U to 18U, I'm glad it is over for us. My DD moves into her dorm on Friday and we're looking forward to the next chapter. Good luck to both your DDs.