Tell me something good about rec ball!

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Apr 27, 2012
70
0
Looking to hear about some things that made a rec program in your area good or even great. Was it the rules, the fields, concessions, the coaches, etc?

I see a big drop off in rec enrollment and program options in my area and it seems like part of it is related to how the games and organizations are run. Most of them don't seem to care about the girls, preferring to spend more of their time on boys baseball. I'd like to pitch in and help, but need some input on what makes a girls rec program good.
 
The only rec leagues worth their salt that I've ever run across are those run by ASA that are strictly for girls. At least you know where the money is going with ASA .... any other sanctioning body that runs both boys and girls siphons off money from the girls to help the boys.

Of these, Little League is the worst, by far. Girls get the lousy, inexpensive fields (the boys get the nice fields). Girls get no umpires and have to recruit parents from the stands (the boys get two official umpires at every game). Girls play at least 20-30% fewer scheduled games. However, the girls pay the same fees as the boys.

When families bring up these disparities, they get no answers from Little League brass. They eventually leave due to the unequal treatment. It's no wonder rec league sign-ups for girls go down every year.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Since our rec league is only softball (ASA), it's ALL about the girls. Making it a good experience is a multi-faceted issue - good coaching, decent fields, timely uniforms, regular/predictable game and practice schedules, balanced competition, good instruction for new/developing players, support of all-star level players, minimal politics, etc., etc... Some years are better than others, and someone will always find a reason to complain no matter what you do.
 

Slappers

Don't like labels
Sep 13, 2013
417
0
Dumfries, VA
I find the problem with our rec league is scheduling. We have 8u, 10u, 12u and 16u. There are enough girls in the 12u program to sustain it when the TB players are at tournaments but the 16u level struggles to fill teams and forfeits are abound on weekends. I feel like if games were not scheduled on the weekends for the older girls, the level of participation would be higher.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
I think it all comes down to coaches. If you have good coaches the players will stay and recruit their friends for you. I am not sure how to define a good rec coach but softball knowledge is a little bit down the list and will be learned.
 
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
Not all rec leagues are created equal but below is my experience.

Pros:
- a place where all girls, no matter the ability can play the game;
- there is an emphasis on the fun aspect of the game;
- you see the same families year after year and the player and parents develop strong relationships with other families;
- the cost is relatively cheap compared to select, travel ball type teams
- some facilities are self contained with multiple fields, batting cages, equipment shed, etc all at one location.
- they can be a good introduction to the game and good stepping stone and foundation for many players continuing on.

Cons:
- lots of weak, inexperienced coaches who have no business managing a team and have no desire to educate themselves on how to teach softball fundamentals;
- politics: from both the board members and coaches. Especially when it gets time to select all-star teams. Have seen some very ugly behavior by the parents;
- watered down talent. Most team have 4 or 5 decent players and then you have them playing with girls who have never played before. Very frustrating for the better player and new inexperienced player;
- there is no consistency from one season to the next, so players might be on 3 different teams with 3 different coaches over a 12 month period.
- after 12U, the upper divisions lose many players due to many factors like other interests, lack of quality teammates, the better players moving to travel ball, fewer coaches, and weak competition.
 
Dec 7, 2011
2,368
38
Our towns rec league was all about Little League. (back then I didn't know ASA from NRA....)

I look back and even though we learned about true TB almost too late (for DD's career) I still appreicate the experience we had there. We were in a big enough yet still little town where the cross-town rivalries were really really fun (for the most part) between 4 teams per age bracket. Then to end with an all-star team that can go to state then to Region then maybe to the glam of LLWS - that was cool.

I look back and it was amazing how cloaked TB was to us inside the LL iron curtain..... Maybe this was why our rec-LL thrived. The better players & families just didn't know about TB......?
 
Jun 24, 2010
465
0
Mississippi
I am the president of a local, rual rec association. Since we are so rual, we combine with 3 other rual areas for our league. Last year was our 1st year taking over the day to day operations. The town board was running it for many years prior.

The number 1 thing needed to be successful was community involvement. I want to say parent involvement, but we had many grandparents and others that played a big part in our success.

The number 2 item is coaches. We were blessed with several good coaches that taught the game. We did have a few that were sub par. These teams had the most drama (surprise). If we have more volunteers, we could be more selective with coaches. As it stands, the boys always have a surplus of coaches, but the girls have very few.

Number 3 would be good umpires. Many won't be great, but considering the oldest ump, (beside board members doing it occasionally) was 20, we had a fine year. We met regularly to go over items and we backed our umps. I believe this gave them more confidence knowing that they had someone on their side and allowed them to make better calls.

We are struggling to get more girls to play. We've tried many things, but I don't have an answer for the problem. Many girls want to play, or would play, but the parents won't sign them up.
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
We recently had a problem where a board member loaded his/her own team with the best players. That wasn't fun for anyone.
 

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