Travel ball start-up

lostbayou21 said:

All very good responses. If you haven't already, you'll need to budget a used pitching machine, decent catcher's gear, game balls and practice balls, throw-down bases, and a portable hitting net is not a bad idea either.

But the most important element is one that's been mentioned already a number of times, communication. Have a very thorough parent meeting at the very beginning. I prepared a document that spelled out what their expectations should be and what mine are; from participation to fundraising to behavior at the ballpark. I wrote it in a manner that was not threatening but certainly not vague. Then, I had them sign it and gave them a copy. It even spelled out how we would handle the removal of a player from the team. As far as the assistant coaches and your manager, I brought them aboard after explaining to them what their specific roles would be, so there would be no misunderstanding. It sounds rather tough but it was not presented that way. It definitely helped us avoid complications that many other travel teams deal with routinely.

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Is it possible to get a copy of the document you created? Don't want to recreate the wheel when there is one that rolls.

The differences in the time and monetary commitment between rec ball and TB will be EXPONENTIAL. I would HIGHLY suggest consulting with some local TB coaches to pick their brains and to get an idea of the level of commitment (it is amazing how much you can learn when you offer to buy someone a beer for a few minutes of their time). You may even find one that will let you tag along for a week or two for practices and a tournament to 'get your feet wet'.

InsidePitch said:

To add to SnocatzDad, you need to make sure you have a place to practice. .

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That's the first thing that I thought about. Gotta have a home.

The advice that you not start a travel team simply because you lack experience is harsh, imo. It's not like you're trying to coach some ASA nationals contender. These are just good rec players who want to take it to the next level. If you're the best option those girls have, then go for it. There aren't enough experienced head coaches to fill the demand for that, at least not in my area. Several start-up teams are headed by coaches who have no experience in travel ball.

That said, there is so much to learn. You'll think you know what you're doing, but you'll look back 3 years from now and realize you only knew a little. So talk to as many travel coaches as you can and learn. To do this well is a huge undertaking.

The best situation for a novice is to coach an all-star team in a league and make that a travel team that's part of that park's organization of travel teams. Without being part of a larger organization, it's tough.

I am going through this now. I started a team in Dec. It is a TON of work. I recruited coaches who were willing to put in the work and that is a HUGE help. They show up to almost every practice and help out where they can. It is a ton of admin work as well. I started my team because there wasn't a travel team in town. I had girls that wanted to play more and better competition. It has been very rewarding.

I would do it again. I had previously coached Rec and some local travel summer and fall leagues.

www.BillericaShamroX.com

I started a team last summer and here are some things I would be prepared for.
1- Put everything in writing. (Code of Ethics, Rules, Expectations, Injury Waivers, etc). This is the stuff that can trip you up.
2- Be prepared that this will be a 2nd job! (There will be Awesome Days...But there will be as many if not more that are Very Tough!)
3- Decide what you want for the team and STICK TO IT! You are the coach. If someone else does not agree then they can move on.
4- Be patient with the players & push them. Do not let them off the hook for bad attitude or lack of effort. These are the only two things you cannot coach.
5- You will loose players so recruit constantly. Finding good players (work ethic, good families, good attitude, fair amount of teachable talent) can take 2-6 months of talking and gaining trust.
6- Expect the unexpected. Some of the families you know best will turn on you. Loose sight of what the original goals were and come after you harder as they "Know" you and feel more comfortable around you.
7- In going with #6....Do not tell people as much as you would like. Find a person you trust outside of the organization and vent on them. Come to DiscussFastpitch.com to vent....But be careful of letting feelings about players, parents or other "opinions" within your team (Family and Players) get out. It will eventually bite you.
8- Be prepared to learn at every turn. The moment you think you do know it all....Retire and become a fan.
9- As a 1st year team you need to Factor a budget that covers playing costs in the case of loosing a player or two for a payment or two....Overestimate by 25% until you better understand your costs at the end of year one.
10- LOVE THE GAME!!!!! If you do not this will become old very quickly.
Good Luck! I look forward to hearing from you as you grow.
PM me and I will be glad to share my "paperwork" that you can adjust and use.

PITCHING PITCHING PITCHING!!!!!!
If you have 2 pitchers who can keep pressure off the defense, you are
a step in the right direction. There are several upstart 14U teams in my area
that are getting shelled as pitching is too watered down. Some teams have
one very good pitcher and little else to share the circle thus they will be looking at mediocre
summers. I suggest finding another program with the same situation and
combine forces or wait until fall

Coach JV said:

PITCHING PITCHING PITCHING!!!!!!
If you have 2 pitchers who can keep pressure off the defense, you are
a step in the right direction. There are several upstart 14U teams in my area
that are getting shelled as pitching is too watered down. Some teams have
one very good pitcher and little else to share the circle thus they will be looking at mediocre
summers. I suggest finding another program with the same situation and
combine forces or wait until fall

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Having decent pitching will be a HUGE help, but there are different levels of TB and some are specifically geared to rec all-star teams.

Having decent pitching will be a HUGE help, but there are different levels of TB and some are specifically geared to rec all-star teams.

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True, problem in my area, there are a lot of 'open' tournament fields where
the 'A' teams beat up on the 'B' teams in pursuit of the coveted $2 trophy.
My teams branded 'A' have always 'played up' in this scenario, as the girls
do not improve playing teams that are not at their level. This is the exception rather than
the rule as I have seen my share of trophy hunters thru the years

Great advice from others. I will add some that I learned the hard way when I started out:

- Get rid of a disruptive players/parent on the team no matter how talented they are or what you think the risk is of other players leaving if you cut them. Zero tolerance/one chance only and they are gone.
- There is always another player out there if you need them.

There is a huge temptation to keep a player who is talented even though they are disruptive or the parents are nut jobs or whatever. It isn't worth it - the team environment and attitude will improve without the cancer.

One other thing - often when you first start a team you end up with probably assistant coaches who were Head Coaches for some of the teams players in rec or somewhere else. Don't do this - do not give them coach titles even if they help out with the team. It must be clear to everyone that the Head Coach is in charge to the girls and to the parents. You don't need your players looking to someone else they are used to being in charge before they listen to you.

I wont coach travel without absolute authority now and when I am not head coach I 100% defer to the person who is. It isn't a democracy - it is a dictatorship - and while you should be willing to listen to advise from others it must be your decision.

Last one that occurs to me: Being competitive and winning games makes small problems disappear. Losing makes small issues big issues. When we first started out we did it at absolutely the worst time of year (all the other teams were way more experienced and gearing up for nationals) and we got slaughtered. I ended up arranging scrimmages we could win to get the team in a better mood. If you suck or are playing way above your level losing can add up quickly - this isn't rec where you play a game or two a week and you get time to recover from a loss. In travel you can lose and 10 minutes later be out there losing again... and that can go on all weekend - and the next weekend - and so on. Losing can add up quick even when you are getting better. It is easy to say "Julie is playing SS instead of Sally because she is our best option" when you are competitive than when you are in the middle of a 10-12 game losing streak.

You don't even have to win 1/2 your games - if you are winning 1/3 of your games and are competitive in most of the others and the team is getting better and having a good time then this can be enough.