Travel ball start-up

I am trying to get a start up travel ball team but am not sure how to do it. I have about 6 girls already who are interested and parents on board, but I dont know what else is needed. Can anyone help me? It would probably be either 12U or 14U. I am not a parent, but do have experience coaching in rec leagues. Any advice would be great! Thanks!

Any advice would be great! Thanks!

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One word. Don't. You need to get some experience as an assistant coach with a full time travel team. Learn the time commitment it takes to teach the girls and the amount of off field work that goes along with it. The difference between full time travel and rec is night and day. Until you fully understand it and have a real idea about the direction you want to take a group of girls you're doing them a disservice by stumbling through the learning curve while dragging a dozen families with you.

You'll get some advice about things, but there's no substitute for actually being a head coach.

Not trying to sound harsh.. Just sayin'.

I would usually agree with Sparky. If your looking for something to do in your spare time I'd recommend rubbing rusty barbed wire across your gums over starting a travel ball team with no experience. Best option would be to find an organization to support you with coaches, organization etc.. Sometimes that's just not available. If starting a team with no experience is the difference between kids playing softball or soccer then your going to need:

1. Players. No point in starting if you can't get a reasonable team together, I'd suggest minimum 2 pitchers and 2 catchers, minimum 11 players. Network through your Rec program or a neighboring communities Rec program. There are always people looking for a little more. Just be honest about what your offering which is just an iota above Rec ball and a chance to try travel ball.

2. Uniforms - I'd start simple budget about $60 a kid ($30 shirt, $30 pants). Don't get crazy buying fancy uniforms.

3. Team Insurance. You can get reasonable insurance at USSSA.com or get Bollingers at ASA.com. Cost $150-$300

4. Team Registration. There are many different softball organizations around ASA, USSSA, NSA, PONY, NAFA. Most require you register your team with them which means essentially filling out a roster and sending a check (usually around $30). FIgure out which ones are active in your area (i.e. host tournaments) and register with them possibly with more than one

5. Tournament Registration. Tournaments fill up, find the ones you want that are open and get registered, usually $250-400 for a weekend tournament and require that you have team insurance and team registration for the sponsoring organization. I'd suggest about 3 max your first year especially if they are playing a REC schedule as well.

6. Nationals. Do not get sucked into one of these as an inexperienced team. You can buy your way into most but it will be an expensive way to play 5 games over 4 days somewhere where your wallet is sucked dry for no apparent reason.

So your going to need about $2500 bucks. I'd charge the kids $250 each to have a little surplus and if you end up with 12 kids you can have a nice party at the end of the season.

To add to SnocatzDad, you need to make sure you have a place to practice. It might seem like there are fields around you not being used but the first time you step foot on them someone with a permit from the town or county shows up and you must leave. Call your parks and rec to see what you need. They will probably want a policy protecting the town from liability.

Good luck, you will need it.

I am in AZ. and the teams have been organized and playing for several months. You need to find a team for your DD that is short a player (Tucson ASA, for example) and then try to start a team in July/August.

Let me refine a little:
@Sparky Guy:: I am well aware of the differences between rec and travel. I grew up playing travel ball, have assisted coaching travel ball teams for the past few years, and coach rec in addition. So Im not inexperienced in the ways of travel ball. But yes, it can definitely seem daunting and the easy thing to do it dont do it.

@SnocatzDad::Thank you. This will definitely help in setting up a budget. Thats about what I used to pay when I was a player for season dues, so it sounds pretty reasonable. I also hope to fundraise a lot, but I know how that can go.

@Amy in AZ: I dont have a daughter, thats not why Im looking to start a team. I have a group of kids and parents that approached me to start a new team because the one other travel team here is full and not looking for new players and will not take new players. We would like to keep these girls and parents together. The goal isnt to hit the ground running and playing in tournaments, but build up a team, start practices and fundraisers, and start traveling to a few tournaments in the fall/winter. I know its a long process and takes a lot of commitment. And being a few months late puts us out for the summer seasonk, but we wouldnt be ready to play anyways. Thank you for your help.

There is a lot to learn, but don't worry, it's not rocket science. The most important thing is you are willing to coach and you have a core set of kids and parents that want a team.

Since it's so late in the season, see if you can find a few more girls and reach out to a couple of the travel coaches in your area to set up some scrimmage games. Let them know you are starting a new team and ask if they have any advice that is specific to the area or league that you want to belong to.

If there is anything else would to know, just ask. If you are interested, I could share samples of our sign-up forms, players contract, and sponsor letter/contact.

The best way to win parents over is to keep informed. Have a parents meeting right from the start and make sure they understand your coaching style, your policy on playing time, if you miss a practice and etc. The little things like having a website that they can get to your practice and playing schedule, sending out an email with instructions to the field (if it's an away game) will go a long way.

Encourage your girls to have team nights or whatever so they have lots of fun and get along. Becuase a team that genuinely likes each other and can get along off the field can handle the stress on the field.

Hope this helps!

OK. How about trying to pick up a few girls from LL Allstars after they are done? If you are in the Flagstaff area, I can give you a contact there, that did what you are trying to do.

Good luck. Schedule some "friendlies" and go from there.

@Sparky Guy:: I am well aware of the differences between rec and travel. I grew up playing travel ball, have assisted coaching travel ball teams for the past few years, and coach rec in addition. So Im not inexperienced in the ways of travel ball. But yes, it can definitely seem daunting and the easy thing to do it dont do it.

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You have half of equation. Playing and assistant coaching experience on your part. The other half is making the parents understand the commitment it takes.

Before you start make sure have a clear vision about how you are going to grow the team. How are you going to teach them and at what pace.

As stated earlier. Be sure you have permits for a practice field that you have use of for practices and games.

Set a budget. There is a spreadsheet that I uploaded a while back that lists many of the common costs incurred with running a fast pitch team. Be sure the parents know it is MUCH more expensive than rec ball.

If you're in a cold weather state be sure to secure an indoor facility to use at least once a week.

You'll need pitchers. They have to be developed. It takes time, money and hard work to get them competent in the circle.

Insurance. It is usually reasonable for a team and an absolute MUST.

Communication with the families is very important. You can never give them too much information. Even with that you'll ALWAYS have one (if you're lucky) or two you have to lead around by the hand.

Find one, two MAX, parents to help coach. Be sure they know the scope of their responsibilities. Word of advice.. Try to avoid the over-eager or over-achiever parent. You'll know them when you see them.

Then be prepared to be cheered, demonized, loved and vilified all at the same time for every success and failure the team has. You'll find you can never make them all happy. Stick to what you know is the best course of action and don't waver.

What many new coaches misjudge is the amount of time it takes sitting at your desk to make sure the administration portion of the team is taken care of. Setting up games, tournaments, practices, planning practices, paying team bills, collecting money from parents and a thousand other little details that all take time. It will seem as though your cell phone is permanently attached to your ear.

Find a way to communicate with all of your families in an efficient manner for last minute schedule changes. There are services such as Calling Post, or mass texting as examples of being able to reach the entire team at once without making 12 phone calls and fielding the same question over and over.

Just some things I've learned over the years. I'm sure others will contribute some advice as well.

Good Luck!

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.