Well, you know the name of our team already. Showcase events: Miken Friendly (fall - Indianapolis), Demarini Invitational (fall - St. Louis area), Surf City (fall), Independence Day (summer), Demarini (summer - Chicago area), Triple Crown nationals (summer). Add one or two PGF qualifiers (hopefully just one) and PGF Premier nationals. We don't play a single tournament in MN. And historically other teams in the area play very similar schedules - MN Sting (probably the best known, almost always gets in the top pools), MN Renegades (now defunct), MN Irish, MN Force, and, new this year, Midwest Speed. MN Magic and MN Stars are also great orgs but I don't think they play the same schedule. MNDad has forgotten more about MN club teams then I'll ever know, so he might have more info.
How to evaluate a TB organization for helping with college placement
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The NCAA manuals can be downloaded for free from NCAA Publications - Manuals. They're fairly well organized, so you should be able to do your own research. Suggestion: get familiar with the General Principles (xx.01) and Definitions and Applications (xx.02) sections before referencing the main articles.
NCAA's main concerns are source of the money (e.g. not an agent nor "representative of an institution’s athletics interests") and it doesn't exceed actual and necessary expenses (see 12.02.2) for the player. Boosters fall under representative of athletics interests (see 13.02.14).
12.1.2.1.4.3 Expenses from an Outside Sponsor. An individual who participates in a sport as a member of a team may receive actual and necessary expenses for competition and practice held in preparation for such competition (directly related to the competition and conducted during a continuous time period preceding the competition) from an outside sponsor (e.g., team, neighbor, business) other than an agent or a representative of an institution’s athletics interests (and, after initial full-time collegiate enrollment, other than a professional sports organization). An individual who participates in a sport as an individual (not a member of a team) may receive actual and necessary expenses associated with an athletics event and practice immediately preceding the event, from an outside sponsor (e.g., neighbor, business) other than an agent or a representative of an institution’s athletics interests (and, after initial full-time collegiate enrollment, other than a professional sports organization).
- Nov 18, 2013
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That makes sense then. I read it as her having limited options. Players would only be limited if they wanted to play close to home.
29Dad's team is on par with the Bandits as far as tourneys attending. They dont have the resume of the Bandits yet, but they'd be competitive on the field with them.
You mean like the Beverly Bandits were at first?
We know your DD's team didn't play on the top fields or against any national-level 18U teams (e.g. top Bandits / Bolts) here a few weeks ago. Whom have they played at other events?
You keep mixing in younger age groups. I don't see any MN 18U teams in last summer's Boulder Bracket, Super 64 pool, TC/USA Nats or PGF Premier.
I'm asking for 18U because it is a different animal when it comes to the top national-level teams. They're usually a 'perpetual' team of major D1 commits that consistently contends for major 18U championships year after year despite turning over 3-5 top players per year. Their schedule doesn't change much year to year and they're highly coveted by the major showcases because they draw other teams and coaches.
They're getting there, but their schedule appears to be short a few major events and/or pool assignments. I doubt they'll play nearly as many games against top national-level teams this year.
Competitive is in the eye of the beholder. I generally hear it when a team manages to keep a game within a few runs for 4-5 innings. I set the bar higher as being able to win at least a couple times if they played 10 games.
- Nov 18, 2013
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No MN teams were at those events, but several MN kids were. With most of the top teams having kids who travel we have the same options here as anywhere else. Cali excluded of course.
Off the top of my head, I'll add AL, FL, GA, IL, NJ, TX and even RI as having better options for 18U. Time will tell whether MN establishes an ongoing national-level 18U team in the next couple years or it slips away.
- Nov 18, 2013
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You can add MO, KS and even IA. One thing all those states have in common is kids from out of state playing on teams. Some even cover expenses for MN kids to play for them giving us the same options as anyone else.
I considered KS and MO... IA??
No one questioned MN kids have options out of state - the discussion was that they have to go out of state.
