How do these teams work? Firecrackers - Rico

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Nov 25, 2012
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83
USA
Hope some of you with a lot more experience at the higher levels can help me understand how some of these organizations work. Brooke Vestal played for the Firecrackers- Rico this past summer and they won the 18U PGF Championship. She also plays (maybe she doesn't anymore) for the Texas Bombers based out of New Braunfels, TX.

So my question is..... do organizations like the Firecrackers and Coach Rico pull the top girls together from all across the country in the summer for some of these tournaments? Do they basicall put together an all-star team that lasts for a month or so and then the girls back to their local teams?

Thanks in advance.

S3
 

redhotcoach

Out on good behavior
May 8, 2009
4,706
38
I don't think they necessarily go out trying to pull in talent. If a girl's team is not playing the pgf and want to, or if a team is short, the club directors use their connections to get them on a team. Not sure what the rule differences are for teams, but their are differences on if a team is a return berth, invite, or qualified. First 2 have a deadline of a week or 2 before tourney to have roster registered. The last I believe has a roster that is frozen to the tourney that this qualified at.

I was just now looking at different tourneys rules coming up because dd will play a couple games for one team and the whole tourney with her team. It said that prior to the tourney, the coach must be in contact and it must be approved that the pick up player is needed, and not being picked up to upgrade the roster.
 
Last edited:
Dec 8, 2015
249
18
Philadelphia, PA
In my area, some "national" team(s) have a local base and charge out the wazoo $10,000+ for the year. Then the bring in guest players from around the country to play in tournaments. Those guest players are the ones who are being recruited/committed by the P5 schools. Then said "national" team puts on their website that they have girls who have committed to aforementioned P5 schools and new sucker local parent with kid who has visions of grandeur pays the $10,000+.
 
Mar 26, 2013
45
0
Brooke left the Bombers after last year and has played with the FC this year to the best of my knowledge.
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
Brooke left the Bombers after last year and has played with the FC this year to the best of my knowledge.

Yeah she is not listed on the Bombers roster anymore, she lives in right where the Bombers are based out of, not far from my old stomping grounds, so it was probably a natural fit and supposedly she committed to OU a year or two ago so not sure exactly what the lure was to play for Firecracker...besides a chance at a PGF championship, I doubt very seriously she pays to play.
 
Nov 25, 2012
1,437
83
USA
Got it. Thanks. Brooke seems like an amazing girl and excited to see her play at OU in a couple of years.
I didn't realize she left the Bombers so thanks for letting me know. Good stuff!
 
Feb 24, 2012
126
0
Yeah she is not listed on the Bombers roster anymore, she lives in right where the Bombers are based out of, not far from my old stomping grounds, so it was probably a natural fit and supposedly she committed to OU a year or two ago so not sure exactly what the lure was to play for Firecracker...besides a chance at a PGF championship, I doubt very seriously she pays to play.

Nobody on Rico's team pays to play.
 

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