Franchise teams

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Mar 26, 2013
1,934
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The proliferation of franchise teams is out of control to where it's diluted/weakened brand values since many teams do not measure up. People used to be impressed when someone said they played for Firecrackers or OC Batbusters - now they ask "Which one?" and then many times are not familiar with the response.

The proliferation of org teams in an area has also made it harder for them to assemble top teams. The limited number of spots on top org teams previously enabled those orgs to keep top players in their age groups because there weren't many alternatives. There are now more alternatives - even in the same org. Daddy ball has evolved and spread beyond regular TB teams to infect top orgs.

Some top coaches have migrated away from those heavily franchised orgs to others that haven't franchised their name. A few have formed their own orgs since they no longer need the brand name (e.g. Ohana Tigers).
 
Jun 29, 2013
589
18
Yep, Batbusters A, B, C, D, E etc. Firecrackers this, that or the other name, seem to be all over the place now. Some of the smaller, quality orgs are starting to sell their name as well. It's telling when so many people are indifferent to playing the "mighty" name brand teams because we've all learned the team name doesn't mean that much.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Franchises cannot expand the number of teams and maintain the same performance standards. It is mostly a bunch of B-level teams paying $250/player to buy some respect.
 
Oct 2, 2012
242
18
on the Field
TN seems to be the hotbed for new "organization" teams this fall. It's already difficult to find good A level players due to the market being watered down by all the teams. I've been part of a regional organization for 2 years. We have been somewhat successful at keeping a core of players together and coaching them up. At the end of the day it's just the same old teams with a new name and new uniforms


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Mar 26, 2013
1,934
0
Yep, Batbusters A, B, C, D, E etc. Firecrackers this, that or the other name, seem to be all over the place now. Some of the smaller, quality orgs are starting to sell their name as well. It's telling when so many people are indifferent to playing the "mighty" name brand teams because we've all learned the team name doesn't mean that much.
It's easy to spot the ones that haven't learned - they're the ones crowing about beating a Batbusters or Firecrackers team without ID'ing which one.
 
Mar 26, 2013
1,934
0
Some early history...

Tony Rico started the franchising with his Firecrackers org. It was mainly expansion to other regions and he was fairly selective about whom he signed up.

Mike Stith was next with Team Mizuno, which he left Batbusters in spring 2011 to start. He was also fairly selective about who got the Team Mizuno name, however he also had a 2nd tier which appended "Powered by Mizuno" to the team's name. He got a lot of top coaches to join the next season and then merged back into Batbusters after 2013 PGF Nats. Some top longtime Batbusters coaches didn't like the expansion, so they went to So Cal Athletics.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
The proliferation of franchise teams is out of control to where it's diluted/weakened brand values since many teams do not measure up. People used to be impressed when someone said they played for Firecrackers or OC Batbusters - now they ask "Which one?" and then many times are not familiar with the response.

The proliferation of org teams in an area has also made it harder for them to assemble top teams. The limited number of spots on top org teams previously enabled those orgs to keep top players in their age groups because there weren't many alternatives. There are now more alternatives - even in the same org. Daddy ball has evolved and spread beyond regular TB teams to infect top orgs.

We run a very good travel and rec organization and frankly we were sick of the 'big name' team taking our talent. Big name has NEVER developed a player in their existence - but they certainly have recruited a massive amount of talent over the years. Everyone got sick of them 'assembling' everyone other teams players and then getting credit for it.

So for our organization it was either live with this or find a way to join in where we needed to (primarily teams coming into recruiting age).

We joined in. We researched hard - we asked here - we made a decision that has gone extremely well for us. We are +50 players across our travel teams. We are now almost on par with the biggest name in our area (who have also started expanding all over the state because of competition like us and others). Is our showcase (now) 16U team on the 'top' level of the national org... not yet but we are solidly in the second tier and rising. As a branding exercise we now have 4 girls with offers as we enter 16U and a lot of interest. And yes, our team did just change uniform for the most part - but on the other hand we added 2 strong players, got into 2 showcases that rejected us last year, played on the showcase fields at 3 showcases we were relegated to the back lots previously. Emails to coaches get opened that were not last year. Coaches stop and look instead of passing by. Coaches turn up more often... opportunities expand... and so on..

And yeah - there is a lot more travel teams. The rec leagues are suffering, so 'C' (and some B) travel is fitting that need more and more for the less experienced. Not ideal but so be it - there will be more needs. And at some age groups the lots of teams just dies real quick as girls decide what they want to do with the sport (or not)

Travel ball for most is temporary - once you hit 14U you have roughly 6 seasons and unless you have a second DD you will be out of it. Parents move with the trends. OC Batbusters or FC or Thunderbolts or Tampa Mustangs or Vipers or Intensity or whoever.... right or wrong this is important even for the mid-level player. Who am I going to look at if I am a mid-level coach first - some girl on Big Name Org-TeamUnknown or SomeTown Supergirls. At least I know the players on Big Name Org will likely have some level of seriousness on it.

It is no different than the big trend of parents wanting 'ex-college players' with no coaching experience to be the head coach. Parents want the best for their DD and they will follow things that sound good. As long as you remember that all they are doing is trying to do the best they can for their kid you can see why they make decisions - right or wrong. I always say that the only kid you have any control or say over is the one living in your house - everyone is a free agent every seasons end (and sometimes mid-season). So if you want them to stay, you need to provide them with something they will want to be part of.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
When everyone is super, then no one will be. - Syndrome 2004

I remember when we used to get excited about playing the OC Batbusters or Firecrackers. After the expansion we really had to pay attention to the head coaches names.
 
Apr 26, 2015
704
43
Wondering how these coaches are accepted into the big orgs. Is it just if you are willing to pay the $$ you are in? Because I know for a fact there is a franchise team in our area that was kicked out of a well known local org for a multitude of reasons. I can't imagine the head of Batbusters of Tony Rico or what have you would like this coach representing their brand if they knew the story.
 

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