number of players on a travel team?

sluggers · Feb 17, 2010

Instead of pretending, why don't we just check out some teams:

Orland Park Sparks: 14 (25 years old Chicagoland softball organization)
Stone City Sharks: 13 (30 years old Chicagoland softball organization)
Power Surge (12U ASA A National champions) 13
SoCal Jynx (12U ASA A runnerups) 13
OC Batbusters (probably the premier travel softball organization in the US): 14

mudbug · Feb 17, 2010

Id say 12 minimum, 14 maximum. 13 is a good because it leaves a last open slot to enable you to add a real impact player if you come across the opportunity.

GOINGDEEP · Feb 17, 2010

sluggers said:
Instead of pretending, why don't we just check out some teams:

Orland Park Sparks: 14 (25 years old Chicagoland softball organization)
Stone City Sharks: 13 (30 years old Chicagoland softball organization)
Power Surge (12U ASA A National champions) 13
SoCal Jynx (12U ASA A runnerups) 13
OC Batbusters (probably the premier travel softball organization in the US): 14

All due respect, but I'd like to see how they rotate 13-14 players every weekend. If they are all there that's 4-5 players sitting on the pine and any given time.

I can see taking 13-14 to Nationals or a World Series, but no way would I have that many ego's ( kids and parents ) every weekend. That's a disaster waiting to happen on regular tournaments. JMO.

mudbug · Feb 18, 2010

GOINGDEEP said:
All due respect, but I'd like to see how they rotate 13-14 players every weekend. If they are all there that's 4-5 players sitting on the pine and any given time.

I can see taking 13-14 to Nationals or a World Series, but no way would I have that many ego's ( kids and parents ) every weekend. That's a disaster waiting to happen on regular tournaments. JMO.

Well plenty of teams do without issue. I would suggest that better teams can play more girls more often because they play more games. They dont go 2 games and out, they play all the way thru the tournaments., which may be 7-10 games in a weekend including the pool, instead of 4 or so. Not too hard to get playing time in for all, some play all time and some about half. Treat them as equally as much as possible and theres no problems. Problems may come when you try to pick up end of season players for just nationals, etc. Guaranteed to generate lots of resentment then from a few parents .

Coach-n-Dad · Feb 18, 2010

We are 16U and started with 16 on the roster a month ago and ALREADY there have been 2 that have dropped off and 1 more that will probably drop off before summer. It is pretty common for kids to drop off for one reason or another and if a team starts the season with 10 or 11, there could be a struggle getting enough players for the remainder of the season.

For 12U, I personally like to start the season with 13. More for the older teams.

GOINGDEEP · Feb 18, 2010

mudbug said:
Well plenty of teams do without issue. I would suggest that better teams can play more girls more often because they play more games. They dont go 2 games and out, they play all the way thru the tournaments., which may be 7-10 games in a weekend including the pool, instead of 4 or so. Not too hard to get playing time in for all, some play all time and some about half. Treat them as equally as much as possible and theres no problems. Problems may come when you try to pick up end of season players for just nationals, etc. Guaranteed to generate lots of resentment then from a few parents .

Mud, I would have to see it to believe it. That all the DD's and parents are happy to travel 100's of miles, pay all that money, and some play 'half' the time. We won every tourney last summer except two, so there were no 2 and done games. 3 separate tourneys we carried 13 and it was a disaster trying to keep the extras happy, because I'm playing whoever is hot. I would not want to worry about rotations just to keep the peace.

As far as more games, we played over 130 games in '09.

Maybe I have misunderstood the question on this thread. Having 13-14 players every weekend is very different than having 13-14 on a summer roster. I still like my 11, but have many girls that will play pickup when we call in need. We already have a list that have called to place their name on our pickup list for 2010. In my opinion that's the way to go, just order a couple of extra uniforms. But it will only work if you live/play in an area that has enough good talent to pull from. You don't want to pick up just anybody.

Just my opinion

mudbug · Feb 18, 2010

I can vouch that we do it too without much issue. So do quite a few very good teams I know of. Its really no big deal. We play lots of games, travel long distances, play showcases, etc. Everyone views it as normal.

But I do think that how it is approached may be important. For us, there are no "benchwarmers" and no "starters". I think that allowing those kind of labels to be created couldl result in disaster for team unity and morale. Everyone needs to start sometimes, everyone must sit out sometimes. Those who are hot will play more than those who are not though. It is constantly changing.

Players are created during practice, not games. I think many girls and their parents realize its better for them in the long run to play for the best coaches they can, get the best development, exposure, etc, and risk maybe sitting the bench part-time, than to get more playing time on a much lesser team with lesser development and coaching. I would guess that is why there may not be many issues sometimes on good teams, even though the players are mostly all top notch and fairly competitive.

But that could also depend a lot on position played, the quality and availiability of local teams, and the local availability of good private instruction too.

I can just assure you that it can be done without issue. Not saying that any team could do it, or that its easy.

Coach JV · Feb 19, 2010

Any one for my $.02? We like to carry 12 on my 14U travel team. Seed games,
everyone plays alot. Elimination we go with the 'hottest' 9 in the field and bat only
9 or 10. The bench girls are situational runners, and will bat or play the field
at the end of the games. We constantly are on the lookout for prospects but we bring them
in only for injury/temp status as to not affect team chemistry. We look for the girls who are
not only good players, but a good fit for our core. I like little baggage and drama, I am always wary of the
girls who are constantly moving from team to team.

GOINGDEEP · Feb 19, 2010

mudbug said:
I can vouch that we do it too without much issue. So do quite a few very good teams I know of. Its really no big deal. We play lots of games, travel long distances, play showcases, etc. Everyone views it as normal.

But I do think that how it is approached may be important. For us, there are no "benchwarmers" and no "starters". I think that allowing those kind of labels to be created couldl result in disaster for team unity and morale. Everyone needs to start sometimes, everyone must sit out sometimes. Those who are hot will play more than those who are not though. It is constantly changing.

Players are created during practice, not games. I think many girls and their parents realize its better for them in the long run to play for the best coaches they can, get the best development, exposure, etc, and risk maybe sitting the bench part-time, than to get more playing time on a much lesser team with lesser development and coaching. I would guess that is why there may not be many issues sometimes on good teams, even though the players are mostly all top notch and fairly competitive.

But that could also depend a lot on position played, the quality and availiability of local teams, and the local availability of good private instruction too.

I can just assure you that it can be done without issue. Not saying that any team could do it, or that its easy.

Mud, I will have to take you at your word. I know by your older posts that you know the game.

Your post makes sense in all aspects. Only thing I can think is where ever you live the high number of players on teams is normal. It is the opposite here. I have thought all day and contacted my fellow coaches just to make sure I was thinking correctly. We couldn't think of a single team that has carried 14. A few have had 13, but the average was 11-12. The best teams here stick with their studs, and are very carefully chosen. And those studs come to play and don't like sharing time.

We live in a largely populated area, have 2-3 dominate teams in each age group, dozen of 'A', dozen of 'B', then a dozen of mediocre teams. Maybe that's why most of the better teams stick with 11-12. Knowing they can get a pickup so easily.

IDK, our normal and your normal may be different, but that's what makes this game so fun.

One2win · Feb 19, 2010

Coach JV said:
Any one for my $.02? We like to carry 12 on my 14U travel team. Seed games,
everyone plays alot. Elimination we go with the 'hottest' 9 in the field and bat only
9 or 10. The bench girls are situational runners, and will bat or play the field
at the end of the games. We constantly are on the lookout for prospects but we bring them
in only for injury/temp status as to not affect team chemistry. We look for the girls who are
not only good players, but a good fit for our core. I like little baggage and drama, I am always wary of the
girls who are constantly moving from team to team.

I like your $0.02 (Isn't it funny, there is no cent sign on keyboards). I agree with your philosophy, especially at 10 and 12U. The girls need as much game time to practice the fundamentals that they are learning at this age. Sure there will be a few studs at 10 and 12, but usually with the studs, comes the 'Momma Drama'. I believe team chemistry is very important.

number of players on a travel team?

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