Number of Teams in an Org.

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Dec 20, 2012
34
8
Texas
Our organization is growing and we have the possibility of being able to field more than 1 team in a couple age divisions.

How does your organization do multiple teams?
Do you put the best players on 1 team, the rest on another?
Do you make the best 2 teams possible and let them go compete?

Looking for pros/cons of each and how you've done it.....
 
Aug 25, 2019
1,066
113
when DD was 14u, she was with a org. with two 14u teams, the other team had all the good pitchers, DDs team, while it had good players, had no good pitching. It wasn’t fun at all to watch that other team mostly win while DDs team mostly lost due to weak pitching. That team broke up after one year.
 
Apr 25, 2019
285
63
I've seen teams split up into first year and second year. Such as 07's would be second year 14u and 08's would be first year 14u. That way each team can grow together as they age up.

I have also seen some do something like a Hittin' Kittens - Black and a Hittin' Kittens - Purple as kind of an A team and a B team.

Personally, I like the age one better with the option of taking STRONG first year players on a second year team or even playing up in age.
 
May 1, 2018
659
63
Was apart of an Org who had 6 teams in the same age range. All teams were independent and autonomous. We had a National Team that the girls could try out for but there was no taking girls as it were. Once you decide that one team will the "better" team you have lost the weaker team.
 
Aug 3, 2019
156
28
Our org now has multiple teams at 12u. Coaches couldn’t arrive on a consensus so the solution was that everybody creates their own team.

The good:

With three teams the organization now gets to collect dues from 36 girls instead of 12.

The organization is now represented at tons of tournaments which can help attract players—-albeit lower level(see below).

The bad:

Each team is competing against each other for players—-when a strong girl shows up at tryouts you have three different sets of coaches trying to convince parents why their team is the best choice.

The rosters have wide variance in skills with the best players being split apart. This is not ideal as it causes the top girls not being challenged enough and the bottom girls at risk of getting left behind. Both become flight risks as they most often want to play with kids of a similar skill level.

The end product that the organization puts on the field becomes diluted as each team has a few top players followed by a sharp drop off in skill. When we used to have one team, our second year group always performed well at A level. Now that the talent is split three ways, we end up with 3 B level teams of varying quality.

I do agree that the first year/second year approach seems to work well. Or other organizations simply do not give parents and kids a choice to which team they join if there are multiple options. The most tenured coach gets the top 10 or 11, the next in line gets the rest, etc.
 
Sep 28, 2020
41
8
NJ
Our org has fielded multiple travel teams at each age level for several years. Tryouts are held together for each age group. Generally the top 12 players are offered spots on the 1st team and then the teams are filled out below depending on the #s and pitching/catching. Some years that has meant we fielded and A, B and C level teams at an age bracket and sometimes we’ve had two B or even just one C. Really just depends what the skill level looks like on the team and getting the girls in spots where they can be challenged and grow but not be too far over their heads. Having a broad range of skills on the same team to achieve a balance across multiple teams could lead to some girls not seeing the right level of competition and frustration if we’re talking travel ball. Just my opinion.
 
Sep 7, 2020
178
28
We are new to the organization we just joined so this is the outsiders view of what happened. Prior to tryouts there was an 18U, two 16U, two 14U two 12U and one 10U team.

This year there were roughly 220 girls trying out - final line up is 2 - 18U (one showcase one A Class), there are 3 16 U teams - one showcase, one one second year and one 14U that is playing up after winning 8 out of 9 tournaments last season. There are 3 - 14U teams a second year, a first year (our team - true 13U team) and a new 14U team strictly developed out of the tryouts, two 12U teams - 1st and second year season and one 10U (first year). Except for the totally new 10/14U teams most girls were fill in players 3-6 per team and the coaches got together to fill in needed positions or secondary ones. We were lucky enough to have confirmed a position prior to tryouts for the team we are on. She was so relaxed at tryouts it was very nice.

I have never seen a tryout like that before, it was quite impressive.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
 
May 10, 2021
149
43
Or other organizations simply do not give parents and kids a choice to which team they join if there are multiple options. The most tenured coach gets the top 10 or 11, the next in line gets the rest, etc.
Yep we have an organization with 3 14U teams. Players are assigned to coaches. Essentially an A, B and C team. C team really rec+ if that makes sense.
 
Jun 20, 2015
848
93
sometimes same aged teams in org are separated by geography. Some by age, some by goals &/or travel schedules, etc.

the biggest problems that I see are the rosy glasses parents thinking their DD is better than she is and parents start issues thinking 'Sally', should be on the upper level team. Regardless, that she is struggling on current team, current team losing, lack of commitment, etc.

And honestly, some of the demanding for A team versus B etc, is because the parents may have never seen a true A level or showcase type team. They see a local team claiming to be A, that is winning local 4 team tourneys, and think that is A level or showcase level.
 
Jun 27, 2021
418
63
Depends, if you have 2-3 teams in a organization within a radius of 100 miles, you’re paying bills, mortgages and car payments. If you have 1-2 per age group and there’s a true national team and a strong team you’re in a good spot.
 

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