What’s the benefit in changing names?

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Dec 19, 2021
259
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Long-winded multi-part response of my experiences...

Our first experience with the was after the summer of 2020. This was 14u. The team was independent, chartered by our local Rec org. Was a decent starter team. If we put the original 12 kids back together they would be reasonably competetive. We had a coach who had taken over the team from the original coach, and we lost a couple higher-talent kids at that point. After the summer, new coach proposed going to the Bombers as it would improve recruiting better players. I don't think that ever happened. We sent checks every month, but the benefits were essentially just the right to wear the very nice uniforms. No support. Team tried hard that fall/winter but went downhill. Would probably have been different if we were in TX. The good part was our sister team (16u) needed a pickup player a couple times. It was a more mature/serious team. DD got to practice and play with them for two tourneys and it greatly expanded her view of what she was capable of and got her improved exposure.

Other teams:

- 16u team. Was a very good independent for a long time. Recently joined the local org with the best success sending kids to P5 schools. They get entry into big events as a result and the improved exposure that goes with it and a name the coaches know They are the 2nd of two 16u teams in the org, and still a very good team, so I think it was a good move.

- 14u team. Very high talent team. Moved from a SoCal org that probably wasn't supporting them to a known org run by a guy with a good rep for placing kids and developing talent. He split the org off from the FireQuackers (I vowed years ago DD will NEVER be a Firecracker due to multiple poor experiences with azzhat coaches), where he had made a name for himself. Probably a good move for both. Strengthened the local org for sure, which is good.

- 16u team. Good, but not outstanding. Left the above local org to go to the Thunderbolts. Yes, those Thunderbolts from Alabama. We are in AZ. The only explanation I can think of is he wants to collect a team of kids interested in going East for college and thinks the name will help. 🤔 Unis are an improvement, though. 😁
 
Dec 2, 2013
3,409
113
Texas
- 16u team. Good, but not outstanding. Left the above local org to go to the Thunderbolts. Yes, those Thunderbolts from Alabama. We are in AZ. The only explanation I can think of is he wants to collect a team of kids interested in going East for college and thinks the name will help. 🤔 Unis are an improvement, though. 😁
Thanks for sharing.

Maybe you call the team T-BoltZ with a Z from Zona!
 
Apr 8, 2019
117
28
Long-winded multi-part response of my experiences...

Our first experience with the was after the summer of 2020. This was 14u. The team was independent, chartered by our local Rec org. Was a decent starter team. If we put the original 12 kids back together they would be reasonably competetive. We had a coach who had taken over the team from the original coach, and we lost a couple higher-talent kids at that point. After the summer, new coach proposed going to the Bombers as it would improve recruiting better players. I don't think that ever happened. We sent checks every month, but the benefits were essentially just the right to wear the very nice uniforms. No support. Team tried hard that fall/winter but went downhill. Would probably have been different if we were in TX. The good part was our sister team (16u) needed a pickup player a couple times. It was a more mature/serious team. DD got to practice and play with them for two tourneys and it greatly expanded her view of what she was capable of and got her improved exposure.

Other teams:

- 16u team. Was a very good independent for a long time. Recently joined the local org with the best success sending kids to P5 schools. They get entry into big events as a result and the improved exposure that goes with it and a name the coaches know They are the 2nd of two 16u teams in the org, and still a very good team, so I think it was a good move.

- 14u team. Very high talent team. Moved from a SoCal org that probably wasn't supporting them to a known org run by a guy with a good rep for placing kids and developing talent. He split the org off from the FireQuackers (I vowed years ago DD will NEVER be a Firecracker due to multiple poor experiences with azzhat coaches), where he had made a name for himself. Probably a good move for both. Strengthened the local org for sure, which is good.

- 16u team. Good, but not outstanding. Left the above local org to go to the Thunderbolts. Yes, those Thunderbolts from Alabama. We are in AZ. The only explanation I can think of is he wants to collect a team of kids interested in going East for college and thinks the name will help. 🤔 Unis are an improvement, though. 😁
So, are you saying that small organizations will not be invited to play in top tear tournaments because of their name and the coaches have no connections? I am trying to decide if I should make the move. Current team has no recruiting coordinator, they don't know any college coaches, regional travel but enter in tournaments with very little competition. They are trying to get these things in the fall. To me it's too late to try and start now.
 
Oct 4, 2018
4,611
113
Here is one from Facebook I seen a couple days ago. I have seen several others that basically did the same thing. One local to me did same thing. All the teams still practice at same fields same facility just with different names.

**Exciting News***

We are extremely excited to announce that The Kentucky Chrome organization has reached an agreement with Top Gun Softball to join forces in 2023 and beyond. In a few short years, the Kentucky Chrome program has been built into a powerhouse organization in the tri-state area and has surpassed any and all expectations since conception and is starting to get national recognition. We feel like we have reached the peak of what we can do as an organization to give the very deserving athletes what they need to prepare themselves for their softball future.

While there are several great organizations out there, we feel like the best fit for us is to align ourselves with one of the best in Top Gun. Also a young organization, they have an athlete first mentality and have had unbelievable success in helping young ladies get recruited and find that college home. We are super excited to be partnering up with such a great and talented organization.

We will transition 6 of our teams to Top Gun starting in the spring of 2023.
Kentucky Chrome 07 Ledford - Top Gun 07
Kentucky Chrome 08 Boop - Top Gun 08
Kentucky Chrome 08 Premier - Top Gun 2026 National
Kentucky Chrome 09 Premier - Top Gun 2027 National
Kentucky Chrome 09 Adams - Top Gun 09
Kentucky Chrome 2010 - Top Gun 2010

Kentucky Chrome 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 will remain Kentucky Chrome and become a feeder into the Top Gun program.

Yikes.

Kentucky Chrome '09 are a great team. We play them often and recently beat them for the first time. i love their uniforms. Bummed to hear they're changing names.
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
So, are you saying that small organizations will not be invited to play in top tear tournaments because of their name and the coaches have no connections? I am trying to decide if I should make the move. Current team has no recruiting coordinator, they don't know any college coaches, regional travel but enter in tournaments with very little competition. They are trying to get these things in the fall. To me it's too late to try and start now.
Did not read the entire thread what age are you referring to?

Yes connections can make a difference, but that may have nothing to do with organization Jersey name, cuz people have their favorites you know how that works...

Top tier venues like to collect other
top-tier teams to participate in them.
So that there is actually competitive games each game for those teams.

Simply because there is such a mixture of talent levels that are in travel ball tournament organizers try to find some way to balance competition.

As an example this also happens~ can find that in showcases where any team can join, there can often be mixed Talent levels playing against each other and sometimes that does not exhibit Talent very well because the competition level is out of balance.
 
Apr 8, 2019
117
28
Did not read the entire thread what age are you referring to?

Yes connections can make a difference, but that may have nothing to do with organization Jersey name, cuz people have their favorites you know how that works...

Top tier venues like to collect other
top-tier teams to participate in them.
So that there is actually competitive games each game for those teams.

Simply because there is such a mixture of talent levels that are in travel ball tournament organizers try to find some way to balance competition.

As an example this also happens~ can find that in showcases where any team can join, there can often be mixed Talent levels playing against each other and sometimes that does not exhibit Talent very well because the competition level is out of balance.
She's 15 plays 16u. Moving up to 18u for the fall
 
Apr 8, 2019
117
28
Did not read the entire thread what age are you referring to?

Yes connections can make a difference, but that may have nothing to do with organization Jersey name, cuz people have their favorites you know how that works...

Top tier venues like to collect other
top-tier teams to participate in them.
So that there is actually competitive games each game for those teams.

Simply because there is such a mixture of talent levels that are in travel ball tournament organizers try to find some way to balance competition.

As an example this also happens~ can find that in showcases where any team can join, there can often be mixed Talent levels playing against each other and sometimes that does not exhibit Talent very well because the competition level is out of balance.
16u & 18u. Yes, I do know how that goes. Yes, they do want to line you up with other top tier teams. But how do you get in those tournaments to get a chance to show you belong if you're a small organization? They will let you in the tournament because they have other brackets, but you won't play the better teams. And You are absolutely right about the showcases.
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
16u & 18u. Yes, I do know how that goes. Yes, they do want to line you up with other top tier teams. But how do you get in those tournaments to get a chance to show you belong if you're a small organization? They will let you in the tournament because they have other brackets, but you won't play the better teams. And You are absolutely right about the showcases.
To the point about Connections and schedule.

Generally speaking the coaches *name who have been around the block at least one time, establish a reputation, tournament organizers will acknowledge if they think they are worthy to bring developed players to the venue.


It sounds like you are at showcasing part in your journey.
My suggestion would be to play with a coach who has already been around the block one full circle.
Meaning the coach has been through recruitment at least 3 years.
(Not just one year) but several years to establish some connections. Also so that the coach knows how to instruct all the players to put together player bios, having the players emailing connecting colleges. Because that's where the real AKA marketing of the athletes comes in. The players ALL have to participate to gather the awareness of college coaches to come watch.
That means having a schedule that is made in advance and tb coach groomed enough to explain this to everybody.

To be able to have a schedule like you are looking for.
 
Last edited:
May 27, 2013
2,353
113
16u & 18u. Yes, I do know how that goes. Yes, they do want to line you up with other top tier teams. But how do you get in those tournaments to get a chance to show you belong if you're a small organization? They will let you in the tournament because they have other brackets, but you won't play the better teams. And You are absolutely right about the showcases.

In my experience, it takes a lot of communication with the showcase director and a proven track record of wins against good teams to get on the good fields at the top showcases. They usually start accepting applications for them a year in advance, so waiting until the fall for next summer might be too late to start having those conversations.

Honestly, it’s pretty difficult unless you play for a known org whose top teams already play in those showcases. The only other way might be somehow playing, and doing well against, the known top teams who are already in the showcase to give your team some credibility. Even then, sometimes you might have a great team but the coach has a bad rep in the TB circuit for some reason or another. They might not let a good team in for that reason alone.

The other way is by being willing to play on the crappy fields and against lesser competition and blowing out those teams for a season to prove you belong with the big dogs. Word gets back to the TD that a team is winning by a lot and they will re-evaluate where they belong the next time they are in the same showcase.
 

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