Travel team choices.

masterblaster22 · Aug 7, 2015

DD entering her first fall season of 14u in SoCal. Played spring and summer 14u and had a decent season. Fields well hits well, still has a full year of middle school. Tried out for 3 teams and choosing between 2 she likes. As a parent I want to help her clean up mechanics before high school next year but dont want to rock the boat.

Team 1: Current team. Decent pitching, playing a lot of showcases in fall and spring, is a starter. Loves her teammates. Practices are basically game walkthroughs. Little to no fundamental, or mechanic work. Infield/Outfield/indoor Hitting Machines.

Team 2: Average pitching, playing lots of local ball for the fall. No showcases. Will be a starter. Likes the girls. More emphasis on defensive drills, mechanics and clean defense and game situations. Hitting drills, machines, etc.

grcsftbll · Aug 7, 2015

Drills and working on fundamentals (and conditioning) played a major role in our team choice this year, which was to leave our status quo. So I guess I know what I'd do...

masterblaster22 · Aug 7, 2015

Same thinking.

Pop time 00 · Aug 8, 2015

Ok here's my dd's current situation.

1. Team 1: current team. Was a starter, like the organization. The team struggled last year. DD developed as a player nicely. I was happy about that. I did not worry about the losses. About a 40 min commute to practice. New coach this year. DD liked the girls on the team but it will be a lot of new girls this year. Not sure (have to check) but HC daughter plays the same position. Pretty sure. Does not mean she will start again because it will be a new group. But I do like this org.

2. Team 2: this is a relatively new org. They have access to an full scale indoor training facility with professional coaches. No parents on the field. Costs way more than 1st team. Significantly more. DD was one of the first 5 picked. She likes the coaches, is familiar with them because she has taken lessons/clinics there. Very close to home. Kinda like this org too.

I'm not into team jumping. She tried out for team 2 last year but did not make it. She improved over the year and now made team 2.

On the fence...

JJsqueeze · Aug 8, 2015

I have a different take on this. I think the biggest value in a 14u team practice is TEAM practice and situational stuff. I can work on fundamentals on my own, and quite honestly prefer to since fundamentals can change from team to team.

One of the big things I look for when looking at a new team is whether or not the practices are too drill oriented. There should be a balance but I like to see more than 50% as situational and working on plays and not just running from bucket of balls to bucket of balls.

Eric F · Aug 8, 2015

JJsqueeze said:
I have a different take on this. I think the biggest value in a 14u team practice is TEAM practice and situational stuff. I can work on fundamentals on my own, and quite honestly prefer to since fundamentals can change from team to team.

One of the big things I look for when looking at a new team is whether or not the practices are too drill oriented. There should be a balance but I like to see more than 50% as situational and working on plays and not just running from bucket of balls to bucket of balls.

Even at the 12U level, I tend to agree with this ^ thinking.

masterblaster22 · Aug 8, 2015

JJsqueeze said:
I have a different take on this. I think the biggest value in a 14u team practice is TEAM practice and situational stuff. I can work on fundamentals on my own, and quite honestly prefer to since fundamentals can change from team to team.

One of the big things I look for when looking at a new team is whether or not the practices are too drill oriented. There should be a balance but I like to see more than 50% as situational and working on plays and not just running from bucket of balls to bucket of balls.

Agreed, definitely like the live situational stuff, vs too drill heavy. With team #2 it will be a combination of both. Only 25-30 minutes are really spent on fielding drills/baserunning, but they are indeed ran at every practice. Most of the situational time is bunting/slapping coverages with live hitters/baserunners, situational hitting, and situational defenses. Team 1 is more like hit to outfield, cut, hit to outfield, throw through, infield to home, infield to first, blah blah.

masterblaster22 · Aug 8, 2015

Pop time 00 said:
Ok here's my dd's current situation.

1. Team 1: current team. Was a starter, like the organization. The team struggled last year. DD developed as a player nicely. I was happy about that. I did not worry about the losses. About a 40 min commute to practice. New coach this year. DD liked the girls on the team but it will be a lot of new girls this year. Not sure (have to check) but HC daughter plays the same position. Pretty sure. Does not mean she will start again because it will be a new group. But I do like this org.

2. Team 2: this is a relatively new org. They have access to an full scale indoor training facility with professional coaches. No parents on the field. Costs way more than 1st team. Significantly more. DD was one of the first 5 picked. She likes the coaches, is familiar with them because she has taken lessons/clinics there. Very close to home. Kinda like this org too.

I'm not into team jumping. She tried out for team 2 last year but did not make it. She improved over the year and now made team 2.

On the fence...

It's tough some will say stay with the organization you're with because she has to like the girls she plays with. Some say don't change teams because college coaches hate team jumpers, etc. Our situation is a bit opposite. Team 1 costs way more, vs team 2 which costs half the cost of team 1 for fall.

The fact that your DD made team 2 the second time around is excellent. I'm sure she'll walk a little taller, and gain more confidence. Do you think team 1 pushed her and helped mold her through their practices and coaching, or was it more that she asserted and pushed herself and came into her own?

02Crush · Aug 8, 2015

10U and 12U = Drill Heavy on Fundamental Skills vs. Situations
14U and up = Shift to a little more situations vs. Core Skills
This is how we will be changing this coming year as we move from 12U up to 14U.
That said, it is subjective. Good Luck.

Seattlecoach · Aug 9, 2015

It depends on who you are and what you do with your daughter. JJ and some of the other dads here may be working on fundamentals, which is awesome, but many parents won't. Will you?

As far as showcases go unless your '02 is near the top the only real use I would see is getting comfortable with the process. I think, especially at younger ages, playing in tournament style is a lot more fun.

What does your daughter want? What are her goals? Is she going to put in work outside of practice? Like actually, not just because thats what you want...

Travel team choices.

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masterblaster22

grcsftbll

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Pop time 00

JJsqueeze

Dad, Husband....legend

Eric F

masterblaster22

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02Crush

Way past gone

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