Travel Team

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Mar 13, 2017
13
1
I'm new here and not sure if this is the right place to post. I apologize if I'm wrong.

We are starting an 8U travel team and not really sure what all we need to do. We started practicing about a month and a half ago..we've ordered uniforms, we're looking into team insurance (any suggestions? Or advice?) And we are working on fundraising.

Any advice, guidance, helpful tips would be appreciated!

Thanks,
-Martha

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Apr 8, 2013
192
0
I'm new here and not sure if this is the right place to post. I apologize if I'm wrong.

We are starting an 8U travel team and not really sure what all we need to do. We started practicing about a month and a half ago..we've ordered uniforms, we're looking into team insurance (any suggestions? Or advice?) And we are working on fundraising.

Any advice, guidance, helpful tips would be appreciated!

Thanks,
-Martha

Sent from my SM-G925R4 using Tapatalk

A few questions that will help get answers:

1. Where are you located? I ask because there could be some of us in your backyard that can help
2. What sanction(s) will you be playing? USSSA, ASA, USFA, NSA, ISA, etc...this is important as well for insurance
 
Mar 13, 2017
13
1
Thanks for the response! I'm located in SE Kansas..right at the corner of KS, MO, OK, and AR. We will be playing ASA.

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Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Building on the post from [MENTION=13032]grcsftbll[/MENTION], you really need to make sure that all coaches, parents, and players are on the same page in terms of the goals of this new team. As a first year 8U team I would hope that player development would be job #1, not chasing a national championship. It is 8U and if you are not aligned, if decisions are not made up front, if things are not kept in a reasonable perspective then it will be a very long and tough season.
 
Mar 13, 2017
13
1
I guess some background info would be good here. We were a league team last year and threw in a couple tourneys here and there for experience. We went to our state tournament as well. The parents are the ones who want this to be more so a travel team than a league team. We kept the same team we had last year do everyone is on the same page and the girls all already have experience together.

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Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
I guess some background info would be good here. We were a league team last year and threw in a couple tourneys here and there for experience. We went to our state tournament as well. The parents are the ones who want this to be more so a travel team than a league team. We kept the same team we had last year do everyone is on the same page and the girls all already have experience together.

Sent from my SM-G925R4 using Tapatalk

So you are already on the same page with respect to playing time? Will you be playing your best 9 at all times? Only on Sunday? Or will you be spreading the playing time around? What is your policy on guest players? If a player leaves mid-season how will the be replaced? What is your refund policy? Will you be doing open tryouts each season? ....
 
Oct 19, 2009
1,277
38
beyond the fences
8U travel- Oh Boy- some great advice has already come your way. At this age 'travel' should be of the local variety,
lots of practice and development of fundamentals. The only word of caution: when meeting with parents, don't be overly
ambitious with scheduling of events, 1st time parents need to be broken in gently (to avoid a mutiny). Best of luck and
enjoy the ride. At 8U I found it very helpful to turn off the phone on Saturday and Sunday evenings while washing away the
drama of the day with adult beverages.
 
Mar 13, 2017
13
1
So you are already on the same page with respect to playing time? Will you be playing your best 9 at all times? Only on Sunday? Or will you be spreading the playing time around? What is your policy on guest players? If a player leaves mid-season how will the be replaced? What is your refund policy? Will you be doing open tryouts each season? ....
So as far as on the same page for playing time, our coach has made it clear that he will play the 9 who have worked hardest that week at practice. We are starting out with one tournament a month and will build from that if parents and players are comfortable.

There's been talk of joining our community league as well for more practice and playing time. League games are on tues and thurs nights so they won't interfere with tourneys.

We've found 16 tournaments between March and June within 30 miles of our home town so we won't be "traveling" much.

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Mar 13, 2017
13
1
Oh I forgot to touch on the first players, refunds, and losing players... We have a few girls willing to be backup that didn't want to be full time on the travel team. They couldn't dedicate that much time, but wanted to participate in tourneys here and there so if we need someone in a pinch we have that. None of our girls tried out...so I don't think try outs will be necessary as our town is very small and players are limited (we only have 10). And refund...Well no one paid anything to join, so we won't have anything to refund.

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