Are these parents wasting their money?

reagansdaddy · Sep 3, 2017

Joseph Sciara said:
I'm not a big believer in the "individualistic events" such as these. I coach a 16 Gold team out of the Midwest. I just believe that you play for the name on the front of the jersey, and not the back...Our team is not interested in having the "me" players on our team. I do not turn our girls names in for local All-Star play or for the Select 30. I do however nominate them for FloSoftball Hot 100 if I believe it is deserving. The difference is that Hot 100 is an award based on play with your team. Select 30 is a bunch of games to show off that you are an individual with a bunch of other individuals...I know, I know, it's a fine line.

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Well, Joseph, to each their own. However, I will tell you that the 15 girls, including my daughter, that played on the USA Softball team we were on didn't have a "me" attitude among them. My DD didn't miss a single travel team function to be a part of the All American games and our team coach wouldn't have asked her to do so. While I can't speak for everyone, this was all about the front of the jersey.....USA and the opportunity to play in OKC.

I guess the college girls who play for the Junior Women's National Team and Women's National Team are not fit for your gold team since they must be "me" players to try out. Sometimes I just shake my head.

Joseph Sciara · Sep 3, 2017

reagansdaddy said:
Well, Joseph, to each their own. However, I will tell you that the 15 girls, including my daughter, that played on the USA Softball team we were on didn't have a "me" attitude among them. My DD didn't miss a single travel team function to be a part of the All American games and our team coach wouldn't have asked her to do so. While I can't speak for everyone, this was all about the front of the jersey.....USA and the opportunity to play in OKC.

I guess the college girls who play for the Junior Women's National Team and Women's National Team are not fit for your gold team since they must be "me" players to try out. Sometimes I just shake my head.

Don't put words in my mouth...There is a big difference in the Women's National Team or the Junior National Team and the select 30 or a USA 12U All Stars team.

As for you and your DD, congratulations! It sounds like you had the right experience for you. However, I would caution that you don't truly know those 14 other girls and their families after 1 week. I would compare it to the honeymoon period that someone has when they first change teams. Of course everyone is happy week 1.

I will say that from around here, 90% of the girls that participated in select 30 or the MO/Kan All Star games were either known for their "me" attitude or simply were not the best at their age. This is mainly because the best around here don't try out for those things in KC MO/Kan. Most of the girls(not all) from around here that participate in those are more the lower levels or the team hoppers.

I'm glad to hear that your experience was the opposite. I can deduce that either it is different in your area of play, or you are in fact one of those afore mentioned "me" families. I'm hoping that it is just a difference in location, but only time will tell.

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ksusouthpaw · Sep 3, 2017

Joseph Sciara said:
I'm not a big believer in the "individualistic events" such as these. I coach a 16 Gold team out of the Midwest. I just believe that you play for the name on the front of the jersey, and not the back...Our team is not interested in having the "me" players on our team. I do not turn our girls names in for local All-Star play or for the Select 30. I do however nominate them for FloSoftball Hot 100 if I believe it is deserving. The difference is that Hot 100 is an award based on play with your team. Select 30 is a bunch of games to show off that you are an individual with a bunch of other individuals...I know, I know, it's a fine line.

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I'm from Kansas City, Joe. I follow your team and I really disagree with your blanket statement about the type of personality or talent level of the kid who tries out for those teams. I don't think it has to be an either / or proposition. Just because a kid tried out for an all-star team doesn't mean she is not a team player.

My daughter played in the 12u games in Orlando this summer. It was a great experience for her. She didn't go to win the tourney or to get exposed to college coaches. In fact, I believe it was a dead period. Instead, she wanted to meet and play with kids from other parts of the country. To be exposed to different coaches and coaching styles and do something fun wth softball. I don't think that makes her or any of the other kids a selfish player or that she doesn't want to play for the name on the front of her jersey. It just means she wanted a different experience and one that gave her some life long memories. There's nothing wrong with wanting to get that experience.

The fact you think wanting that experience makes a kid a selfish player or stereotypes kids as a lower level talented kid is too bad. It's also too bad you just stereotype a bunch of kids and families about their attitude and talent level simply because they try out for these events. That's not what this game is about IMO.

Also, there were several girls from your club playing in the event. So what do you think that says about those kids, their families and their talent level?

ang2bmd · Sep 3, 2017

I know for the 10u tryouts here in Indiana every single A level team from the Indianapolis area was in a tournament somewhere and none of what I would have considered the tip top 10u kids from my area were at those tryouts. I know one kiddo who is a great athlete as an 07 who made it and have no idea of the talent that was there but I no for sure there was a whole lot of talent that wasn't there.

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Easton33 · Sep 3, 2017

ksusouthpaw said:
I'm from Kansas City, Joe. I follow your team and I really disagree with your blanket statement about the type of personality or talent level of the kid who tries out for those teams. I don't think it has to be an either / or proposition. Just because a kid tried out for an all-star team doesn't mean she is not a team player.

My daughter played in the 12u games in Orlando this summer. It was a great experience for her. She didn't go to win the tourney or to get exposed to college coaches. In fact, I believe it was a dead period. Instead, she wanted to meet and play with kids from other parts of the country. To be exposed to different coaches and coaching styles and do something fun wth softball. I don't think that makes her or any of the other kids a selfish player or that she doesn't want to play for the name on the front of her jersey. It just means she wanted a different experience and one that gave her some life long memories. There's nothing wrong with wanting to get that experience.

The fact you think wanting that experience makes a kid a selfish player or stereotypes kids as a lower level talented kid is too bad. It's also too bad you just stereotype a bunch of kids and families about their attitude and talent level simply because they try out for these events. That's not what this game is about IMO.

Also, there were several girls from your club playing in the event. So what do you think that says about those kids, their families and their talent level?

Cue the crickets

Ksphenom · Sep 4, 2017

ksusouthpaw said:
I'm from Kansas City, Joe. I follow your team and I really disagree with your blanket statement about the type of personality or talent level of the kid who tries out for those teams. I don't think it has to be an either / or proposition. Just because a kid tried out for an all-star team doesn't mean she is not a team player.

My daughter played in the 12u games in Orlando this summer. It was a great experience for her. She didn't go to win the tourney or to get exposed to college coaches. In fact, I believe it was a dead period. Instead, she wanted to meet and play with kids from other parts of the country. To be exposed to different coaches and coaching styles and do something fun wth softball. I don't think that makes her or any of the other kids a selfish player or that she doesn't want to play for the name on the front of her jersey. It just means she wanted a different experience and one that gave her some life long memories. There's nothing wrong with wanting to get that experience.

The fact you think wanting that experience makes a kid a selfish player or stereotypes kids as a lower level talented kid is too bad. It's also too bad you just stereotype a bunch of kids and families about their attitude and talent level simply because they try out for these events. That's not what this game is about IMO.

Also, there were several girls from your club playing in the event. So what do you think that says about those kids, their families and their talent level?

Perfect response. One of those teams in 2017 had 5 players that attended an Elite Select event, 4 players had info detailing individual awards on the usssa website and the average amount of teams the girls played on was 4 prior to joining this organization and playing on this team listed on the front of the jeresy. Lol. Last time I checked they select individuals not full teams to get scholarships. Kids can be great teamates and excel individually.

Tatonka · Sep 4, 2017

Different strokes for different folks. I'm shocked by the perception of individualism and selfishness expressed here. Nothing could have been further from what we experienced at the tryouts, the Futures All American games or the Select 30 this year (14U). The Northwest team while playing in FL gelled nicely, rotated positions and shared playing time and were very supportive of each other. The families all got along great I thought. At LSU for the Select 30 it was the same kind of the thing, of course there were some big personalities, these girls are not shrinking violets. Many of these kids will meet again on the diamond in college either as teammates or playing against each other...and they will share these memories fondly I'm convinced.

reagansdaddy · Sep 4, 2017

Tatonka said:
Different strokes for different folks. I'm shocked by the perception of individualism and selfishness expressed here. Nothing could have been further from what we experienced at the tryouts, the Futures All American games or the Select 30 this year (14U). The Northwest team while playing in FL gelled nicely, rotated positions and shared playing time and were very supportive of each other. The families all got along great I thought. At LSU for the Select 30 it was the same kind of the thing, of course there were some big personalities, these girls are not shrinking violets. Many of these kids will meet again on the diamond in college either as teammates or playing against each other...and they will share these memories fondly I'm convinced.

My guess is the perception of individualism and selfishness expressed is a mask for the most petty kind of jealousy.

Ksphenom · Sep 4, 2017

I find these types of events great for young girls to shake the pressure, fear of the spot light and if they go to events enough it becomes old hat for them and they don't become nervous and just perform. What a benefit to know how these events are conducted and show what you can do because you've been there and you've done that. The flights and the hotels are just background noise and they get to represent the organizations they play for and that section of the country they live.
I helped my DD work out for 45 minutes and she finished with a three minute plank today and I don't think that makes her selfish but a great teammate by getting herself in shape to be the best athlete she can be for game day... Almost anything softball related can't hurt from this dads perspective.

Joseph Sciara · Sep 16, 2017

ksusouthpaw said:
I'm from Kansas City, Joe. I follow your team and I really disagree with your blanket statement about the type of personality or talent level of the kid who tries out for those teams. I don't think it has to be an either / or proposition. Just because a kid tried out for an all-star team doesn't mean she is not a team player.

My daughter played in the 12u games in Orlando this summer. It was a great experience for her. She didn't go to win the tourney or to get exposed to college coaches. In fact, I believe it was a dead period. Instead, she wanted to meet and play with kids from other parts of the country. To be exposed to different coaches and coaching styles and do something fun wth softball. I don't think that makes her or any of the other kids a selfish player or that she doesn't want to play for the name on the front of her jersey. It just means she wanted a different experience and one that gave her some life long memories. There's nothing wrong with wanting to get that experience.

The fact you think wanting that experience makes a kid a selfish player or stereotypes kids as a lower level talented kid is too bad. It's also too bad you just stereotype a bunch of kids and families about their attitude and talent level simply because they try out for these events. That's not what this game is about IMO.

Also, there were several girls from your club playing in the event. So what do you think that says about those kids, their families and their talent level?

KSU,
Thanks for your input. Sorry I took a while to respond, but haven't been on the site since I last posted. For some reason, the site doesn't load on my computer and I can only access it from my IPad through Tapatalk...

Anyway, I appreciate your feelings regarding these events. I'm glad that you had a positive experience. I will concede that different ages may have different experiences regarding these types of things. I can only state my opinion and understand that we may not see eye to eye.

I will also concede that the talent pool at the younger ages is more likely to have better quality than it does at the older levels. As girls get older, most of them stop caring about a lot of this stuff. So, it was probably good for your daughter to experience it at the 12U level where maybe the motives are more pure.

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Are these parents wasting their money?

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reagansdaddy

Joseph Sciara

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Ksphenom

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