D9 This weekend

I do not want to ruin the fun. How was everyone's weekend?

I would say it was so so. Heard complaints from teams that were at WWOS and ones that were not about the teams. Not sure how the decisions were made on who played there but I know some teams were not happy playing what were close to "C" class teams at a showcase. We were at a different park and still had some coaches so no complaints but it did kinda stink only playing one other really good team. We play in the super or power pools at every other showcase and I know we would not have gone 0-6 like some of the ones at WWOS and the other good team we played would have been the same way. We may not have gone 6-0 like we did but definitely would not have been embarrassed.

Overall I did enjoy the D9 and their staff at our park were great. The fields were in great shape from the first game and they worked them in between every game. Heck I couldn't even make one complaint about an umpire. Our were extremely consistent.

We played at the WWOS main fields (12-15) and I thought the competition was outstanding save for a couple of teams that were clearly outclassed in that group. Each of our games was won/lost by 3 runs or less. Stith's team had some blowouts (we didn't play them) but you expect that from his team.

Our only real complaint was having to play at 10:20PM on Friday (after the normal Disney delays between each game) and come back early Saturday morning. Wish they could get that fixed. But otherwise, great tournament, there were a lot of coaches at our complex (and I heard at other complexes as well) and excellent fields as always.

Usual BS... The schedule was extremely poorly done as per usual - if not worse than usual. They made it especially hard for the coaches who did want to come to find us and we missed a few because they got lost trying to find our field and two missed seeing us play because two complexes had very similar names. They played favorites like always and everything was tilted completely towards Intensity and Intensity friends/political slant. They don't even bother to pretend otherwise these days.

Our fields were awful and should not be used for anything game wise and for the second year in a row we played on the same field all weekend which continues to be inexcusable. The distance between ESPN/Kissimmee fields and the Seminole County fields is too far for coaches to deal with - it always has been - and now the new recruiting rules make it even worse. I went around all the diamond quads at our location and two other locations and coaches were scarce unless they were there to see someone specific.

Simple things that could make the whole thing better for everyone are not done. I have no issue with D9 or any showcase catering to the proven teams and favoring the host teams squads, but you have to provide some level of service to the main pack of teams who have paid the same amount of money to be there as everyone else (and perhaps more is the 'free entry for some teams' rumors are to be believed).

Our competition was pretty solid - we only had one team out of place in our pool and 4 of the 6 teams we faced had finished high up in the ASA Nationals so we are not talking cupcakes at all. We did play 2 local teams that we play at least once or twice a month so that was stupid.

Umpires were actually excellent.

But we had expected all this and our girls had done their work. We got close to zero foot traffic from coaches but did see a fair few of the ones our players have been communicating with. It could have been much better for us if they had given us a chance to play in Kissimmee one of the days. If you were 'new' to D9 and showcases I can imagine there is a number of scenarios which were truly disgraceful - Mike Alwine I know what team your DD plays on and I am guessing it was probably NOT a lot of fun for your team at all and I suspect you rightfully feel you didn't get your moneys worth.

Oh and the new Saturday/Sunday recruiting rules are truly mind bendingly dumb. We had Sunday afternoon games and the coaches had pretty much all left by lunch time to catch flights (even the ones who wanted to come see us) so really we only had Saturday games for coaches to come see us and that made it real hard.

After two weekends of exposure tournaments this fall I agree that the new recruiting rules are awful. The Friday games are a warmup only for teams that mostly have D-1’s interested in them. Nobody wants to play on Friday now and just like Marriard said, the coaches are gone by Sunday at noon if they come out at all on Sunday. Both weekends had Sunday rained out. Since there was also threat of rain on Saturday at one tournament nobody showed up that day either.

When are the teams from the north half of the country supposed to be able to play in front of coaches in the all important fall? The outdoor tournament season is pretty much over up here in mid October at best. The northern teams have two choices, travel south driving and missing school on Friday and maybe Monday or fly. We are playing fall Scenic City. It is a 10 hour drive. Have a 2pm game Sunday. I plan on working Monday and dd will go to school, especially since she has no choice but miss school Friday. Monday will be a rough one.

The recruiting rules need another re-do. Paying big cash to travel and play 2-3 games at best on a saturday and only only being able to play in the south isn’t working for anyone that doesn’t already live in the southern third of the country.

I will add having our schedule change 5 times on Wednesday and then again 3 more times on Thursday wasn't great either.

I think one of the highlights of the tourney was dealing with Anthony Travel for the stay and play. Amazingly easy to deal with compared to Traveling Teams used for Scenic City, Bolt 5 Star, and some others.

Westwind said:

The recruiting rules need another re-do. Paying big cash to travel and play 2-3 games at best on a saturday and only only being able to play in the south isn’t working for anyone that doesn’t already live in the southern third of the country.

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the whole recruiting machine is way out of hand, IMO.

these showcases accept way too many teams and there seems to be very little standard to be met (although you must apply and get accepted to play)
because of the number of teams, you generally only get 2 games each day (should really be 3 or even 4...).
Also because of the number of teams, the "complex" is a series of satellite fields, sometimes as much as 20-30 miles apart.
"New" teams must earn their way in, which translates to a monumental waste of time/money for a few years, because you get stuck out on a cow pasture with no onlookers.
Of course, these showcases all encourage you to contact coaches to come see you play.
And surely, some do travel to remote fields to see very specific players.
But the whole thing reads like a giant money grab, and the players and families are the big losers.

This may seem harsh: If your team is not getting seen, then why play in these "showcases?" You are better off spending the money on attending the skills camp of the school that DD is interested in. I agree that many of these of these showcases are a money grab and that WAY too many teams are let into these events. In Texas we have the very same thing going on. Ronald McDonald, Bombers Exposure and the Texas Gold Cup. The Gold Cup used to be that. Only Gold(Softball Illuminati) teams were invited on one complex. Now there are 6 fields!!! I truly feel sorry for those teams that aren't playing on the main fields or are not in the Power Pools. These premier events should be Invitational only, like the Boulder IDT. If your team doesn't get in, then create your own showcase among the 2nd tier teams. I am sure there is plenty of talent among those teams that would attract Juco, NAIA, D3 and D2 college coaches and I am sure those college coaches would appreciate it.

Orange Socks said:

This may seem harsh: If your team is not getting seen, then why play in these "showcases?" You are better off spending the money on attending the skills camp of the school that DD is interested in. I agree that many of these of these showcases are a money grab and that WAY too many teams are let into these events.

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Why? Because if you don't play, you can't move up to the better fields or get the chance to play the better teams or get an invite to a 'invitational' showcase and so on. And if you don't play, the best players on a team will move on to the 'privileged few' and now you don't have a team anyway. As a team working your way up, at some point starting in 14U you HAVE to play these and if you go 5-1 then the next year you can improve field/competition/etc.

Sure, an individual can go to a college camp, but they still have to play on a team, play good competition and how many of these 1-college camps do you need to go to? Especially when a lot of the on-campus camps are money makers and the players they are interested in are separate from the general campers. How are you going to be 'noticed' when the coach is off with 20 other girls on a different field and you are being instructed by some current players. We have 50 'come to our camp' invites and like 3 weekends to decide on - my DD is OK as she has target schools and some are even talking to her so camp selection is easier - but our mid-level players are basically in a crap shoot choosing a camp.

Also, take D9 - better organized they could handle the # of teams and make the experience better for every team. But they don't do it, and everyone ends up having this discussion.

It is simple as that.

marriard said:

... We have 50 'come to our camp' invites and like 3 weekends to decide on - my DD is OK as she has target schools and some are even talking to her so camp selection is easier - but our mid-level players are basically in a crap shoot choosing a camp....

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I understand the frustration but this is where the travel ball coach or college services can provide value. Players should ask their coach to text/call the college to inquire (assuming the player is Freshman/Sophomore) as to whether it is worthwhile for the camper to attend. The college is going to respond genuinely to the travel ball coach and a yes or no goes along way towards narrowing the search.

Also, ask the travel ball coach to "pre-ask" if the college would consider providing an evaluation of the player so the travel ball coach can follow up after the camp. This can also keep the player top of mind to the college and based on post camp feedback, you will get further information.

All information is useful.