Several years ago I began to speak with other coaches around our area about what they thought about forming a travel league in our area. Yes, there were already a few leagues, but many of which charged exorbitant fees and expected each team to travel to their town to play all league games. But what I envisioned was a league where everyone got to play home games as well as travel to other towns. To my chagrin I found little interest.
As the years began to roll by the large organizations began to lose their luster and more and more independent teams began playing. I also found myself coaching and managing one of these upstart teams. Longing for something different than the traditional travel schedule I began to fill our schedule not only with tournaments but also with double headers and round robins with other teams from our area. I created a great mix of travel games as well as home games.
While it was awesome for extended family members to finally be able to watch our girls play as well as the $ saved by not having to travel or pay high tournament costs there was something missing. Yes our girls were growing and the games were great for fun and development there was no real purpose and meaning behind the games.
Earlier this year I spoke with another coach about my idea for a league and he shared that he had the same idea. I never spoke to the coach again for months and had even forgotten who the guy was.
A couple weeks back I received a text from this coach and asked if I was still interested in forming a league. Unlike myself who had gotten frustrated with the lack of interest and given up this coach had been talking with other coaches. Where his approach differed from mine was that he approached other independent teams, which were more prevelant in his area, instead of the large organizations which dominate ours.
Yesterday, we met in Breese, IL with 8 other team reps and Illinois Heartland Fastpitch Softball(sry changed name to avoid confusion with another league with a similar name)was born! We currently have 10 team interested and hope to 2 more will join. Our league season will open in April with a tournament here in West Frankfort, IL and end in July with a championship tournament in Albers, IL.
All teams involved still want to maintain a travel tournament schedule so we will all be required to play about 12 league games, 8 in your division and 4 cross division. It's each coaches responsibility to schedule their own games and home teams are responsible to provide 2 carded umps. There will be no league fee but each team is required to make a deposit on the season ending tournament to help ensure no one drops out midseason.
We are also planning to hold an allstar game with a team from each division. And have even kicked around the idea of an all league team.
I am very excited that this dream is finally coming true and we are trying to lay the ground work for future expansion.
We are not trying to compete with ASA or PGF or anything like that. But rather to see local athletes given the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of home fans rather than miles away where no one knows them. I know that the next year is going to involve lots of hours and work as well as many obstacle to overcome. But I think that in the end it will be well worth it.
We are also very open to any suggestions others might have as we want to see this league grow and provide athletes opportunities for years to come.
As the years began to roll by the large organizations began to lose their luster and more and more independent teams began playing. I also found myself coaching and managing one of these upstart teams. Longing for something different than the traditional travel schedule I began to fill our schedule not only with tournaments but also with double headers and round robins with other teams from our area. I created a great mix of travel games as well as home games.
While it was awesome for extended family members to finally be able to watch our girls play as well as the $ saved by not having to travel or pay high tournament costs there was something missing. Yes our girls were growing and the games were great for fun and development there was no real purpose and meaning behind the games.
Earlier this year I spoke with another coach about my idea for a league and he shared that he had the same idea. I never spoke to the coach again for months and had even forgotten who the guy was.
A couple weeks back I received a text from this coach and asked if I was still interested in forming a league. Unlike myself who had gotten frustrated with the lack of interest and given up this coach had been talking with other coaches. Where his approach differed from mine was that he approached other independent teams, which were more prevelant in his area, instead of the large organizations which dominate ours.
Yesterday, we met in Breese, IL with 8 other team reps and Illinois Heartland Fastpitch Softball(sry changed name to avoid confusion with another league with a similar name)was born! We currently have 10 team interested and hope to 2 more will join. Our league season will open in April with a tournament here in West Frankfort, IL and end in July with a championship tournament in Albers, IL.
All teams involved still want to maintain a travel tournament schedule so we will all be required to play about 12 league games, 8 in your division and 4 cross division. It's each coaches responsibility to schedule their own games and home teams are responsible to provide 2 carded umps. There will be no league fee but each team is required to make a deposit on the season ending tournament to help ensure no one drops out midseason.
We are also planning to hold an allstar game with a team from each division. And have even kicked around the idea of an all league team.
I am very excited that this dream is finally coming true and we are trying to lay the ground work for future expansion.
We are not trying to compete with ASA or PGF or anything like that. But rather to see local athletes given the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of home fans rather than miles away where no one knows them. I know that the next year is going to involve lots of hours and work as well as many obstacle to overcome. But I think that in the end it will be well worth it.
We are also very open to any suggestions others might have as we want to see this league grow and provide athletes opportunities for years to come.
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