One option is to move Southern California. Some of those rec league teams are pretty good.
My main concern is that a hard-working talented kid is being denied good coaching/competition just
because their parents cannot afford it (yes I know this happens in all aspects of life..don't get me started).
I sit on the board for a rec league in VA and I also coach 12U and 10U teams. TB is killing rec league (ours anyway). A year ago we had 120+ girls register and play spring/summer ball and this year we have 32 with evaluation day a little over a week away. We had two 12U TB teams established by rec coaches (dads) after last season who took all of the girls with them. We have three 12U girls who are signed up for spring ball this year (we are hoping the cuts from the middle school tryouts will increase these numbers).
So after saying all that, I say why choose? I beg parents to keep their girls in rec and play TB. Because now it just isn't the "very skilled" girls who are going to TB and leaving rec behind, its anyone who a "TB coach" can pull to fill their team and it is leaving the rec league high and dry. What happens next year when we do not have enough girls to have a season? And the year after that when there is no rec league? Now the girls who would have played or shown an interest in softball do not have the opportunity. And so on and so on.
I get the skill gap but to me rec league is not all about the games and winning. Parents that are choosing travel over rec should not base it on what is happening during the game (how boring it is) but rather what developmental skills are being offered during practices (and games for certain positions, age dependent). A good coach should be able to develop both the most and least skilled players on a team and everyone in between.
Thanks for listening to my venting, lol.
Valid post. My DD played REC through 12U. All of the girls on my TB team, that were in district, played rec as well. It was tough at times with multiple practices and managing games. But we all wanted to continue to support the health of the rec program. Now my players are giving back/helping out with evals for the rec program It was a lot of softball. Sometimes a little too much.
A good coach.....and that is usually the problem. Good coaches generally leave rec with their DD leaving a disparity in quality coaching in rec. No knock on any Rec coach, I was one. But more often than not they are the ones who step up to help or coach when no one else has. They are learning on the fly. No solutions...just an observation. Unless that coach has a passion for the game....at any skill level....the Rec program is also suffering from quality coaching. I think if you had 'better' coaching at the rec level you might see players stick with sport longer. it is a conundrum.