Rich, I believe it comes down to two variables in the exposure paths. 1) would be an honest evaluation of talent 2) the financial means of the individual parent or team as a whole
Our girls are from a little hole in the wall town ( 4500 ). Most of the parents are hard working, probably a little lower than middle class incomes, pay check to pay check types. ( nothing wrong with that, I'm just being honest, they are great people ) My wife and I are VERY blessed to have two good paying jobs, we are far from rich, just comfortable.
These girls started out in the little local rec league 5-6-7. Those were fun times at that age, borderline on just silly. ( I sure wish they were still that age ) After the rec season ( spring ) we thought "how would you girls like to play in a few "localized" travel tourneys"? The girls loved the idea. Short on funds we bought matching shorts and tee shirts from Walmart, and the moms "ironed" on our logo.
That first year we didn't win every tourney, but we were always in say the top 4 if about 12-15 teams were entered. THAT'S when the girls fell in love with the game, and I with them. The travel "experience" was just on another magical level than the rec they were use to.
We quit rec completely at 10, after placing second in the league world series in Texas. ( kinda like a little league format )
From then on we travelled full time, expanding our travel ( miles ) range. From first year 12 to last year 14 we played from FL to OK and all inbetween.
^^^^^ All the travel sounds good, but their was a price. The recession. We were already ( team ) strapped for cash. Even before some families would need to save 6 months for that $300 bat, that we might take for granted. Sometimes the out of state tourneys a mother and father couldn't both afford to go ( just because of everyday expenses X's 2 ) Some families would have to double up in hotel rooms to share the cost.
The goal was to get these girls into "a" college, not "the" college. The honest assessment I spoke about, they are good but none of them "superstars". 70% of the girls are the FIRST in their family to even go to college.
The fork in the road you spoke of happened at the end of 14u. The girls were being "courted" by the 16/18 feeder exposure teams to certain colleges. The HARDEST thing was to give up the reigns to another coach(s), but we/I knew it was the in the best interest of the girls and their college chances would be greater down this path.
These feeder teams were not national big time orgs. Smaller orgs who had/have a reputation of getting their players into specific schools. Mostly in TN and bordering states. A few girls went to play together for X team, a few Y, and couple of individuals team Z's. These feeders did not travel far only in or around TN. They were what I might call "economy exposure teams".
Sad as it was to let them go, it worked out. Everyone of them got a scholarship in some fashion and will play ball. 2 who are really really smart ( 34 ACT perfect GPA ) have recently chosen to only go for the education and hang up the glove.
Long story short, we had to do things a tad different because of our financial situation. We kept the girls together ( long as we could ) played the best competition we could "afford" and practiced like we were rich. I wish everyday I could have done more for them.
***************
I believe that's why I'm so emotional this ( their ) senior year. Those are my baby(s) out there, when they play together there is a chemistry. I had to already give them up once, now I'm going to give them up again forever.
I get the old watery eyes sometimes watching them take the field this spring for the final time. I see these beautiful grown young ladies and I can't help but remember all the good times. I vision them sometimes as those 3 ft tall rec players who I constantly was telling them to quit playing in the dirt, quit picking the grass in the outfield, quit chasing that butterfly.
I'm very proud of them. They will always be my world champions.
