- Feb 17, 2014
- 543
- 28
Here's how TB works within the local org here.
All of the youth sports in the school district are run by the same organization. One of the main goals of the organization is to provide equal opportunity for every child that is interested in playing sports. So, the travel teams managed by the softball board within this organization has to follow the mission of the overall organization. One of the big limiting factors for travel softball is all only girls within the school district can be on the teams.
Travel softball teams are reformed every year. Every August there are travel team tryouts and no one is guaranteed a roster spot. Coaches are re-evaluated and interviewed every year.
After evaluations and coach interviews, they determine who the A team coaches will be. This decision is based on coach interviews but where their DD ranks also plays a part. If the best coaching candidate's daughter is ranked #32, he's not going to get the A team. Once the coaches are determined, they are given the list of girls and how they evaluated. The coach has to offer spots to the top X number of girls on the list. Then, he is allowed to over spots to anyone else in the top 20 girls. If he wants a girl outside of the top 20, then he has to request permission and explain why he wants said girl. After A teams are formed, then the B team coach is selected from the remaining candidates and he follows the same process.
Candidate coaches are not allowed to talk to girls/families and make deals with them, ie "If I am the coach, your daughter will be my SS." We've had very successful coaches not get the job the next year because they don't follow the rules.
While the fairness aspect of it is a good thing, it really hurts the competitive nature of the teams. We've had some successful teams, but not many. All of the A level talent ends up leaving to play on more competitive, stronger teams.
We also host many tournaments a year and the income from the tournaments is used to supplement the travel teams. So, the cost to play is about 33% what it costs to play in the big orgs around here.
All of the youth sports in the school district are run by the same organization. One of the main goals of the organization is to provide equal opportunity for every child that is interested in playing sports. So, the travel teams managed by the softball board within this organization has to follow the mission of the overall organization. One of the big limiting factors for travel softball is all only girls within the school district can be on the teams.
Travel softball teams are reformed every year. Every August there are travel team tryouts and no one is guaranteed a roster spot. Coaches are re-evaluated and interviewed every year.
After evaluations and coach interviews, they determine who the A team coaches will be. This decision is based on coach interviews but where their DD ranks also plays a part. If the best coaching candidate's daughter is ranked #32, he's not going to get the A team. Once the coaches are determined, they are given the list of girls and how they evaluated. The coach has to offer spots to the top X number of girls on the list. Then, he is allowed to over spots to anyone else in the top 20 girls. If he wants a girl outside of the top 20, then he has to request permission and explain why he wants said girl. After A teams are formed, then the B team coach is selected from the remaining candidates and he follows the same process.
Candidate coaches are not allowed to talk to girls/families and make deals with them, ie "If I am the coach, your daughter will be my SS." We've had very successful coaches not get the job the next year because they don't follow the rules.
While the fairness aspect of it is a good thing, it really hurts the competitive nature of the teams. We've had some successful teams, but not many. All of the A level talent ends up leaving to play on more competitive, stronger teams.
We also host many tournaments a year and the income from the tournaments is used to supplement the travel teams. So, the cost to play is about 33% what it costs to play in the big orgs around here.
