My daughter had a chance to play on two showcase teams this year but chose to play for another team that is actually stronger, but doesn't showcase. This was the right choice for her for a variety of reasons, but was curious to get your thoughts on the following because I found the situation to be very interesting.
The team she joined is a 14U team that plans to qualify for NSA nationals. That will require playing about four 14U events prior. They'll play mostly high school/16U otherwise. Little no showcase. They also are an independent team that has a good reputation locally, but is totally unknown on the showcase circuit and by college coaches.
The two showcase teams are not as strong, although one of them could beat the 14U team from time to time. They will play entirely 16U/high school and play a lot of out-of-state showcase. Big rosters, everybody plays a lot. They are not ''big name'' programs, but they are known by college coaches and have sent several players to college ball, generally at lower levels.
One of my questions is this -- If you have a really good team that's not well known, and with coaches who are good, but don't have a lot of contacts in college softball programs, are these teams at a major disadvantage at showcases? Is a player in better position if she plays with a more well-connected, but inferior, team?
My DD is an 8th-grader who doesn't know if she wants to play college ball, so I'm not worried about it for her sake right now, but was just curious because I found these team philosophies to be interesting. Two are playing all around the South, usually getting pounded and perhaps ignored (since many are 9th graders and their teams aren't that good) at showcases, while another is staying more local and trying to qualify and win a national title in 14U.
The team she joined is a 14U team that plans to qualify for NSA nationals. That will require playing about four 14U events prior. They'll play mostly high school/16U otherwise. Little no showcase. They also are an independent team that has a good reputation locally, but is totally unknown on the showcase circuit and by college coaches.
The two showcase teams are not as strong, although one of them could beat the 14U team from time to time. They will play entirely 16U/high school and play a lot of out-of-state showcase. Big rosters, everybody plays a lot. They are not ''big name'' programs, but they are known by college coaches and have sent several players to college ball, generally at lower levels.
One of my questions is this -- If you have a really good team that's not well known, and with coaches who are good, but don't have a lot of contacts in college softball programs, are these teams at a major disadvantage at showcases? Is a player in better position if she plays with a more well-connected, but inferior, team?
My DD is an 8th-grader who doesn't know if she wants to play college ball, so I'm not worried about it for her sake right now, but was just curious because I found these team philosophies to be interesting. Two are playing all around the South, usually getting pounded and perhaps ignored (since many are 9th graders and their teams aren't that good) at showcases, while another is staying more local and trying to qualify and win a national title in 14U.