LEsoftballdad
DFP Vendor
I would disagree. My daughter got interest from D1 schools on the East Coast at the IDT this year. They told her they don't go to the local events in the Northeast because the caliber of players at most local events, with a few exceptions, isn't up to their standards. And many coaches go to watch their recruits, or potential recruits, play against top competition that they don't get locally.Yes I am aware as I’ve been there 5 times. There are over 1000 teams there. I’d say 10% of them are showcase teams that prioritize recruiting. And that’s probably high. Not to mention the fact that 90% of the players on showcase teams play in college within a 250 mile radius of their home so most showcase players get recruited in local/regional tournaments. The fact remains, recruiting is not the main draw for that tournament.
If you go as a 12U or a first-year 14U team, I would say it's a vacation with softball attached. If you're in the IDT or the Power Pool of the Sparkler, you're there for recruiting.