Stay "B" or go "C"

[Slappers]

Hello everyone,

After reading the thread about someone wanting to start a travel team and questioning whether or not to do it, I did. The problem is that we are a young 16U team that will have the opportunity to play 16U next season (2014-15) as well. Quite a few of the "B" teams in this area (NoVa) should be "A" teams but aren't and there are only a few, like 4, "C" teams. Position and hitting wise, we are a solid "B" team. Pitching we are definitely a "C" team.

I have found this conundrum where I could be reclassified as a "C" but get stuck playing the same teams over and over. I feel like I can't be the only new inexperienced 16U team.

The question is do I stay a "B" and be competitive against the teams I think we can be competitive against and get slaughtered by the teams that have typically a phenomenal pitcher (and not much else which seems to be the key around here) or go and play the same 4 teams again and again.

The statement about pitching opens up a whole knew can of worms for me but that is for an entirely different thread.

 

[Sweet Lou]

Are you allowed to register as C but play up in B tournaments?

 

[Slappers]

Technically yes. Maybe I am just missing the point in doing that? I spoke with the region director and he recommended staying in B for a few tournaments and decide from there. In following tournaments, the B's usually end up in the Open division. When this occurs, the C's never get moved up.

 

[James Smith]

I would prefer to play against different Teams. Yes, there are some really really good pitchers.

Our Team has been outmatched but I have never seen them give up.

 

[Slappers]

I tend to agree. My main concern is psyche. I don't want to lose players because we are young and we will play against some darn good teams, but I also don't want to tell them we are in for a world of hurt either. We are preparing well though. I do like that.

 

[PGSAKen]

I tend to agree. My main concern is psyche. I don't want to lose players because we are young and we will play against some darn good teams, but I also don't want to tell them we are in for a world of hurt either. We are preparing well though. I do like that.

Consistent defeat is a textbook indicator of losing the love of the game.

 

[Slappers]

I agree with that too. I pretty much have to wait and see what happens. I am trying to schedule a scrimmage with one of the C teams but it has been hard with scheduling conflicts.

 

[JAD]

Do not measure your teams success with wins and loses, measure it in player development, having fun and commeraderie!

 

[Slappers]

That is the goal of the team JAD. I want to develop the person as much as the player. When I started this team, I made it clear to everyone that this was a developmental travel team meaning that these girls are on the cusp of making the "better" teams but need some solid practice/playing time to sharpen skills and work on weak areas. I definitely don't measure a team by wins and losses.

I have a different philosophy than a lot of other coaches at this level. I teach team first, individual honors second. I do value individual honors and strive for each player to reach them but to remember who helped get them there. I don't like coaching "me" players.

 

[WARRIORMIKE]

I would play/scrimmage against some A teams first and see how your girls do. Then go down to B, then C if needed