Post by CEZAR on Nov 3, 2013 22:12:44 GMT -6
this a post by Dave Betcher that I felt was worth to be at the top of the page ,a man who knows the game and has been around so long and continues to provide great Softball opportunities to all of us in the softball world.
Re: Dave Betcher - my response
Posted by Dave in reply to
Wow some heavy stuff here you want me to talk about ... ok here goes in bullet points:
* No matter the alphabet in local events, the teams create the competition and value, not which organization is sanctioning
* Yes there are some people who do not belong in this great game because their motives are not for putting the girls or product first
* On the National stage, all alphabets will have some strong teams in their nationals, only PGF will have zero weaker ones in Huntington Beach
* When I started in fastpitch in 1999 I took my 12's to USSSA World Series in Charlotte - awesome time, finished second to a team from Colorado who was on a flight immediately from the park for ASA Nationals ... and the top few teams there were solid ... one of the best events we played in!
* Never played NSA - but my good friend Kim Clay won it one year in the early 2000's, and he was a dominant ASA A team at the time, and it was an honor for his girls and program
* There is a place for each alphabet, it should not ever be demeaning no matter what you choose - with my younger teams with the HOMER HAWKS - I choose the national based on location and family vacation experience
* At 16 and 18 we played ASA Nationals - that was where it was in those days - now it would be PGF
* Exposure events ... far too many promoters put the word exposure on their tourney and teams that "get shut out" of the real events flock to them, that is fine if colleges show and any player is found and has the opportunity for scholarship money because of the event
* Yes there are a lot of teams, but I don't see that as a problem, why should certain people only get to play a great game?
* One advantage of the PGF TOURNEY registration process is you get to see who is signing up for events so you can pick where you want to compete
* I was one of those coaches wanting to play every weekend, I never knew which event we would shine at, create memories from, or have positive things happen for our student athletes, but I never forced a player or family to attend, it was always set up for who wanted to play. And I would take shots on the message boards because I would bring up players from my younger teams and let them experience some fun events with the older girls - who cares if you bring up younger girls and the 9-12 kids at the event want to be there. Let them have lives, let them have time off for other functions... and let the ones who want to play ... PLAY!
* Many programs do not understand how to market their student athletes to the correct schools. I see so many programs with multiple teams, and 3-4 D1 prospects on each team, all trying to play as individual teams all fall on the exposure circuit. Why not create special fall rosters and mix and match the athletes in your programs to best "show" in front of the correct colleges. When a team or parents cry that colleges did not watch their team, do they ever look in the mirror and understand the odds?
* When I run my fall event, I do the best I can to match strength to strength, that is what colleges want to see. I work hard to support the local programs and mix them with regional powerful programs to give the colleges a wide selection of student athletes on one weekend. But asking me for the list of colleges a couple days before an event so people can bomb the coaches "willy nilly" is not what you need to do. It is a process and a job, it is 12 months of prep work, I could write a book on how you search for the best schools that fit your 40 year decision, not 4 year. College is not just to play softball, it is a chance to set the path for the rest of your life. Yes it is expensive, and for those who could not attend, softball may be the only choice, and that is an opportunity you should take. But for 95% of the population, maybe more, you should start with the academic side, and figure out how far you want to go, how big a school, what type of majors, those types of issues.
* October 12-13 we had over 1300 student athletes performing in St Charles and Elgin ,,, between the class of '14 and '18 ... how many D1 opportunities are there for each class? Do you really think a high % of those spots will be filled by only the 109 teams that participated? Quite worrying about parental egos and "the Jones's" ... decide as a family what are your best options and pursue those passionately. I was so fortunate that for most every player who played a significant time with me, they were able to attend the school of their choice. I had kids who got 100% tuition, some got 50% .. some 10% ... some walk-ons ... but all had the academics to get a package that their family could support, afford and invest in their daughters future. I know first hand of true deals some people in softball have gotten, and I have heard their parents talk about full rides when they were not even close, but if that makes someone feel special, so what. probably the same people with huge houses and no furniture. Worry about what is best for your student athlete and work the process to make that happen for them. BUT ... I made each player work hard on the system, (I would not do all their work for them) in understanding where their dream schools were, and in contacting the coaches. All I did was put them in the best opportunities at the right times to succeed.
* I do not own this message board, but I was lucky enough to have met the person who set it up in Elgin last weekend, and he is just a parent who wanted to see positive info and news about fast pitch. He had emailed me about a month ago or so, anonymously, and asked if I wanted editor rights, I told him I would accept, but not be responsible to monitor 24-7 or play "God" with who posts. I hope others who share my love of the sport and passion for trying to run quality events will continue to post. And yes a few jokes or pokes, especially at Lt Dan are welcome as well.
* Why do colleges work the camps we put on, I guess we treat them very fairly, they support the concept, they find prospects, and they have signed players because of the camps. Where else can they actually coach the girls and see how they react to good and bad situations?
* I suppose I rambled long enough, everyone knows how to contact me if you have questions or want advice.
Re: Dave Betcher - my response
Posted by Dave in reply to
Wow some heavy stuff here you want me to talk about ... ok here goes in bullet points:
* No matter the alphabet in local events, the teams create the competition and value, not which organization is sanctioning
* Yes there are some people who do not belong in this great game because their motives are not for putting the girls or product first
* On the National stage, all alphabets will have some strong teams in their nationals, only PGF will have zero weaker ones in Huntington Beach
* When I started in fastpitch in 1999 I took my 12's to USSSA World Series in Charlotte - awesome time, finished second to a team from Colorado who was on a flight immediately from the park for ASA Nationals ... and the top few teams there were solid ... one of the best events we played in!
* Never played NSA - but my good friend Kim Clay won it one year in the early 2000's, and he was a dominant ASA A team at the time, and it was an honor for his girls and program
* There is a place for each alphabet, it should not ever be demeaning no matter what you choose - with my younger teams with the HOMER HAWKS - I choose the national based on location and family vacation experience
* At 16 and 18 we played ASA Nationals - that was where it was in those days - now it would be PGF
* Exposure events ... far too many promoters put the word exposure on their tourney and teams that "get shut out" of the real events flock to them, that is fine if colleges show and any player is found and has the opportunity for scholarship money because of the event
* Yes there are a lot of teams, but I don't see that as a problem, why should certain people only get to play a great game?
* One advantage of the PGF TOURNEY registration process is you get to see who is signing up for events so you can pick where you want to compete
* I was one of those coaches wanting to play every weekend, I never knew which event we would shine at, create memories from, or have positive things happen for our student athletes, but I never forced a player or family to attend, it was always set up for who wanted to play. And I would take shots on the message boards because I would bring up players from my younger teams and let them experience some fun events with the older girls - who cares if you bring up younger girls and the 9-12 kids at the event want to be there. Let them have lives, let them have time off for other functions... and let the ones who want to play ... PLAY!
* Many programs do not understand how to market their student athletes to the correct schools. I see so many programs with multiple teams, and 3-4 D1 prospects on each team, all trying to play as individual teams all fall on the exposure circuit. Why not create special fall rosters and mix and match the athletes in your programs to best "show" in front of the correct colleges. When a team or parents cry that colleges did not watch their team, do they ever look in the mirror and understand the odds?
* When I run my fall event, I do the best I can to match strength to strength, that is what colleges want to see. I work hard to support the local programs and mix them with regional powerful programs to give the colleges a wide selection of student athletes on one weekend. But asking me for the list of colleges a couple days before an event so people can bomb the coaches "willy nilly" is not what you need to do. It is a process and a job, it is 12 months of prep work, I could write a book on how you search for the best schools that fit your 40 year decision, not 4 year. College is not just to play softball, it is a chance to set the path for the rest of your life. Yes it is expensive, and for those who could not attend, softball may be the only choice, and that is an opportunity you should take. But for 95% of the population, maybe more, you should start with the academic side, and figure out how far you want to go, how big a school, what type of majors, those types of issues.
* October 12-13 we had over 1300 student athletes performing in St Charles and Elgin ,,, between the class of '14 and '18 ... how many D1 opportunities are there for each class? Do you really think a high % of those spots will be filled by only the 109 teams that participated? Quite worrying about parental egos and "the Jones's" ... decide as a family what are your best options and pursue those passionately. I was so fortunate that for most every player who played a significant time with me, they were able to attend the school of their choice. I had kids who got 100% tuition, some got 50% .. some 10% ... some walk-ons ... but all had the academics to get a package that their family could support, afford and invest in their daughters future. I know first hand of true deals some people in softball have gotten, and I have heard their parents talk about full rides when they were not even close, but if that makes someone feel special, so what. probably the same people with huge houses and no furniture. Worry about what is best for your student athlete and work the process to make that happen for them. BUT ... I made each player work hard on the system, (I would not do all their work for them) in understanding where their dream schools were, and in contacting the coaches. All I did was put them in the best opportunities at the right times to succeed.
* I do not own this message board, but I was lucky enough to have met the person who set it up in Elgin last weekend, and he is just a parent who wanted to see positive info and news about fast pitch. He had emailed me about a month ago or so, anonymously, and asked if I wanted editor rights, I told him I would accept, but not be responsible to monitor 24-7 or play "God" with who posts. I hope others who share my love of the sport and passion for trying to run quality events will continue to post. And yes a few jokes or pokes, especially at Lt Dan are welcome as well.
* Why do colleges work the camps we put on, I guess we treat them very fairly, they support the concept, they find prospects, and they have signed players because of the camps. Where else can they actually coach the girls and see how they react to good and bad situations?
* I suppose I rambled long enough, everyone knows how to contact me if you have questions or want advice.