Travel ball has changed in definition a lot in the last twenty or so years. I respectfully ask how did we get here. Please read the whole post and understand that I mean no disrespect in the question, but if you only read half the post it may come off as disrespectful. That's not my intent. I'm trying to learn something. So please read with an open mind...
I was very active in softball. Then I went on a long hiatus. Then I had kids and got back in, and times had changed.
In my first go round travel teams were few and far between. The people playing were likely college players who had been sought out in some regard to join/try out.
Now everybody and their sister is on a travel ball team. I had a Dad question me about why I didn't ask his daughter to try out for the Little League All-Stars, because she was a travel ball player. She was the worst player on her Little League team, but had $800 worth of bats in her bag, and her dad was willing to write a check to any organization that would take her. She only lasted a season and then was forced to move on to the next sucker who'd take her dad's money, but someone always did. I live in a rural area and there at least 4 organizations drawing talent in a 30 mile radius. Most of the organizations have 2 teams at each age level.
So the fact that everyone is able to join a travel ball team, brings me to two conclusions:
A. There are a ton of rec leagues selling themselves as travel ball teams.
or
B. Travel ball teams have over expanded so far that anyone can create a team and everyone can play if the check cashes.
I realize this sounds insulting, and I don't mean it to. I know there are great organizations with elite players out there. They have great coaches and their players are going to D1 schools. I'm not trying to lump all teams together.
I want to know how we got here. I'm not trying to be argumentative I'm trying to learn, and since this board is full of softball junkies who can't get on a field, I'm hoping I can get a thoughtful history.
Is there some regulation of who can call themselves travel ball teams?
Could I just find 9 girls and call us a travel team, and challenge my neighbor to do the same?
How do "state" tournaments work? My friend's daughter played in multiple state tournaments. I assumed a state champion was supposed to determine who was the best team in your state (with different divisions of course.)
How do National tournaments work?
How did we get to so many governing bodies?
Thanks for taking the time to read this epic and for answering my questions.
I was very active in softball. Then I went on a long hiatus. Then I had kids and got back in, and times had changed.
In my first go round travel teams were few and far between. The people playing were likely college players who had been sought out in some regard to join/try out.
Now everybody and their sister is on a travel ball team. I had a Dad question me about why I didn't ask his daughter to try out for the Little League All-Stars, because she was a travel ball player. She was the worst player on her Little League team, but had $800 worth of bats in her bag, and her dad was willing to write a check to any organization that would take her. She only lasted a season and then was forced to move on to the next sucker who'd take her dad's money, but someone always did. I live in a rural area and there at least 4 organizations drawing talent in a 30 mile radius. Most of the organizations have 2 teams at each age level.
So the fact that everyone is able to join a travel ball team, brings me to two conclusions:
A. There are a ton of rec leagues selling themselves as travel ball teams.
or
B. Travel ball teams have over expanded so far that anyone can create a team and everyone can play if the check cashes.
I realize this sounds insulting, and I don't mean it to. I know there are great organizations with elite players out there. They have great coaches and their players are going to D1 schools. I'm not trying to lump all teams together.
I want to know how we got here. I'm not trying to be argumentative I'm trying to learn, and since this board is full of softball junkies who can't get on a field, I'm hoping I can get a thoughtful history.
Is there some regulation of who can call themselves travel ball teams?
Could I just find 9 girls and call us a travel team, and challenge my neighbor to do the same?
How do "state" tournaments work? My friend's daughter played in multiple state tournaments. I assumed a state champion was supposed to determine who was the best team in your state (with different divisions of course.)
How do National tournaments work?
How did we get to so many governing bodies?
Thanks for taking the time to read this epic and for answering my questions.