Why does west beat east?

[Strike3dad]

Why does west coast fp softball dominate east coast fpsb??Is it the weather and the difference between year round out door practice and east coast 6 month indoor practice?Or is the quality of coaching the west coast provides the difference??Why is it easier for a young woman that plays fpsb in the west to go east to a major university than a girl from the east going west?

 

[druer]

West beats East because people on the East expect to lose.
Weather: No. West practices indoors as often as those on the East because of the heat.
West coast coaches have plenty of talent to choose from so they don't pay to travel east to recruit. They do recruit east players that play in tournaments that are out west. But there are more quality players out west than schools, so some have to travel east to have a chance to play in college.
East coaches choose to travel west to pull players to help them learn how to win "mentally", but most are also signing tons of home grown talent as well.

 

[starsnuffer]

The further away from DC one is, the more efficient, intelligent, and effective one can behave.

-W

 

[MTR]

Because the folks in the East are not gullible enough to believe catching the carrot is that important in life?

 

[sluggers]

It takes years to catch up. California has been playing fastpitch softball since the 1930s. The SEC didn't even have college softball until 1995 or so--and they fought it for years. The only reason the SEC included it was because of repeated complaints under Title IX. rkansas HS sports switched from slow pitch to fastpitch only ten years ago.

West beats East because the East coast teams can't field like the West coast teams. All you have to do is simply go to some travel softball games out in California...all of those kids field like a dream.

 

[Catchers43Dad]

East beats West...

How about simple numbers:
California has a population of approx. 37 million people

PA, NJ, VA, NC, MD, DE, have a population of approx. 45 million.

Seems only logical that a state (not even a region) is better. It has nothing to do with better coaches, warmer weather - it's people.


Now west coast kids come east to be able to play as well as get a top notch education. While there may be a boat load of 10u-18u options to be on an elite team, there are only approx 350 D1 schools so it is only natural that most will leave home to play in college.

 

[Bishop]

The further away from DC one is, the more efficient, intelligent, and effective one can behave.

-W

Really? Explain that whole California budget thing to me then. D'oh!

 

[team mom]

UGA is currently ranked #1 in softball. 16 of 25 on their roster are from the east. 3 of the top 5 schools are from the SE. Not sure we feel second to anyone.

 

[SoCalSoftballdad]

How about simple numbers:
California has a population of approx. 37 million people

PA, NJ, VA, NC, MD, DE, have a population of approx. 45 million.

Seems only logical that a state (not even a region) is better. It has nothing to do with better coaches, warmer weather - it's people.


Now west coast kids come east to be able to play as well as get a top notch education. While there may be a boat load of 10u-18u options to be on an elite team, there are only approx 350 D1 schools so it is only natural that most will leave home to play in college.

I would not discount the weather (especially SoCal) when it comes to practicing softball. Our relatively mild winters and dry (not humid) summers in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego and surrounding counties means that teams and players can and do practice and play in tournaments outdoors, year round. The players are not practicing in basements or waiting for the temperatures to get above freezing. I think other regions in the U.S. are getting more competitive but below are some of the reasons the West has had success in fastpitch over the years:

Population (i.e. the shear number of players in the West is staggering)

Tradition and history of softball in the region. Keeps good coaches in the region and historical Pac 10 dominance.

Weather (players in the region can practice outdoors and play in tournaments year round).

Top Competition - the best, play the best and get that much better. And competition is fierce to compete for a position on the top teams.

ASA and local rules - the rec leagues feed the travel ball machine at a young age. By 8U, kids are expected to pitch and hit live pitching. They will play under most of the rules they will at the upper age groups. The game is not dumbed down like it is under some sanctioning bodies.

8U and 10U travel ball is commonplace.

At a young age, most serious ballplayers have private pitching and hitting coaches and/or attend clinics taught by D1 schools and former D1 players.