The St.James softball program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should also look at Virginia Stingrays 14u if you haven’t already - great group of girls coming up.

https://stingraysva.org/

- signed, a Stingrays parent

We just saw the Stingrays 12U team at Nationals this weekend (not sure if that's the team that is moving up to 14), but the coach was great. Supportive and positive. No yelling and the girls seemed to like her.

I got very good vibes from that coach and the group of girls. You can just sort of pick up on team dynamics and their dynamics seemed really good.

Many of them are moving up. She is a great coach, and the 14u coach too! (They all are!)

Many of the 12Us are moving up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the point of travel if you’re playing C. Most C teams are barely (if that) better than rec teams in strong rec programs.

We played in the East Coast C Championships and most teams were good—there were some teams that were really, really good. Plus C teams still generally have skills rec teams don’t- rounding first after a walk, catchers that can throw a player out at 2nd, etc. You don’t need to travel to FL from DC but traveling out of state isn’t uncommon.

In one game we were watching, we saw the catcher perfectly block a ball in the dirt and then backpick the runner at 3rd from her knees. Nobody is doing in that rec. Heck, in rec, that ball isn't blocked and the run scores. Here, it turned into an out.

I don't know what rec games you were watching, but at least in 10U rec+ plenty of catchers are good blockers, and those would be the better rec catchers (12U and 18U are more variable because it depends on how many girls have already left for travel). Nobody's backpicking from their knees that I've seen in rec, though, but most girls can hold the runner just fine.

Okay, maybe a few kids in rec can block. not typically the balls that are in the dirt inside/outside, but they may be able to drop into blocking postiion. But nobody is making a backpick from the knees, and by 12u anyone in rec than can block has been scooped up by a travel team.

I'm objecting to a PP that asserted that 12c is basically the same as rec. And if you observed the last 8 teams at nationals, or a few 12u rec games, you would know how crazy that sounds.

PP here. Sure, the best of C (which should really be challenging themselves more by playing N) but the average C team just does not seem worth it to me. You obviously have a different opinion.

You're giving the wrong idea to those new to softball. C is generally a big step above rec. It's closer to rec all stars, but that's the best of the best of rec. My daugter plays on a C team and in a year they've encountered one team that was truly bad, and I heard their two best pitchers were missing that day. Even on a C team, the players I've seen know where to be at all times, they can make all the necessary throws and some can hit to the outfield. DO they make every throw and catch and DO they all hit to the outfield? No -- that's closer to B teams. But they're capable of it. That's not the case of rec teams, where some of the girls have never played before, or aren't capable of catching balls at 1st, or who strike out all the time.

Fair enough. My daughter was in a strong rec league and went right to B, but I recognize if you come for a weaker rec program, C ball might be a nice step up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the point of travel if you’re playing C. Most C teams are barely (if that) better than rec teams in strong rec programs.

We played in the East Coast C Championships and most teams were good—there were some teams that were really, really good. Plus C teams still generally have skills rec teams don’t- rounding first after a walk, catchers that can throw a player out at 2nd, etc. You don’t need to travel to FL from DC but traveling out of state isn’t uncommon.

In one game we were watching, we saw the catcher perfectly block a ball in the dirt and then backpick the runner at 3rd from her knees. Nobody is doing in that rec. Heck, in rec, that ball isn't blocked and the run scores. Here, it turned into an out.

I don't know what rec games you were watching, but at least in 10U rec+ plenty of catchers are good blockers, and those would be the better rec catchers (12U and 18U are more variable because it depends on how many girls have already left for travel). Nobody's backpicking from their knees that I've seen in rec, though, but most girls can hold the runner just fine.

Okay, maybe a few kids in rec can block. not typically the balls that are in the dirt inside/outside, but they may be able to drop into blocking postiion. But nobody is making a backpick from the knees, and by 12u anyone in rec than can block has been scooped up by a travel team.

I'm objecting to a PP that asserted that 12c is basically the same as rec. And if you observed the last 8 teams at nationals, or a few 12u rec games, you would know how crazy that sounds.

PP here. Sure, the best of C (which should really be challenging themselves more by playing N) but the average C team just does not seem worth it to me. You obviously have a different opinion.

You're giving the wrong idea to those new to softball. C is generally a big step above rec. It's closer to rec all stars, but that's the best of the best of rec. My daugter plays on a C team and in a year they've encountered one team that was truly bad, and I heard their two best pitchers were missing that day. Even on a C team, the players I've seen know where to be at all times, they can make all the necessary throws and some can hit to the outfield. DO they make every throw and catch and DO they all hit to the outfield? No -- that's closer to B teams. But they're capable of it. That's not the case of rec teams, where some of the girls have never played before, or aren't capable of catching balls at 1st, or who strike out all the time.

Fair enough. My daughter was in a strong rec league and went right to B, but I recognize if you come for a weaker rec program, C ball might be a nice step up.

DP. As someone with rec+ players for kids (so we see a bunch of different other rec+ teams), the quality in rec varies so widely between leagues, and even on teams within an individual team. The rec program my kids are in has at points had the kind of high level of play you're talking about, not just for individual kids but for entire house teams.

[Anonymous]

St James talks a good game but there are deep, deep institutional problems. High turnover in coaches...seems to be trouble with getting the good ones to stick around. Inability to get practice fields...my kid has done fielding practice in the parking lot. Teams registered for tournaments above their level resulting in demoralizing blowouts. Carrying 16 or 17 kids on a single team roster so half the team doesn't get playing time. Total train wreck of a program, but people keep signing up to pay the fees. As long as the money rolls in, nothing will change because they are in it for the profit and not for player development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St James talks a good game but there are deep, deep institutional problems. High turnover in coaches...seems to be trouble with getting the good ones to stick around. Inability to get practice fields...my kid has done fielding practice in the parking lot. Teams registered for tournaments above their level resulting in demoralizing blowouts. Carrying 16 or 17 kids on a single team roster so half the team doesn't get playing time. Total train wreck of a program, but people keep signing up to pay the fees. As long as the money rolls in, nothing will change because they are in it for the profit and not for player development.

Friend whose kid is in the program said the county didn't permit them any fields. And at least at 12U they initially thought they were going to field 2 teams but didn't end up with enough girls so they compacted.

They seem similar to Pure Performance to me from the outside of both. Both talking a big game about playing at a high level but then fielding C teams and not keeping staff around.

But yes, St James seems to push the easy button for enough parents to keep it going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St James talks a good game but there are deep, deep institutional problems. High turnover in coaches...seems to be trouble with getting the good ones to stick around. Inability to get practice fields...my kid has done fielding practice in the parking lot. Teams registered for tournaments above their level resulting in demoralizing blowouts. Carrying 16 or 17 kids on a single team roster so half the team doesn't get playing time. Total train wreck of a program, but people keep signing up to pay the fees. As long as the money rolls in, nothing will change because they are in it for the profit and not for player development.

Friend whose kid is in the program said the county didn't permit them any fields. And at least at 12U they initially thought they were going to field 2 teams but didn't end up with enough girls so they compacted.

They seem similar to Pure Performance to me from the outside of both. Both talking a big game about playing at a high level but then fielding C teams and not keeping staff around.

But yes, St James seems to push the easy button for enough parents to keep it going.

I think you mean Perfect Performance, but totally agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St James talks a good game but there are deep, deep institutional problems. High turnover in coaches...seems to be trouble with getting the good ones to stick around. Inability to get practice fields...my kid has done fielding practice in the parking lot. Teams registered for tournaments above their level resulting in demoralizing blowouts. Carrying 16 or 17 kids on a single team roster so half the team doesn't get playing time. Total train wreck of a program, but people keep signing up to pay the fees. As long as the money rolls in, nothing will change because they are in it for the profit and not for player development.

Friend whose kid is in the program said the county didn't permit them any fields. And at least at 12U they initially thought they were going to field 2 teams but didn't end up with enough girls so they compacted.

They seem similar to Pure Performance to me from the outside of both. Both talking a big game about playing at a high level but then fielding C teams and not keeping staff around.

But yes, St James seems to push the easy button for enough parents to keep it going.

I think you mean Perfect Performance, but totally agree!

Doh, yes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More general softball question. Middle schooler who loves the sport, plays rec, rec+, all stars. Wants to play in high school in this area. Can anyone share success stories of making JV team as freshman w/o doing travel?

We're in MoCo and your kid would be absolutely fine. Maybe not Varsity as a freshman, but JV for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More general softball question. Middle schooler who loves the sport, plays rec, rec+, all stars. Wants to play in high school in this area. Can anyone share success stories of making JV team as freshman w/o doing travel?

We're in MoCo and your kid would be absolutely fine. Maybe not Varsity as a freshman, but JV for sure.

Agreed.

I think our JV team cut 3 girls last year. 2 of which had never played softball before and the other had played before but just was pretty unathletic.

If your kid is a good rec player, they should make JV just fine.

But since tryouts are early spring, maybe spend a little time doing a winter "Tune-up" to get her swing ready and her shoulder ready to throw. The travel girls will have all their winter workouts scheduled so they'll still be in playing form

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More general softball question. Middle schooler who loves the sport, plays rec, rec+, all stars. Wants to play in high school in this area. Can anyone share success stories of making JV team as freshman w/o doing travel?

We're in MoCo and your kid would be absolutely fine. Maybe not Varsity as a freshman, but JV for sure.

What about in Arlington?

Agreed.

I think our JV team cut 3 girls last year. 2 of which had never played softball before and the other had played before but just was pretty unathletic.

If your kid is a good rec player, they should make JV just fine.

But since tryouts are early spring, maybe spend a little time doing a winter "Tune-up" to get her swing ready and her shoulder ready to throw. The travel girls will have all their winter workouts scheduled so they'll still be in playing form

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More general softball question. Middle schooler who loves the sport, plays rec, rec+, all stars. Wants to play in high school in this area. Can anyone share success stories of making JV team as freshman w/o doing travel?

We're in MoCo and your kid would be absolutely fine. Maybe not Varsity as a freshman, but JV for sure.

What about in Arlington?

Agreed.

I think our JV team cut 3 girls last year. 2 of which had never played softball before and the other had played before but just was pretty unathletic.

If your kid is a good rec player, they should make JV just fine.

But since tryouts are early spring, maybe spend a little time doing a winter "Tune-up" to get her swing ready and her shoulder ready to throw. The travel girls will have all their winter workouts scheduled so they'll still be in playing form

Fixing the coding here- what about Arlington?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More general softball question. Middle schooler who loves the sport, plays rec, rec+, all stars. Wants to play in high school in this area. Can anyone share success stories of making JV team as freshman w/o doing travel?

We're in MoCo and your kid would be absolutely fine. Maybe not Varsity as a freshman, but JV for sure.

What about in Arlington?

Agreed.

I think our JV team cut 3 girls last year. 2 of which had never played softball before and the other had played before but just was pretty unathletic.

If your kid is a good rec player, they should make JV just fine.

But since tryouts are early spring, maybe spend a little time doing a winter "Tune-up" to get her swing ready and her shoulder ready to throw. The travel girls will have all their winter workouts scheduled so they'll still be in playing form

Fixing the coding here- what about Arlington?

If you are asking about making the high school team at an Arlington school, you should start a new thread. This thread title is not necessarily going to draw attention from people who can answer your question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They were brand new this past year. Usually takes a few years. The 12u team was a C team but played in a B tournament or two I think. Both the 12u and 14u teams have losing records this Spring/Summer.

we are doing better and I bet we can bet ur team

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They were brand new this past year. Usually takes a few years. The 12u team was a C team but played in a B tournament or two I think. Both the 12u and 14u teams have losing records this Spring/Summer.

we are doing better and I bet we can bet ur team

My coach in high school had a saying you'd do well to heed: "Do your talking on the field."

And all the softball/baseball influencers would like to remind you that time spent on online message boards is time you aren't taking practice swings or learning to play catch (seriously, look up Morgan Stuart and Megan Rembielak going off about 14U girls who don't play serious catch recently).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No idea, but their baseball program is atrocious. In general, I'd think a baseball or softball program that never gets on a field, won't be very good.

I agree. St. James baseball is super bad in almost all aspects. Not sure why softball would be any better, but miracles are possible.