Are You On The Right Club Softball Team?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Club softball has grown tremendously throughout the last decade. It has become an essential part of girls reaching their goals to play college ball. Elite tournaments take place across the country, and players get top-notch coaching and college exposure. Club softball can provide athletes with these opportunities, but how do you know which club team is right for you?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's dive in and learn how to choose the right team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Location</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When determining if a team is right for you or your athlete, first evaluate its location. Where is the team based out of? Would it be an issue if you're expected to travel for practice or other team events? Would it be possible for you or your athlete to stay in that area for extended amounts of time? Would you prefer to play for a team within your area? All of these questions are important when deciding if a team's location will work for you. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cost </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Club teams can cost a pretty penny depending on who you play for. Once you make the team, the coach will usually inform you of the costs to play. This is otherwise known as "team fees." Most club teams ask you to pay a team fee to join the team. Yearly player fees can range from $500 to $5,000. Sometimes the team fees include travel, the cost for uniforms, and other required gear. It's important to evaluate these fees, and consider other costs like travel too. Then, decide whether or not this will work for you or your athlete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Travel</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some club teams travel further and more often than others. How far are you willing to travel for a tournament? If you prefer to stay local, that's an important factor. Playing tournaments close to home should influence your decision about whether a team is right for you. Most high-level tournaments like Scenic City, Colorado Sparkler, Top Gun, PGF Nationals, and Alliance Nationals are held nationwide. Participating in them will require traveling. You need to decide how important it is to play in tournaments like these. Are you willing to go the distance?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Practice</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Club softball focuses more on elite skill training and development than other teams like high school and rec ball. Practices may be longer and more in-depth with training to fine tune the team's abilities. One-on-one training sessions could also be expected . When deciding if a team is right for you, pay attention to their practice schedule. Is it important for you or your athlete to practice multiple times a week? Or is it okay to practice a few times per month? Are the practice plans accomplishing what you want? Are you learning and developing at these practices? Sometimes, if you play for a team that is not in your area, you may rarely get to practice with your team. It's crucial to figure out how important it is for you to practice with your team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Strength of Schedule</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A club team's strength of schedule will decide the level of competition and college exposure you get. Does your team play in elite-level tournaments? What college coaches are at these tournaments? Several tournaments are broken up into “A,” “B,” and “C” levels for each age group. The “A” teams are the highest level of competition. The “C” teams are playing to learn and develop, and the “B” teams are a diverse range of both. Pay attention to which level your team is playing in. If you dream of playing Division I college ball, join an "A" level club organization. If you want to join an "A" level team, remember, these teams will be more selective. If you don't make the team, you may need to develop more. If you don't want to play Division I, a "B" level team might be right for you. Consider joining a "C" level team if you're new to club ball. It's also a good option if you're just looking to have fun.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Connections</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When choosing the right club team, it's important to look at the connections your coaches have. Do they have relationships with college coaches? Specifically, can they help you get seen by the schools you're interested in? Part of a club coach's job is to help their players get exposure. Look at your organization's alumnae and see where they played college ball. Are you interested in going to any of those schools? Are they playing at the level you want to play at? Consider these questions when deciding if your coach can help you achieve your goals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->