Say it isn't so...No NPF champion 2012

(Source)

NPF commissioner Cheri Kempf said the forecast for the rest of the night showed the rain would not let up; any break likely to be barely long enough to get the field ready to begin playing again. She also said there was no contingency plan in place, nothing in the bylaws, to govern playing out the remainder of the championship series on Monday. (source)

This has to be frustrating  to the women who have all agreed to give up their spots on the national teams and focus on playing in the NPF to strengthen it and make it a 'real' professional league. But as of last night the 2012 season ended not as the players had dreamed it would, but as an ugly nightmare that shows - while the players are doing everything they can to improve the league, it will be a second rate entity until the owners, commissioner, and media really get behind the women's pro-fastpitch softball league. In other words so many have dropped the ball on what could have been a real footing into creating a recognizable pro league.

Fingers are pointing from lots of locations, you can not blame mother nature here, the lack of real planning and to the fact that the Bandits were losing their ace pitcher (and five others) who are going back to Japan to continue her pro career for the rest of this season.

"I can say that the championship wasn't complete, and it wasn't complete because Chicago stated it had six players that could not finish," Kempf said. "So therefore, I don't feel like that the right thing to do is to award the championship on one game."

My thoughts are this: While the players should all be proud to make it to the championship. I can not believe a league who plays outdoors, would put such a tight schedule together for a play-off schedule being that they play outdoors, and have players who have other commitments lined up. I'm not sure the powers that be have a clue of whats going on. This could do some real damage to the ongoing and continued growth of the sport.

I wanted to see my favorite Megan Willis get her championship but good luck the rest of the year ladies and see you next season...hopefully!

Making the selection!

A quick update on whats new in OUR softball world. My daughter tried out for ONE team! Yes I said it, one team. To her it was a perfect fit. By the time we got in the car and got food, she made her choice. That is even after I set up our try-out schedule (here is the lay out). There were several teams that requested her to come to the try-outs prior to us going there. She had plenty of options. So why this team?

To her, this team just felt right. The coaching staff all knew my daughter prior to her coming due in part to an email I sent them. The try-out was fast moving but there was time to talk, and all the girls on the team were socializing with the people trying out. She said "You could tell the team was close and that they cared about each other, on top of that they were really welcoming".

Since she has picked the team, her best softball friend also got an offer and took the position on that team. We have had a team meet and greet and are two practices in.

Two very solid and learning based practices, where there was actually teaching and instruction going on. I was very shocked and impressed about how it has gone. My main goal for this year was instruction and exposure on a team that works hard, has a good person as a coach and learns week to week. After a few short weeks, I'm sure my daughter made the correct choice....

And I'm a proud dad!

Softball at the Olympics in 2020? There is hope!

As the London 2012 Olympics wind down, I can say I have really enjoyed these games. The American women have been exciting, amazing and tough as nails. Too bad all of our best don't get to enjoy these games. I'm truly missing softball at these games.

During these games we got to witness the American women, win a team gold medal in Gymnastics with brilliant performance’s. The US women also SHATTERED the WR in the 4x100 relay, running clean, fast and as loving teammates. Let’s not forget we got to witness probably the greatest women’s soccer (football) game ever played, regardless of what you think on the officiating. The game was nail biting and just fun to watch. If you ever want a person you daughter to model herself after, I'd look no further than Alex Morgan. What a solid amazing player that NEVER gives up. She puts pressure on opposing players like no other women I've ever seen play.

Again, how great would it be for our greatest US women to be playing Softball at these games? I really think it would have even made these games better.


Lets look at why they aren't there really fast, what they are doing to get back in . Why they left- an IOC vote of 52 - 52 was the vote for a game most of the IOC members thought was "women's baseball". There was one further member that didn't vote, but I'll go into that later. It needed 53 votes to keep it in.

Had the vote been taken 4 days later, many think that Softball would still be in. There was tons of thoughts that the US was too dominate. The US lost the last game of the Bejing Olympics to Japan. After that game, many of the NO votes stated they seen and knew that it was no longer only "female baseball".

Only four teams ever won a medal in the sport during its very brief time leading those no votes to see it as a 'non world' game. Which is very far from the truth.

Let’s be truthful, the IOC is about money. Host countries really complained that making TWO separate stadiums was very costly. Both China's and Greece's softball stadiums cost over $100 million and sit empty. No, this isn't proper planning on these countries part but I can understand why this could cause issues. A single sport venue that costs this much is hard to justify.

On the way back?

They are making strides, one key is that now Baseball and Softball have teamed up to show the IOC members what they can offer. They have also said they will fall under the same banner making it a single sport and shortening the cost to a host country.

ESPN reports they are going against sports for the 2020 games such as Squash, Sport climing and board sports. Aug. 1st there is a meeting that might help make this easier, they are meeting with Major League Baseball to propose them to find a way to compete. If they come about it will surely make this easier. Japan, Australia and Korea have already committed the best players for the Olympics if they get back in.

The ISF has had a strong presence and worked hard at swaying the IOC, by 2013 there should be a solid vote to see which sports will get in. More news then I guess. So until then we are stuck wondering why a generation of young ladies get their Olympic dreams smashed.

The ISF has also been masterful at doing clinics and setting up coaches to team the game of Softball in other areas of the world.

Here is a link from the ISF that shows just how much media coverage that has been going on over the course of the London games that shows there is very much a want for this sport to come back. As the report from the New Zeeland paper points out, only a handful of team sports can draw as much international representation.

I'm still saddened that Softball is gone. I wish I could do more to help get it reinstated. I wish so many didn't only realize it was gone only while the Olympic Games are going on! There is alot I wish for here, but mostly I wish the IOC members knew more or lots about the sports they decide to rip dreams away from athletes who work so hard to grow a sport on the grandest stage.

London really has been a memorable Olympic games but most memorable for me will be the fact that for the 1st time in recent memory I didn't get to see Softball.

Let’s change that for next time.

On a side note, if you go to the ISF home page there is a spot you can got to and donate to further their cause. Don't forget to like their Facebook page too.

Try out season is here!

What are your plans for tryouts?

It creeped up faster than I thought it would. The tournament season was over in what felt like a blink of an eye. But we didn't let what our plans were wait til the last minute.

Today's post is about what you can do to find the right fit if you plan on switching teams. It is never easy looking for a new team but having options and ideas of what you are looking for before roll into the tryout never hurts.

The easiest thing for what to do for next season is stay put or move up with in the same organization. That makes life easy but for many that isn't how this new season will start. There are a variety of reasons to find a new team, I won't go into them here, because if you are looking for a team you know why, you don't need me to tell you W H Y!

Due to trial and error and doing some research here is what I have come up with to help your daughter and your family find the right team:

Have an idea of what teams you want to play for. (be realistic on the level you play and where they play) Do you want a relaxed team, a state champ winner or do you want to see Nationals?

BIG TIP TIME: If you want to play college ball in your home state, do not get on a team that is doing tournaments out of state every weekend, or playing at the national level. This will not get you noticed by the very college you want to attract!

• Look for teams that you played where the coach impressed you while playing them.
• Have an idea where you want to go and don't just obtain info from a web site, we all know websites have the BEST info on a team and not the whole story.
• Find out where the try-outs are.
• You can find this info via news paper, local forums or word of mouth. I went here and here!

This is where the choice is made and the best info will be obtained -  Email the coach or contact on the try-out ad. Ask the question you need answered. IE...how often do you practice, what is the budget, how many tournaments are you playing and what kind?

This is the time to add any good solid info you have on the player. Like a recruitment video and what her plans are for the future. I'd stay away from stats or making comments about playing time.

If they do not have the time to answer you, don't answer you, or give you info totally different than what you asked for, this tells you alot about the coach or organization. I'd give them one more chance because emails always get lost or sent to junk. If you get no response...I'd start looking else where.

Communication is the key to this search, why? You get to learn a few things by the response: If the coach is going to be there again, how happy they are to be in the position they are in, how interested they are in you, and just what kind of organization you are going to be headed to or looking at.

To some extent on a much smaller scale, you are doing the steps you would take to find the correct college to attend, you are going to be with this coach and these players/parents for at the very least, the next year.

At tryouts, look at how the girls on the team interact. Are they happy, having fun and look like they like each other? Do they pout, move slow and yell at one another?
How is the coach? well organized? Do the people there react well to his direction?

This is the time to talk to them and their assistants, do they seem to be on the same page? Do you get a good feeling about them?  Do they have the time for you while there?

Let your gut reaction guide you here. This is your 1st impression of the team and the coach that will be setting an example for a team of 12+ young ladies and handling upwards of thousands of dollars.

TL; DR -
Find your team.
Ask your questions!
Communicate further?
Plan the tryout course!
Go to tryouts.
Have fun next year!