Pantherfan
Senior Member
Registered: 12/14/05
Posts: 762
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| #26 |
Rising Stars is an ideal showcase, but last time I checked this time of the year school was in session, and its hard to convince a group of parents to head south 15 + hours away, especially with the girls having volleyball, soccer, and football seasons going on currently. Plus how many PA girls want to go that far away for college?
Kent State is ideal because of the numerous coaches that are there within 3 or so hours. Just about all the schools are represented there, plus numerous others. Let's be honest, a lot of coaches can look at a player and can make a pretty fair judgment in a short amount of time if a player has what they are looking for. Most coaches are looking for "athletes", if they watch a kid usually for 10 - 15 minutes closely they can get a pretty good feel if they are "athletic". If you talk to them they will usually tell you rather quickly if the player is someone they are interested in.
Yes, the grades are indeed the most important part for all student athletes of any sport. Yes, the format indoors isn't ideal, but for those coaches still looking for that last '10 recruit or getting their first peaks at their '11 recruits I feel its very beneficial for the girls.
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DStar1
Junior Member
Registered: 08/24/06
Posts: 189
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| #27 |
My bad darkhorse sorry I missed your point. When I read "I think the Queen of Diamonds is a lot of hype and largely a waste of effort". I thought you were talking it down. Your new post of "I bought into the Kent thing a few years ago, too" doesn't sound like you are talking down to anyone.
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DarkHorse
Newbie
Registered: 08/03/06
Posts: 48
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| #28 |
DStar, the apologies are all mine. I don't want to rain on anyone's event. That wasn't the point. The event just wasn't what I thought it would be, and I really thought my kids (I took over half of my team) all showed themselves to be elite players on that day. Again, I just point to DIVA's comments as they represent my thoughts, too. I agree with Panther and the idea that Rising Stars takes place in November may be a turn off to some. I just believe that if you have a talented kid or have a team with a great deal of talent, and the idea is to play softball in college, it's the optimum, that's all. You'd be making a sacrifice of a few school days, to be sure, but seeing all of the big schools there is pretty mind blowing. It's not perfect either, like Pennsbury's not perfect, but I guess we're talking apples and oranges.
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LaughingBoy
Junior Member
Registered: 04/23/08
Posts: 122
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| #29 |
You can sing the praises of the Rising Stars all you want. I've been there twice and the only thing the second trip confirmed was there is still a huge bias against Northern teams.
Diva is right. If your daughter wants to play college ball, she needs to select the colleges she's interested in. Contact the coaches at those schools, attend some of their camps, send them her video. She has to get herself in front of them. She has to sell herself.
Then of course, it doesn't hurt for her to play a very challenging club schedule during the summer.
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DarkHorse
Newbie
Registered: 08/03/06
Posts: 48
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| #30 |
Like Pennsbury, there is a field consideration I don't like much either. And I have heard a number of coaches lament the northern school bias. Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, it exists in almost all of D1. Just look at the rosters of Pitt and Penn State.
My point was that you were playing "real" ball outdoors in front of what some would argue are the elite coaches. Pennsbury, Colorado, Carolina Firecracker and ASA Nationals--this is where you find these folks.
I agree about the travel tournament schedule 100%. I also believe that showcases are often money makers and some consideration and research needs to be done.
Most players cannot count on their travel or school ball coaches to do their recruiting for them. LB is right, of course. Contact the coaches and make yourself a tape. Buy Cathy Aradi's book about the process, it's priceless. Choose wisely where showcases are concerned, no matter what time of year they are held in.
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WPGems
Newbie
Registered: 08/06/09
Posts: 3
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| #31 |
Congratulations to Nina Italiano from the West Penn Gems 16u who was accepted as a Pitcher to the QDSN at Kent State University. |
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