HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT TRAVEL TEAM
As we near the start of spring season for softball, I noticed an uptick in social media posts this week, particularly on Facebook advertising travel team tryouts. There is no doubt that this is the time of year where a lot of families look for new teams for their child to play on. Maybe you had a bad experience on a team last year, maybe the team you used to play for split up, maybe you moved and need to find a new team. Whatever the case may be, there is a right team for everyone. But how do you find that team and what specifically do you need to look for? These are my Three Cs for Travel Teams:
COMPETITION. Is your child going to be challenged competitively? My parents were absolute rockstars at this. They never wanted me to be the best player on my team. I actually played 18u from the time I was 14 because of this. They put me in challenging situations on purpose so I would develop toughness and grit (two key qualities that all college coaches look for). You aren't going to develop as a competitor if you don't have competition, so make sure this new team takes you to new heights.
CONNECTIONS. Who will you be able to connect with if you play on this team? Will your network as a parent and player expand or retract? Coaches of your new team should have a reputation for expanding their networks and being willing to reach out should they need help. Do they want to run their organizations to prep for the future? Or are they just trophy hunting and not caring who they step on along the way? Relationships are everything. Look at the expanded circles of those already involved with the team/organization.
CULTURE. This may be the most important piece of all. What is the culture of the team and what is the culture they are trying to build. One key word all travel softball teams should have implemented into their culture is DEVELOPMENT. Are they focused on building better young women? Are they emphasizing selflessness, leadership, and good sportsmanship? Culture is very apparent right away and it can often be assessed based on a single interaction. Never compromise culture.
There are a ton of other factors to consider when choosing the right travel team for you. Compared to when I was starting my process, there are easily thousands of more teams available to players. This can be both a blessing and a curse. Assess where you are at and where you want to go. Remember competition, connections, and culture along the way; and you should put yourself in a great position to find a great fit.
If you have a tryout coming up: Good Luck!
