Pastime is the only tournament organzation that i would still use, they charge less than others, they update thier webiste so all can see whats going on if it rains and they still supply balls and there are no on site gate fees! Local tourneys put on by the Stix, Dbat, Tigers, Patriots or others around DFW you can't go wrong. If you want to be seen by scouts and college coaches play in these tournaments.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. This past summer my son who is sign to play D1 ball in the state of Texas was looking for a team to play for. I specifically told him that I was not going to pay for any team that did alot of travelling and that had a high organizational fee. He found a team that did one out of town trip which which was very close to the DFW area. After years of paying a ton of money and the fact that he was signed I refused to pay a king's ransom for him to play baseball. His team played all of the top team so he got his work in and at bats to prepare him for college. He and his team mates also had time to work a job, take a class or go on a much needed non baseball vacation.
I have been saying for years that the cost of youth sports yes most youth sports is taking the dream away from so many kids who wants to play the game. If a child is not BLESSED to have parents who can afford to pay the cost and have the job flexibility to support their kid than that kid's chances of competing are significantly reduced. On one hand be thankful that you fall in that shrinking class of middle america that can still make provide their kid this great opportunity to play baseball and more importantly teach their kid to pursue their dream.
As a native of a cold weather state I could never understand why folks in this part of Texas need to do any kind of travel except maybe a customary one trip a season to reward the kids for a job well done and to create bonding and lasting memories. This state with California, Florida and a few other southeastern states should very rarely have to travel. I really do hope that there is a way to lessen the cost for families so that all kids who want to play at a high level are given the opportunity. It is ashame that some of the opportunities are not always going to the most talented but to the kids with the most resources. Hope that folks such as Lynne and other well meaning folks can figure a way to cut some of the costs and start a grassroots movement for teams in the DFW area to do most of their playing locally and encourage the scouts to come to this area. There are just so many college opportunities in the state of Texas. I am done and I am moving on but my prayers are with you parents still in the game, no pun intended.
I have been saying for years that the cost of youth sports yes most youth sports is taking the dream away from so many kids who wants to play the game. If a child is not BLESSED to have parents who can afford to pay the cost and have the job flexibility to support their kid than that kid's chances of competing are significantly reduced. On one hand be thankful that you fall in that shrinking class of middle america that can still make provide their kid this great opportunity to play baseball and more importantly teach their kid to pursue their dream.
As a native of a cold weather state I could never understand why folks in this part of Texas need to do any kind of travel except maybe a customary one trip a season to reward the kids for a job well done and to create bonding and lasting memories. This state with California, Florida and a few other southeastern states should very rarely have to travel. I really do hope that there is a way to lessen the cost for families so that all kids who want to play at a high level are given the opportunity. It is ashame that some of the opportunities are not always going to the most talented but to the kids with the most resources. Hope that folks such as Lynne and other well meaning folks can figure a way to cut some of the costs and start a grassroots movement for teams in the DFW area to do most of their playing locally and encourage the scouts to come to this area. There are just so many college opportunities in the state of Texas. I am done and I am moving on but my prayers are with you parents still in the game, no pun intended.
quote:Originally posted by Dallas D'backs:
$2-$3 thousand in org fees for the Summer?
Yes. A little over two for summer, about 800 for fall. 3 thou for the year-for one kid, not including uniforms, travel, etc.
Most are in the same vicinity, true? I'm done bankrupting myself and living off pb&j to afford it.
Our fall and summer fees for 2012 total to $1850. This is less than last year. This includes uniforms. The only outside cost would be personal players items such as cleats, gloves, bats. Parents are responsible for travel, however, we don't do much of that.
We play BBI. We play all the "big" organizations. We play AABC qualifiers and state tourneys. This is the first summer we didn't put a team in the regional.
We play BBI. We play all the "big" organizations. We play AABC qualifiers and state tourneys. This is the first summer we didn't put a team in the regional.
Patience!!! It's coming. I'm just waiting for Pick Johnson's approval.
I can tell you guys this. I won't be using Diamond King tournaments ever again! They have been really bad in each of the tournaments we have been in with them. Got a kid hurt today because he stepped in a pothole! Awful fields, awful organization. There was supposed to be a
Single elimination bracket tournament on Sunday and there is only a one and done. One of my teams was scheduled to play at 9am Saturday and then again at 8:15pm Saturday.
A buddy of mine that coaches a select team out of Ok City had a 9am game Thursday and they go there and the venue had no clue there were even games to be played there. The next game they had scheduled at 9am Friday, umpires never showed and the coaches had to call balls and strikes from behind the mound. The field in Navasota they used was 280 down the lines and 310 in center!
We will not be traveling near as much next year to try and save on cost! Not worth coming and spending all this money I play on recreational fields and then not get bracket play when it was advertised. Besides, most of the scouts come when I call them and tell them about a kid anyways.
Single elimination bracket tournament on Sunday and there is only a one and done. One of my teams was scheduled to play at 9am Saturday and then again at 8:15pm Saturday.
A buddy of mine that coaches a select team out of Ok City had a 9am game Thursday and they go there and the venue had no clue there were even games to be played there. The next game they had scheduled at 9am Friday, umpires never showed and the coaches had to call balls and strikes from behind the mound. The field in Navasota they used was 280 down the lines and 310 in center!
We will not be traveling near as much next year to try and save on cost! Not worth coming and spending all this money I play on recreational fields and then not get bracket play when it was advertised. Besides, most of the scouts come when I call them and tell them about a kid anyways.
Diappointed in Diamond King as well. We signed up for the showcase at A&M. A&M had their own camp going and knew nothing about a DK showcase. Then our fields got changed later that day because of field conditions.
Very poor showing for DK at A&M.
First time to go to a DK event and maybe the last. Also no way to speak witha DK official or event manager.
Very poor showing for DK at A&M.
First time to go to a DK event and maybe the last. Also no way to speak witha DK official or event manager.
The guy that runs this organization is a joke. Initial email back in January from this organization. Stated, they will only be taking 20 teams in, both 16U and 18U. First 20 paid got a guaranteed game at A & M. He took 32 18U teams, and 30 16U teams.
SHOW ME THE MONEY,,, baby.
The director, also brings down his own umpires from Oklahoma, pays them only $45 per game, does not cover any of their expenses, for room, food or, gas.
When we asked him in late February, he stated that there was not near 20 registered yet, and, that we would receive a game at A & M. Sent in a check the next day, for TCU and A & M. We received our game at TCU. Not scheduled at A & M, and what's worse, the director would not respond to email or voicemail.
To many other good affiliations, that "do what they say". To be messing with this clown.
Dump diamond king and best baseball. Play and stay local.
we not only didnt play at a&m all our games were over a hour from collage station on 1a fields and city parks with short fences.
Im hoping the big orgs can come togeather and put on locals tounaments in DFW all summer.
Im hoping the big orgs can come togeather and put on locals tounaments in DFW all summer.
We played all younger teams, which was a disappointment, but we did play at Texas A&M and some other nice fields, (although they were far from College Station such as Frankling High School and Fireman's Park in Brenham).
The tournament they put on in Waco had us at horrible venues and it is my understading Baylor was unaware there was a tournament until the last minute.
The tournament they put on in Waco had us at horrible venues and it is my understading Baylor was unaware there was a tournament until the last minute.
Our organization played in the OSU, OU, Rice and TCU tournaments. Don't think we will be back. No communication from director, arrogant when able to get ahold of him and the travel between games is crazy.
How about Diamond Kings, LOL. He's at it again. This time advertising OU Showcase. Only problem, he failed to tell any of the teams that registered, about the quite period. Now none of the teams, get to play at OU.
Just got of the phone with a local D-1 Coach. In reality, games could be played at OU, during the quite period.
Don't have a dog, in this hunt. Already been there
Just got of the phone with a local D-1 Coach. In reality, games could be played at OU, during the quite period.
Don't have a dog, in this hunt. Already been there
I did not read every post on this topic, but there is a difference in tourneys and agendas of each and every program.
We did try and get all the annually-strong programs into one league to where we could beat up on each other during the week - it was called BBI Premier. I can't remember what year we started it, but it consisted of DBAT, Tigers, Cats, Blackhawks, Patriots, Panthers, Lake Highlands Wildcats, etc. The only perennial power that wasn't in it was the Dallas Mustangs, they played in Lone Star. There were probably other programs but I can't remember. KCR might know he has a much better memory than I do.
It was a great league and we had TCU, LaGrave, UTA, etc for our fields. Every year we existed we had one team, if not two, make it to the Connie Mack World Series. It was great.
But as you would expect, things happened between program managers. Egos, backstabbing, etc. We all couldn't stay focused on the big picture.
And as far as tournaments and where you play etc... I can tell you that our 17u team plays in a Houston Invitational annually, where specific teams are invited by the college coaches themselves, and we play 5-6 games - and every game is at Rice, UH, and San Jacinto - but they are the coaches inviting us. Cost is only about $675
On the flip sidethere is a great 17u Showcase in event in La Grange, TX (if you know where that is) and they use Columbus HS and Schulenburg HS as well and we are in the middle of nowhere, TX and there is always 75ish college coaches there. We handed out 46 rosters at that event just this past summer.
Its not necessarily the venue by any means... scouts follow the programs, not the venue.
Just my opinion though.
A summer league of all quality programs would be great, just not going to happen IMHO
We did try and get all the annually-strong programs into one league to where we could beat up on each other during the week - it was called BBI Premier. I can't remember what year we started it, but it consisted of DBAT, Tigers, Cats, Blackhawks, Patriots, Panthers, Lake Highlands Wildcats, etc. The only perennial power that wasn't in it was the Dallas Mustangs, they played in Lone Star. There were probably other programs but I can't remember. KCR might know he has a much better memory than I do.
It was a great league and we had TCU, LaGrave, UTA, etc for our fields. Every year we existed we had one team, if not two, make it to the Connie Mack World Series. It was great.
But as you would expect, things happened between program managers. Egos, backstabbing, etc. We all couldn't stay focused on the big picture.
And as far as tournaments and where you play etc... I can tell you that our 17u team plays in a Houston Invitational annually, where specific teams are invited by the college coaches themselves, and we play 5-6 games - and every game is at Rice, UH, and San Jacinto - but they are the coaches inviting us. Cost is only about $675
On the flip sidethere is a great 17u Showcase in event in La Grange, TX (if you know where that is) and they use Columbus HS and Schulenburg HS as well and we are in the middle of nowhere, TX and there is always 75ish college coaches there. We handed out 46 rosters at that event just this past summer.
Its not necessarily the venue by any means... scouts follow the programs, not the venue.
Just my opinion though.
A summer league of all quality programs would be great, just not going to happen IMHO
It can happen. I need those programs who are serious to contact me. I have been in touch with some of the major college coaches and they are for it as well. They are now running it through compliance to make sure that we do not compromise any thing with the NCAA. If your program is serious about this for next summer, please email me at LynnVanCBM@aol.com.
This has been discussed with 3 Big 12 Schools and another D1 School in Houston. As long as we can conform with the NCAA, I think it will happen.
The League deal is easy! There should be no excuses on this. Just make it happen. We played BBI with Richard last summer and it was perfect for us. I would like to even expand the league schedule and play more week night games.
This has been discussed with 3 Big 12 Schools and another D1 School in Houston. As long as we can conform with the NCAA, I think it will happen.
The League deal is easy! There should be no excuses on this. Just make it happen. We played BBI with Richard last summer and it was perfect for us. I would like to even expand the league schedule and play more week night games.
Top programs, take notice of the last two posts. The demise of the mega clubs is near if it takes hold. Mark it down.
I love seeing this. Vanlandigham keep up the good work. It is my belief that if man can conceive it he can achieve it. Don't let the doubters and haters stop you from achieving this goal. The next step is to once again make baseball affordable for all kids. Oh by the way Vanlandigham tell your son that I am so very proud of him and wish him the best in all of his future endeavors.
Hey wait a minute.....I started this post how about a little credit here?? Just kidding, I no longer have a dog in the hunt but this is badly needed. Quality affordable baseball, what a novel idea!