vcaldwell

I know there are a lot of travel ball people on here and I have a call for help. A softball organization I am involved with wants to/ needs to get 501c3 status so it can expand it's fund raising efforts. It has been recommended to me that we try to copy the 1023 wording of a softball club that has successfully applied for and gotten 501c3 status. We have the opportunity to receive $5000.00 a year from a family foundation but must be 501c3 to receive it. 5K would help about 50 young players who otherwise would not be able to afford playing. You can email me at [email protected] or post here. Any assistance on the wording would be very gratefully appreciated. Thanks, Vic Caldwell Victoria Girls Softball Association Texas Trouble Softball

This practice has been around for a while but seems to be getting worse the past couple of years. It shows a lack of integrity by coaches. The best thing to do is for TD's to make sure the word gets out about teams that screw their event by double dipping and playing elsewhere leaving a tournament in jeopardy. There have been a few times over the years that I have not signed up a team because they have a bad reputation. There are plenty of places to report these teams. Unfortunately it is one of those which came first the chicken or the egg situations. Did teams start double dipping because TD's were waiting too long before canceling an event thus leaving teams with no place to play OR did TD's start having to wait until the last minute before telling teams their event didn't make because of the double dipping teams pulling out at the last minute. Tough to say. Maybe SETX needs to start a section for TD's to report teams. VTD has it as part of the team's record. The rub of the matter is that there is always a TD willing to take these teams because they want the money.  Ultimately it hurts everyone. JMHO, Vic

Just got confirmation from TX ASA JO Commish. Region 7 qualifier has been split between Beaumont and San Antonio. Each one will have 3 berths to give. Southern Territory (6 berths) Houston June 11-13 Region 7 A (3 berths) - San Antonio  June 25-27  (18U State same weekend) Region 7 B (3 berths) - Beaumont July 16-18 Think ASA is trying to send a message?

I bring my team 5 hours to play at SOT tournaments. I have been to SOT events and seen plenty of coaches (20ish). There are many factors that determine coach attendance. The biggest is how many players contact coaches and ask them to come. College fall season is also a factor, especially this year with all of the rainouts. Let's compare Stars Over Texas (Ford Park) to other fall exposure events.... Ronald McDonald... 140+ teams, uses up to 5 complexes as far apart as 1 hour, coaches rarely leave main venue in Cypress, half the teams are LUCKY to see a single game in Cypress unless you are one of the TOP Houston teams or from out of state, good luck getting a list of confirmed coaches Elite Diamond Showcase (Plano, Oct) ... 140+ teams, out of town teams must book hotels through tournament at inflated prices, uses 4 complexes, few if any coaches leave Heritage yards, cost can be as much as $500 + umps, many teams don't see Heritage Yards and if they do they play late Sunday after coaches have left (this is so they can get more gate fees), wide variety of coaches but if players haven't done their work good luck getting them to leave Heritage,  good luck getting a list of confirmed coaches NRGSL .... good fields, close together, limited to 48 teams, decent regional college turnout (similar to SOT), good luck getting a list of confirmed coaches Elite Showcase (Nov)... smaller version of Oct showcase, after D1 observation date so only D2, D3, NAIA (few), JC; better chance of playing at main complex, weather can be a major issue, cost, hotels the same as Oct event,  good luck getting a list of confirmed coaches SOT events..... played at one complex, no mandatory hotel (they actually bust their butt's to help teams find rooms), typically good regional coach attendance, I have always been able to get a list of expected coaches just by asking, they work with you on scheduling, [b]offer scholarships to players who attend their events[/b] (no one else does) There are other smaller showcases but these are the main fall events. Impact Slugger and Glory events in the summer are small and tend to be selective. In my experience both have been hit and miss on coach attendance. If more teams supported SOT and more players did their work I think more coaches would attend. JMHO, Vic

[quote name="coxjj" post="675040" timestamp="1255549636"] From what I read, here are the 2010 Gold Qualifiers: * June 11-13, Southern Territory, Houston (6 berths) * June 18-20, Southern Territory, Lakeland, FL (6 berths) * June 25-27, Region 7, San Antonio (3 berths) * July 16-18, Region 7, Beaumont (3 berths) [/quote] Where are reading that San Antonio is hosting a Region 7 qualifier? Where did you hear it?