I’m new to the softball world and have a younger player, but I find this conversation interesting as I’ve noticed some of these dynamics within our organization. There are a few things I’d like to get others’ thoughts on:

1.Consistency vs. Location of Training:
While I understand the importance of consistent training as players get older, does it really matter where that training happens, as long as it’s being done effectively? Based on some of these posts, it feels like the organization has a “our way or the highway” approach, which would seem frustrating. There are plenty of qualified coaches out there, so telling players and families that they must train here and nowhere else feels odd and, frankly, self-serving. Softball is about so much more than just hitting and pitching—there are many aspects of the game to develop.

2.Tough Competition and College Exposure:
Regarding the comments about playing tough competition and college coaches watching—doesn’t a player’s on-field performance matter the most? If players are competing against peers who may also play in college, how they perform in those situations should carry significant weight. If a team struggles against peers and individual stats (e.g., batting average) reflect that, it seems to say a lot. Am I missing something here?

To me, what a player does in a cage against front toss or a pitching machine shouldn’t hold as much weight as what they do on the field in live competition. Performing in real-game scenarios should be what truly matters, right? Or is there another perspective I’m not considering?