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Talent

Posted by Wondering on January 30, 2025, 4:42 pm

This was mentioned in a reply in an earlier post, but I would like to hear what Gerry and Bill think about the talent dropoff since 2023, as it seems to be pretty obvious. The number of quality players playing on "Elite" teams seems to have dropped. The 2026 class and below appears to have another drop in talent and the number of overall players playing the game. Did Covid impact the game that much? Or has the growth of volleyball taken players away from the sport as well?

Re: Talent

Posted by MyThoughts on February 6, 2025, 1:17 pm, in reply to "Talent"

From what i see the talent is more spread out. Parents and players are becoming more educated with understanding you dont need to play for so and so to play at the next level. Their are multiple girls out there that cant start on their travel nor high school team and are still getting offers from D1 programs. Understanding your worth and what you want at the next level, you dont need to wear a special jersey to understand that. Their are girls wearing those special jerseys expecting to get those big schools phone calls, and settled on a non contender D1. They seem to think because they wear so and so they will get power 5. The transfer portal tells us different. At the end of the day, play where makes you happy. If you got talent and do research you will get offers.

Re: Talent

Posted by NoThought on February 6, 2025, 2:45 pm, in reply to "Re: Talent"

So you are saying that girls that don't start on their High School or travel team are actually good enough to play P4 softball. Thanks Coach Dad.

Re: Talent

Posted by Reread. on February 7, 2025, 10:27 am, in reply to "Re: Talent"

Or they wrote, girls that dont start on their HS or travel team are still getting D1 offers. Reading is a skill i guess..

Re: Talent

Posted by No Talent on February 8, 2025, 6:31 pm, in reply to "Re: Talent"

Sure they are

Re: Talent

Posted by @ wondering on February 6, 2025, 11:03 am, in reply to "Talent"

Yes Bill and Gerry please come on here and state how your players now and teams now aren’t as talented as in the past lol. Please take my opinion as fact and down grade your team and players on this site. Don’t be anonymous like us actually state your young players by name that work hard but aren’t as talented as past players

Re: Talent

Posted by gtq on February 6, 2025, 1:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Talent"

I only observe closely the players in my program and we have some classes that are stronger than others. I have no idea whether that reflects the national situation at all. The only national insight I get is, on occasion, a college coach might mention there isn't a lot of something in a certain class, but there is a lot of something in another class. My impression is that players in general continue to get better because so many of them are getting specialized training at a young age. So if I had to guess, I would say there has not been a talent drop off in the more recent graduating classes.

Re: Talent

Posted by @Wondering on February 3, 2025, 8:12 pm, in reply to "Talent"

Here's the rub. Nothing but 2025+ dads in this group. Yes, talent after 2023 dropped off. There simply isn't the same amount of talent anymore. I think with Covid too many girls stopped practicing or playing altogether. If anyone has watched 2021 through 2026 it's clear as day. I know, hard pill to swallow.

I'm not saying there isn't talent in those classes, just simply not as many. Most of the top talent in those classes would rank with mid level 2023- talent.

Re: Talent

Posted by @@Wondering on February 4, 2025, 7:57 am, in reply to "Re: Talent"

Again, what are you basing this on? Headcount of P4 recruits? National tournament finishes? I know at least one North Suburban parent that would disagree.

Re: Talent

Posted by Subjective on February 4, 2025, 6:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Talent"

He says because his eyes tell him. Same loser who is whining about the Chiefs winning.

Re: Talent

Posted by @Eagles Fan on February 6, 2025, 12:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Talent"

Tell me your daughter is a 2025 without telling me your daughter is a 2025.

Re: Talent

Posted by Tell on February 6, 2025, 2:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Talent"

The whole tell me without telling me thing is very played out and over

Re: Talent

Posted by @Wondering on February 3, 2025, 10:20 am, in reply to "Talent"

I'm not sure how you would judge a talent drop. Dropping against the rest of the country? Don't pass your eye test? Less getting recruited? What dropped?

Re: Talent

Posted by Nope on February 1, 2025, 1:07 pm, in reply to "Talent"

Just curious what makes you think there is a drop off in talent after the 2025 class?

What makes you think there was a drop off in talent since 2023? What is so obvious since 2023?

Re: Talent

Posted by Answer on February 1, 2025, 2:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Talent"

That’s when his daughter graduated HS. 😂

Re: Talent

Posted by @answer on February 2, 2025, 4:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Talent"

I think you are probably correct. It is such a dumb statement. Just trying to understand what the thought process was behind the statement/question.

Re: Talent

Posted by Boomalot on January 31, 2025, 7:25 pm, in reply to "Talent"

I suspect Bill and Gerry will not address your premise because it is ridiculous.
Just saying…

Re: Talent

Posted by Break it down on January 31, 2025, 2:49 pm, in reply to "Talent"

You got a lot of different ideas in this one post...

Talent drop off since 2023
Quality players on elite teams
Talent drop in 2026 class and younger
Drop in total participation

Only the fourth point could be answered with data (at least HS stats). But what is so obvious about perceived talent drop offs and how could that be with so much more training and year round play? Did every future softball dad just mis-sire-fire for a few years?

Re: Talent

Posted by NFHS on January 31, 2025, 2:44 pm, in reply to "Talent"

While we await our deities to descend from on high...

2023-2024 NFHS Participation Survey

Last seven years of IL fast pitch HIGH SCHOOL participation rates:

23/24 - 11,969
22/23 - 12,462
21/22 - 12,442
20/21 - (no data)
19/20 - (no data)
18/19 - 14,198
17/18 - 14,269

Compound annual growth rate of -2.9%

Total (national) HIGH SCHOOL fast pitch participation in 17/18 was 367,861. Total in 23/24 was 345,451. Compound annual growth rate of -1.0%.

(Interestingly, D1 softball teams have increased from 245 in 2000 to 307 in 2024. ESPN's softball viewership was up 25% last year from 10 years prior.)

This doesn't tell you about "quality players" but it does speak to less players in total at the high school level. Whether you think the top players are disproportionally coming to, staying in or leaving from CLUB softball is probably impossible to prove... but discussion boards aren't built for science and fact!

Re: Talent

Posted by Softball Dad on January 31, 2025, 1:37 pm, in reply to "Talent"

How can you say there is a drop in talent? There are so many new teams being created each year. I think the talent is more spread out.
Plus...as the younger siblings of older (elite) players come through...parents and families are just tired of organization Bulls***.

So....the old teams might not fit the new agenda, or just too much money for the lack of return.

What does a team have to offer besides a name on the chest? Talent will go were the opportunities exist, not "favoritism."

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