16U Showcase - The New Reality?
Last year, I did a talk in Chattanooga and got to know the folks of the Fury Fastpitch Organization - a first class travel program.
Earlier this week, I was talking to Jeremy Higdon, their Associate Director and they take great pride in helping all of the kids in their organization find the right college program for them.
He was telling me that it Seems like all you ever hear from college coaches is "I don't have any money left for 2010s. We're looking at '11s and '12s now."
Over the last years, the "early verbal" has become a big factor.
So, they decided to act on it and they creating a unique event - an exclusively 16U showcase tournament and skills combine.
This is in response to the impact of early verbal. They're keeping 18U players out of so that the younger, unsigned kids can shine.
They believe strongly that is where recruiting is going and wanted to offer this type of event.
I think this is a really interesting perspective and other college coaches over the last few years have mentionned the same thing to me.
Attending their event will certainly be a chance for you and your 16U to showcase your talent to numerous college coaches.
Here are some additional information about their unique event:
Name: Scenic City 16's - The Country's First Exclusively 16U Showcase Tournament and Skills combine
Date: June 4th-7th, 2009
Location: Warner Park, Chattanooga, TN
For who: Players no older than 16U age-eligible will be competing in this event, focusing on 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 graduates.
Details: Each team will play 6 games over 4 days and play everyday of the tournament.
In addition to the games, they will host a Skills Combine on Thursday morning, from 8am-12pm where they’ll measure, record, and post for College Coaches to see:
- Home to First
- Home to Home
- Vertical Leap
- Broad Jump
- Overhand Throw Velocity
- Pitchers Velocity
- Catchers Pop to Pop
23 Colleges and over 25 top travel teams have already confirmed their attendance.
For more information, you can visit:
or contact:
Jeremy Higdon
Director Scenic City 16’s
Jhigdon2003@yahoo.com
I can tell you that these guys are serious and excellent organizers. They are a serious and first-class organization and they know what they're doing.
I've had the pleasure to meet them.
This is probably bound to become a "not-to-miss" tournament over the next few years for 16U teams just like the Colorado Tournament.
Who loves ya? 
Marc Dagenais
"Your Softball Peak Performance Coach"
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Comments on 16U Showcase - The New Reality? »
I think it's great that they're doing it, but what a shame that kids have to commit so early these days to get an opportunity to play. Many of them don't really know where they want to go or what they want to study even when they're seniors, yet if they don't commit when they're sophomores or juniors they're left out in the cold.
It's bad (in my opinion) from the schools' standpoint too. Not everyone develops fully by the time they're 15 or 16. They miss out on all those kids who could do them some good but took a little longer to bake fully.
I wish the NCAA would restrict recruiting more. But if anything, it's going the other way.