In the first of an ongoing series, we look at club softball programs that are “franchising,” meaning taking their name and brand across city and even state lines.  We also look at GoldFastpitch.com and how that got started, update some verbals and expand our Fall Event list.  Also, be sure to check in tomorrow morning as we have a feature story called “The 10 Most Influential People in Softball.”  That. will. be. fun. 

 

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FRANCHISING (PART I):  BUILDING THE FIRECRACKER BRAND

*** If you’ve been around club softball for any amount of time, you’ve heard of the “Firecrackers.”  And the name usually that follows that is Tony Rico, who has helped lead his Gold team to 14 championships over the last five years.

What you may not know is that there are dozens of Firecracker teams that have spun off the one Rico runs out of Huntington Beach, Calif.   You’ll see the Firecrackers name on softball jerseys ranging from Texas to Arizona to Northern Calif.

And the brand of what the organization represents is why, according to Rico, the franchising of the Firecrackers continues to expand.

“I’m not seeking expansion,” Rico explains, “Expansion has sought me.”

The reason they become Firecracker teams, he says, is because they believe in the mission statement he espouses.

“Our mission is to promote the athletes’ true value.” Rico continues.  “We’re sending too many players to college unprepared.”

“My mission is also to improve the function—the efficiency—of the ballplayers.  Most of what kids are hearing is what they’re doing wrong.  We’re creating, in many cases, a sense of extreme doubt.  Our approach is to help them stay calm and make adjustments.”

The coach, who was a physical therapist for seven years and knows physiology as well as psychology, leans forward in his chair to demonstrate his point.

“I’ll prove it to you,” he begins.  “Ask a girl to stand in front of a mirror with a bat. When they look at themselves, they become self-conscious.  They’ll criticize themselves and their shoulders will slump.  We all tend to have a very self-conscious image which comes about because we’re told when something is wrong, but usually not told when we’re doing something right.”

“We’re developing the positive image, how the athletes look at themselves—that’s what I’m focusing on right now.”

Walk into Coach Rico’s workout facility and you’ll see a slogan that’s predominant—on banners as well as t-shirts: “Play with honor.”

That emphasis is what the SoCal native calls his “brand,” instilling positive self-awareness so that the girl is happy within herself and sees herself as attractive not just in a physical sense, but emotionally too.

Though it may seem counter-intuitive to some, especially gung ho fathers looking for any competitive hitting or pitching insight, Rico gently encourages parents to not interfere so he can build up his athletes in ways that is more subtle.  In reality, he’s shaping young girls to become winning with the idea that inner happiness with translate to outer success in life, including on the softball field.

The organization began in 1992 and Rico took over in 2003.  A few years later he won an ASA 18U Gold National Championship and put himself and his team on the club softball map.

That success has been noticed from coaches all across the country and, within the last two years especially, dozens of teams reached out to see if they can carry the name and the message to their athletes.

But if you want to become a Firecracker team, you better not focus solely on play between the lines.

“I’ll get a call from someone saying, ‘We want to help our kids get into good college softball programs,’ and I’ll say, ‘Thanks, but no thanks,’” Rico states.

“On the other hand, when the conversation starts with, ‘I’ve seen your team and like their behavior and posture and I want our girls to be part of it,’” then we can talk.”

“I’m looking for people who want to be educators, who’ll stand next to me and work to develop a stronger young woman so that, when the time comes—and it will come—they can successfully carry themselves under duress.”

Rico feels he has a business template for success and is candid when he says he has no problem with his organization or others expanding.

“Softball is a business and people need to act professionally, but there’s no reason people who are helping develop the sport and develop young women shouldn’t be compensated.  I think what Mike Stith is doing with Mizuno is great, it gets their players equipment and it helps his training business.”

Rico, who has produced dozens of elite college and national team players like Ashley Hansen and Lauren Chamberlain, then finishes saying, “It’s about time guys with legitimate brands do what the food industry does—take a successful model and replicate it so everyone wins.”

“Of course everyone has different incentives, but if the message is positive to the kids, then by all means good for those creating a brand that is successful.”

Hear Tony Rico talk about softball’s exciting feature:

 

 

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GOLDFASTPITCH.COM: THE MAN BEHIND IT

*** Last week we went behind the computer screen and got to know the story of John Cookson, the coach and father behind the success of HeyBucket.com.

Today, we look at another successful website and info provider—Kevin Helmick.

Like many in softball he got involved in the sport when his daughter starting playing.  A middle school teacher in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Kevin says the creation of GoldFastpitch.com started when his daughter, Natalie, started playing.

“I spent hours combing the web looking for recruiting resources,” he remembers. “As I accumulated info, I decided to create GoldFastpitch.com as a tool for

parents and players to help them throughout the process.”

Helmick explains that its his inquisitive nature that drove him to develop the website a few years ago.

“I am a softball dad,” he starts. “I’m the guy who, when my daughter plays in an event, I want to know what field every team is playing on and what time.   I want to know which travel team has added new faces and I want to know where the girls came from!”

“As my daughter progressed from playing at a local level to a regional level and then quickly a national level, I wanted to know who made a commitment to which college softball program.  When not at an event, I comb cyberspace for information about teams, both travel and collegiate.”

The parent and teacher says it was that thirst for knowledge about anything fastpitch led to GoldFastPitch.com being started in 2011.

“ It was launched in 2011 to fill a void of not having that ‘one stop shop’ website that had resources I was looking for when it came to softball recruiting.   I realized quickly that the information was out there but it was splattered throughout lots of locations on the web and on different platforms.  I felt there was a real need to try to pull it all together on one website.  That’s how GoldFastpitch.com came to be.”

 

*** Two person notes (from Brentt):

— Kevin and Natalie created a site called NataliesStory.com to chronicle her recovery through Tommy John surgery and the slow, tedious process of getting back into shape.  It’s compelling stuff and, maybe it’s the teacher DNA, but Natalie is one interesting writer!

— As for the site itself, it’s one of my softball favorites not just for the verbals, which Kevin does an excellent job of updating, but for the great resources he has, especially (for me) the camp and college directory.

Believe me, as one who works in the media business, that took a ton of man hours to research and build so appreciate all the hard work he did!

 

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RECRUITING NEWS:

*** Thanks for those who follow the verbal list—which was updated this morning—and provide feedback… (would you believe I woke up at 1 am and couldn’t get back to sleep so I added the new info from 3-5 am?  Yea, I know… wah, wah)

— Appreciate Doug Patterson of the AZ Lil Saints Gold providing the following:

“Just an update for your master verbal list.  Morgan Nelson, a 2015 Stanford commit, is now with Lil Saints Gold.”

“She joins Tamara Statman (Arizona) and Tory Bigelow (Cal) as 2015 commits.  We should have additional commits coming in the next few weeks.”

— Another update: changed Madi Nickles to Madilyn Nickles (2016, UCLA) and made her position P/UT (check in tomorrow for a nice profile on Madilyn, who goes by “Bubba!”

— In case you missed it, there have been a handful of 2014 decommits recently… here’s the five we’ve come across:

* C/3B Miranda Grotenhuis, Texas Impact Gold (now Louisiana-Lafayette… was Alabama)
* C Carlee Wallace, So Cal A’s (now Auburn… was ASU)
* OF Lea Foerster, Beverly Bandits (now Michigan state… was Ball State)
* C/1B Sam Glantz, California Cruisers (now Utah… was Auburn)
* 3B/2B Hope Moreno, Team Mizuno-Gonzales (now UTEP… was Portland State)

 

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FALL EVENTS (UPDATED):

*** We continue to add to our list for the top fall softball events, including showcases and tournaments.

A big one this weekend takes place in Chino Hills, Calif. at the Big League Dreams park:  the event is the Organizational Workout Weekend and is for 12U up to 18U.

There will be four organizations there: the Firecrackers, Minors Gold, Combat Panthers and the So Cal Pumas.

Should be fun…

Tournament	Division	ST	Dates
OnDeck NorCal Jamboree	Classes 2014-2018	CA	9/6/13
Frozen Ropes PGF Regional Qualifier	12U, 14U	NY	09/07/13 to 09/08/13
Organizational Workout Weekend	12U, 14U, 16U, 18U	CA	09/14/13 to 09/15/13
PGF Midwest Regional qualifier-Downers	16U, 18U	IL	09/14/13 to 09/15/13
PGF Midwest Regional qualifier-J&J	14U	IL	09/14/13 to 09/15/13
PGF Midwest Regional qualifier-J&J	12U	IL	09/14/13 to 09/15/13
Sidewinders Tournament	16U, 18U	WA	09/14/13 to 09/15/13
Scout National Senior Showcase	Classes 2014-2018	TX	9/15/2013
SoCals Finest - Fall Kick Off	16U, 18U	CA	09/21/13 to 09/22/13
OnDeck Texas Jamboree	Classes 2014-2018	TX	9/27/13
Field of Champions Fall Invitational	18U	PA	09/28/13 to 09/29/13
Scout Regional	Classes 2014-2018	IA	10/4/13
Firecrackers & TCS present: Showcase at BLD	16U, 18U	CA	10/04/13 to 10/06/13
Best of the West All Star Game	Classes 2014-2018	CA	10/5/13
Ohio PGF Bash	14U, 16U, 18U	OH	10/05/13 to 10/06/13
Scout Showcase Showdown	16U, 18U	VA	10/05/13 to 10/06/13
PGF Gulf Coast Exposure Tournament	14U, 16U, 18U	MS	10/11/13 to 10/13/13
Surf City Fall Showcase	16U, 18U	CA	10/11/13 to 10/13/13
Team NJ Fall Showcase	16U, 18U	NJ	10/11/13 to 10/13/13
West Coast National Elite Futures Camp	Classes 2014-2018	CA	10/17/13 to 10/18/13
Surf City October Showcase	16U, 18U	CA	10/18/13 to 10/20/13
College Bound Showcase Spectacular	16U, 18U	NY	10/19/13 to 10/20/13
Stingrays Invitational	14U, 16U, 18U	OH	10/21/13 to 10/22/13
Scout Regional	Classes 2014-2018	MO	10/24/13
Rising Stars Individual Fall Showcase	16U, 18U	FL	10/24/13
CBS Sports TV TCS Rising Stars	18U	FL	10/25/13 to 10/27/13
Surf City Halloween Showcase	16U, 18U	CA	10/25/13 to 10/27/13
St. Louis Showcase	16U, 18U	MO	10/25/13 to 10/27/13
OnDeck Arizona Tryout	Classes 2014-2018	AZ	10/26/13 to 10/27/13
Nightmare Octoberfest	18U	NJ	10/26/13 to 10/27/13
Scout Regional	Classes 2014-2018	TX	11/1/13
D9 Sun Classic Fall Showcase	14U, 16U, 18U	FL	10/31/13 to 11/03/13
Ronald McDonald Tournament	14U, 16U, 18U	TX	11/02/13 to 11/03/13
East Coast National Elite Futures Camp	Classes 2014-2018	GA	11/07/13 to 11/08/13
So Cals Finest - Tournament of Champions	16U, 18U	CA	11/09/13 to 11/10/13
USF Showcase	Classes 2014-2018	FL	11/09/13 to 11/10/13
OnDeck Phoenix Jamboree	Classes 2014-2018	AZ	11/15/13
D9 Coastal Fall Classic		MS	11/15/13 to 11/17/13
Surf City Early Thanksgiving Showcase	16U, 18U	CA	11/22/13 to 11/24/13
So Cal National Showcase	14U	CA	11/23/13 to 11/24/13
Scout Regional	Classes 2014-2018	FL	12/1/13
So Cals Finest - Feed a Family Tourney	16U, 18U	CA	12/07/13 to 12/08/13
Scout Regional	Classes 2014-2018	TX	12/8/13
D9 National Skills Exposure Camp		CA	12/14/13 to 12/15/13
Scout Regional	Classes 2014-2018	CA	12/15/13

 

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If you’d like to submit information, forward to brentt@studentsports.com.  Also, follow us on twitter at @SS_Softball.