Shall we take a team to the Netherlands?

[RightEGirl]

Here's something exciting:

Just a thought... maybe we should put together an American team (or North American, US/Canadian team) to go over for a week or 10 days, play the teams that exist now (Angels, Pink Panthers) play some exhibitions vs. male teams... maybe create two "mixed" teams of American and Dutch female players to scrimmage and generate friendships, and definitely hold some clinics... a Friendly or Sisterhood Series between the two countries. It won't be cheap (international airfare), but I think the girls over there would likely put us up for the duration (and we could buy food at the market to help out -- groceries are actually cheaper in Holland than most places in the US, but restaurants are expensive) and trust me... the experience would be worth every penny -- especially if you haven't been to Europe. Belgium, France and Germany are just a train ride away, and of course Holland has so much to offer! There's Amsterdam (and the Anne Frank house, the canals, the amazing architecture, Windmills (!), tulips, wooden shoes, the Royal Museum with Rembrandts, Vermiers, etc.), the Hague, Delft, beautiful old towns, and incredible chocolate.

I would be happy to organize this if we get enough takers. I don't want to exclude any current National Team players, but my emphasis would be to create a team of All-Stars for international play who were overlooked by USA Baseball in the past few years, couldn't attend tryouts (or weren't invited to Kenosha this year) and who would like the experience of international play.

I do speak "some" Dutch and read it "reasonably" well, and of course, the Dutch almost all speak excellent English. I think I may have a coach or two who would be interested. I have friends still in the South of Holland, and I would suggest we try to be located in the South, as it's close to some very old towns, neat cultural sites, it's a bit warmer, and it's close for a jaunt into Belgium (Antwerp? Bruges?) or perhaps a side trip (via train) to France.

If there is some interest here, I would suggest a Spring trip in 2009, possibly in April (to help kick off their season) or later in Summer. It will soon be getting cold in Holland, and there's not much time to get money together, passports, etc. for this year.

April can be a bit cold, windy and wet, though...but it would be a nice tune-up before the Memorial Day tournament or any Team USA tryouts (probably?) and might open opportunities to return and play on an individual basis.

I think this is a great opportunity to promote Women's Baseball in Europe, help start the "fire" that will spread an help international development, and be pro-active as Women's Baseball Ambassadors in ways that USA Softball SHOULD have done years ago...and would have helped keep them in the Olympics. This is also a great chance for us to help grow the sport and make a good case for Women's Baseball to be included with Men's Baseball in the 2016 Olympics (assuming reinstatement!).

Okay...enough for now... if I have enough interest, I will contact the teams in Holland and see what they think! : )

Best,

Tiff

[NotAboutEgo]

Hey Tiff,

I definitely am interested in playing on this team. I'd absolutely love the opportunity and the experience... plus, I've never been to Europe. The whole aspect of helping spread women's baseball in Europe also is very exciting!

I'll let my team know and will spread the word to others. I'll also put some basic info on our web site about it to help get the word out. I think we can find enough all-star level players to go, and we have a lot of time to get passports, raise money, and all that.

Can't wait! Thanks for getting this going!

[RightEGirl]

Hey NAE!

Great to hear you're IN and going to help promote! Thank you!
I'm writing to hear from the girls/Percy Isenia in Holland, to make sure THEY like the idea as well. As soon as I hear back, I'll likely be posting the info on Checkswing.net also.

Yes, I agree... I think that starting this process waaaaay ahead of time will increase our chances of finding an All-Star team, maybe some partial sponsors???, getting passports, etc. I'm looking at being there at least two weeks, so I can do a little traveling, catch up with some Dutch friends, etc. I will GLADLY serve as a kind of tour guide as well.

I'm really excited about this also... and I think it's a HUGE opportunity for everyone involved, and especially for world-wide development of women's baseball.... I'd like nothing more than to see the Netherlands in the next Women's World Cup.

As you begin to promote this, though, please remind everyone to check into the costs of the tickets...probably for somewhere near the first of April (but this is MY idea of when to go...I haven't heard back from anyone yet).

Talk with you soon,

Tiff

[ThW5]

Tiff, do you take the level of the opposition to be expected in consideration?
All-stars seem overkill, to an opponent trying to get enough ladies playing baseball to start one (!) league of their own :cap: You don't want to humiliate your hosts too much, not yet at least. Sure they will probably be able to take it, but if that results in bad press or so...

Theodore

[NotAboutEgo]

Hey NAE!

Great to hear you're IN and going to help promote! Thank you!
I'm writing to hear from the girls/Percy Isenia in Holland, to make sure THEY like the idea as well. As soon as I hear back, I'll likely be posting the info on Checkswing.net also.

Yes, I agree... I think that starting this process waaaaay ahead of time will increase our chances of finding an All-Star team, maybe some partial sponsors???, getting passports, etc. I'm looking at being there at least two weeks, so I can do a little traveling, catch up with some Dutch friends, etc. I will GLADLY serve as a kind of tour guide as well.

I'm really excited about this also... and I think it's a HUGE opportunity for everyone involved, and especially for world-wide development of women's baseball.... I'd like nothing more than to see the Netherlands in the next Women's World Cup.

As you begin to promote this, though, please remind everyone to check into the costs of the tickets...probably for somewhere near the first of April (but this is MY idea of when to go...I haven't heard back from anyone yet).

Talk with you soon,

Tiff

I posted it on my site and have told them to contact you for more details and if they are interested. Is that OK?

[RightEGirl]

Hoi Theodore!

Don't worry. I lived in Holland for 6 months. I wouldn't think of going there to embarrass our hosts. The main thing would be for us to be Women's Baseball ambassadors to help promote Women's Baseball (Dameshonkbal) in Holland. This is why I said we could play some games against the Pink Panthers and the Angels to help promote the sport, then mix our teams (some Dutch, some American) to play practice games, then maybe play some exhibition games against some of the Herren (Men's) teams at maybe the 2e or 3e level. We could also help give clinics (with Percy Isenia?).

Why an "All-Star team?" Because we would want to show some of our best players so the Dutch women know how far they CAN go! Recently, Team USA played in the World Cup. There were many women who did not make this team, but are All-Stars in their own right, and did not have a chance to play internationally. I would like to give them a chance to play, and I think it's important to bring top-level female players to show our hosts what level they can reach for (and to help them get there.).

In the US, USA Softballmade some huge mistakes I believe, in the past. They did NOT help the rest of the world to gain enough skills or did not help spread the sport enough to have good competition world-wide. Now, because of past US dominance in Softball, the sport has been removed from the Olympics. I want to learn from this mistake, and as we build women's baseball in the US, I want us to help build it world-wide. Right now, I think India, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Europe (specifically Netherlands right now) could most benefit from whatever help we might be able to give.

Our intention would NOT be to come over and try to beat our hosts 32-0 and embarrass them. We would be looking at this as a Friendly Series, and a chance to help and make new friends in the women's baseball world.

I hope this helps you understand what we're hoping to do, and I hope you might also help us to arrange this if you have any contacts? This would be very FUN for all of us, I think!

Dank je wel, Theodore!

Ciao,

Tiff

[NotAboutEgo]

Maybe we can do something like mixing the North American players with the Dutch players, if the Dutch teams can't get enough experience by then. That way, if we have more experienced players, the Dutch won't get crushed. I agree that it's no fun for that to happen, especially when just getting started. As we play, we could teach what we've learned. So, it would be a fun playing experience plus a mentoring type of experience.

I also think it would be a great idea to have a clinic before the playing starts, so the rookies can get more of a grasp on mechanics, fundamentals, nuances of the game, etc. Sometimes, all it takes are a couple of tips on mechanics and/or fundamentals for a player to start to excel.

[RightEGirl]

Hey NAE,

That's absolutely fine, and thanks for posting it! I'm still waiting to hear if there is any interest from the Dutch girls, but I HOPE so!

Best,

Tiff

[Baseball Mum]

Tiff, do you take the level of the opposition to be expected in consideration?
All-stars seem overkill, to an opponent trying to get enough ladies playing baseball to start one (!) league of their own :cap: You don't want to humiliate your hosts too much, not yet at least. Sure they will probably be able to take it, but if that results in bad press or so...

Theodore

Yes, a very good point. Maybe a better way to go would be to take a group over but not play as a team - split up and have a mixture US/Netherlands playing a mixture US Netherlands.

[RightEGirl]

Hey NAE,

Yes...great minds think alike! If you go back and read my originial post, I think in the second line I talk about mixing teams. I think a pre-clinic and a post clinic would be the way to go... one to help, as you suggest, the rookies get a handle on mechanics, and one post (just before we leave) to address any questions and any skills the Dutch girls would like to work on (that they may have noticed during playing), and some more advanced concepts...

Okay...gotta run..off to the gym. Oh..and what would you think about asking FR (from the team we both played on together) to coach -- if he's interested?

Tiff

[NotAboutEgo]

Yes, I did remember you saying that about the mixed teams as I posted my comments. A post-clinic is also a good idea to recap things and to address areas that the Dutch gals may want to focus on and to teach about things that may not have been covered in the pre-games clinic.

[NotAboutEgo]

Yes, we definitely should ask FR to go as a coach. I think his relaxed style and patience would be very good in a clinic and learning setting. Maybe we could get AAGPBL alumni to go as well... perhaps Jeneane Lesko and others. That would be terrific!

Someone should be contacting you via e-mail and/or phone regarding something that a bunch of us are working on. It's extremely exciting and will happen very soon. Some former pro's are interested in jumping aboard, so I'm thinking that maybe some of them would be interested in going to the Netherlands and beyond to do this. Of course, you're the one in charge, but having a mix of coaches/clinicians would be awesome!

I don't want to post anything about what we're working on yet... not until we have some meetings and get some details worked out (there has been one meeting so far with a very prominent person who is extremely interested in this). But, we should have some great news soon regarding it. The women's baseball ambassador work abroad could partner up with this.

[catchallday]

I think this is a great idea. I am interested in helping and if I fit into the mix of players you're taking, I'd like to go. Thanks for getting this ball rolling. I hope it comes together.

[RightEGirl]

Hey catchallday,

I just sent you a pvt. message! : )

Best,

Tiff

[ThW5]

Why an "All-Star team?" Because we would want to show some of our best players so the Dutch women know how far they CAN go! Recently, Team USA played in the World Cup. There were many women who did not make this team, but are All-Stars in their own right, and did not have a chance to play internationally. I would like to give them a chance to play, and I think it's important to bring top-level female players to show our hosts what level they can reach for (and to help them get there.).

OK, I'm afraid you might have missed my little joke on the All Star concept. The need to include Star quality players is indeed obvious, but I just tried to say that for instance NAE, as fanatic player and organizer of a league, seems more valuable for this than somebody who is just a better ball player/more famous. (Not to be seen as astatement of opinion about NAE's actual qualities as player). Filling out the star team with a couple of players who aren't star quality at all (but serious into baseball) is unlikely to hurt the mission in this case, so you won't need an All Star team.


In the US, USA Softballmade some huge mistakes I believe, in the past. They did NOT help the rest of the world to gain enough skills or did not help spread the sport enough to have good competition world-wide. Now, because of past US dominance in Softball, the sport has been removed from the Olympics. I want to learn from this mistake, and as we build women's baseball in the US, I want us to help build it world-wide. Right now, I think India, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Europe (specifically Netherlands right now) could most benefit from whatever help we might be able to give.

Tiff, I guess that softball being shown on the Olympics as "women's baseball", was a disgrace to both sports, and especially to male softball and female baseball players. With other words what baseball was missing was MLB-players and female players, the latter was actually more serious.

About help, be sure that the receiving party is willing to receive it, in the very form you will be giving it, otherwise it can sour relations for ages to come.

best wishes,


Theodore

[RightEGirl]

Hi Theodore,

Thanks for your responses. I sent you a private message also.

I did not mean for it to sound arrogant like we (US players) were SOOOO much better that Dutch players would just naturally want our help! I just meant that perhaps since women's ball is (maybe) a LITTLE bit more established here, maybe we could help in some way. If it turns out that we do play the game (in general) at a little higher level, then it would give the Dutch girls a look at what is possible. If they are better than we are, then we will want to learn from THEM! : ) Either way, the important thing is to make friendships and connections for the future for both countries.

Also, by the way, NAE is an All-Star player in her own right, besides being a STAR at developing women's ball.

Thanks for your help, Theodore.

Best,

Tiff

[NotAboutEgo]

Thanks for the very nice compliments, Tiff. You're not such a shabby player yourself, and you are equally as motivated and passionate to help develop women's baseball.

[RightEGirl]

Here's something for fun, that I thought we should post from the newspaper in Eindhoven, April 25, 2008 edition. I know not many people here will be able to read this, but it's talking about the player (Natascha Schouten) and how her team (Pink Panthers) will play the men's 2nd team. Vrouwenhonkbalteam = women's baseball team:

Here's the link:

http://www.ed.nl/sport/sporthelmond/3039271/Schouten-ruilt-discus-in-voor-knuppel.ece

Enjoy!

Tiff

[NotAboutEgo]

Hey, Tiff...

Have you heard anything from the Dutch women's teams?

[RightEGirl]

Hi NAE and all!

I did JUST get an e-mail back from the main organizer of their teams (and the coach of one of them), Percy Isenia (Olympian), and several responses from players. They are excited to have us come, and loved the idea of playing their two teams, plus mixing teams, and they would help arrange for us to play some men's teams, who Percy said, would be eager to play us if we had some talent! : ) . I would like to go forward full speed with recruiting now (especially at RH in Tucson). I'm still trying to work on some kind of a housing arrangement that would be cheaper than hotels; unfortunately, the host family arrangement looks doubtful. I'm waiting for a reply on several details (including housing and an arrival date of mid to late April 2009). I'll be talking with JH and others very soon. I'm just swamped under for another 4 or 5 days.

So... YES! Let's go for it! : )

Best,

Tiff

[NotAboutEgo]

Awesome, Tiff! Thanks a bunch! Count me in for sure!

I can help with recruiting or whatever if you need any help.

[RightEGirl]

NAE, Yes please! Let's talk on the phone early next week and chat about what we're looking for, etc. I'm just swamped at the moment. I see your role as a Team Captain, if you're willing?

Best,

Tiff

[NotAboutEgo]

OK, we'll talk next week. Sure, I can be the team captain. I'm so excited!

[RightEGirl]

Hi All!

Please contact me if you are interested in playing in Holland (Netherlands) in April 2009. I will be at the National Championship in Tucson, playing for the Sabres. Please make sure to stop by, say "hi" and ask any questions you might have. Roster size will be limited to 12-15 players to maximize playing time.

Best,

Tiffany Brooks