State Games ?????

My opinion: if a kid attends private school & does not play any form of Travelball (including Legion), then he has almost zero chance to make the State Games. Reputation is a mandatory part of the tryouts. I'm not saying this is fair, but it's just the reality of such an isolated situation. Coaches want to reward the best players, but they aren't clairvoyant.

We see this in basketball all the time. If a kid plays at a small high school & does not play AAU & attend the national camps, it's unlikely he will be included in the national recruiting rankings. And so his opportunities to play at the next level will be diminshed. That is his fault. He needed to put himself in situations where he could be seen.

Point: if a kid's goal is to make the State Games, it's on him to make sure his name is known BEFORE tryouts.

 

I will agree with you to a point. It is good for a player to be known as well as he can. Just say that the kid is a know player. He comes to the tryouts. Has a great tryout. Should he be overlooked because of a player that is a little less of a player than he. But because his coach is a part of the staff, or a friendly word from a political parent or even because as you stated he plays for a noted travel team. Is it right that he is overlooked? If we are honest with ourselves we know it happens. Fair or not. But is it right?

 

That's what I thought but nobody wanted to say it. I like the statement that coaches want to reward the best but they are not clairvoyant. Very true. Nobody is clairvoyant and we shouldn't expect coaches to be any different.

 

It's not a perfect system. That doesn't exist. If it were, all our sons would make it every year. Right?

 

How about a solution instead: Have the private school coaches get involved in the State Games. Perhaps, if they apply and become selected as coaches, this would help the situation. But quite frankly, there are many very good players that don't get selected. I know there is a lot more than 20 good players in Region 5 alone, so, of course, there are going to be quite a few disappointed players.

The whining and complaining gets a little old. If you have a magic formula in selecting players, we are all ears.

 

That's not a bad idea Braves. get the private school coaches involved. There are some good ones out there.

Despite all the comments, based on the discriptions given, the system being used is pretty good. Not perfect, but what is? The bottom line is the coaches want and intend to select the best players. It's hard to ask for much more.

 

I've got a more realistic and simple take on your situation. If a kid plays at a private school and doesn't play summer ball then he probably doesn't have much aspiration or desire to play on an elite team such as state games.

I understand why a parent would want their child to attend a private school but all kids who have dreams or goals to play in college play some sort of summer ball- legion, travel ball, etc.

Look at Simmons in region 5 from calvary. He goes to a very small private school where athletics isn't the number one priority but he played summer ball and now is going to NC state and will most likely play for the western senior team.

If he doesn't play summer ball then why would the coaches involved with planning the state games think the kid is serious in the first place?

 

This is where we disagree a little. What happens when a kid plays 2 sports and the other also requires a heavy summer commitment? Football and Legion don't mix. what do you do? Attend football camps during the week and play showcase/travel on weekends? That's a tough go. Not so much physically as it is mentally. Are we telling kids to pick one or the other? It makes me puke to hear parents tell me that they are having their kids play one sport at 10-12 years old. And it's worse when some AAU coach tells a kid he should pick a sport at 10-12.

And I know Simmons a little, not much. We also played them this year. The kid has a big arm. But summer ball got him noticed. Being a dirtbag helped him greatly. Then on the other side you have Jake Kensmoe who is pitching for NC State. He played very little summer ball. I got him the appointment with Coach Avent in late May and he was offered a spot. he didn't need money. he was on a full academic ride. And he's now throwing middle inning relief in the ACC and he'll graduate early with honors and a top degree. BTW, he played football also.

 

One Putt, I appreciate your measured comments. I'll add one more & let this ride: The State Games is a showcase for players, not the coaches. The majority burden to make the team is on the kid's shoulders.

If he shows up at a tryout...surrounded by 100 talented players from about 12 different counties...& he depends solely on two 60 yard sprints, ten ground/fly balls & ten swings to convince 4 volunteer coaches (who have never laid eyes on him) that he's worthy of a spot on a 20 man all star roster....well, that kid has received some bad bad bad advice.

It's not a flawed system...it's a flawed understanding of how such a unique event has to work.