Team Make-up/Article

Agree!

I believe these are the one's that leave the so called "elite" teams for greener pastures. They will never be satisfied with everyone being equal in skill level. They really become role players on a team comprised of superior athletes. They want to be the star and usually sacrifice team wins for individual accomplishments.

 

In dealing with A,B and C players as referred in the article I do not think it is possible for B and C players to become A's. Though I do think A's can easily become C type players, and B's and C's can go back and forth at younger ages. A types are who they are on top or bottom depending on their guidance. B's and C's can change with guidance because these types of people can be molded and coached. Although A's can be coached it is different as you are usually coaching restraint and humility.

It is also amazing to me that you can easily watch players from your own or other teams and quickly come to a determination what those players are ( you would probably be correct 90% of the time).

Also amazing is that most college teams appear to follow the same percentages with a very low number of so called A type players. As stated earlier it important to say a B player can have A skills but not be a A player. That type of B player would appear to be the most desirable player.

 

Im just curious as to how good a DD has to be at the TB level, to be a C level player at the DI level? Or are we talking an A type TB player who went to play DI ball and didn't pan out and became a C type player?

 

It would be very convenient to be able to label players correctly with an A, B or C sticker. It doesn't work that way.

A C player can be just as highly skilled or more so than an A player. The personality type is only an indication of how a player carries herself.

Use the information in that article cautiously. There is much more to any person than can be explained in a few paragraphs.

There is much more to being a team than will ever be fully understood. A good coaching staff can take a team full of C's and do much more tham labels would predict. On the other side of the coin a poor coaching staff could make an A team look bad.

Besides, what would we do with all us C's? Everybody doesn't like to fish or sit in the stands.

 

I knew I could count on you. Thanks.

 

For instance say a team has 5 or 6 girls do the early signing, but the majority of those girls just joined the team the summer before the November signing. Do you think it was because she was on that team that she magically got signed or do you think it was because she was already on the radar. I'm just saying that some of the so called "elite" teams look like they have more girls recruited but in reality the work was done before the girl joined the team. I think if you are a player, you are a player and if the parents do their homework the player will be recruited "elite" team or not. The "elite" teams are picking up girls their junior and senior year that already have scholarship offers in the works so they are not any better at getting girls recruited than any other team. It is actually some other team that has put in the work teaching the kid to play and the "elite" team is getting the credit for it.

 

The labeling would be convenient; practical no. However we all do it, team-hoppers, troublemaker, cocky, slow, fast, captain etc. For example a person who changes teams often would most likely be A and C players by the definition in this article.

I didn't say anything about C's on collegiate teams so I don't know there; however I do think a mix makes for the most balanced teams. Would not want all A type. To call a team an A team really does not speak to the type of players they have, maybe skill not type.

 

Believe me, I know where you are coming from. I've been affected before by stand out players going to other teams late in their TB career. The usual first thought is where is the loyalty?

There is no doubt that players can be seen if they make the schools they are interested in aware of their interest. As has been said before, one of the best ways is to attend the school's camps. So you don't have to be on an "elite" team.

As far as one team putting in "all the work", that really shouldn't be an issue if the focus is on the player. There are a lot of people, teams, organizations that have a part in a player's development as they make their way towards the next level.

All teams that I've been associated with look for the best players they can get--from 10U thru 18U. If one team has the opportunity to pick up a good player from another team they'll do it. Nothing wrong with that unless it happens because of some underhanded methods--false promises, i.e.

There are teams that are only looking for top-notch players to form "elite" teams. This is actually a good thing. I haven't seen any of them claiming they developed these players. Just because they are proud of the teams they have put together and their accomplishments doesn't mean they are representing themselves falsely. Their specialty is different than the specialty of the teams that develop from scratch.

The credit goes to everyone: players, parents, coaches, recruiters, teachers, fans--everyone!

When we are suspicious or jealous, that's the real problem. There are enough kids to go around! Enjoy; it doesn't last long!!

 

When we were looking for a team

Being fairly new to the sport I depended on a bunch of people that had been in the sport for a while, including members on this board, to help me determine what I wanted in a team. I had it in my mind that she was going to be on an elite team or else. What I found was that the elite teams have more termoil and issues than the so called good teams. I rapidly changed my thinking, with help, and placed her on a really good team with coaches that love the game and the kids. I'm certain that there are elite teams that don't have issues, but I'm fairly certain that most do. The right coach,with time to spare, could manage the egos and get the most from the players. I might be wrong, but I believe that's the extent of coaching an elite team; manage the egos and reap the rewards. I'm sure they practice hard, but I'll also assume that there's not very much teaching going on at this level. I feel that they recruit to fill voids instead of developing those that they already have.

 

Yes, the credit goes mostly to the player. If she doesn't want it, it is not going to happen. What I'm trying to get across to parents who don't know any better and believe everything they read is that you do not have to pay for your daughter to be on an "elite" team in order for her to get a scholarship especially if she wants to go to school in North Carolina. The elite teams are not getting any more scholarships for their players than any other team.