Acceptable scouting techniques

It seems to me hispeed that if a team is well coached then they would be prepared and focused on the game not on who is there watching.Sounds to me like an excuse to use instead of just poor coaching.

 

Scouting Make Sense

I don't think coaches scout the opposition to see if their team can play with the other team. They are trying to find things to exploit. If scouting is unnecessary, as was eluded to, why do most coaches do it? It's simple - a smart coach will look for defensive tendencies (how they handle bunts, steals, hit-and-runs, efficiency at hitting the cutoffs, etc.), arm strength of outfielders and catcher, foot speed and quickness of corner players, weaknesses at the plate of power hitters, what spots the slap hitters are aiming for, what pitches coaches are most likely to throw during 0-2 counts, or 3-0 for instance. The list goes on. Especially for two fairly evenly matched clubs, this data can mean the difference between coming in first or second in a big tournament.

Saying that scouting an opponent is a waste of time only makes sense if you, like John Wooden had the luxury of doing many times, can look at you team and see that 80% of your starters are consensus All-Americas. Heck, there's probably no reason to scout others when you have that sort of talent looking back at you. Or, you can sit around and chit-chat between games and "play your game" when the time comes. Either way's okay, but in the end it's a matter of whether you want to be more prepared.

As to appropriate behavior when scouting, it's my observation that if a coach allows his team to be distracted by someone with a different color shirt on in the stands, he or she has more problems than what the next team will have to offer. A lot of kids these days are pretty well jaded to things like radar guns and coaches watching them play. If they buckle underneath that pressure, then they better think about a non-athletic future.

 

they are just teenagers if you haven't forgot. they can take alot but sometimes human nature takes over when there is a spectacle being made. slammer, sounds like you must have been at the ac reynolds @ alexander central conference tournament last year too. my acr friends were thrilled with the distraction. i thought it was lousy. should have used a better (unnoticeable) way to scout so players could focus. oh well my friend's dd won and i guess that was nice. just was wondering if all "great coaches" scout and represent their schools in such a detrimental way. hope to see acr and ac battling it out again at tourn. go rockets!!!

 

respect first, do the clocking and get out of the way.

 

Scouting

Interesting comments, if DD plays travel ball and especially Showcase ball, she sees or will see many coaches watching her play with jugs guns, stop watches, note pads, etc. Yea they are teenagers but we do not give them enough credit for the maturity and gamemanship, they possess. Most of these players are excited coaches are scouting them whether college or oppossing teams. Shows respect for their ability. NC players are getting more attention and I for one am extremely excited about that fact.

 

hispeed,

There is more to the game than hitting homeruns.They call it defence and the mental game.A good coach prepares his team for it all.

 

did you accidently get in the wrong thread??? this is a scouting thread.

 

I am a teenage softball player, and I love being scouted. Now I agree that sitting behind the backstop in a lime green t-shirt and a radar gun calling attention to yourself is a little ridiculous, but if you cant control yourself when a coach is watching and critiquing you then how do you expect to ever make it to the next level and play college ball or whatever the case may be? Coaches are not going to write you off the list over one error or an off game, thats what I think most young players dont realize and thats why they let nerves take over in a game. And if the coach is scouting because your an opponent then watching your team play and guessing how his team is gonna play is an oppinion and not always correct, plenty of quality teams have been beaten by less talented teams that no one would have guessed would pull out a win! just a view from a softball player thats been in scouting situations!!

 

Teenage

U are a mature young lady and have the correct outlook to be successful at the college level.