First posted on Showcase forum... for thought...

I'm not trying to throw rocks or start a fight...


but I'm wondering why there are showcase tryouts and workouts during the high school season?

Seriously, does that seem "right"?
Can't this be done prior-to or post-season?
It just does not seem appropriate or respectful to those in season.

I know that when I was "coming along" - though nobody wanted me to play anywhere for any team - my high school coach back then, and even to his retirement, let us know (and later players know) that if his HS players participated anywhere else for anyone else, or even mentioned "summer ball" during his season, we/they/you could "pack it up."

While I don't use that language, I share the sentiment.
Showcase/travel can get up to get 9 months - which some come close to taking one way or the other - 6 for sure with the "fall circuit."
Could you just allow us as HS coaches - though I am speaking for no other coaches, and many may distance themselves from me on this- could you allow just our 3.5 little months, without so much interruption?

Coach Fowler,
Glenn High, Kernersville

 

In general I agree with your sentiments. I think the HS season should be dedicated for the HS team. I would stop short of "sending someone packing though".

However there seems to be a growing trend of year around participation coming from a lot of areas.

Showcase teams due to a variety of factors want to lock in their rosters early (most cases prior to the HS season) though I noticed a couple still conducting tryouts into March.

However, High School teams playing summer ball and high school teams conducting fall 8 man workouts certainly extends beyond the 3.5 months.

IMO an ideal year would consist of a 3-4 month spring HS season, Legion ball in the summer (with all HS represented) and Showcase ball in the fall followed by off-season workouts or rest in the Winter. Of course Summer and Fall participation is optional.

However it will interesting to see the direction this all takes in the years to come.

 

What if...

you have a player with a particular weakness? That player is highly motivated, do you allow him to work on improving outside of your practices?

 

I'm old school also, but the times, they sure have changed. Showcase for many kids represents a viable alternative for attracting that scholly. Sure, the High School and then Legion route still works, but why are all these kids skipping Legion to play with the SC Panthers, the Dirtbags and the Evoshield Canes?

 

I am sure this has been said in the past but here are two thoughts to why some kids and some scouts favor showcase over legion....
1. Unless your on Cherryville or some program with that tradition (which there are some good ones) or you make it to the state tournament, no scout is coming to your games. why?

2. It makes more sense for college scouts to go to a showcase event where they can see 4-6 players rather than drive the same amount of time to see 1 player...


That is just my opinion but I am sure it has been said before on this subject

 

A h.s. player does a showcase tryout on the weekend. He gets in an extra practice on the weekend by doing the tryout. Fielding, throwing, and bp. Sounds like a positive.

If he makes a team, he gets to play in the summer and fall against good competition and comes back to high school the next spring a better player.

 

Being a father of a son who does play both showcase and HS BB there is growing trend. As we see in Soccer we are now seeing in BB where the "Full Time" BB players are no longer playing HS. I know of three kids that could play HS BB that is not due to the fact that they are focusing on showcase play and are working out and doing conditioning to prepare for the summer. I believe that is why we are now seeing try outs and practices during the season for those type of kids. Just my two cents......

 

Truthfully, it depends on the method of improvement.
If "our way" is part of that process, then absolutely.
If the "improvement" is "another way" then it is anti-productive.
"Way" having to do with concepts and methodologies, styles and preferences, etc. If you're training outside of or against the way your current coach is teaching and promoting, then it may not really be improvement.

It's like I tell kids I coach on my team, coach at our youth camp, or work with one-on-one, and even my own son," what I am teaching is one way. I believe in it or I wouldn't teach it. If/when you play for another coach, then do what he says. If he says stand backwards to hit, do it. He is the authority at that time." That said, I also encourage my players to ask WHY about anything. If someone instructs you to lift this way or swing that way or throw another way, ask them what there basis is. EX: the "way" I teach hitting, I prefer more contact, less bombs. I want to put the ball in play and force 17 year-olds to get us out with the glove - not just a pitcher and catcher playing catch while we grip-and-rip at whatever is thrown, ging 0-4 with 2 Ks and two really deep fly balls. Again, admittedly, all about current TEAM philosophy and concept. If a player goes to a cage and works with a guy Sat and Sun who is there to create a "power swing" that ends up producing lots of non-productive fly balls, then the player hasn't helped himself at all for his current situation.

A lot of this comes down to me vs team philosophy. And I think you can just look at the comments on this thread and see that a lot of them come back to "my son" or "scholly" - both of which I care about as a coach: your son and his chance for a scholly; but not what I care MOST about. I have 15 sons of somebody and 24 games and a school name across the front of our jersey that I am focused on as well. Trust me, I am for my guys and them as individuals improving, but I am more for our team.

Whew! Sorry about the wordiness. Ramblin'...

 

I have to admit that my question to end the first post was somewhat rhetorical, as in," you should let us have our 3.5 uninterrupted."

However, many good thoughts here - and I believe conversation is a good thing... as long as I get my way in the end (per my wife).

 

Catcoach.......

Nice job. Thanks

BBL