LEGION vs SHOWCASE BALL?

who benefits

the people who really benefit from all this extra ball are the umpires and sporting good stores

 

In your first post you say you are a scout and I have never in my life heard a comment by a scout like yours, so please explain what you mean? Are you saying that more opportunities for the players are bad for them?

 

I guess my question results from this. If you have a young legion program that your community is trying to build, yet you lost players to summer traveling teams, then how can you continue to build the legion program into a quality program? AT the same time, I do want my players to play against the best competition possible to help their individual development and growth. This makes it tough on a community trying and working really hard to get this legion program going if you lose quality players. The legion team here plays really good competition from the Raleigh-Durham area, but it is increasingly hard to grow if you lose any quality players at all.

In no way am I wanting toput down anybody associated with any showcase team, I just think that this is dilemma that should be discussed among men with a working knowlege of how things are.

 

Coachevans ....

I guess the real question is "can you successully restart a dead/dying program". I think it varies by locale and what other opportunities are available locally.

Where I would try to start is actively recruiting the GRADUATED SENIORS. For the most part, they don't have any need to showcase and need reps to get ready for college ball. I believe you must have a successful Senior team before you can build a quality junior team .... but the junior competition isn't going to be consistent around the state. Too many top players skip out on legion now in order to make sure they are seen at showcases (Sophs and Juniors).

The rule ... play on the best team you possibly can. Coaches come to look at good teams so they can see more players. It may be Junior Legion ... i dunno.

 

I think legion ball is better for one reason just for the expirience bc you are with these guys playing ball all summer, going on bus trips with them and its just an all around great time.....you would be missing out on alot of things if you did not play legion ball.

 

i believe i said i was once a scout. who gets paid? the umps used to never ump after july heck now they ump into november. that means they make more money, right? more games means more balls, scorebooks, and other equipment is used so they benefit financially. that's what i mean.

 

Showcase vs. Legion

This is an interesting question to which there is no right answer and it boils down to personal preference. Showcase teams serve a useful purpose for those players seeking to challenge themselves and grow as players against top competition. But, it would be a mistake for anyone to think that a player won't face strong competition or become better player if they play legion ball. I think there is a perception that showcase teams will lead players to the “Promised Land” - a chance to play college baseball. The reality of the situation is that through carefully chosen attendance at certain showcase events- (NC State Games, Impact Baseball, Perfect Game, Blue/Grey); players can get tremendous exposure to most of those same college coaches.

I believe showcase teams face consistently better competition at the events they participate in and the rosters have consistently better talent top to bottom, but the drawback is that they usually play only on weekends where legion teams usually play 4-5 9 inning games a week. Again, it boils down to personal preference - what fits your need better. Also, for showcase teams, there is usually a cost factor included in the equation that can get quite expensive. Last year a local player in our area decided to play on a showcase team because he really wants to play college ball and felt this would be a great opportunity to show his stuff on a larger stage. I talked with his father at the end of the summer and he said that his family had spent around $5,000.00 traveling that summer and his son had received only luke warm attention from a couple of Ivy League schools. The reality of the situation is that this kid is a 5'8" lefty pitcher that throws in the low 80's. He is a very good pitcher that wants to play baseball in NC. This summer he is playing legion, but still hopes to attract some attention and I hope he does.

NCBASEBALL has talked many times about the plethora of colleges across our great state that provides opportunities for aspiring young players. I think families should sit down and really discuss what they want out of their summer program. Do they want to attend a college outside the state of NC, if so, playing on a showcase team and attending certain national showcase events is probably the right answer. The family needs to consider if they are willing to support the financial requirements that OOS tuition might place on them, because as we all know, baseball is not a fully funded sport from a scholarship standpoint. I don’t want to insinuate that travel teams are only a good idea if you want to play out of state, because most of the players on showcase teams are playing college ball in state. It is just that travel teams serve as an especially good opportunity for those players wishing to play out of state.

My son played AAU ball from the time he was 9 yrs old until he turned 15. The days on that team from a developmental, educational and enjoyability standpoint is off the chart for him. He loved it and my family loved it. Since he started attending HS, he has played legion ball and has enjoyed it very much as well. Both have played valuable roles in his development and are filled with memories.

Again, no right or wrong answer to this question. Just boils down to choice.

 

if there is at least one good player on a legion team.....example zach ward or any other college types....there will be more than a fair share of scouts at legion......i have played against at least 3 players that have either gone pro or will in legion

 

Legion vs. Showcase

I agree that there is no one right answer. For Instance the Legion team coach in our area never contacted or approached any of the players at the High School my son attends, so it was not an option. We're lucky though that the Carolina Copperhead Showcase team was near enough for us to make work.

 

In my opinion it varies depending on the area like most of you have said. For instance charlotte legion is so watered down that most good players end up playing showcase and they get seen. When I played legion, showcase teams were a new thing and you couldnt beat the memories you made during legion. You cant blame players and or showcase organizations. True there are some showcase organizations out there for money but for instance, the copperheads make no money on there players and I believe have the lowest of the lows player fees in the area. Along with that, players are given the opportunity to raise their own player fee through fundraisers. With this organization it helps that they have a summer collegiate baseball team that offers a means to sell advertising. The Copperheads have teams from 9u to 18u and a college team. I can say that the organization is out for the betterment of the youth and the game itself. I know Freddy Suggs with the Anglers also keeps his player fees down if none at all through money raised. He also does a great job and has a great team.