Athletic Teams - are we being to tough on what is a TEAM?

I'm only throwing this out there, but the big deal might be which team you have a prior commitment to. It's just a guess though.

Good point Dtiger.

So there is never, ever a reason for missing a game? If you die, they drag your casket to the field?


What is the purpose(s) of a youth select baseball club?

Disclaimer: Texan son has played with more than one team at times (not the last couple of years, & probably not in the future). He has been invited to join other teams for major tournaments. But his primary team always took priority and he did not miss their games.

Additional disclaimer: He has not been invited to AFLAC. Maybe someday...

Final disclaimer: I am not related to PD, KD or KG. I do not take the train. That might have been me that went by you on I-20, but you'll have to have pictures to prove it.

quote:

Originally posted by Texan:

What is the purpose(s) of a youth select baseball club?

Great question.

But maybe we should start with this.....

What is the purpose in playing the game of baseball or any team sport?

Good question. But is baseball always a game? And what is a sport?

I don't think it's an answer that has one answer, it's unique to the individual. For me, the reason for me to play any sport is to test myself. The way I test myself, I must learn how to work with players, coaches, and parents. I must also learn time management (there is life outside sports). And finally, I want to learn something from the experience, whether it be physical, mental, or emotional.

The purpose of playing any team sport....well, first I think there has to be some interest in the sport. Why play if you don't enjoy it? Of course there are exceptions (if you are being paid millions of dollars).

BTW...is Cheerleading considered a sport?

quote:

Originally posted by Texan:
Good question. But is baseball always a game? And what is a sport?

I guess I will start the answering.

In my opinion......

Baseball is a game. In the purist form, baseball is a game between two teams on any given day.

Baseball is something my dad signed me up for when I was 11 hoping for me to gain self confidence and to learn to interact with other kids my age. Learning to take instruction, learning to strive for success, learning to work towards a common goal with others.

Baseball is a game that I played in high school. That gave me a sense of belonging. Some sort of self idenity as most HS kids look for through various venues.

Baseball is a game I played in college. In which I learned to respect a man for what he taught me about life as well as what the game can offer in the team atmosphere. Baseball allowed for me a higher education but not without consequences and dedication.

Baseball is a game I played on the professional level. At the time, the day I was drafted was one of the most emotional days of my baseball career. A sense of accomplishment.......at last my dream was true. Baseball was a game that soon became a job.

Baseball was a game I got to experience at the Major League level. And yes, as a bullpen catcher. A game that was vastly different than expectation would allow. Different ideas, eye opening situations, a whole different avenue. Was it a game? I don't know.

Baseball is a game that I have coached in the past. A game in which has allowed me to come close to some and distant to others. A game in which I enjoy so much at times, and hate in others.

As I sat on the couch all summer only to watch the Regional tournament, I realized baseball is a game I love. Why? I don't know for sure. Maybe it for the memories of the distant places it took me. From the weed filled fields when I was 11 to experiencing Yankee Stadium with 60,000 people in the stands.

Or maybe it's for the people I have met along the way. As my college coach, I just talked to today, is still my greatest mentor. I cried the day I signed with the Brewers and he was there to experience it with me.

Or maybe it's for what it has to offer my son some day. As he sits here beside me in his little chair, I can't help but wonder if he will like baseball.

What will baseball be for him?..................

Hopefully what I wish it was for me at so many times...........

just a game.

SWAC,
Thanks for starting the topic.

Ken, I am not sure I can answer you question but I will try to offer at least a partial: Some of the purposes of playing baseball or any team sport IMO is to a) make friendships, b)have fun, c)learn how to support your teammates, and d) to enjoy THE GAME. I know that there are more obvious reasons but those are a few IMO.

I am interested in your opinion and others on these questions as they relate to TEAM.

1. Some could argue that summer select ball is nothing more than "all star" teams or "showcase" teams playing for the benefit of a select few individual players who are talented enough to play. If a high school team fields a summer team, shouldn't the player's first commitment be to that local high school team?

2. Should we do away with Olympic team sports since most generally take some time away from a players original team either thru trials, tryouts, games, etc. not counting the risk of injury while participating?

3. Should baseball players be allowed to play other sports in school if their seasons overlap
thus taking that player away from his baseball team at times.

I have some more questions to get to later but this gets me started.

One thing I want to say is please don't take any of these questions or any others asked, at least by me, as having a hidden agenda. I am truly interested in your answers and opinions, as well as those of others.

quote:

Originally posted by Ken Guthrie:

quote:

Originally posted by Texan:

What is the purpose(s) of a youth select baseball club?

Great question.

But maybe we should start with this.....

What is the purpose in playing the game of baseball or any team sport?

Ken, I think you've hit the nail on the head. As DTiger said: "it's unique to the individual" and that's the problem. A player (and his family) join a team for a variety of reasons; to play, to win, to be the best player or sometimes "just because". This becomes a problem when the coach/organization is not very explicit as to the goals and expectations of the season. The best I've heard it said, at least for my family, was that purpose of our team in the Summer was to achieve "team successes (read Farmington or McKinney)"; the Fall was for achieving individual goals. This meant that the only valid reasons to miss a game was a family, church or school (and school team) obligation and obviously illness. The key in our situation was that a "stud" player paid the price in the past and all in the room understood that a violation of this rule would result in release from the team, even if you were lefthanded, 6'5" and cruised at 95mph.

To specifically answer your question, the purpose of my boys (their perspective) playing baseball has been:

• - having fun
  
• - love of the game
  
• - setting goals and achieving them (sometimes)
  
• - meeting new people and building friendships

The purpose of my wife and I has been:

• - watching them have fun
  
• - watching and guiding them in dealing with both successes and failures on and off the field
  
• - teaching them life's lessons
  
• - teaching them to respect their teammates, coaches, opposing players and all who they meet for who they are
  
• - watching them develop leadership skills

All right....I'm off of my soapbox.

quote:

Originally posted by honest and unbiased:
SWAC,
Thanks for starting the topic.

Ken, I am not sure I can answer you question but I will try to offer at least a partial: Some of the purposes of playing baseball or any team sport IMO is to a) make friendships, b)have fun, c)learn how to support your teammates, and d) to enjoy THE GAME. I know that there are more obvious reasons but those are a few IMO.

I am interested in your opinion and others on these questions as they relate to TEAM.

1. Some could argue that summer select ball is nothing more than "all star" teams or "showcase" teams playing for the benefit of a select few individual players who are talented enough to play. If a high school team fields a summer team, shouldn't the player's first commitment be to that local high school team?

2. Should we do away with Olympic team sports since most generally take some time away from a players original team either thru trials, tryouts, games, etc. not counting the risk of injury while participating?

3. Should baseball players be allowed to play other sports in school if their seasons overlap
thus taking that player away from his baseball team at times.

I have some more questions to get to later but this gets me started.

One thing I want to say is please don't take any of these questions or any others asked, at least by me, as having a hidden agenda. I am truly interested in your answers and opinions, as well as those of others.

Ken, Tom brings out some interesting points. As a select coach we take exception to a high school saying to a player he has to play with his high school during the summer, I want to put Tom's comments back at you. Man I'm doing PD's job.

quote:

ken, Tom brings out some interesting points. As a select coach we take exception to a high school saying a player has to play with his high school during the summer, I want to put Tom's comments back at you. man i sound like PD.

I am all for taking it back to the days of youth baseball players playing for a team within their communtiy. I think it would bring back the true intent of amatuer baseball.

I personally can't remember ever taking exeception to an instance like this.

I am going to get to Tom's questions. I need to think about them before I post.

So the true intent of amateur baseball is to play within the community only?

I never knew that.

quote:

Originally posted by honest and unbiased:

I am interested in your opinion and others on these questions as they relate to TEAM.

1. Some could argue that summer select ball is nothing more than "all star" teams or "showcase" teams playing for the benefit of a select few individual players who are talented enough to play. If a high school team fields a summer team, shouldn't the player's first commitment be to that local high school team?

I think the game would have a better intent if it were entirely community based, example as in HS summer programs. Would the level be as high. Of coarse not. But how many kids actually making a true living from playing the game of baseball? Numbers are unbelievably low. Even in the case of the select level.

quote:

2. Should we do away with Olympic team sports since most generally take some time away from a players original team either thru trials, tryouts, games, etc. not counting the risk of injury while participating?

Players at the Olympic level are playing the game of baseball to represent their country through athletics. For the sense of pride through a team event. Do they select MVP's at an Olympic event? I hope not.

quote:

3. Should baseball players be allowed to play other sports in school if their seasons overlap
thus taking that player away from his baseball team at times.

I believe so. As only if the said player completes the later part of the season with the sport they participate with at that time. Example. Play baseball when basketball season ends. Play basketball when football season ends.

quote:

Originally posted by Texan:
So the true intent of amateur baseball is to play within the community only?

I never knew that.

The true intent of amatuer baseball is to play under the "team" environment. I believe this may be better achieved with a community based team.

quote:

Or maybe it's for the people I have met along the way............

Ken,
Concerning your comments about the Olympics. Do you feel the same applies to the Youth Team, Junior Team, and National Team? Is it OK to leave your summer team trying to get to AABC to go to tryouts or participate in these games? Do you really think that players asked to tryout or attend do so for the sole reason of representing their country, or do they do it for exposure.

Your comments concernig MVP's raises another question for me. Should MVP's or all tournament teams be recognized in amatuer sports? In addition should amatuer teams or schools retire numbers of players because of what they accomplished individually or for only what they gave to the team or back to the game?

Concerning your comments about playing other sports in high school; if the high school coach believes that a "Team" is there from start to beginning, including off season, as all team members are to be treated equally, is he wrong to insist that a player chooses which "team" or sport which to participate.

quote:

Originally posted by honest and unbiased:
Ken,
Concerning your comments about the Olympics. Do you feel the same applies to the Youth Team, Junior Team, and National Team? Is it OK to leave your summer team trying to get to AABC to go to tryouts or participate in these games? Do you really think that players asked to tryout or attend do so for the sole reason of representing their country, or do they do it for exposure.

Your comments concernig MVP's raises another question for me. Should MVP's or all tournament teams be recognized in amatuer sports? In addition should amatuer teams or schools retire numbers of players because of what they accomplished individually or for only what they gave to the team or back to the game?

Concerning your comments about playing other sports in high school; if the high school coach believes that a "Team" is there from start to beginning, including off season, as all team members are to be treated equally, is he wrong to insist that a player chooses which "team" or sport which to participate.

Question for you HU.....

Is there anyway you could put any future questions in simpler reply format? Cut and pasting this stuff is tough.

quote:

Originally posted by honest and unbiased:
Ken,
Concerning your comments about the Olympics. Do you feel the same applies to the Youth Team, Junior Team, and National Team?

I guess the real answer would be with the individual player involved. But my experience was for the "assumed" exposure.

quote:

Is it OK to leave your summer team trying to get to AABC to go to tryouts or participate in these games?

I don't know if I exactly understand your question, but I would say this...........

Once you start with a team, you should finish with that team. Unless a set of circumstances has been discussed prior to that particular teams schedule. A players responsibility is to the team he has a commitment to.

quote:

Do you really think that players asked to tryout or attend do so for the sole reason of representing their country, or do they do it for exposure.

At the Olympic level......for their country for sure.

Refer to above for the Junior and other "Olympic" levels.

quote:

Your comments concernig MVP's raises another question for me. Should MVP's or all tournament teams be recognized in amatuer sports?

I think it would be a better situation if all awards were voted on the players involved.

quote:

In addition should amatuer teams or schools retire numbers of players because of what they accomplished individually or for only what they gave to the team or back to the game?

Although humbled, the college I attended retired my number. Did I deserve it? Only my coaches and teamates could answer that. Could I have done without it...yes. Is it an honor? Yes. Would I trade it for the moments I spent with my college teamates? No.

quote:

Concerning your comments about playing other sports in high school; if the high school coach believes that a "Team" is there from start to beginning, including off season, as all team members are to be treated equally, is he wrong to insist that a player chooses which "team" or sport which to participate.

This is a touchy subject at the high school level. But like I addressed before, once a player joins a team, it is that players obligation to finish the season with that team. Even if it interfers with his/her primary sport. If a coach only allows kids to play from start to finish, I guess a decision has to be made. But I would hate to think that is reality at the HS level although I know the pressures are there.