Difference Between Developmental Teams and Showcase Teams

Showcase teams have the best players and play in the best tournaments. Developmental teams have the rest and pay the bills for the showcase teams.

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

Showcase teams have the best players and play in the best tournaments. Developmental teams have the rest and pay the bills for the showcase teams.

Cynical, but right on point. “Development” is another term for “sucker enough to join the program and have expectations.”

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

Showcase teams have the best players and play in the best tournaments. Developmental teams have the rest and pay the bills for the showcase teams.

I agree with this but, will add.

From the sounds of the OP, it does not seem like your son is ready for a showcase team (just a guess from your post).

If you are able to find a true "developmental" team where your son will practice and learn while he is still growing, it could be beneficial. You will need to do your research on the teams. Who are the coaches, what is their coaching experience? If possible talk to parents from the team, see how the practices are run. Here are some questions I would ask of a developmental team.

1) How often do they play in tournament and/or practice? They should practice more then play with this type of team (IMO).

2) What are the costs and what do you get from those costs. This will help you see just how much you are funding the higher level "Showcase Teams".

2.1) Do you need to buy new uniforms for both spring and fall seasons? This is how a number of big orgs make money, they start off every new season, all new uniforms that have to be purchased (some times they are only a little different but, still different). The big Org gets part of the uniform buys. The more you have to buy the more money they make.

2.2) Are your dues paying for "paid coaches"? If so how often will those paid coaches be at the practices or tournaments? You may end up this Dads some or most of the time.

3) How much travel will there be for tournaments? If it is a dev team, should not have to travel far for competition and should not be paying for the high priced "showcase tournaments". Local should be enough for a dev team (IMO).

I could keep going but, you get the idea.

Most programs have only a limited number of the quality coaches, and those go to the showcase teams, if your son, due to size and current strength, etc. is not able to make a showcase team.  You are far better off finding a low cost program or Legion/regional summer teams that focuses on local play and tournaments, so at least you aren't paying for hotels, etc. for something that will do no benefit.   or if you pick the "development" team program,  your expectation should be that you get very poor "Development" and lack of any quality coaching, if they pay any attention to your development team at all.  If the program practices together with the elite teams and your kids an infielder, that may still work if he learns by watching coaches coach the better players, but if he's a pitcher/catcher or even outfielder, don't expect much coaching.  Granted, there may be some good programs that help the lower level teams in these areas, but I'm yet to find one.  Another option is to tell them your son can't make their teams practice time and try and get practice with one of the elite teams or at least with older kids.  Development happens by who you play with in practice, not who against in games is my opinion. (pitchers may be different).  Ps. often showcase teams practice very little and hop from tourney to tourney all summer.

I have a freshman son on the small side (late developer, like my very large son was his age) and he would not make a showcase team, so I have taken my money, gotten him private lessons , we are doing a local AAU team (no tournaments but has an actual S&C baseball specific coach and free use of facilities) and Legion ball.  All for less than I would pay for the "premier travel programs" around here.  he get's an hour a week hitting instruction from a great coach and we use the free time at the team facility for position specific work together.

Maybe when he grows and has the right metrics, I could go back to a "premier travel program" at 16/17 yo, but really he can probably do just as well attending college camps/HA showcase and having his private coaches/ hs/Legion advocate for him.

@baseballdad33 posted:

Can someone please explain to me the difference between a developmental team and a showcase team at the high school level?  My son is a freshman in high school and when looking for travel teams for next spring,

What does your son aspire to do?

Has he played for any travel orgs in the past?

Will he be trying out for the HS team?

FYI: around most parts of the country, there is really no actual "showcase tourneys" in the spring. Top talent is playing for their HS teams during this time.

At least the organization is being semi-honest by calling some "showcase" (presumably meaning they are aimed at playing in front of college coaches) and some developmental (presumably meaning not).  Many organizations don't even make that distinction, which leads to more confusion and unhappiness.

@HSDad22 posted:

Most programs have only a limited number of the quality coaches, and those go to the showcase teams, if your son, due to size and current strength, etc. is not able to make a showcase team.  You are far better off finding a low cost program or Legion/regional summer teams that focuses on local play and tournaments, so at least you aren't paying for hotels, etc. for something that will do no benefit.   or if you pick the "development" team program,  your expectation should be that you get very poor "Development" and lack of any quality coaching, if they pay any attention to your development team at all.  If the program practices together with the elite teams and your kids an infielder, that may still work if he learns by watching coaches coach the better players, but if he's a pitcher/catcher or even outfielder, don't expect much coaching.  Granted, there may be some good programs that help the lower level teams in these areas, but I'm yet to find one.  Another option is to tell them your son can't make their teams practice time and try and get practice with one of the elite teams or at least with older kids.  Development happens by who you play with in practice, not who against in games is my opinion. (pitchers may be different).  Ps. often showcase teams practice very little and hop from tourney to tourney all summer.

I have a freshman son on the small side (late developer, like my very large son was his age) and he would not make a showcase team, so I have taken my money, gotten him private lessons , we are doing a local AAU team (no tournaments but has an actual S&C baseball specific coach and free use of facilities) and Legion ball.  All for less than I would pay for the "premier travel programs" around here.  he get's an hour a week hitting instruction from a great coach and we use the free time at the team facility for position specific work together.

Maybe when he grows and has the right metrics, I could go back to a "premier travel program" at 16/17 yo, but really he can probably do just as well attending college camps/HA showcase and having his private coaches/ hs/Legion advocate for him.

^^^^this

My sons have played on both.  IMO most showcase teams, you show up and play. No development.  You get development from private lessons.  You better be able to play to get playing time on the field. Don't play for a team that you are not good enough to get on the field.

The development teams practice 2-3 times a week.  You get a lot of reps.  At a young age, you want reps.  Games are fun and put you against better competition but reps/fundamentals make you better.

In the Atlanta area, certain travel organizations are known to be one or the other, rarely both.  You have to do your homework on which is which.  Don't trust what the salesman/coach says.

Developmental, practice. Showcase, play.  I don't think developmental teams are suckers.  Just know what you are getting into.  Also some club's top showcase team may not be any better than another club's developmental team.  My son never played on a power team because he loved his friends on his team and had played with them for years.  He was still able to showcase (although not as often.  They didn't get many Lake Pointe games at WWBA) but still had coaches show up to see him. We had to do more showcases and camps.   I have zero regrets.  Some of the best summers of our lives (whole family).