No I" in "Team"??

In the long run as long as a player works with his team on a fairly regular basis, attending showcases and competing against higher level competition helps the team. When a few top players head out to play against top competition it forces the other players to step up their games also. Sometimes those players who had to step up end up being better players than the players who went out to find better competition and replace them in the starting lineup. Such is the chance you take when you go out to play elsewhere.

The point where I draw the line is during the HS season. The team should be first priority during the season.

I have always felt the off season if for the individual. Its your time to work at your game and improve yourself. A by product of this is if you improve as a player in the off season you will improve your teams chances of winning. A player who goes to a showcase is trying to showcase his skills. If games are included in a showcase the players that loose themselves in the game and just play let their abilities speak for themselves. The players that do not do this will not be as sucessfull. All I ask from my players is that they be upfront from the beginning. Uphold your commitments. If you say you are going to play on a team then stick with that team. Do not run off to the next opportunity that comes up and not fullfill your commitment because the grass looks greener. I want all my players to be in the best situation for them. If that means they play with their High School buddies in the summer great. And if that means that they dont thats great too. Every coach should want their kids to take advantage of the best opportunity afforded them. During the High School season its about the High School team period. Its about doing whatever it takes to help us win. The off season is their time to improve themselves which in turn will come full circle to helping our team come Feb.

There is an "i" in family and the reasons for going to showcases whether it be school choice, scholarships, the draft, they are all family issues.

How many teams have left kids off the next year's roster to pickup a "better" player? The street runs both ways. I thought the main purpose for the kids that can play at the next level to be "noticed" and get opportunities. As of right now, select teams and good showcases along with camps are the best exposure for kids especially players with talent at smaller enrollment schools or remote locations. Coaches/Recruiters are in the early and middle stages of their season during HS season and at all the big tournaments and showcases during the summer, so these kids follow.

There is no "I" but there is "me," (sorry about that, but I will make a legit point) so ...

If the HS coach is doing the best he can for ALL the players on the team, he should be pointing out where each individual player should go to achieve the highest reasonable goals for the player. Certainly, there are team goals, but that team won't go far if there aren't high development player goals as well.

I remember a basketball coach told me what he wanted his kids to do was play on 12 different teams in 12 different summer leagues and try to become dominant players. He said if he was any kind of a coach, he'd figure out what to do with them when he got them back the following season.

Why not the same for baseball? My son missed things to play Legion ball because he got so much respect from the coaches on that team. That was never the case with his high school team (and, interestingly, his stats reflected that), even though the Legion ball here is still of a higher quality than the high school season (combined HS teams).

The best thing to do is find a team and a coach who will also look out for the best interests of your son. Don't be afraid to ask tough questions. And if you don't like the answers, keep shopping or shut up.

Since the HS regular season doesn't really interfere with anything, you don't have any conflict. But no small part of "team" is looking out for the interests of the players. And if the HS coach isn't doing that, you have to do what you must, what you feel comfortable with, to get the player and his name out there.

If that means you miss fall/winter conditioning, too bad. Or a weekend of preseason practice, so what. If it truly is a team, it will get over it.

Fungo,

Here are my personal thoughts.

There may not be an “I” in Team, but there is a “ME” in tEaM.

Baseball is a team game in many ways and it’s an individual game in many ways.

You can support your team mates, do everything asked of you, follow all the rules, etc. However, when you’re at the plate, you’re very much an individual and if you succeed as an individual your team benefits. When you’re on the mound, you have the ability to lose the game all by yourself. In other words, your individual success can give your team a good chance to be successful. At any position, when the ball is hit to you, it’s all up to you “the individual” to help the team. Becoming a better and smarter individual player is the key ingredient in helping the team. If a player has no interest in becoming better individually, is that player a good team mate?

That said, there are many things where the team has to come before the individual. You have mentioned a few of these things.

quote:

---

Question - We abandon the team to attend showcases. Sure we ask the coach if we can attend, but we still are putting the individual over the team... are we not?

---

When players tell us the reason they can’t attend an event is because their team is playing at that time (I get a real good feeling about that player). I also wouldn’t condemn the player for attending a high profile showcase with permission from his coach. Often, it is the coach who calls us wanting to get the player into the event. To me this is a good coach trying to do what is best for the individuals on his "team". (I get a real good feeling about that coach)

quote:

---

Question - Would we recommend our son transfer if, in our eyes, he wasn’t allowed to play his primary position or if he wasn’t getting enough playing time?

---

I’ve never really believed much in transferring schools, but I sure can understand why someone would want to for individual reasons. Most every team will change yearly or end (graduation). However, you as an individual could continue to play on another team. Teams change, but the individual must go on. Transferring schools is too personal of a decision for me to have any opinion on.

quote:

---

Question - What about the player that leaves his teammates during the summer to compete with the select team while the bulk of the high school team stays together and competes locally?

---

This is a different situation in my mind. This is where the player must make a tough choice. Nobody stays with their high school team mates forever. Sooner or later, everyone goes their separate ways, be it college, professional or other. My question would be… is it fair for the team mates and coaches to hold back the one or two guys who would benefit greatly by playing at a much higher level? After all, being good team mates goes both ways!

quote:

---

Question - Parents, when you take your son to a private lesson are you doing it for the team or are you doing it for personal gains?

---

This is for individual gain and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. Besides, it in fact, is helping the team, if the player becomes better individually. So unless the team has a rule against it... Maybe, his team mates should be thinking about themselves and the team and do the same thing.

quote:

---

Question - Are we really team players or are we just team players when it serves our best interest? Should we make personal sacrafices for "our" team?

---

It always serves a players best interest by being a team player. However during a players career he could be on many teams. He needs to be a team player on all of them. Individual sacrifices are part of being a team player, but if these sacrifices exclude doing what it takes to be better individually, it can hold back both the team and the individual.

These are just my thoughts, I’m sure some would disagree

Had 4 players who used to attend a baseball facility where I worked all wanted to play college baseball all from that baseball rich state of vermont.
Help 3 of them get invites to some HS Showcases

player one attended TOP 96 and College Select.
On scholarship at Divison 1 school


Player 2 attended College Select and Perfect Game. Scholarship at Divison 1 school. Now in the minors with the Mets

Player 3 Attended Team One Nationals:
Scholarship at Divison 1 school. Now in the minors with the Royals


Player 4: dad listen to some clueless parents who told him to skip hs showcases. Zero colleges came to se him play legion ball
Dad is paying FULL tutition at a Division 1 college , zero academic or athletic aid

Another interesting post by our resident “wise one”.

PGstaff,

Forgive me for getting personal, but in the end it's all about winning (no, not at all costs ). Personal stats will take care of themselves.


HS baseball didn’t interfere with summer around our parts, but a lot of the HS kids played on the same summer team (made up of 3 local HS’s), hence no conflicts to speak of. One time when he was a junior he was invited to try out for the Area Code team at BYU. He went ahead and pitched in a game two days before the tryout. The scouts understood, but whether or not that made a difference in him not making the team will probably never be known.

Another sacrifice that might end up in his favor was this past summer. He was recruited to be the 4th or 5th starter at the Cape. Their first game they were looking for a righty to throw an inning (7th) before bringing in a lefty to finish the game. He ended up finishing the game and became the closer for the rest of the season. He could have been selfish and said he was a starter and not a reliever, however as he said, he just wanted to play and whatever it took he would do it. Having a good attitude and trying to make lemonade out of lemons is a great attribute. It was a huge adjustment as he didn’t have a regiment for possibly throwing every day and he doesn’t “work” in the 90’s so he had his doubts. In the end it worked out.

Frank,

I guess it could be said "it's all about winning". However, It's really all about success. While at times those two seem to be the same, there can be a difference.

I believe you can have a high degree of success without necessarily winning or vise versa. Of course, that's an entirely different subject.

PGStaff, agree again. Success is a much better word than winning. As we all know, you can't win them all, but you can always feel good about yourself.

quote:

---

Originally posted by fungo:
We all agree there is no "I" in team and we all agree baseball is a team sport. But... are we saying one thing and doing another? We abandon the team to attend showcases. Sure we ask the coach if we can attend, but we still are putting the individual over the team... are we not? Would we recommend our son transfer if, in our eyes, he wasn’t allowed to play his primary position or if he wasn’t getting enough playing time? I know many that have transferred. What about the player that leaves his teammates during the summer to compete with the select team while the bulk of the high school team stays together and competes locally? Parents, when you take your son to a private lesson are you doing it for the team or are you doing it for personal gains? Are we really team players or are we just team players when it serves our best interest? Should we make personal sacrafices for "our" team?
Your thoughts?
Fungo

---

Fungo, great post.

My personal opinion:
I have always worked hard to put my son in a position to succeed. This has meant, as you know, alot of pitching lessons...mechanics, throwing, running, and on and on. These were done to improve him(I). As these events unfold, I like to think the investment ALWAYS was paid out to the TEAM...not just him alone.

Next, playing Summer/Fall ball on his travel team/scout team was time away from the HS team for 2 reasons:

1. For him to play vs a higher level regionally/nationally whether it be WWBA/PG, AZ Classic, or TeamOne events for personal exposure not available at the Legion level.

2. When he was away, it gave time to pitchers that would have watched him and a few others pitch all summer. No development for them. It was, selfishly unselfish as I see it.

Coming back to school and re-joining the team has never been an issue because of the relationships you nurture. Being better for the TEAM has alot to do with the ME and I. It however, can never be the focus. As for the coaches, they are all the better for the school year...Better players, more experienced pitchers, and innings for the underclassmen that would have watched all summer.

It is a big issue with alot of local coaches in NV, but to them that say "play with me, or don't bother coming out in the fall", I say they are the selfish ones...remember, there is also no "I" in coach.

Personally, an investment in my son's future is an investment in the future of all his current and future teammates. Baseball begins and ends with teamwork and sacrifice at the lower levels, but experience and talent based on competition is the main ingredient in levels above HS.

I always enjoy a good topic, thanks!!

To All:

Here in the Northeast, and it may hold true in other areas, players cannot play outside the school program during the HS season thus eliminating part of the problem.

Most kids playing on "select" teams are with that team to be seen and very rarely leave for individual showcases without the coaches approval

I , as does , PG have no problem with the invitee telling me he has team obilgations at the same date as our invite--if he blows off the team what will he do to the showcase people if something he thinks is better comes along after he has accepted the invite--

We try to work around and with a players schedule , especially if he is a position player, and I am sure PG does as well.

We are here for the players as are PG--I can say that without a problem as I know them well and respect their program and how they operate.

I am not knocking other programs as I do not know them as well as I know the PG operation.
I am sure that there are other programs out there that feel as I do but I do not know them that well

Both of our programs are here for the players.

The key for the player is to be up front going into any program he wants to be part of ---most coaches will work with you if schedule conflicts arise.

I come from "the old school" where integrity and a persons word are a bond--- once you make a commitment it stands unless extenuating conditions arise.

Never coached a team in the summer. High school was great. You had the kids everyday. I always told them before the season you make a commottment. If your work or social schedule will conflict with baseball you make a choice. The summer is different. Either make a commitment. Dont tell me you have to go here or there and will squeeze the team in. If other things are more important do it.

I must be missing something. In the spring my son played for the HS team, in the summer his summer team (select team) and in the fall his fall ball team (made up mostly of his HS team). Showcases, woodbats were done in off season with his select teams. He was often called to play for other high profile teams that knew about him, he didn't care how good they were, he was loyal to his coaches. In return, he was treated very well.

How many things do your boys have going on at once?

No wonder why some of you are so frustrated with the process.

In Georgia, HS coaches are not supposed to infer that kids play on their summer or fall ball program, but it is done. Until recently my son's HS coach hated summer ball away from the HS team. He wanted to build the team of boys committed to certain goals and if some are playing away from the team, you can't, and I understand his reasoning. But when you have an opportunity to play select ball in the Cobb area against the best in the nation, how can you justify not letting players test their abilities and gauge their talents against others their age? Once he went to a couple of tournaments, he saw the light. His biggest job now is keeping some of these boys heads normal size once they rejoin the team. But with two consecutive state finals under his belt, the marriage seems to be working. It may well get him into the college coaching ranks.

"No 'I' in team" is used so that little kids dont get it in their head that teams are good because of 1 star player. It starts to mean nothing in middle school because working with your rec team wont get you a starting job on the HS squad.