Showcase Teams

gindog, I think different people might look for different things in a (assume you mean competitive tournament) showcase team, but here are things I would look for (in no particular order):

 

* Communication.  If your son is asked to play on a team, and after you agree ther is radio silence until just before showcase time, that's a red flag.  Or perhaps there is communication, but it is confusing at best.

 

* Coaching.  Do you know who the coaches will be? Do you know their experience the is?  Coaching style and "fit" for your son (within reason...obviously we want our sons to be adaptable and coachable). Is there an opportunity for the showcase team to practice together, or at least a playbook that players can study on the flight to the showcase that highlights how the coaches want to handle particular defensive situations so everyone is on the same page? Some teams are thrown together and coaches hired fairly last minute.  Though not always a problem, I'd say it is at least a red flag for potential problems.

 

* Roster construction.  I don't want to say this is most important but it is pretty dang important.  If your kid is a second baseman, and you show up and see there four three other primary second baseman and three shortstops (and maybe only one catcher, or a couple of corner infielders), your showcase experience most likely won't be very good.  Your son will get reduced PAs, or far too much time playing out of position.  A good showcase team will post (or communicate to you) what the roster is, and what the primary positions for those on the committed roster are.  Be careful for overloaded spots, or super-long rosters.

 

* Roster construction, part 2.  If you're like me, you have a pretty good idea of who the better players are in your region (assuming this is a regionally-based showcase team).  Do the players that you know match the quality promised?  Are there obvious omissions?  Nobody wants to travel a long wany only to be completely overmatched because the quality of your roster doesn't match the quality of the showcase.

 

* Cost.  Is the player fee reasonable?  Obviously, "reasonable" means different things to different people, but it should be competitive with other similar showcase teams and opportunities.  No hidden or added fees (except travel/hotel).  Better yet, there may be an effort for those fees to be wholly or partially subsidized by sponsorships or outside donations.

 

* Presence of college recruiters and/or MLB scouts.  This doesn't apply at the team level, really, but is there some way of looking into how reliably the showcase itself has made good on the promise of attendance by college recruiters and/or MLB scouts?  The point of these is to get exposure, and their presence is a prerequisite for that.  

 

* Some feedback?  The follow through on this is not great, in my experience, but I know I am looking for some feedback about where and how my son "fits" in the recruiting picture (particularly at younger ages - 15U, 16U) and what sorts of things they recommend he work on to improve.  I haven't seen this kind of thing done much, or well, and honestly I consider it kind of a bonus if it's there - but definitely a sign of a potentially good experience/opportunity, IMO.

 

Probably more here than you need/want, but hope this helps you think these through.

How old is your son and has he started to narrow his college search if there is one?  What are his and your goals for showcase ball?

I have never liked the term "Showcase Team"

Most of the very best summer and fall teams in the country do not call themself "Showcase Teams". Someone invented this to help recruit players.  Good teams go to the events where there is a lot of exposure. Good teams and good players, draw scouting and recruiting interest.  Most of these teams play to win and at the same time get their players exposure. The best teams are extremely competitive and play to win.  The exposure happens in that context.

I do know that several teams label themself as showcase teams.  I just don't like the way that sounds. If the team plays a schedule that gets lots of scouting/recruiting attention, they don't need to be called anything other than a team. I would much rather be on a very good team, than a not so good Showcase Team. Talent on the team and on opposing teams is what creates exposure.  No one wants to watch a team with no talent, it doesn't help calling yourself a showcase team.

That said, it is what it is.  Probably not all that important what someone calls their team.

I Agree with PG. Over the past several years 2013 Travel team have faced teams that are presented as "Showcase Team" that turn out to be not that good.

 

Your choice should be determined by what your expectations are. If you are trying to get recruited to play at the next level, trying to find a team that will make your son better or he just wants to play with friends.

 

If you are trying to get recruited, I would pick the best travel team in your area that attend showcases that get RC interest. A lot of travel teams say they will get RC looks, but that's only because the RC's are there to watch the other team.

 

If your son has specific colleges in mind, ask the RC at those schools what teams they watch over the summer. Here in northern CA there are a few travel teams that get a lot of looks from RC's. One team almost always has a close following of RC's. Pick the best team that fits your son's level of play and get the most looks. I would not take the word of the "Showcase Team" coach, but that of the RC's in your area.

Prob. not but I don't care for the term either.  You pay enough on one of those mulit-tiered club facilities or academy teams you can play and for the right price you can attend all the "showcase weekends" you want.  If it makes the one writing the check feel better I suppose they can attach a label to it. 

1) Affordability

2) Coach connections and credibility 

3) Getting in front of colleges on your list

thanks guys 

1) Affordability:

I think there not a different in price. 

 

2) Coach connections and credibility;

One has a 70+ in the players being recruited by D1 school. The others are a lot less in recruitment as they been have teams less years as a team.

3) Getting in front of colleges on your list:

1; team plays in front of bigger school 2; team play is some small schools