SHOWCASE RECORDS

Just want discuss the follwoing:

How important are Showcase records anyway... shouldnt it be the # of kids to the next level or % of kids? I want to hear what you have to say about this topic... could be very interesting!!

 

Showcase ball is about promoting kids to scouts for colleges and majors. People really base a lot of their personal opininos about a showcase that sent a lot of kids to the next level. Nobody wants to go to a showcase that only had 2 kids go to the next level out of a 100.

With that a showcase has to bring in scouts. If a showcase can really bring in the scouts from every level of college and the pro's, then the players will come. Thats why East Coast Showcase, Jupiter and East Cobb have the talent come through there every year.

 

It's very difficult to assemble any kind of team and not play to win. However, in the minds of the college coaches, I'm not sure they are keeping track of a showcase team's won/loss record.

 

I would agree to a point. But, I also think that a scout is looking for that desire to win. That is something not taught. A successful team on the field makes the managers or coaches job easier to pomote their players. If you put a winning team together you get in front of more scouts than a losing one. And if it was not important why have Championship games. Everyone would be plaing each other at the same venue and the score board would be off. I know many showcase teams do not post every game. But they do post winning events. So, I would say it is a part of a successful program.

 

I think records can be misleading. My son's team has played some older teams for competition. Pretty tough for '010's to compete with '08's but a dose of that does help you.

Instead of seeing the records I wish there would be a spreadsheet on the major teams cost, what they offer, practice or no practice, philosophy. Put the info out there and make more info about the product available to the kids.

 

Playing teams that are younger do play into records being mis-read for older teams. It would be nice to see the product price and other info. I just do not see them putting it out. Why thier reasons I guess. It would be nice to see a couple of other things happen at the player level. Take signed players and form an extention team and play the unsigned players. I think that would help more players that are ready be seen. If winning records were not important and it is about the play. This would be a great selling point for your product.

 

The info is out there, just in different places. Wouldn't be hard for someone to put something together on the major groups. However most likely something would be inaccurate. But then if a group wanted it totally accurate they should report it themselves. Lack of info can cause rumors.

To Coach Evans point, obviously teams try to win specific events. And I'm sure to some coaches it's more important to win than others. Depends on how the product is marketed.

 

BTW, congratulations to everyone. This board went all of Friday and until Sunday night without talking about showcase baseball.

 

I have read this term mentioned quite a bit in the showcase threads.
I'm curious, all sporting teams whether it's AAU, Travel Ball, CYO, HS sports or Professional could be called "products" instead of sporting teams. Heck, all players could be termed "products".

In all my years of participating or coaching in sports, I have never heard or read an amateur sporting team or league referred to as a "product". I'm just wondering why you have selected Showcase as the one to refer to in this way?

 

Be glad to answer that Braves. 1st, it has nothing to do with showcase. All levels of baseball are a product. Offer a good product and people buy it. I tried to run the best REC league I could and attract kids from competing programs. It could be REC, AAU, USSSA, Legion, Colt, Palamino, etc. Look at the growth in AAU and USSA and Triple Crown and other programs.

2nd, I look at things in business terms. People are buying a product. Whether you pay to play at Impact, Heat, On-Deck, Copperheads, Cubs, SCP, Megastars, Hurricanes, (I could go on, don't mean to leave anyone out), you are paying for something and expecting something in return. And nothing is free. While a team fee may be free, it still has costs associated with it to travel, lost opportunity costs in other areas, etc. Nothing is 100% free.

Take a look at Impact. While having never experienced it first hand, it appears AP has a good product. He does a good job of recruiting kids and putting them in situations where they are seen. He takes his teams to all the big events, he has good coaches and he markets his kids and his program well through a good website and other avenues. I don't know AP as a baseball coach but from a business viewpoint, he appears to be doing a good job, and most of his customers are happy. I know he spells it out for the parents and kids. Here is what I offer, here's the way it will be and there are few surprises. His product is good for some people and doesn't meet the needs of others.

Showcase and showcase teams are products. People pay money for various reasons and want something in return for their money. And not everyone wants the same thing. If people get what they want out of showcase then you you can expect the product to grow. If kids start not getting what they want then the product will change and adapt or go away due to competition. But something else will come along. Always does.

For instance, I think the next challenge for showcase is going to be the rapid growth that is happening. My son is an '010. he came up through the AAU ranks when that product really took off around here. Those same kids and parents are entering their "showcase years". Just like the baby-boomers have driven computers, cell-phones, bigger condos/townhouses, assisted living homes, and SUV's, kids/parents from AAU will drive showcase. I think this will drive growth of more showcase teams. Some may say, "How can this be bad?". It's not. More kids playing ball and trying to improve their game is a good thing.

IMO, I think the issue will be lots of teams, some better established than others. It may drive demand to the better programs. I think you will see weaker teams in showcase tourneys/events. My son's team is already seeing this. What good does it do to go play for a weekend and beat two of the 4 teams 15-0? We saw this earlier in the year and our coach had the team start playing older teams. that is good for us but is it good for the older kids? They need competition too. In regards to the weaker teams, nobody wants to kill another team. I know when I watch kids from other teams, I'm pulling for those kids to get better. I want them to make plays. I want them to improve. I mean, how can you pull against another kid? You can't.

We talked about this earlier in the year but I think you will see more events that you have to qualify or earn your way in. These are just my opinions. Don't shoot the messenger.