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Would you also run from a college coach who wanted a utility player? It seems to be very common and, from some players I've known, it is a great attraction to a college coach to have experience in the utility role. And they play.
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Holy cow! College coaches look for utility players? I'm there dude!
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Are there positions in volleyball??;&
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Jack of all trades (positions) Master of all positions!
I would love to have 9 good utility players on my team. A utility player can play MULTIPLE positions and a great one can play them ALL well. As a coach this gives me the option of playing the girls in any position on any givin day. Susie Shortstop may be having a bad inning, game, day or even weekend. I want to put a player there that can get the job done as well as Susie. Cindy Centerfielder twisted her ankle. She has to come out of the game. Guess who I'm looking for? That kid that has the talent and skill to play that position just as well as Cindy. Cathy Catcher is in her third back to back game of the day in 90 degree heat. She needs a break. Where is that lowly Utility Gal? She catches just as well.
It doesn?t get any better than a good utility player with a great bat to boot. She will be invaluable to a team and get just as much if not more playing time than your so called starters if you use her right;&
You may be a GREAT third baseman, but can only play that position well. IMO, you need to be a dominant player in at LEAST two positions, preferably an infield and outfield position. I would choose the latter for my team, over the first as would any good coach.
Example: Number one shortstop and catcher in the state get DI scholarships to top collegiate team in the state. Where does the coach play them their freshman year? Center and Second. Good thing they were Utility Players and could make an immediate impact their first year on the team.
In sports, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently. It is a compliment to be considered a great true utility player. That is MY perception of a "utility player" She is in most cases one of the best if not THE best athlete (player) on the team.
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WG:
Don't they rotate constantly? Some are hitters; some are setters; some are diggers or something. I like watching that Pac-10 Women's volleyball on ESPN 8 (see Dodge Ball). It's an excellent spectator sport.
Don't they rotate constantly? Some are hitters; some are setters; some are diggers or something. I like watching that Pac-10 Women's volleyball on ESPN 8 (see Dodge Ball). It's an excellent spectator sport.
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Orion, I could not have put it any better myself. That is exactly how I feel about the player that can start at any number of positions. What do you call a player that can start at catcher one game, SS the next, CF the next, or even in the same game? Can you say "flexibility"? "Utility player" has somewhat of a stigma attached to it, much the same as "outfield" has to young rec-ball players. Most of us realize, however, that this could not be further from the truth. Well said Orion. And I did not even touch on the offensive aspect of this.
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You're the man!
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I would expect any talented travel ball player able to play a few postions when they tryout! , and includes pitchers and catchers. As most tryouts should be done, utility means "we need to fill out roster".
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Lenski, Not MVP just a girl who loves the game. Would rather play somewhere than sit at all. I actully think the experience at different spots will only help her when she is that freshman player trying to make the varsity.
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So tell me this coaches,What happens when your "utility"player becomes better at filling the position of ss,2cd,center, ect?Do you tell your "starter" sorry but the u/t is just better than you so your going to have to ride the pine until you become more familiar w/ another position?
Or do ya just spell it out at the first practice,we are going to put the best 9 girls on the field and EVERYONE is going to learn how to play all positions and gain that knowledge of each of them as well!(,excluding pitch and catch imo.)I am sure this all changes as the girls go into there 16 and 18 u seasons but i believe filling a roster with SOFTBALL players and not position players will bring plenty of talent to any team.except pitcher and catcher.
Or do ya just spell it out at the first practice,we are going to put the best 9 girls on the field and EVERYONE is going to learn how to play all positions and gain that knowledge of each of them as well!(,excluding pitch and catch imo.)I am sure this all changes as the girls go into there 16 and 18 u seasons but i believe filling a roster with SOFTBALL players and not position players will bring plenty of talent to any team.except pitcher and catcher.
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I think it would only be fair, if interrested, to give the coach a call and ask for straight answers. Most coaches will be up front if the child isnt going to be a "position" player.
Hmmm, So every player on our team this year can play multiple positions. I guess they are all "Starting Utility players"? :lmao:
On our Team no position is carved in stone and every player will work for every position, INCLUDING our DD. Yes she can pitch but if someone else pitches better. She wont get the top starting pitching position 1, 2 or 3rd spot. She was already told that, she was told you will have to really work for it if you want to pitch. Right now she is the #3 pitcher. Although she can play other positions, she does want to pitch so that will push her to do better.
Hmmm, So every player on our team this year can play multiple positions. I guess they are all "Starting Utility players"? :lmao:
On our Team no position is carved in stone and every player will work for every position, INCLUDING our DD. Yes she can pitch but if someone else pitches better. She wont get the top starting pitching position 1, 2 or 3rd spot. She was already told that, she was told you will have to really work for it if you want to pitch. Right now she is the #3 pitcher. Although she can play other positions, she does want to pitch so that will push her to do better.
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I think utility means something different at the younger ages than it does when they're older. When they're real young, it seems like they're all "utility" players (don't 80% of them start out wanting to be pitchers, and 1% want to play outfield?). They work toward building their skills and, once a talent focus is seen, they are steered toward a particular position (or related positions - middle infield, corners, etc.). Some stick with that - because they need more work, or they prefer one or two positions. Then around 16U some emerge as equally effective at four or more positions and become used as a utility players. In my experience, at the older ages, utility players play all or almost all of the time - they move from position to position, allowing (at the showcase level) more players to be seen as the utility player is always out there and the position players sit maybe only a game at a time, if that.
Just my thoughts.
Just my thoughts.
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Beck i agree with you on calling most coaches and getting straight answers but you can surely understand what i am driving at with all the utility player /position player talk,like you said the girls on your team would be called in your words"starting utility players"I guess I'm a little old fashion is calling them softball players.But obviously you have done well by your dd if the thought of not being the number one pitcher gives her the motivation to better skill herself to obtain that spot on the team then i say congrats to you as a parent and good luck to her as a SOFTBALL PLAYER.
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You might be right.
If you are then "utility player" has a different meaning in softball than it does in baseball. A utility player in baseball is a servicable backup that gives starters a rest or they play because a starter is injured. Example: Players like Ryan Freel and Juan Castro are utility players, not starters.
Len
Hence why it's called softball. I would rather have a good utility player available to me 100% of the time than a player that is one dimentional. I can take advantage of every athletic aspect they provide to the team.
Maybe they are better at rushing the bunt at third and I have a team I am facing that is known for their small ball. I will put them into that postion to detour the bunt. Maybe I need her speed in center field because I am up gainst a team with big bats, or maybe I want to relieve some duties from my pitcher and I have her DH because she is versitile at the plate. I have far more options with the ulitity player every game vs. a one dimentional player.
I very seldom have a player with low play time. IF a player isn't getting much play time with me, there are significant issues that the player and parent are aware of, even if they do not want to admit the truth.
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Lil Ron,
Name the utility player in this bunch: ;&
Brent
Manson
Ned
Spice
25 Cent
Name the utility player in this bunch: ;&
Brent
Manson
Ned
Spice
25 Cent
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Thanks Lilron! I forgot to mention her father (My husband) is the Manager of the team.
Yes i agree also, they are all, softball players. Very good ones at that. But I am just a bias opinionated Mom from the sidelines. *grin*
I forgot to mention her father (My husband) is the Manager of the team. Yes i agree also, they are all, softball players. Very good ones at that.
But I am just a bias opinionated Mom from the sidelines. *grin*
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Utility players are sometimes the most valuable players because they know ALL the positions and can play anywhere rather than 1 position. When I ask for a utility player it isn't for a bench warmer or back-up, it is for a player who is versitile and able to move around.
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Just speaking of "utility" players? How many players does a College team carry? How much does a parent pay, for their DD to play college softball?
Just curious here. Average numbers?
Next, Would every player over 9 be considered utility or bodies?
Just curious here. Average numbers?
Next, Would every player over 9 be considered utility or bodies?
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wgman21Re: Looking for "utility" players??
Lil Ron,
Name the utility player in this bunch: ;&
Brent
Manson
Ned
Spice
25 Cent
wgman come on you know who the utility catcher is.......ned of course:lmao:
Lil Ron,
Name the utility player in this bunch: ;&
Brent
Manson
Ned
Spice
25 Cent
wgman come on you know who the utility catcher is.......ned of course:lmao:
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