ego's and playing up ?

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We play at 16U because we have two or three girls who can't play at 14U and one of them is the head coach's daughter. So, since we are a community team, and we'd like the girls to stay together, we play to a higher level of competition. While it may seem that our 2-12 record shows that we are outclassed, we have been mercied just twice and several of the losses have been close (one to three runs).

I would almost have a gripe the other way. Teams that play at less challenging tournaments and mercy their way through to the championship. Still, our goal is constant improvement. Nationals are not on our radar.

If you have girls on your team who have 95 DOB's - then you are not playing up.........

 

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If I were coaching and my team was strong I'd take the advise of Big Train and play up whenever possible especially in Ohio. Which leads me is playing up even an option for East siders???

Not a chance for playing up for east siders.....maybe a smart move for east siders would be to mens high level slow pitch, (if there is a such thing) it would be an equal move........:lmao::lmao::lmao::yahoo::yahoo:

 

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The old School thought of playing up in every event except for qualifiers is still alive and well. Play the toughest competition you can find, and what could be tougher than playing good teams that are older than you. Then when you go to Nationals the speed of the game is slower when playing teams your own age group.

We did it for years. Doing it for ego reasons was never a thought. It was just a tool to get you better prepared for Nationals.


Tim

 

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We saw this alot in the winter leagues, but not too much now that it's tournament time. Most of the ones who moved up in the winter league had NO business being in the older age group.

 

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For me there are several reasons to play up even though we are a 13U team. One reason has to do with not traveling every weekend (hotel needed)& being able to play around home some but yet also be challenged. We have played in two 16U tourneys locally & have done well, 8 & 2, (not the top level 16's of course) but if we would have played in our own age group it would have been ugly & no one benefits from that. We are playing in the top level tourneys (Lasers / GAPSS / Day Metro etc) but these do not occur week in & week out so you have to be smart about your schedule to make sure you challenge your team wk in & wk out.

Our next 16U tourney is in BC right before GAPSS to help us hopefully prepare for the awesome 14U field.

 

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my comments are not about those older 2nd year teams trying to prep for nationals, just about non dominant teams playing up at a B level. I really wish I'd never asked. MD

LOL

Dan, I think the point you were trying to make has just went totally by all......

 

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I was kinda amazed by how many people commented like I was stating no one should play up, and then to be lectured by Musty ...... the wheels came off the wagon real fast on my attempt to discuss this topic. I knew I risk being seen as an elitest or something akin to that . But as usual I learned something, this site is great fot that. MD

 

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Questions like this are what put all of the fun into this site.

 

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I don't think it is soo much about a coaches ego. No Coach wants to play to loose.Not good for anyones ego or the teams mental health. The opportunity to push his tm against a number(older age grp) where a loss is expected but a win can be achieved, with the tm playing up as a whole is a good thing. This can do many things for the teams ego as well as the coaches. This can also thwart a loss by a coach downplaying bad coaching and bad play by upplaying the age factor and an expected loss.This is the nothing to loose and eveything to gain idea.
I have seen coaches who are o.k. with this and didnt really have the team to do this with so the tm was outclassed in everyaspect of the game.Horribly dessimated and 3 games done and gone.Awful.No one wins here. So your question of ego and playing up in this case no.
It depends on the coach and the situation.
A Class tm playing up in a C class toournament knowing the skill level and upper age tm has no chance of beating him(Ego Move) Who cares if an A Class Tm beats Jimmys Car wash?M

My answer is, "It depends on the stuation whether or not it is an Ego move."

 

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I was kinda amazed by how many people commented like I was stating no one should play up, and then to be lectured by Musty ...... the wheels came off the wagon real fast on my attempt to discuss this topic. I knew I risk being seen as an elitest or something akin to that . But as usual I learned something, this site is great fot that. MD

OMG! Dan's on the pity wagon. LOL

I didn't "lecture" you. I asked why it was a concern which you never answered, that's fine I don't think you know. Then I pointed out why the so called "average teams" would play up. If you really want to "discuss" it then respond to the reasons I and others have stated as to why teams not in the top ten should and do play up. Or admit there are good reasons and now you understand but don't deflect to the pity wagon.

To refresh, Here's what you said: "Has anyone noticed there are some average teams that are spending time playing up in age group ? Teams that are not really competitive with the top teams in their own age group. To be honest have no shot at beating the top teams in their age group."

Remember these are kids. Replace "team" above with "kids" and reread. It kinda of a put down of these kids.

 

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IMO I don't need it to be a personal concern of mine to comment on a public message board . I've already admitted I learned something just 2 post above - did you miss that ? you can have your opinion , I'll keep mine. I'll try to spend my time more wisely , like running for president of that group I'm now part of. MD

 

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Fair enough. You get my vote. :yahoo:

 

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MD - I think it was a fair question you posed & I personally have no issue w/ it. I think the choice to play up at times can depend on numerous things & hopefully all of those are for the right reasons & the main one being making your team better!!!

 

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The ones that get me are the ones playing up and when they get stomped or lose they say, "Well we are really a 16u team and our pitcher is only 15, so it is no surprise we lost to an 18u team.". I say if you are a 16u team playing 18u, then for that tournament you are the 18u Bugtussles or just the Bugtussles, not the 16u Bugtussles playing up...

...as always, JMHO