When is it about chasing trophy's? When is it about now?

[coachtomv]

This is something that always bothers me.

10-12u Is not about trophy's and wins, its all about development.......
13-14u Is not about trophy's and wins, its all about preparing to get recruited........
15-18u Is not about trophy's and wins, its all about being recruited.......

IMHO, Its always about wins and championships, at all levels. That's why we work so hard and keep score. That's what drives the players and the passion for the game. That's why colleges have competitive sports and want winners.

Every single time we take the field, 10-23u, scrimmages, practices, camps, drills, charity events, local tournaments or national championships, we should expect to give 100% toward the team goal of winning.

If we approach the game with a passion for the process, put in the work, get with like minded players and coaches, play at the appropriate level for our abilities, then we will develop well rounded young players with the drive to win and to win consistently. You have to be developed and work to get better to win, not to say oh well I think we got better, but lost again, at some point you need to win or it falls apart.

The only measurable in the equation is wins-losses-championships. Not to mention the fact if we are so focused on developing for the future and recruiting for years in the future we can lose site of the reason they do it, to play, and win now. Now and the future are not mutually exclusive, we work hard to get better and win now which plays itself out as they move into new challenges. Our jobs (coaches/parents) are to put them in the best situation and keep them on the path to their future, but focused on today, and keep the passion for the game strong and not suck the life out of it with too much pressure about the future.

Keep them grounded, all we can control is today. I would like to see as much of a passion for "now" as much as this mysterious future that noone can predict. Lets enjoy the moment, keep working to get better, and the future will fall in line as we move forward and not be in such a hurry. Some of these girls best softball experiences are happening right now.

Personally, I love the showcase schedules and putting the players in the position to be seen. However, I feel they need a team goal(s) for each season as well. Each team should have the goal of playing in some sort of major event(s) or nationals each year, depending on their level of play. Give the girls some opportunities to win and build confidence, a winning culture, and then finish that up with a big one at the end, PGF, ASA, NSA, USSSA, regional, national, whatever fits the teams talent level. They should be focused on the season at hand, let the coaches/parents worry about the rest and just play ball.

We also build our brand by winning tournaments and playing in big events, this helps the player, team, and organization in recruiting, both for their teams now/future and their players going on to college.

Not to mention college coaches love winners with goals. I am pretty sure they are focused on today as much or more as the next recruiting class as well. My 2 cents.

 

[Bink44]

Tom...Very well said!!

 

[OHsoftball]

Great post. I agree 100%. Especially when you mentioned to give the girls some opportunities to win and build confidence, a winning culture, and then finish that up with a big one at the end. The reason these girls are playing at this level is because they are most competitive. It's no fun if you never win, no matter how good you are or what college may be recruiting you.

 

[wow]

I too gotta agree. These kids don't work their tails of for just the experience. However there is balance. Being in the best events for the talent of the team and being challenged to win is what it is all about. I think what most people want to avoid is the "win at all cost" or "winning is all that matters". The goal is to ALWAYS win. No one want to lose, or at least should. That's what separates travel from rec. High levels of competition is what its about.

 

[cobb_of_fury]

I agree with your premise but I think it's a matter of semantics - I don't think your GOAL is winning, I think your goal is to improve and play as a team, develop better skillsets, work together and better understand the game - The RESULT is winning.

 

[FastBat]

Great post!

Have you ever been to a tournament and the winning team refused the trophies? No?
That's because everyone is trophy hunting to some degree.
If not, why would anyone show up? Just to get better? The proof of getting better, would be to beat other teams and win.

Every single time we take the field, 10-23u...we should expect to give 100% toward the team goal of winning.

I think it would be disrespectful to the game/opposing team if they don't take the current game they were playing seriously.

This past summer, my dd had a coach, that experimented with positions of players, it was the first team that wasn't necessarily trying to win games. But, seeing what the players were able to do. Her team was trying to win other "bigger" games, to them, just further down the road that season. So that day, technically they didn't care about the trophy, although they certainly wanted to win, but a month later they very badly wanted to win.

I agree, focus on the "now" and enjoy it! But, the "now" may just be in a few weeks, not that game, but same season. The "now" for the other team, could be that game, it could be their last tournament that season.

 

[okiedad1961]

Tom agree with a lot of what you expressed,unfortunately the experience you speak of it not allways attainable to all the girls that have that talent .Some have to find fun in competing with the level team than can afford or can play on other than the teams/orgs that are stacked w talent.Yes winning as a team is great at any level and even at Non national event.I believe having success at a National event is more important to the org than the younger player due to its importance of being invited back and being seen on Super pool fields in the older/recruitment age.

 

[Irish196]

I'm pretty sure nobody plays travel ball to lose or to be indifferent about it. I'm pretty sure the point behind some of the more recent posts and sentiments that you refer to is that winning isn't the be all and all and there are other factors to take into consideration when playing that can be equally important. Also that someone shouldn't sell their soul or screw other people just to win.

 

[Pacerdad57]

I'm pretty sure nobody plays travel ball to lose or to be indifferent about it. I'm pretty sure the point behind some of the more recent posts and sentiments that you refer to is that winning isn't the be all and all and there are other factors to take into consideration when playing that can be equally important. Also that someone shouldn't sell their soul or screw other people just to win.

Think you nailed it Irish!

 

[coachtomv]

I'm pretty sure nobody plays travel ball to lose or to be indifferent about it. I'm pretty sure the point behind some of the more recent posts and sentiments that you refer to is that winning isn't the be all and all and there are other factors to take into consideration when playing that can be equally important. Also that someone shouldn't sell their soul or screw other people just to win.

Yes. That's the passion for the game part, we can lose that if we are too focused and critical of wins/losses, has to be a balance. We create a passion for the game with a positive attitude, effort, from players/coaches and mutual respect, but their needs to be some success along the way and a focus on it at this level. I think you personally know me well enough that I am not a "win at all costs" coach. My point is, if wins are not the focused goal/result, then its tough to focus on the process of player and team development. Unless we just want to stop keeping score and just had out trophies to all, lol. No one wants to be on a developmental team that can't win enough to keep everyone energized. How many at any age over 9u will say, what a great year, after going 10-50 and getting bounced in first game of eliminations every weekend?-unless rec ball

Its a pride thing also. I personally watched players not go to a team(s), solely based on the name on the front. Even though I knew they would most likely not have a great experience, or be developed, but they would win.

As far as the "someone shouldn't sell their soul or screw other people just to win.", you hit it. The tough part is to find the right people to surround yourself with that know how to develop young people with respect to them and team, but still have the #1 goal of winning along the way. You need buy in from players and parents to achieve both personal development and a winning culture, based on mutual respect for each other and the game. Once you find it, then there is patience required to build the winning culture, but it has to happen at some point.

There is a balance. Our last year was full of examples. We played for a newer org, so many players I knew and offered to were hesitant and chose to go to "bigger" named orgs. Many of the ones that we offered to had winning seasons, but not all together positive experiences. So, maybe they chased wins as the be all end all, but the wins are what attracted them most likely. We took the players that were excited to be there and started to develop a winning culture based on player development, but fully focused on winning and competing at a high level. We ended up with 40+ wins, 28-13 summer schedule, earning ASA bid and ultimately playing at a major PGF event.

We did not end up national champs, but we succeeded in developing a winning culture. We had several players play new positions, new roles, sacrifice for team, but still ended the season with personal confidence and a sense of achievement. So, we won because we approached it through full focus on getting better to win for each other. Never beat them up over losses, unless effort was not there, but made sure they left after losses knowing that winning is still our goal and hard work was the only way to get there.

Thank you for your input, as always!

 

[Softball Dad]

I agree with most of what is being said. I feel you play to win but not with the win at all cost mentality. You have to balance winning and rewarding your players with challenging and developing your players. If every tournament is a chase the trophy walk in the park with no challenge your players will be happy now but not in the long run. If every tournament is filled with teams full of D1 talent and you are not then the challenge is too great and no one will be happy at all and the players will get discouraged and stop developing.

If you win every trophy maybe your schedule it too easy
If you never make the championship round maybe your schedule is too hard, or your practices are not hard enough.

You have to know who you are. Are you a team developing college players or are you a team full of girls looking for something to do on weekends during the summer. You may not be who you think you are.

 

[DoubleTheFun]

I agree with most of what is being said. I feel you play to win but not with the win at all cost mentality. You have to balance winning and rewarding your players with challenging and developing your players. If every tournament is a chase the trophy walk in the park with no challenge your players will be happy now but not in the long run. If every tournament is filled with teams full of D1 talent and you are not then the challenge is too great and no one will be happy at all and the players will get discouraged and stop developing.

If you win every trophy maybe your schedule it too easy
If you never make the championship round maybe your schedule is too hard, or your practices are not hard enough.

You have to know who you are. Are you a team developing college players or are you a team full of girls looking for something to do on weekends during the summer. You may not be who you think you are.

I couldn't agree more with the balanced perspective described by Softball Dad and CoachTomV. The part of this that is challenging for the coaches is to be able to set team goals and work with each player to help them establish individual goals which are oftentimes based upon an untested squad at the beginning of fall season.

I like the team or player that sets goals a little outside their comfort level. The most successful teams will make adjustments to their summer schedule as well as individual positions/roles to further develop their players after evaluating the fall season in order to achieve the best return on investment of time, money, and effort.

It is a delicate balance for sure!

So, is your coach discussing team-wide and individual goals or is it "we are entering XYZ tournament this year cause we want to win it"? That will likely tell is you whether you are who you think you are.

 

[tankerlab]

Quote from Pete Rose at Greater Cincinnati High School player of the year banquet this year...
"I ask players, why do you play the game?" The overall response is usually, "Because I love the game and for fun." I say, "Oh really?" "Do you have fun when you lose the game?" No, you don't!" "Do you have fun when you Win?" "Yes you do!" "So you play to WIN!"
"And you parents out there..." "Don't even tell me winning or losing or your kid doing well vs not well in a game had no effect on the ride home!!! When we didn't win my dad would not stop to eat on way home, if we went on a couple game losing streak I felt like I was on a Jenny Craig diet plan!!!