Fresno Force Classic 2012

[Iluvblue]

could one of the reasons be the lack of legitimate coaching at 14u be the reason more are jumping to 16u?



I dont think so. I dont think just getting into 16u means your level of coaching will be higher than 14u. I think in general people just want to get to 18u as soon as they can. Can these kids play at the 16u level? obviously they are capable of doing so. I just think these kids miss out on a chance to gain swagger, confidence, and basically know what it means to just be on a team that wins.

Winning teams have kids that have learned how to win, and staying down for at least a year is not a bad thing.

Our 16u team has 5 kids that could play 14.... a pitcher, c, ss are in that mix. Our Gold team has 1 kid that could play 14u. we could put together 1 very good 14u team, but I cant talk anyone into anything, and I have basically stopped trying, as it is a losing battle.

[Tenshun]

Rhetoric aside, there's no shame in losing to either Sorcerers or TS. Both those teams are top notch. The only shame would come if Smash (or any other team) did not learn from those losses and come back even stronger next time.

Smash opened the season very strong compared to TS and Sorcerers who both had a slower start. Smash is still going strong, but other teams have caught up. Grapettes, Breeze 98, Dirt Dogs, KG and the onslaught of the HS teams coming back all want a place at the table.

The season is a marathon, not a sprint. "And he who starts at the back of the line must either run faster or forever remain behind."

Work hard.

-Tenshun

[Iluvblue]

The only shame would come if Smash (or any other team) did not learn from those losses


Im not sure what you learn? It isnt like there is some great play that you would see for the first time. Losses usually mean the other team outhit you, or you made some error that cost you the game.

Those things just happen, and sometimes you just play a team that is flat out better than you, no learning there.

You should learn every inning of every game IMO, but no amount of practice is going to take a team and put them into that elite category of they dont have the players. Winning teams have great players that work hard.

[style]

Well said tenshun.. Juicy if your basing your season/ranking off the Fresno force your way off just like said it's a marathon not a sprint. My daughter plays for smash Ill put that out there for you last week we lost to Ts and to me their #1 pitcher who throws hard as hell not to many that will catch up To that, this past weekend lost to another pitcher that threw real good nasty change up, first time we have seen her but to say we're falling Id have to disagree with you, did you forget what we did in Vegas with 50 quality teams? our team is not hitting every team goes thru something like this I would rather they go thru it now instead of end of July begging august smash will compete with all teams out there I don't care what anyone on heybucket says if you know the the game you'll agree,just like sorcerers, T's and Vazquez are all good team they will all go as far as their pitcher carry them

[Tenshun]

Iluvblu, there is more to be learned from losses than just how to win. One such thing is humility, both before and after the games.

[Sftball Junkie]

The only shame would come if Smash (or any other team) did not learn from those losses

I tend to agree with much of what you say Blue but these couple comments made me scratch my head a little coming from a long time coach...

Im not sure what you learn? It isnt like there is some great play that you would see for the first time. Losses usually mean the other team outhit you, or you made some error that cost you the game.

There is plenty to learn from a loss. There is more to just seeing a great play for the first time. For a young player You could see the same play 1000 times and learn something new about that play or how it was made on number 1001. If a team is outhitting you, Why are they outhitting you? something to learn there. If you made errors to lose a game with out a doubt there is plenty to learn there. Most errors are due to the fact that a player is not playing with 100% focus which is extremely hard to do. Learning to keep that mental focus up every play of every game is an on going process.

Those things just happen, and sometimes you just play a team that is flat out better than you, no learning there.

If you are playing a team that is flat out better every player should be learning on every play. Everyone matures at different levels. I have seen a number of athletes who are the 9 11 13 player on an OK team mature in High School and become a top 5 on very strong teams in their last few years of play.

Winning teams have great players that work hard.

I would agree with that. If you are not working daily at this game your teammates will soon pass you. Athletic ability will only take you so far the hard work is what puts you over the top.

I learn from people everyday and after way to many years to admit to in this sport I am still learning from other coaches players and parents..

[Blockster]

Great post sftball junkie

And as usual Tenshun you are the voice of reason.

[Juicy]

Style - never said Smash wasn't a good team, they are. As a matter of fact one of the better teams in 14u. You're dd is a big reason why they are doing well. My point is that you have others in your team/organization that want to thump their chest after every accomplishment, which is not even a bad thing. But you don't need to trash talk and call out other teams on here especially so early in the season and then can't be man/woman about it to give props to teams that beat you and be a sore loser. Like Tenshun said, it's a marathon not a sprint. Still got a ways to go before premiers/nationals. So let's leave it on the field and let others do the talking for you. If you take care of business others will take notice. You don't need some parents getting on here pretending they didn't know how their team did or trying to find out what happened in a certain tournament their dd just played in (i.e. 2face, boogieman, luvhaters to name a few) and fish for recognition and/or compliments.

If I have called out somebody that is not affiliated with your team or isn't involved with the trash talking then I sincerely apologize. But the proof is in the pudding. Check out recent posts by the above names. All it takes is a few bad apples.

[Iluvblue]

I will try to explain myself a little better.

I dont believe you can become a good player by watching another player make great plays. So if a player makes an error... lets say they throw it over the first baseman's head, how do you learn not to make that error by making it in the first place? You learn by putting in the practice. You learn by practicing your throwing and hopefully have someone around you that can show you the things you are doing wrong. No way a 13 year old kid can pick out that they are stepping off to the side when they are throwing and that is why their throw is sailing. It takes a coach to show them what they are doing.

So we play the Scorcerer, and they hit the crap out of the ball and put up 8 runs. No kid watching that happen is going to become a better hitter by seeing it. Some kids work hard and have "It." I see kids with GREAT swings that hit like garbage, because they have no eye for the ball and no discipline at the plate. watching another kid have discipline is not going to help a kid become a better hitter.

Now do I believe you can become a better player by watching games? Oh, heck yes.... but ONLY if you are watching those games with someone who knows the game and is dissecting it with you.




Most errors are due to the fact that a player is not playing with 100% focus which is extremely hard to do. Learning to keep that mental focus up every play of every game is an on going process.

Do you think said player can learn to keep their focus up on every play from watching? How do you think a player learns to stay focused? These are questions as I enjoy the discussion, until the inevitable person wants to turn it into a discussion about me, so lets keep this fun:)



Kids can watch all day, but if they dont have someone with knowledge and experience around them, explaining to them what they are seeing, all that watching is useless. Kids could see that great play 1000 times and not even know what made it a great play, so seeing it doesnt mean much.

[onlooker]

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