Winning vs losing team

[Guest]

I showed up to watch a kid play, and they barely played, only when they were up 3-0 and everyone had lost the plot. She didn't even break a sweat, but was sure to celebrate how awesome they did. I then walked over to another game, watched another player, who was clearly worn out from playing the entire 90 minutes and kept working hard as they were on their back foot. She congratulated the other team, and despite her disappointment in the result she held her head high.

I'll tell you which player I'm recruiting, without any question.

So you'd make your recruiting decision based on just watching each in 1 game? What kind of program do you recruit for?

[Guest]

I showed up to watch a kid play, and they barely played, only when they were up 3-0 and everyone had lost the plot. She didn't even break a sweat, but was sure to celebrate how awesome they did. I then walked over to another game, watched another player, who was clearly worn out from playing the entire 90 minutes and kept working hard as they were on their back foot. She congratulated the other team, and despite her disappointment in the result she held her head high.

I'll tell you which player I'm recruiting, without any question.

wouldn't you want to find out more about why the player didn't play much? Maybe they played 90 minutes in their previous game? Or saving them for the next game that they anticipate being a tougher game? Or they are recovering from an injury or COVID and coach wants to take it easy on them? And for the player who did play the entire 90 minutes, did they make good decisions or were they just running around without any purpose? Did they pass the ball or hog it because their teammates weren't any good? She congratulated the other team, but how did she treat her own teammates?

So many questions to be answered before thinking about which player to recruit.

[Guest]

wouldn't you want to find out more about why the player didn't play much? Maybe they played 90 minutes in their previous game? Or saving them for the next game that they anticipate being a tougher game? Or they are recovering from an injury or COVID and coach wants to take it easy on them? And for the player who did play the entire 90 minutes, did they make good decisions or were they just running around without any purpose? Did they pass the ball or hog it because their teammates weren't any good? She congratulated the other team, but how did she treat her own teammates?

So many questions to be answered before thinking about which player to recruit.

Maybe, maybe not. I don't have a lot of time at these events to see everyone on the list. I may only have a few minutes per game, maybe a half. Hopefully I'll get to see them once. But, I can tell a player's attitude within a minute.

I can absolutely tell that since I can see a player playing, they will be of interest to me. If I cannot see the player play, no matter how "good" the team is, they won't. I'm no soothsayer, I can only judge by what I see and if a player isn't playing, there's nothing to judge.

Really no need to overthink it. One is reality is one is hypothetical.

[Guest]

Maybe, maybe not. I don't have a lot of time at these events to see everyone on the list. I may only have a few minutes per game, maybe a half. Hopefully I'll get to see them once. But, I can tell a player's attitude within a minute.

I can absolutely tell that since I can see a player playing, they will be of interest to me. If I cannot see the player play, no matter how "good" the team is, they won't. I'm no soothsayer, I can only judge by what I see and if a player isn't playing, there's nothing to judge.

Really no need to overthink it. One is reality is one is hypothetical.

Yes, it's true that you can only evaluate players whom you are able to see play. But crazy that you can be so decisive in your recruiting evaluations based on so little information.

Oh...and from your comments, how did you know the one kid played all 90 minutes if you only were there for a few minutes per game or just a half? And how did you know the other player only played when it was garbage time in the same circumstance?

One thing I notice about some coaches in recruiting is that they like the "flashy" players...the ones who can do something that makes a big impression in just a few minutes...but those recruiters often miss out on the glue players...the steady ones that are always in the right place, make the right play, do all the little things that make a team successful despite not being overly outwardly emotional or running around a lot.

[Guest]

Yes, it's true that you can only evaluate players whom you are able to see play. But crazy that you can be so decisive in your recruiting evaluations based on so little information.

Oh...and from your comments, how did you know the one kid played all 90 minutes if you only were there for a few minutes per game or just a half? And how did you know the other player only played when it was garbage time in the same circumstance?

One thing I notice about some coaches in recruiting is that they like the "flashy" players...the ones who can do something that makes a big impression in just a few minutes...but those recruiters often miss out on the glue players...the steady ones that are always in the right place, make the right play, do all the little things that make a team successful despite not being overly outwardly emotional or running around a lot.

Nowhere did I say I wouldn't look at the player again, later. Maybe I will, maybe I won't.

But, if I'm there to watch and recruit a player, I'll recruit the player I can watch. Remember, the original post was about not playing much on a good team vs. playing a lot on a bad team. I'm there to watch players play, not envision why they aren't or imagine what type of player they are when they aren't playing. I've got a list of players the length of my arm to see play, and those are the ones who I will watch. I don't even care who's winning or losing, and truthfully wouldn't even mind to see them losing so I can see how their personality. You can tell much more about a player during times of stress than you can when things are going well. It's easy to look good in a perfect environment when everyone is playing with joy. That won't be the case next year for any player.

Not sure where/why the drift came in on your last paragraph so I'll leave it alone.

[Guest]

One thing I notice about some coaches in recruiting is that they like the "flashy" players...the ones who can do something that makes a big impression in just a few minutes...but those recruiters often miss out on the glue players...the steady ones that are always in the right place, make the right play, do all the little things that make a team successful despite not being overly outwardly emotional or running around a lot.

None of that matters if they aren't playing.

[Guest]

Nowhere did I say I wouldn't look at the player again, later. Maybe I will, maybe I won't.

But, if I'm there to watch and recruit a player, I'll recruit the player I can watch. Remember, the original post was about not playing much on a good team vs. playing a lot on a bad team. I'm there to watch players play, not envision why they aren't or imagine what type of player they are when they aren't playing. I've got a list of players the length of my arm to see play, and those are the ones who I will watch. I don't even care who's winning or losing, and truthfully wouldn't even mind to see them losing so I can see how their personality. You can tell much more about a player during times of stress than you can when things are going well. It's easy to look good in a perfect environment when everyone is playing with joy. That won't be the case next year for any player.

Not sure where/why the drift came in on your last paragraph so I'll leave it alone.

You said you "I'll tell you which player I'm recruiting, without any question." after describing the two situations. My response was based on being surprised that you'd be so decisive about your recruiting decisions with such little information.

My last paragraph was there because you said you could "tell a player's attitude within a minute". My point was that often times the real attitude and value of a player is impossible to see within a minute.

[Guest]

None of that matters if they aren't playing.

Agree. But to discard them from your recruiting list because they didn't get into a game when you were there seems kind of short sighted.

[Guest]

No simpleton, it's about sitting and watching a winning team play vs. playing on a losing team.

One enables you to be a well-rounded player, who will appreciate the downsides of the game so you can work hard to avoid it in the future. Another enables you to watch the beautiful game and get some sunshine; maybe a plastic medal you didn't earn.

I’m the OP and yes you understood me correctly lol

[Guest]

Agree. But to discard them from your recruiting list because they didn't get into a game when you were there seems kind of short sighted.

Maybe I'll try again, maybe I won't. Depends if anyone else on the list I came to see I actually saw. If I am there to see two players in a certain grad year in a certain position, if I see one play and not the other, I'll move on from there.

You only get so many chances to sell yourself.

[Guest]

One thing I notice about some coaches in recruiting is that they like the "flashy" players...the ones who can do something that makes a big impression in just a few minutes...but those recruiters often miss out on the glue players...the steady ones that are always in the right place, make the right play, do all the little things that make a team successful despite not being overly outwardly emotional or running around a lot.

Half my roster are glue players: They cheer and get water and work to do a lot in a few minutes. All of them I recruited hopefully they would be more than that.

I don't recruit glue players who don't play.

[Guest]

Half my roster are glue players: They cheer and get water and work to do a lot in a few minutes. All of them I recruited hopefully they would be more than that.

I don't recruit glue players who don't play.

What level of program do you recruit for?

[Guest]

What level of program do you recruit for?

I "Consult" for a D1 program that has always had a goal of playing in the NCAAs, no longer coach as I had to get out of it but my old teammate is now in charge and, well, I'm still involved on a volunteer basis and still do some recruiting legwork.

And, in typical TS fashion, I exaggerated to some degree with the "I" and "my" program as it is no longer mine. Just being truthful.

[Guest]

I "Consult" for a D1 program that has always had a goal of playing in the NCAAs, no longer coach as I had to get out of it but my old teammate is now in charge and, well, I'm still involved on a volunteer basis and still do some recruiting legwork.

And, in typical TS fashion, I exaggerated to some degree with the "I" and "my" program as it is no longer mine. Just being truthful.

What level of D1 program?

[Guest]

what’s a ‘glue player’.