|
|
|
Note: You must be registered in order to post a reply.
To register, click here. Registration is FREE!
|
| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| metsFan |
Posted - 07/22/2010 : 22:16:02
With the ECB tryout/clinic nearing I need to ask how this system works.
Can teams make offers to prospective players (current ECB players or non ECB players) prior to the tryout/clinic?
I have heard that ECB player can get cut from their previous team. How does that conversation take place?(ouch!) Does that make them eligible to get recruited/offered by another ECB team prior to the tryout/clinic?
If the teams are now ready to select new players (after tryout/clinic), how is the drafting order determined? Or do the players family decide which team in the event more than one team wants that player?
Do ECB teams trade players to other teams? If so do families have a say in the trade? |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| WPBulls Coach |
Posted - 07/30/2010 : 15:59:16
As a coach and parent who has competed against ECB teams for almost 10 years, I think I can give some insight from the outside. ECB is a fantastic complex and travel ball program. I can't wait to meet Mr. Baldwin and thank him personally for his time and efforts to raise the level of travel ball in Georgia. Without ECB we would be like Tampa, Miami, Dallas, Charlotte, etc., just another southern city with a bunch of baseball teams. But ECB has put North Georgia baseball on the map.
Like any large program it has it's strengths and weaknesses. Not every player is great, in fact not every player is good. Not every coach is great, in fact not every coach is good. And the same goes for the teams. But it offers the chance to play for great teams and coaches. It offers the chance to see and play with great players. I just wish the some of the parents and players of teams not playing for ECB would not bash it so much and conversely I wish some of the parents and players playing there would not be so condescending. Over the years our teams have consistently beaten many of the ECB teams (with the exception of the Astros), so there is good baseball outside of ECB.
With the exception of the 16-18 y/o teams and the top 1 or 2 teams from 12-15 y/o, I look at ECB as I do any other community park. The teams will be only as competitive as the coaches and players make them. Some years they will have some great teams and some years they won't.
There are also a number of new "programs" such as 6-4-3, Team Georgia, Home Plate that offer similar coaching and talent level that might be closer to home.
My advice is to try to find the best fit for your son and your family and don't worry what name is on the front of the jersey. If you have talent the coaches, scouts and recruiters will find you. |
| baseballinsider |
Posted - 07/25/2010 : 15:21:44
Coach 0512- great post. You hit it on the spot. It's a great opportunity to able to play at EC but what 9, 10 or 11 is going to thank there coach when the move up to the "Big League". |
| coachdan06 |
Posted - 07/25/2010 : 14:28:38
Good Golly Coach 05 you hit that ball outta the park
At core you nailed it that we as parents (and we grandparents) are focused way too much on our own competitiveness and self image boosts that will come out of the team assignemnt. Hogwash !
Not and never what its about , thanx for your good reminder
quote:
Originally posted by coach0512
After reading SEVERAL forums on ECB I have finally come to a conclusion about ECB.
We parents are acting like a bunch of little piggies figthing eachother to suckle at the ECB teat and it is OUR fault for the way we are acting, not ECBs.
I am in the midst of taking my son to several tryouts for different teams and we have already attended a work out session for one of the EC teams. I stepped back this evening and did an evaluation of what I was doing, while I was reading all these forums, and realized that the choice of travel team is ALOT easier than I was making it. Instead of being so caught up in trying to get over to ECB, (because, well, EVERY player MUST play for ECB to be considered any good, right (?)), I should be much more concerned with whether my son wants to play with the kids on the team, what positions he is being considered for, how much playing time is realistic and if the coaches have the skills to transfer their baseball knowledge to 10 year old kids.
My goal for my son has always been to be offered a baseball scholarship to a college. Any college. And I am willing to bet that there are far more players on college scholarships who did NOT play at ECB than those who have. Having ECB on his resume would definitely be an asset, but it is not a requirement. I am not anti-ECB by any means. I just came to realize tonight that over the last week or so I have been so caught up in getting my son into EC that I lost sight of why my son even plays the game. I would rather he plays for a team where he will have more playing time than bench time and where he will enjoy his teammates than to take a chance he will be a second string player on an EC team just to be able to say we play at EC.
I honestly don't know of any adult ball player who thanks his 9, 10, 11 year old baseball coach but they sure thank their college coach. We parents are so caught up in being competitive about where our kids play that we forget the kid is supposed to be enjoying the experience.
A previous poster had it completely correct- ask what the tryout coach saw that was good, ask what was bad, get a realistic feel for your sons opportunity for playing time and playing position and then have your kid play for the team that most closely aligns with your desires and where your kid will have fun.
|
| bat man |
Posted - 07/25/2010 : 09:57:27
Coach0512
Hallelujah!!! someone finally figured this deal out!!Thank you. Hope you spread your wisdom to other parents. So many are so caught up in the ECB thing, which is ridiculous!! |
| coach0512 |
Posted - 07/25/2010 : 00:38:33
After reading SEVERAL forums on ECB I have finally come to a conclusion about ECB.
We parents are acting like a bunch of little piggies figthing eachother to suckle at the ECB teat and it is OUR fault for the way we are acting, not ECBs.
I am in the midst of taking my son to several tryouts for different teams and we have already attended a work out session for one of the EC teams. I stepped back this evening and did an evaluation of what I was doing, while I was reading all these forums, and realized that the choice of travel team is ALOT easier than I was making it. Instead of being so caught up in trying to get over to ECB, (because, well, EVERY player MUST play for ECB to be considered any good, right (?)), I should be much more concerned with whether my son wants to play with the kids on the team, what positions he is being considered for, how much playing time is realistic and if the coaches have the skills to transfer their baseball knowledge to 10 year old kids.
My goal for my son has always been to be offered a baseball scholarship to a college. Any college. And I am willing to bet that there are far more players on college scholarships who did NOT play at ECB than those who have. Having ECB on his resume would definitely be an asset, but it is not a requirement. I am not anti-ECB by any means. I just came to realize tonight that over the last week or so I have been so caught up in getting my son into EC that I lost sight of why my son even plays the game. I would rather he plays for a team where he will have more playing time than bench time and where he will enjoy his teammates than to take a chance he will be a second string player on an EC team just to be able to say we play at EC.
I honestly don't know of any adult ball player who thanks his 9, 10, 11 year old baseball coach but they sure thank their college coach. We parents are so caught up in being competitive about where our kids play that we forget the kid is supposed to be enjoying the experience.
A previous poster had it completely correct- ask what the tryout coach saw that was good, ask what was bad, get a realistic feel for your sons opportunity for playing time and playing position and then have your kid play for the team that most closely aligns with your desires and where your kid will have fun.
|
| gabandit |
Posted - 07/23/2010 : 19:51:55
To Patbb concerning the movement/transfer of funds. Have no idea. The ones that I am aware of paid for the fall, received their fall baseball commensurate with what they paid, got cut, moved on. They had not yet paid spring/summer fees.
To loveforthegame25: as I've described happens at 14U and above. I cannot speak to below the 14U group...
A lot of this is solved when honesty enters and coach's egos exit. Be honest about roster, potential playing time, etc. Problems arise when coaches go after the "names" without regard to building a proper roster of players, i.e no team should carry 4 first baseman, as an example. A very valid conversation post tryout can be "I like your son, I see him as my #2 3rd baseman. He will have ample opportunity to win #1, but right now I see him as my #2." Nothing wrong with that... |
| loveforthegame25 |
Posted - 07/23/2010 : 17:19:42
Ive been around EC for a couple years now, and I havent heard of any teams "cutting" players. Some quit or get hurt. But ive never heard of kids getting picked in the fall and then get cut during the winter. Enlighten me. Who has experienced this? |
| bballman |
Posted - 07/23/2010 : 15:24:12
quote:
Originally posted by PATbb
quote:
Originally posted by MadSkills
BTW, any team can cut players from their roster, doesn't only happen at East Cobb.
Madskills, Understood, I would think that most do not load up a team in the fall and then cut the fat prior to the spring season beginning
True, but many teams take on kids in the fall that they have no intentions of keeping for the spring. Coaches should be letting these kids know up front. The problem is in the fall, many kids play football. If a team wants to play in the fall, they need guys to replace the football players who will return in the spring. |
| Critical Mass |
Posted - 07/23/2010 : 14:49:21
MetsFan, have you ever seen the movie Star Wars? ECB = DeathStar......j/k  GO BRAVES! |
| wareagle |
Posted - 07/23/2010 : 11:27:23
Seems like there are rules in place, but people aren't following the rules. Personally I can understand wanting to develop an "A","B","C", level in the older groups, where they may travel further to play top teams from other states, showcases, ect. But when you start talking about an "Astros 10U" team(possibly stacked with the best players from 2-3 teams), there will be VERY few teams in the area that could compete with them. IMHO a competitive game ending in a win or loss is more fun than blowing out a team or getting blown out. Most of us have all been on both sides of this and beating someone 15-0 is no fun. Sure you get bragging rights but the boys will learn more from a close loss. Is this really about learning, working hard and having fun!!!
The 9U teams moving to 10U at East Cobb already have to play up to find tournaments each week. In a short while, this will not be a good idea when you have a 4'6 10u stud playing against 6'tall 160lb batters and pitchers and the field size changes. |
| MadSkills |
Posted - 07/23/2010 : 10:46:04
quote:
Originally posted by PATbb
Question regarding below previous posts from Madskills and Gabandit:
For the players cut or forced into free agency in the fall, I understand the park gets the clinic/tryout funds, but what happens to the check/money written to the team account? is it amortized out or does it stay with the team? or does it move with the players once they are cut, made a free agent and or move to another team? or do you have to right another check to the new team? Does East Cobb have a policy on this or is it up to the independent teams to make it right after the player is cut.
Madskills: players can get cut at any time. Once their free, they can play for another team since their basically a "free agent"
Gabandit: I have seen the Astro's/Titan's take a larger roster into the fall in order to make final decisions on players. If a player is released by the Astro's, the Titan's will most likely have the opportunity to take that player or not. It is still the families decision if they want to play for that team. If in the fall a player is released from the Astro's/Titan's and neither team desires that player, the other coaches are then told that player is now available.
Good question, I would think that if you haven't played any games or ordered any uniforms that you would get back everything. I'm not 100% sure but someone else should be able to answer this.
BTW, any team can cut players from their roster, doesn't only happen at East Cobb. |
| metsFan |
Posted - 07/23/2010 : 10:12:03
quote:
Originally posted by gabandit
I have seen the Astro's/Titan's take a larger roster into the fall in order to make final decisions on players. If a player is released by the Astro's, the Titan's will most likely have the opportunity to take that player or not. It is still the families decision if they want to play for that team. If in the fall a player is released from the Astro's/Titan's and neither team desires that player, the other coaches are then told that player is now available.
First, thanks to everyone who is providing insight into the workings of the ECB process.
If I am reading the post by GABandit correctly, you get picked up by a team (ie Astros) after the tryout/clinic, then you can be cut before the season starts? What if no other team wants your kid? Is it back to rec ball?  |
| qui-gon.jinn |
Posted - 07/23/2010 : 08:53:41
No. NO. NO!!! Stop selling the astros as the dream team of the century (year after year!) and the other coaches as owners! All players are effectively free agents until they complete the paperwork for the season!
What?????? Can that be so? ABSOLUTELY!
Right now, all the kids on the astros, titans, and braves can play for any coach/team they wish! If a coach wants your kid and does the proverbial hard-sell, you, as that kid's parent can choose to change teams (or not!) and you have every right to say whatever you want about me to get kids you want!
There are some civilized rules (you cannot decimate a team by taking all their players; the hard sell is generally frowned upon for an existing player). But YOU ARE NEVER LOCKED INTO A TEAM UNTIL THE PAPERWORK (AND CHECK) IS SIGNED, SEALED and DELIVERED.
Parents may say "No".
Don't fall for the lies, half-truths and innuendos. Parents, YOU, NOT THE COACHES, hold most of the cards. Use that knowledge to find the best fit for you kid.
|
| beanball |
Posted - 07/23/2010 : 06:22:17
Mad Skills had it mostly right. I would caution you however about being selected on a team before the clinic.
As newcommers to ECB last year we attended a "workout" with a team prior to the clinic and was frozen without our knowledge before the clinic. We chose not to play for that team because of the circumstances. |
| gabandit |
Posted - 07/22/2010 : 22:53:51
So from our experience I can tell you how it is supposed to work, then what is currently going on...
It is "supposed" to work that coaches cannot commit to prospective players prior to the tryout. Certainly conversations can take place, i.e. "I'd like to have you next year, come to the tryout". However the line is drawn there, coaches are warned about not locking in players prior to tryout and then telling them that they don't have to attend the tryout. Guerry Baldwin has made it pretty clear that EVERY player has an opportunity to be seen by the Astro's coaches.
During the tryouts, the Astro's have first choice, followed by the Titans. The family however is in full control. If you don't want to play for the Astro's or Titan's, that is your choice and you can go to another team, if they want you. If a player is not chosen by either the Astro's or Titan's then the other coaches can approach, have conversations, make their pitch, etc...
I have seen the Astro's/Titan's take a larger roster into the fall in order to make final decisions on players. If a player is released by the Astro's, the Titan's will most likely have the opportunity to take that player or not. It is still the families decision if they want to play for that team. If in the fall a player is released from the Astro's/Titan's and neither team desires that player, the other coaches are then told that player is now available.
Ideally this process, when followed, would work very well. It would eliminate a lot of the lies and heartache associated with the "recruiting season". As with most things when humans are involved however, egos get in the way. Many coaches ignore the "rules" and begin recruiting early and include a lot of "negative" recruiting, intimidation and false promises. I know for a fact that a lot of this is going on right now and the people in charge at East Cobb are not happy about it. They cannot however, police every e-mail and phone call...
Hope this helps, I'm sure others will add their color commentary... |
| MadSkills |
Posted - 07/22/2010 : 22:33:09
metfan, teams at EC can extend offers before the clinics and players can get cut at any time. Once their free, they can play for another team since their basically a "free agent"
There is no drafting order, coaches will speak to parents during the clinic or after and extend offers. It's up to the parents to ask questions and decide which team to play for. My best friends kid went there last year and his kid is a good player, they had 3-4 coaches come up during the clinic and offer spots. Kind of overwhelming if you don't know what to expect.
There is no trading of players but if the top team "Astros" comes a calling then those parents have the option of playing for them. |
|
|
| Georgia Travel Baseball - NWBA |
© 2000-22 NWBA |
 |
|
|
