Part III of
The Apocalypse
Elite teams, parents, and coaches:
One of the
major problems facing youth and high schools sports today is the proliferation
of “elite” teams. Many factors go into this burgeoning problem. First and
foremost is the word “elite” and how it has been watered down to fit most any
travel program. This word gives status to the adults, organization, the
children and the coaches. When in fact, this team at this level of play, may
not be elite at all.
Secondly,
the amount of time money, effort, and status that goes into making this become
way more than it really was. What it really is, is kids from a very select
area, and with the financial backing of their families agreeing to pay to play
on a team that may or may not benefit them and their athletic journey.
Because of
the money involved, an average weekend on the road cost me $500, a certain
false belief of value came to the forefront and helped create an environment
ripe for hostility, angst, disappointment, and failure. These teams became a
family focal point and people would defend their time money and effort spent by
saying their family was spending time together and making long time friends. While
that was true the $10,000 Clayton’s team spent on this tournament could have
been better spent at home playing a pickup game and then going out for pizza.
I confess
that I “drank the Kool-Aid.” My son was the youngest player on the team and was
actually playing “up” a year. When asked about him I would be sure to include
that fact in my response, “GULP GULP.” Since I had been to a showcase many
years ago when I was being recruited to play college hockey I was excited for
Clayton and this supposed opportunity. Let me give you this example.
His
team went on a trip to a “showcase” in Virginia. I supposed that since out team
had to “apply” for this tournament, that it was legit. I also wanted to take a
look at some athletes that were headed to college and to see how good they
really were. A hobby of mine, gleaned from years of recruiting for the college
hockey team I coached, was to try and pick out the “studs” before they even
started to play.
I would
watch them walk on to the field and then warm up. Truly people, at this age, it
is not very hard to pick out the athlete fairly quick.
When we got there I found the head of the tournament
asked him were the college coaches were. He said they had been there last night
and would be arriving today. I told him I was a college hockey coach. He asked
me to sign in. I did, confused, but what the heck. Maybe I would get to talk to
a couple of the coaches when they arrived.
OH, you should know that college coaches can
only make these off campus visits at certain times of the year depending on the
sport being played. Also, because of the proliferation of theses showcases,
many of them are “watered” down and there really isn’t a whole lot to see at
these showcases.
As a matter
of fact, there were about 600 children playing in this tournament. After the warm-up
in Clayton’s first game I turned to my wife and said: “his is crazy.” What a waste of time. I then
proceeded to map out a form, (it is on my website) so families would know what
it would cost them per hour to have their children play “elite” travel sports.”
I was so stunned at the lack of talent, that I told my wife I was sticking
around after the game and would stay and watch more games while my family went
back to the hotel.
The scores
of his four games were 2-0, 2-2, 0-1 and 1-3. Can anyone tell me how this was
any better than the games and the scores playing around our hometown? Of course
it’s not. And to hear the parents brag about it was hilarious and sad. It
became another status symbol to brag about how tired you were from all the
travel and of course mentioning the cities and dropping names whenever
possible.
It was the
last one we went to ever. I watched more games that weekend than anyone else at
that tournament. I saw 3 players that I
would consider elite athletes with a future in college athletics at the D!
Level. That’s it.
