[quote=Anonymous]In regards to the 2023 Outlaws, I felt there were many talented kids in attendance. Sure anyone could make up an excuse of why their child did not play up to their potential, but it was 90 degrees for everyone. My gripe was receiving an email stating my son was invited to play for the "black" team only to receive a follow up email 2 hours later stating the black team was the B team and the A team is now called "select". If my memory serves me correct, the A team for outlaws was named "black". I told my son before tryouts that he could play only if he made the A team. It is my philosophy that there are no "b teams" in life, so if you settle for less than the best, you are selling yourself short. It sucked to break the news to him, but hopefully he will strive to improve for the next team's tryout. [/quote 1/ You my man are a tool and are doing your son a tremendous disservice. There are plenty of fine coaches who coach the second team in some organizations and one of these coaches may connect with your son. It's not how the race starts but how it finishes and regardless of the impetuousness of college coaches recruiting middle schoolers 5th grade is still young to poison your sons brain. As long as your boy stays passionate and continues to understand the game the right way everything works itself out.
Why is he a tool. Because he is teaching his son to always strive for excellence. Their are many teams out there and doesn't want his son to settle for the first team he made on the first weekend of a month and a half tryout season. Nobody even knows who the coach is for the outlaw black team yet. Not posted anywhere nor was it addressed at the tryout. There are more questions than answers. The coach will have a big impact on how passionate the boy stays and if he continues to understand the game as you put it. Most B teams don't get that quality of a coach and it's usually some college kid trying to make extra money over the summer.
I don't think there is anything wrong waiting to try out for other teams to hold their try outs and strive for an A team. Many parents sacrifice for their kid to play travel sports and if they only make a B team they might prefer to put the money into clinics and camps instead. B teams can be great and they can be terrible. If the coach is good, committed, fair and motivating, that is great. However, the kids on the team have to be all in too. Sometimes you'll find the families aren't as committed and kids don't show for practices or games because they play for more than one team, other sports or it's just not the team they want and the motivation is lacking. I've seen it both ways. A teams usually don't struggle with this and I think it is wise for the dad to encourage his son to wait it out, work hard and strive for the best. That said, I don't think anyone should put down a B team at any level just because they are a B team. Not every kid is an A player and there should be teams for all kids to play. The key is to find one that is a good fit and kids and coaches are committed. They are out there and can be worth the time and money .
