Originally Posted by Anonymous
Originally Posted by Anonymous
Quick question to any parent of a Duke's Nationals players, all you read about on this site is about the depth chart (good and bad) and how important it is that the players on the teams are above the travel line to be able to play. What exactly is Duke's management saying when it posts stuff like "It's not about your status on the Depth Chart. It's about mindset" on Instagram as a noted direct quote from the director of the program? Does the depth chart not matter anymore or is it better to not worry about the depth chart and have a better mindset and that will get the players in. Very confusing message I would think for the players on the depth chart that are told that the depth chart is all that matters.


Here is the best answer to your question. The depth chart is used to get kids to commit to attending a tournament. Once at the tournament and all fees have been paid the depth chart is tossed to the side and a bunch of outside players are brought in while your depth chart kid sits most of the game on the sidelines, unless he's a stud and then he never comes off the field. The only mindset the dukes organization cares about is your commitment to investing your hard earned money in their sinking program.
And for everyone who thinks the minicamp fees are outrageous, we have come to realize that the tournament fees are even more ridiculous. That would be why these weak tournaments get added for a $150-250 fee in place of play days where the costs are only be covering ref fees and a lot harder to hide overcharging. We went to a tournament in the fall where we had plenty of kids some of whom were below the "travel line" and got charged $150 for it. Just doing the general math here, I'm pretty sure that tournament's registration fee wasn't $3,000.