Junior State Tryouts at Ballarat ?

[pirates]

For a long time I have been shaking my head at the decision to remove the Ballarat junior state tryouts weekend. Why would you remove one of the highlights in the baseball calendar which showcased all the kids across the state in one location. Everyone that attended those weekends, including the parents and umpires all had a great time and helped promote the sport in a very positive and interactive way.
All of the under 14’s, 16’s and 18’s in one location allowed the players compete against the best the state had to offer. All the coaches saw the players in game situations over 3 games per day and the umpires used it as an opportunity to train together, it also allowed the kids to see the umpires up close and experience tournament conditions.

Along with all these benefits we the city based baseball community also put back into the regional baseball community, there used to hundreds of players and parents. All run brilliantly.
KC mentioned that the new facility sits there under used and the baseball in regional’s are seeing a huge drop off. Why wouldn’t Vic Baseball re look at re staging the trials at Ballart as part of the state selection process.

[bushman]

It always swings back to travel and the fact that many do not want to travel at all. It happens with seniors, so it will happen with juniors (driven from their parents).
If its outside of Melbourne they will protest, its so hard to get there, etc, etc.

It would be a great idea to run a session in Ballarat, use the fantastic facilities they have there, but unfortunately wont happen. Its always back to the country players and their parents to make the sacrifices to travel.
Cynical, yes. True,........you decide.

[aueagle30]

The original trials in Ballarat was for country players to tryout for the VPBL teams... this was then co-opted to involve part of the selection process for the Victorian and VPBL teams.

As a former Victorian coach, our main purpose for being in Ballarat was to see the regional players that hadn't been to earlier tryouts in Melbourne. In the last couple of years we ran the Ballarat program, we were lucky to see 3-4 players that hadn't been to the earlier sessions (speaking only for U/18's... not sure of the other age groups). An assessment was made that conducting the weekend for the benefit of only 3-4 players was not worthwhile.

In the year after the Ballarat event was cancelled (following the decision for BV to manage both teams), BV sent a coaching panel on a week-long tour of Victoria, running trials in regional areas. I'm not really familiar why this stopped (if it has stopped???), but, if my memory serves me well, the results of that tour were not able to justify the effort and expense of running the tour (at least for that year in that format).

Keep in mind, with any event like this, cost/benefit must be considered. While you may have merit in your idea of the Ballarat event serving a valuable purpose, if the cost of the event outweighs the value of the event, BV are correct to consider it expendable.

It seems the value you perceived in the Ballarat event was more public relations than development pathway? Again, there is merit in developing good realtionships with regional baseball communities, but the cost burden of developing this relationship eventually became borne by metropolitan families who were convinced their child 'must attend, or regret it' (cost such as travel, accomodation, time, opportunity costs, etc.).

Undermining metropolitan families (core market) for the benefit of developing better relationships with regional families (and I would question how improved the relationship was as a result of the Ballarat event, considering the low numbers attending) would be a dangerous game for BV, no?

[perfeckt]

As a previously long travelling parental supporter of genuine off-spring passion I feel that I can comment with some authority on this thread. Yeah the cost/benefit didn't always add to the plus side of my ledger for my 'little Johnny' and his ambition but (weather aside) there were always many positives that came from our family's weekends away to attend many years of tryouts in regional centres . The years of exposure to other players, various coaching staff and umpires at the level required to progress was (I think) beneficial because it was away from the comfort zone and self perceived hometown scrutiny. Our regional sojourns gave us parents a bonding time as well, hundreds of people milling about and a festive or carnival atmosphere prevailed. Although I'm not required to do the slog any more it would be a great pity if this system dissolved. After all we're talking about kids that have a burning desire not the kids or the families that play for the pure enjoyment of local sporting involvement through the game of baseball.

[wako]

Nov 2, 2012 10:37:09 GMT 10 aueagle30 said:

It seems the value you perceived in the Ballarat event was more public relations than development pathway? Again, there is merit in developing good realtionships with regional baseball communities, but the cost burden of developing this relationship eventually became borne by metropolitan families who were convinced their child 'must attend, or regret it' (cost such as travel, accomodation, time, opportunity costs, etc.).

Undermining metropolitan families (core market) for the benefit of developing better relationships with regional families (and I would question how improved the relationship was as a result of the Ballarat event, considering the low numbers attending) would be a dangerous game for BV, no?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you describing a problem of perception on the part of the metropolitan families as resulting in a cost burden to them, which makes it a "dangerous game" for BV? Why not address the erroneous perception? Why did they think it was necessary for their kid to attend if it wasn't?

[aueagle30]

Wako, I noted in an earlier post that by the last couple of events, there was only 3-4 players attending that hadn't been to the earlier trials.

While it wasn't a necessity for selection that metro players to attend, if they hadn't the event would have been abandoned much sooner than it was.

It was explained to all players and parents that Ballarat was optional for those at the metro sessions. Parents/players were driven by self interest... If they thought another player might attend and get an advantage, best to also be there.

As I said, we could have just told Metro players they weren't welcome, but then the program wouldn't have lasted as long as it did.

[pirates]

perfeckt......that is spot on. unfortunately for the last few years there has been many players and parents that have missed this interaction, which is exactly my point of view. this was a baseball event but the likes of Aueagle30 with due respect miss the underlying importance of this sort of attraction for all concerned. You as a coach were more than likely and understandably fully focused on the end result.

The complete interaction of the majority of the junior baseball community. For the vast majority of players trying out this could have been the closest thing to be selected.

From a parents point of view we made life long friendships with people from other clubs and were able to watch the many talented kids in one spot.
To then have BV just say well we will go and visit the best kids in the country completely missed the point of the process. The best kids will always be found, its about the vast majority that may not ever make a state side.
It was fun for all kids and fantastic for the local community. As for the cost from my observation I never heard one person complain about the cost of the weekend in fact it was a welcomed break.

VB should re look at staging this baseball event.

[Deleted]

I agree Pirates - we need all to remember (and constantly remind ourselves) that Sport for most part is about the PROCESS and not neccesarily the OUTCOME. Masters baseball is a classic example - clearly so too was this event.

[oldmanriver]

You will have to pardon my ignorance on this topic, but do the selectors actually get out of bed on Sunday mornings and travel around to see potential state squad members play in real game time situations or do they just rely on these tryouts and the occaisional stats that may come their way. Just curious.

[Coalmined]

OMR Haven't had specific experience with State Tryouts. But Tryouts being the key word. It isn't talent search Victoria. The mountains come to mohammed. They come and tryout and are selected on there trial form. (also maybe reputation ).

Coaches are not scouting, they are selecting. It is hard to get around to multiple ball parks to see all kids. Much easier to see all kids on 1 diamond at the same time. Also to mention state coaches most likley are junior/senior/ players/coaches in their own right. They may not have the time/resources to get around to see all juniors in age level at all clubs.

[eckersley43]

OMR..I don't know what the selectors do, but I am fairly sure they get out of bed on Sunday mornings.

[bobby]

As a former U18 state coach we would hold try outs to get a basic squad of roughly 45, then we would often go and watch the kids play at club level to determine if the would be in the blue or white teams.

[oldmanriver]

Thanks to those who answered my question. It kinda answers the question about the selectors role in the whole process. Trial form doesn't always equal game play and visa versa.

[bobby]

That is true Oldmanriver, at every tournament there will be a kid in each team that plays out of his shoes and another that has a stinker....just the way it happens every year.

[oldmanriver]

Bobby, that is so true having witnessed that at the last U/18 winter championships in Mildura.
A couple of reputation players picked and huges flops they were.