National Qualifier vs Showcase

[DaMann]

I've heard several coaches tell youngladies playing 18A/Gold that if you have to miss a event, miss a showcase not a National Qualifier. As a coach when you're putting a team together at this level shouldn't your focus be on getting you kids a offer from a college?

[Old Darter]

If she really wants a scholarship she better be at both.

[soreshins]

A gold coach's focus should be on building a program with a good enough reputation that college coaches will come see their team/players at exposure tournaments. With most top level gold programs this includes qualifying for Gold Nationals every year or almost every year. So you want all of your best players at the qualifiers since winning helps build an image of being a strong gold program.

If a player misses an exposure tournament they hurt themselves because they miss an opportunity to be "seen." Often winning games is a secondary concern at exposure venues. If a player skips a national qualifier, they potentially hurt the team. At qualifiers winning games is the primary concern.

[TReck]

This balance is a key and opportunities should be taken as best they can. However, what I have found is every Gold qualifier I have attended is as good as most showcases on a regional basis. So actually in attending a Gold qualifier, you are doing both at the same time. Each one we have attended for the past 2 years had as many or more college coaches than some college coaches.

You just have to make sure to get to the coaches and give them your playing information because you never know how long you will be around.

But where the problem comes in is when you have to apply for a showcase a year in advance and then they schedule a Gold qualifier on the same weekend. Then you have to go where the money is already spent.

Ty

[MTR]

I have heard from coaches that they know what the player can do during drills and low-pressure situations.

What they really want to see is the player under pressure situations where the next play could mean the difference in winning or losing, not just packing after going through the motions for an audience.

[DonnieS]

I have heard from coaches that they know what the player can do during drills and low-pressure situations.

What they really want to see is the player under pressure situations where the next play could mean the difference in winning or losing, not just packing after going through the motions for an audience.

Makes total sense. Both my girls have said that many times - if someone wants to see what we can do, could watch us in qualifiers or regular tournaments. But I also know that once a showcase game starts, they play to win.

[DaMann]

I understand most of your comments but from what I see there are very few players at Gold Nationals that aren't already commited to a college. You also have to deal with the college players that the coaches bring back. When compared to 16U Nationals the past couple of years I would say that there's been 2 to 3 times more coaches their for the full week than at 18 Gold. For all of us that's going to Gold this year, let's see what percentage of players per team are uncommitted and how much playing time these players receive.

I still would like to know from you 18 Gold coaches what's your priority?

[TReck]

The priority of every true Gold team to qualify for ASA Nationals. However, you can not control the dates of some qualifiers, so there is a chance that after you apply and are accepted to some of the very best showcases that a Gold qualifier for your area may be scheduled for that same date. Therefore for you attend that showcases and attend every other Gold qualifier that you can.

Most good Gold teams from late May through early July play every weekend at either a Gold qualifier or showcase.

Ty

[soreshins]

The point at Gold Nationals is to win games, rather than to showcase players. The higher you finish the more you build the reputation of your program. As a result, the best players play. Those players are usually signed, committed or graduated. Many college coaches choose to go to 16U Nationals because they can see more "recruitable" players on the field.