This week we took a pretty strong and deep team to Atlanta, both men and women. We finished 6th and 5th respectively. Personally, the team I coache was deep and versstile. We had guys with hi-rev rates, down and in players, leftys. We had a team that could play an angle on the lane. We still finished 5th.
The question I have is 8 on a team to many for an A team?
I know the answer for below A team, I hate taking 7 on a team for B teams and lower. I want those teams to play everyone as much as possible. The best way to improve is to bowl on the tournamet conditions as they change.
However, 8 on the A team seemed tough. All the players mental attitude was great, but somehow it didn't work. Why?
Anyone got any ideas? Tell me what you think. Please speak freely, but try not to condemn anything with the girls team. I understood they too experienced some of the same problems, but I am mostly speaking in general about 8 on a team and the team mens team. Please, by all means speak freely and give me some feedback.
Randall
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"It's not who we are underneath, but what we do that defines us."
I don't really like having 8 on a team at one time. I just think it is too many people. Not everyone gets the chance to bowl at much as they want. Also some indviduals might not try as hard because they know there are 3 girls on the side that can come in if needed. I think everyone should try their best and concentrate on every ball that they throw.
I know there was problems with the girl's team this weekend. Most of it was lack of communication with jumping to conclusions. I'm not so sure if it was because 8 people went on the team or not.
Just a side note. I heard you expressing your concern for some the teammates and if you do not like the way they are conducting themselves, then you are in a position to do something about it. I would definitely put my foot down.
***Please be as defensive as possible when reading this so I my new post has more of a dramatic effect because everyone knows how I try to ruin everyone's life cause that is my goal when I say things like "concern for people")***
I agree with what you say I appreciate your input. The only point I would disagree on with the guys is that worked hard, maybe too hard. It was as if they felt every shot would be their last if they didn't perform.
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"It's not who we are underneath, but what we do that defines us."
I say until sections & nationals the max on any team should be 7 (with the exception of atlanta)
so having 2 alternatives may seem like a lot, but it could be benefitial.
however another factor comes into play: tournament conditions. face it... we've been going to the same tournaments for the last however many years. we know which ones are hard & which ones we should be averaging 210 at.
for tournaments like: the leatherneck, milwaukee, notre dame, the hoosier, the brickyard & atlanta.. i think it would be a good idea to carry at least 7. probably 8 for atlanta because its far away & we only take one team (which i dont see why we cant take 2 when other schools do it but thats besides the point)
and for tournaments like: the hoinke, match games, mckendree's tournaments, and nebraska where the shot is remotely easier, carrying 6 should be all thats required on a team. there isnt a reason why the top 12-16 guys & at least half the girls cant average 190+ at those tournaments mentioned in this paragraph.
as for the girls (& probably some guys) I've been hearing a lot of how some arent getting time to bowl & becoming upset. if its your freshman year & you arent a brian valenta, shea bittenbender, or marc french.... I'm sorry to tell you but you are a designated role player. You'll bowl when required to bowl. Yeah it sucks, but most of us went through it. Keep practicing, throw good shots in practice, & maybe your coach will start you. Then, pray you dont choke. If you continue to bowl good, great. Also if youre on a team & you didnt bowl much, but youre team is still finishing in the top 5 every tournament... how much can you honestly complain? team chemistry is almost as important as bowling in general. if the other ppl on the team dont like your attitude because youre upset about not bowling & constantly showcase it, players have the right to band together & tell a coach that they dont want you on the their team anymore. So my advice is suck it up, listen to what the coach tells you and bowl when its your turn. Otherwise if you continuously complain & act like you dont want to be there, you can easilly be removed & someone from the b team i'm sure would be more than willing to move up into your spot & try to show the coach that he/she is capable of being there.
one more thing... aside from Notre Dame & the Leatherneck we really dont bowl on lengthy oil patterns. I think putting drier sport shots out on on thursday nights would be very welcomed. put out like a simulated break down, or 30 ft flat, just something short & makes ppl think. the E pattern is awesome, dont get me wrong, but face it... it doesnt require much skill.
just my thoughts chase
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"You know what you can't outsource, Fareed? You can't outsource balls. America is the world leader in balls." --Stephen Colbert
I basically second everything Chase says. For all the freshman who are not setting the lanes afire with their skills (and even sophomores in some cases), BE PATIENT. It is very rare for a freshman to come into a well established perennial national championship contending program (on both mens and womens sides) and bowl a lot unless they are on the lowest team taken to an event.
Relax you all will get your chance. As Chase said, pretty much all of us went through it our first year or two. So did most freshman at most other schools we see over the course of the year. When you get your chance, jump all over it!
As far as number of bowlers on a team, I think we can get away with 7 max per team considering our unbelievable wealth of talent. This would give more bowlers a chance to bowl and give us more chances of finishing high in tournaments with multiple teams.
Don't know how highly my opinion is valued, but there it is. Hope it helps!
FWIW, the chemistry of the team and the attitude of the freshman bowlers were excellent. If there was discontent with playing time, they didn't let it effect the team. On the other hand, the team didn't bowl well. They seemed to be looking over their shoulder when they were in the lineup. I am thinking of having 6 for Match games since I got the B teams in, so just 12 bowlers would play.
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"It's not who we are underneath, but what we do that defines us."
If you are taking 2 teams i would consider 7, as long as #7 understands he will be in the "Big Cat" roll. IF you are taking 1 team i personaly would load up as many as you can. I would name probable starters, talk to everyone and let them know what their roll is. The idea is to win, not coddle people's egos. All for one and that ****. But what do i know, it is late and i need sleep
