Building a team

For our AAU team (now 11-U for 1999), we found the best players, then worked them into positions to where they will best help the TEAM. For instance, we have a player who arguably is our best 2B, SS, C, etc, and he was even #1 catcher our 1st year; this year we moved him to CF to take advantage of his speed, glove, and arm.

In short, at the beginning of the year, we asked each player to sign up for 2 positions, plus pitcher, if they wanted. These were positions they wanted to try for, not necessarily where we thought they might end up. Each player got a chance to win a position of their choosing, thus no appearance of "pre-conceived notions" for "daddy's boy." We've ended up with 6 pitchers, and in a long, innings restricted tourney (4-5 games in 3 days), you need that many. By structuring our practices, we've been able to ensure that most, if not all the pitchers, get some work in at every practice.

For the stability question, our #1 pitcher is starting SS, when he goes in, starting 3B moves to SS, and back-up 3B moves in. When starting 3B moves to pitcher, same back-up goes to 3B; thus in essence, we have 2 "starting" 3B, but only 1 of them pitches. Our other 3 main pitchers, play 1B/OF (lefty), CF, and RF/LF. Our #6 is our starting 2B, who is used only in emergencies.

For our L.L. all-stars, we took the same approach. The team was picked for us, so we (coaches), sat down and worked a plan as to who might help the team at what positon. Again, every player had the opportunity to go through all the drills, and we selected those who would help the team at the key positons. Our most versitile and athletic player (same kid who is in CF for our AAU), we placed at "utility," meaning that he filled in where needed based on who was pitching. He played SS, 2B, P, C, and CF during the tourney, and his "smarts" and ability didn't hurt the continuity at all. Of course, you must have a player who can physically and mentally handle the changing of positions. Hope this helps muddle things, a bit. JT