Life Lesson #46: Draft Day Disappointment

Does your athlete belong?

Draft day disappointment occurs when an athlete ends up in a division that is below both the player’s (and the player’s parents) perceived ability levels. The degree to which these assessments are accurate varies widely from case to case. Sometimes a talented athlete gets lost in the shuffle and truly ends up in a division where they don’t belong. Other times, a parent is simply in too deep to objectively compare his athlete’s talent level to that of the competition… and the placement into the lower division is warranted. Regardless, this situation usually happens when a league has both a minor and major division for a specific age level. In this case, the athlete in question has landed in the minor division. Justifiably or not, a family finds it’s athlete at a level they deem to be below their athlete’s abilities and is then faced with a tough decision as to how to handle the situation.

WHAT TO DO
In my experiences dealing with draft day disappointments, the first discussion is usually a reality check. The parent must be reminded that the athlete has landed in the minor division for a reason. Either, he wasn’t drafted to go into the majors or he’s run into a stroke of bad luck. And whether this is the result of a bad tryout experience, an oversight by the league’s coaches, or a parent’s error in assessing his own child’s talent level, the fact remains that their athlete has been selected for the lower division and we’re going to have to deal with it.

After accepting the situation, the next step is to weigh the possible decisions. So then, what are the options when drafted into a level that you think is below your athlete?

#1 – Complain and attempt to have your athlete moved up to the higher division. This will place your son/daughter into the hands of a coach that has already passed on him in the draft, onto a team with an established group of core players, and along side a team full of athletes that may or not accept the “new kid.”

#2 – Pull your kid entirely. Attempt to move to a different league or onto a travelball team playing weekend tournaments. This option has become more realistic in today’s day and age, with the high turnover rate, short commitment times, and subsequent accessibility of tournament teams (May’s Life Lesson #46 – Commitment).

#3 – Make the best of the situation - stick it out and teach your athlete valuable Life Lessons. I was taught that once you make a commitment, it’s important to honor that commitment and follow through until it is finished. A draft day disappointment presents the opportunity to teach a young athlete about honoring a commitment. Playing out the season will likely offer the chance to experience unique Life Lessons such as handling adversity (sub-par competition, disappointment, frustration), assuming a leadership role, and playing to the level of a champion. In other words, “take sour grapes and make wine.” In such a situation, I believe it important to set an example of strong, positive character. To the extent that you show resilience, class and optimism during a less-than-perfect situation, you can be sure that those qualities will be passed along directly to your athlete. Let’s examine more thoroughly, how we can make the best out of this situation.

TURNING SOUR GRAPES INTO WINE
Deciding to make the most of the situation, what can this athlete learn from playing in this “lower” division? What experiences can this athlete have at the minor division that he/she might not have been able to have at the major division? Many answers come to mind, answers that are tremendously positive:

• Leadership – If, in fact, this athlete is of superior athletic ability, then he will be naturally placed in a leadership role. He will have the responsibility of uplifting and motivating teammates, and leading by example during practice and in games. He may be asked to assist with drills during practice or selected to step to the front of the group and execute a movement properly as an example. During games, he will likely find himself responsible for directing traffic and taking charge on defense.
  
  
• Premium Position Opportunity – Being a step ahead of the other athletes, this athlete will now have the opportunity to play premium positions. Where he might be stuck behind three or four superior pitchers at the major level, this athlete now has the opportunity to be one of the team’s main pitchers (or catcher / shortstop / center-fielder) and gain valuable experience.
  
  
• Being a Star – Every team needs to have someone that bats third and starts on the mound. Every team needs to have “a guy.” Just as there are valuable Life Lessons to be learned through the trials and tribulations of youth baseball, there are equally valuable lessons to be learned by being successful, experiencing positive results, and being a star player.

Confidence is the most difficult character trait to train in the baseball instruction industry. And a lack of it can hold back the most talented of players. In an era where every parent wants their athlete to “play up,” it seems refreshing to think that there exists the real opportunity to let a player that might be an average major division player, experience being a star in the minor division. There’s nothing wrong with allowing an athlete to hit for a high-average or dominate on the mound, especially if that athlete has not had that experience in the past. Watching an athlete naturally build confidence… in what could have been a negative situation… now that’s powerful experience!