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Post by jeffhauser on Sept 25, 2007 15:08:44 GMT -5
We don't disagree on the contract issues. As to the tryout camps, we got several players last year from those tryouts, so it has real value to us. All I'm suggesting is that we haven't issued press releases just yet, as we've decided for several reasons (tryout camps was just 1) to wait just a few weeks (the season is still over 5 months away).
Nobody is taking 6 months off, and there are plenty of teams, including us, trying.
Tatonka: I appreciate your suggestions though. Clearly, you're just looking out for the best interests of the teams and the quality of the play on the field. Wish us luck, will ya?
JH
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Post by Canton Cougar Fan on Sept 25, 2007 15:18:02 GMT -5
Tatonka: Yes, Reading is very proactive, and Bernie has his act together, which is great for them, especially considering that they're now dealing with some aggressive former colleagues out in Lehigh Valley who I suspect will be looking to take some players as well as "the defensive coordinator of the year" (LOL). However, there's some other things you should take into account before the blanket statement that "no one else is even trying". I can't speak for every team other than Pittsburgh, but I suspect some other teams feel this way. If we wanted to, we could put out press releases of signings, as we have begun signings as well. However, we have 2 open tryouts coming up in the next few weeks, and Coach Liotta is continually fielding inquiries from agents and players about joining us as well. We don't want to inadvertently dissuade anybody right now from attending the camps (which means $$ for us) and we want to continue hearing about other guys that could upgrade our talent level. In addition, some of the major talents that we hope to add are in a "wait-and-see mode" (ie. NFL practice squads, AFL, CFL) and might not be available to us until later in the preseason or even during the season. We signed 2 guys during last season, Beau Gibbs and Yaacov Yisrael, who we were in touch with all year, but weren't available for our training camp, since they were in the CFL and AFL at the time. This isn't the NFL or AFL. There is a filtering down process for the top talent, and patience is necessary for some of us in order to land some of that talent - its not a question of effort. JH Agreed, but contracts aren't guaranteed at this level anyways, so re-signing some of your "name" guys from last season goes a long way in establishing your team's identity, and when fans can relate to or know some of the players, it shows in ticket sales. Selling more season tickets is better for the team long-term than hoping to have a large turnout for open tryouts... Besides, the longer you are around, the smaller and smaller those open tryouts become. Canton and Erie for example, will be entering their fourth seasons now. There should be so many former players (from the team and throughout the league) available that holding three or four open tryouts is a waste of time. But if taking $60 bucks from guys who have no business being on your field is good for business, then gosh darn it, keep it up. I understand you're only in year two, so hold your open tryouts... but you'll find that the "top talent" that you're hoping will "trickle down" expect to be invited to work out, and will not pay you $60 for their time. Of course your coach is fielding inquiries... I'm not even working for a team right now and I'm getting inquiries from former players of mine. That's what happens right now. They are calling EVERYBODY, not just you. In a sport where competing leagues don't honor each others' contracts, I'd quit wasting my time hoping that the next Carmelo Ocasio comes to my open tryout and go out and sign some established guys to contracts. If it doesn't have it already, put a clause in there that says the contract is voided if they sign with an AFL or CFL team. You're their fall-back option... Tatonka makes some excellent points here as Turf Burn did as well. We all watched the entire league last year and we saw where the talent was. I think that's what Tatonka is saying. So, the guys that were either announced to be AIFA All-Stars or either had an exceptional game in the All-Star game should be looking for teams to call them as they are "proven" talent. That being said, there are possibilities of signing players right before or even during the season and these players can be great talents. I know after two years of Bobby Olive in Canton I look at the AFL transactions a bit closer now. Additionally, it is a good idea (and Reading is doing this exceptionally well) to sign the fan favorites from last season to create good will for the upcoming campaign. Make a big deal, sign your team's favorite players and sell season tickets in the process. Just because you sign them now, doesn't mean they'll be on the roster later because, as was previously mentioned, there are no guaranteed contracts. As far as the signing of Benjamin goes ... good pick-up for the Express. I'll be interested to see the Reading/Pittsburgh matchups this year.  |
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Post by TNmike on Sept 25, 2007 16:21:56 GMT -5
I was only hoping that the Freeze and Ro could have worked things out. RO sees the mess with the Freeze and said forget this. Actually he already did this last year. |
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Post by exit322 on Sept 25, 2007 19:59:33 GMT -5
Well, he probably said "uh, no, I don't think so" again, at the very least.
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Post by Tatonka on Sept 25, 2007 22:38:17 GMT -5
We don't disagree on the contract issues. As to the tryout camps, we got several players last year from those tryouts, so it has real value to us. All I'm suggesting is that we haven't issued press releases just yet, as we've decided for several reasons (tryout camps was just 1) to wait just a few weeks (the season is still over 5 months away). Nobody is taking 6 months off, and there are plenty of teams, including us, trying. Tatonka: I appreciate your suggestions though. Clearly, you're just looking out for the best interests of the teams and the quality of the play on the field. Wish us luck, will ya? JH You're right, I shouldn't have used the blanket statement that "no one else is even trying." It appears that way now, but we have no idea for sure who is doing what. (If you are doing something though, think about letting your fans and potential season ticket holders know about it.) Good luck to yourself and the rest of the 'Rats Jeff... |
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Post by UnoBomber on Sept 27, 2007 7:27:42 GMT -5
But if taking $60 bucks from guys who have no business being on your field is good for business, then gosh darn it, keep it up. This is the one thing I have a huge problem with... When tryouts are posted, the perception that's given is this just for fun league that any joe off the the street can do. I couldn't take a persons money and feel good knowing I ripped them off. |
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Post by exit322 on Sept 27, 2007 11:54:09 GMT -5
I think a good compromise, Fridge, would be to have some sort of preliminary part to the tryout where everyone pays and starts out. If a few of them blatantly obviously have no chance in hell, give 'em their money back and send them on their way (or offer that money as a down payment on season tickets or something). If they insist they've got something left in the tank and want to keep going, then let 'em at that point. It's their money.
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Post by Tatonka on Sept 27, 2007 13:21:59 GMT -5
From being on the team's end, I know that alot of teams NEED that money to help them cover some offseason expenses when there's little or no ticket revenue is coming in.
If your team NEEDS that money to get by, then IMO, your team needs more financial help than you are providing. Seek some outside investors. If it's just to keep the players honest, thinking that somebody who knows he has no shot will not cough up the $60, then charge for the tryout, and keep the money from the guys who wasted your time. Refund the money to the guys who make the team.
In my experience, this would actually increase the numbers AND the quality at your tryouts if the real athletes know that if they make the cut, they get their cash back.
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Post by Standard Deviation on Sept 27, 2007 13:34:31 GMT -5
If you sit back and look at it, Vince Papale never had a chance either. Right up till he made the Eagles team. You never know what you find at an open tryout. Last year we signed Dayon Chambers out of an open tryout and he was our fullback for the entire season. And a pretty good one too. We also signed a couple other players that were eventually replaced by better talent as the season went on. The money definitely seperates the men from the boys and certainly some of the men have more expendable income than talent but you have to have a process. Not every talented player is on an existing team or in a league.
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Post by exit322 on Sept 27, 2007 15:58:00 GMT -5
And you've proven my point, TB. If I show up at an open tryout and plunk my $60, I would like a little thought that in ten minutes when it's painfully obvious "I was in the band for a reason," I would get my $60 back because there's no prayer in hell that I'm going to make the team.
And yeah, I'd probably add the "you'll get your $60 back in your first paycheck," too. I like that. The $60 both ways will keep people honest (though I would not advertise the "if you suck that bad, you're getting your money back," because every schmuck will show up for their day of glory for free), and it *might* get better talent.
Establishing a track record and having the league promote the crap out of the 55 guys (from the Florida article) that have used the AIFA as a springboard will probably get that better talent there, anyways.
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Post by rkozak201 on Sept 27, 2007 16:26:58 GMT -5
From what I have gathered in the past is the reason for charging someone to tryout for the team is to make sure that the person is going to come in and give 100%. If you allowed anyone to come in and tyout for free you just may get a bunch of lazy people wasting the coaches time because they thought it would be something cool to do.
I know that after you pay for the first tryout in Reading all other tryouts are included for the remainder of the season. I have friends that have tried out and they are given advice, work hard and go to the next tryout to show the coaches how much they are trying and improving.
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