Recruitables 101

Hey all - I'm up too early and bored.. and thought I'de put pen to paper and share a random thought..

For those just joining this program, it is a little known fact that I was the principle founder of SC Roadkill and main recruiter during the early years - followed by founding (and recruiting for) Section8 - followed by 11 seasons coaching baseball.. and in baseball each spring there are tryouts and a draft. By my count, that puts my hand in the building, managing, & coaching for over 14 teams spread over the past 20 years.

What do I look for in a player? (i.e., good player traits)
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Coachable : some players don't respond to anything - something in their head says they are too good for the team, too good for the coaches, too good for anything and everything - and usually move on to other sports or interests. All players can be great teammates, but only if they are willing to work and learn.

Fun Loving : some players are just fun to hangout with. They add something to the game and to the team by just being there. This trait usually allows these players to go-with-the-flow and when conflict arrives, they are usually a good calming factor and the voice of reason.

Passionate : some players love the game a lot. Their passion for the game overflows on to other - but also can create the occasional conflict as passion can blind reason. IMO, a team needs passionate players - but be forewarned that passion comes with a price.

Father/Son : In the slightly more paintball centric theme, I enjoy the company of my young son a lot. It adds a huge reason for me to play - and it is something he and I do together on relatively equal footing (compared to other sports). From my first hand experience in this matter, I personally enjoy bringing other father/son - brother/brother groups into anything I'm up to. The kids and fathers alike all seem to benefit from the time together.

Floundering teams and groups: Section8 was born as a league of teams in the aftermath of Super 64. Many teams from that game soon began to flounder around and Section8 picked up the more passionate players who wanted to play organized ball, but who also found frustration in trying to rally the same old handfull of players to go play as much as they would like.
(In reality, it takes a large roster to field a few players)

The Loner : On occasion you will see a player going to play paintball at some field all by his lonesome. This shows something about loving the game, seeking competition, boredom, and just looking for something to do. Being a loner isn't necessarily a good thing, but these guys are frequently eager to take their game up a notch and will seek out opportunities to do so.