How
We Pick our 3v3 Teams-Mixing it up
As discussed in the 3v3 Philosophy section, we go to 3v3 tournaments for the purpose of player development, and to have fun... not for the purpose of obtaining hardware... Consequently, we are generally not seeking to create an all star 3v3 team from our all star full sided team.
Our process for organizing 3v3 teams varies each tournament. Assuming, say, that we have 15 boys that plan to go to an event we may do, for example, any of the following:
1. Establish three very equal teams. Have them all play in the same age group.
2. Establish three teams that can compete well in three different age groups. e.g., one younger group plays down an age group and one capable group plays up an age group.
3. Establish one very strong team, and two other equal teams. Have them play in the same age group.
All of the above scenarios have their pros and cons. Scenario 1 is perhaps the "fairest" way of organizing teams, but has the disadvantage that our teams inevitably play one another (thus, knock one another out). A plus is that this scenario allows us to mix the teams up at each tournament so that players are never playing with exactly the same team each time, thus avoiding issues with "clicks". However, when we do this it is impossible for all three teams to make it to the championship, and it makes it more difficult (which isn't a bad thing) for any one team to make it to the championship. This method is also not the optimal means for developing players--matching strong players with weaker players is not really best for either. But it is a fair method of organizing teams, and we may often use this formula.
Scenario 2 avoids the situation where our boys eliminate one another in tournament play and tends to put players in a competitive environment that is most conducive to their development. However, this scenario has the disadvantage that personnel on each team tend to remain much the same each event. Thus, clicks (perceive or real) can potentially form and one group may "develop opinions" about another group. Some people may see one team as being stacked. Of course perception is only half the truth in that the "unstacked" teams are actually benefiting the most in that those players must rise to a higher level of play in order to compete well.
Scenario 3 is a bit of a hybrid between 1 and 2, so you can draw your own conclusions...
The bottom line is that on the Rampage, we mix it up. We want every player to play with every other player. We want the boys to compete against one another at times and learn to both win and lose with grace and class. We want to create several teams that compete in multiple age groups once in a while so that our boys have the opportunity to each advance to a championship match at the same event. We want to create strong teams once in a while who can compete at the highest level. We want close friends playing with close friends some times and against one another some times, and we want kids that don't hang out together on a regular basis to play together sometimes, hopefully developing new or stronger friendships.
In order for 3v3 to work, parents and players must be supportive of our decisions at each tournament. Parents must be supportive of all of our teams, not just the team that their child happens to be on at a particular tournament. Parents and players must cheer all teams on regardless of whether they win or lose, or whether or not one team knocks another team out of an event. Parents must understand that we are trying to develop every Rampage player and not just one.
It is always disappointing to lose. But it is far less disappointing to lose with class. 3v3 is a game. It is a game that we use to develop players' skills as well as character. It is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Help us to use 3v3 in this manner through your participation and by supporting our decisions at each event. Without your support, 3v3 can become something that divides rather than develops our team. With your support it is an excellent tool for player development.
Keep in mind, 3v3 is optional on our team and you may always choose to bow out, but it has been very clear to me that the devoted 3v3 players on our team, as well as the devoted 3v3 teams around the state, have developed the most rapidly.