Category: Coaching
Type: Norm
14 YEAR OLDS
The statistics I quote are from 684 league and tournament games over 8 seasons with 14 yr. olds who are a select team from an average size suburban community and which and has players that attend basically, two high schools. Every manager I have ever known keeps stats a little differently. These statistics are accurate in that they were kept by the same person consistently over the whole 8 seasons using the same criteria. I have also included some of the landmarks that I watch for in choosing players.
Batting Average
At our level I consider .325 about equal to .300 at the ML level. .400 is exceptional and under .300 I would consider on the weak side.
Strike out percentage
This is a good indicator regardless of statistics. For 8 seasons our team % has been 14% I set a goal for individuals of less than 20% and any player who goes above that we try to schedule extra instruction regardless of what his other stats may be
ERA
2.66 eight year average for team
4.00 or above weak
3.99 or below average
2.70 or below good
2.20 or below very good
2.00 or below exceptional
ERA computed at 7 innings per game
Velocity
For 14 yr. olds taken in Sept of year player turning 14. 2-5 mph can be added if considered in June of following year.
58-62 mph average
62-67 above average
67-72 fast and should be regular pitcher
72-75 very fast and definitely a pitcher
76-++ STUD Don't bother to even look at the rest of his game, you'll make room for him.
K to W Ratio
A good stat no matter who keeps the stats.
2/1 should be a minimum for a decent pitcher with top pitchers able to maintain much more. last season my top pitcher had 119k's to only 15 walks in 108 innings.
Speed
It is tough to teach speed. If you don't have great speed you never will. I time players at 50 yds and from 1st to 3rd from a dead stop with slide into 3B. I generally consider them as a group rather than comparing them to previous years as there is not much I can do about it. I keep an eye out for the players who are co-coordinated sliders who improve there standing in the groups when running the bases as opposed to the straight dash. I do however, generally take the 50 yard. dash winner that we come to in an elimination type competition.
These are some of the things I look for in choosing my team and I hope it gives some food for thought to others.
Submitted by: Marshall Erickson
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