VBS LESSON 10“Player Management”

SPORTS MARKETING

Learning Targets

• Understand how import the role of player selection and player development can be to the ultimate success of a franchise.

• Discuss why team building is a vital part to a teams success.

Key Terms• Roster – a list of the players on a team.

• Backup – a player who plays a position but doesn’t get into a game until the starter at that position is injured.

• Small Market Team – a professional sports team, typically located in small or medium sized cities with average annual incomes.

• Big Market Team – a professional sports team, typically located in large populated cities with above average annual incomes.

• Scout – talent evaluators for professional sports teams analyze and research amateur players.

• Draft – a formal process by which professional teams select amateur athletes or foreign athletes to join their team.

• Contract – a legal (specific and detailed) agreement between a team and a player in which the player is paid money in exchange for playing on the team.

• Free Agency – when a player has completed his present contract and is free to sign with new/current team under a new contract.

• Hometown Discount – a savings that occurs when a star professional athlete restructures their current contract or signs a new contract for less than their expected value in the free agent market.

• Trade – when players on two or more teams switch teams.

Three Main Considerations of Player Management

#1 - Player Selection: Collaboration between General/Business Manager (BM or GM), the Head Coach and Team Owners.

Where do we sign players from?• Pro-Days, Showcases (Combine), Tryouts, Game/Practice film• College Draft• Trade• Free Agency Market

The Equalizers:1. Salary Caps (NFL, NHL, NBA)

- Maximum price a team can spend on player salaries in a given season.

2. Luxury Tax (MLB)- Financial penalty teams must pay if their payroll exceeds a certain amount

in a given season.

Both are utilized to help maintain competitiveness within the league.

# 2 – Player Development: How do we develop a player’s raw talent?

Each professional team has coaches and trainers dedicated to improving the skill set, strength and conditioning of their players.

Other Sources:•NBA-D League•MLB – Minor Leagues•NFL – Arena Football Leagues or Foreign Leagues•NHL – Minor Leagues

#3 – Team Building: Blending the personalities and talents of individual players to create a winning team.

Coaches and team management are responsible for fostering a positive team atmosphere.

•Preseason/Training Camp Roommates•Road Trip Roommates•Player Only Events

• Diner• Entertainment – movies, amusement parks, golf

Coaches and team management are responsible for intervening when team chemistry falters.

AssignmentVBS Lesson10 - “Player Management”

Reading Quiz

Math Quiz

SIM

Due Friday – end of class.

Talking Points

How is a winning team formed?- Providing the tools needed to be successful

- Collaboration between business managers and coaches

- Scouting the Draft- Evaluate College performance- Evaluate Combine results- Evaluate Pro-Day workouts

- Scouting Free-Agency- Evaluate previous performance- Evaluate workouts- Consider age/injury history- Analyze salary cap hit