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.
Assignment
VBS 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