Year in and year out, the National Team Identification Series (NTIS) Champions Cup continues to give the opportunity to 12 players from six age groups to one day compete for a gold medal with Team USA.
One person who is at the National Training Complex this week for the NTIS Champions Cup knows exactly what it takes to win a gold medal for the U.S. – 2022 12U National Team Manager R.J. Farrell.
Farrell is fresh off a gold medal at this year’s World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 World Baseball Cup in Taiwan. He is in Cary, N.C., this week as a part of the 13U Task Force that is looking for 12 players to participate in next year’s 13U/14U Athlete Development Program (ADP), which is used to determine the players who will be invited to the 15U National Team Training Camp.
“Winning a gold medal with our 12U National Team was an incredible experience. I was on staff three other times as an assistant and we came away with gold twice, but the last time we went we didn’t do as well as we had hoped,” said Farrell. “So going to Taiwan this year and avenging ourselves, watching those boys compete the way they did, and seeing the success that they had was awesome. Bringing back a world championship to the United States of America, there's nothing better than that.”
From training camp to competing on the international stage, Farrell spent several weeks heavily involved with the 12U National Team. His title might have been manager, but his role expanded far beyond that. Farrell, along with the other staff members, had a profound impact on a once in a lifetime opportunity for those young men.
“It's all about trying to get the next generation of baseball players involved with USA Baseball and get those guys who have the talent to go compete internationally for a gold medal. It’s something that is truly special about this organization and what we do. It's gratifying anytime USA Baseball asks me to do anything but being selected as manager and being able to go through a World Cup experience, I really can't think of a better highlight in my career.”
With his experience of serving on staff for a national team on four separate occasions, Farrell understands what defines the makeup of a USA Baseball player when looking for players to invite to next year’s 13U/14U ADP.
“Maturity is the number one thing, and that changes as they grow through the process. It’s a big deal – we need to have kids who can handle themselves abroad because they are representing our country. We know these guys are talented, so really it comes down to character.
“Maybe at age 12 they don't quite understand that yet but at 15 they might, so if we can find a way to instill the USA way into them at a young age, I think that's special.”
Farrell has served on the Task Force at the NTIS Champions Cup numerous times in the past, so that experience combined with being a four-time national team coach helps to provide a valuable perspective when projecting which players move on to ADP.
“Athleticism plays, especially with this age group this week. We're looking for guys with a skill set that we can see now and try and project for next year. There's a lot of changes happening with these young men right now, so it's an intense process when are looking at the physical nature of these guys. If we can find a handful of players who we think have an opportunity to be a national team member one day, that's ultimately what we're looking for.”
Knowing what it takes to not only be a part of Team USA but to be a world champion, Farrell sees there being two important intangible qualities that players need when aspiring to compete on the international stage – playing your game and having good character.
“First and foremost, I think you need to have fun. When you get to an event like this, you can put so much pressure on yourself or try and change your game. But ultimately, you weren't identified the first time for doing anything different than what you’re doing. Stick with your game and understand that your game has to portray on the field the best it can and don't try and be anybody else.
“The second thing is to be the best person you can be. Decision making is important, especially with young teenage boys. We know mistakes happen, but we never want anything that's going to happen off the field that can take away your opportunity on the field. Understanding that being a good person is very important, because when it comes down to it and you're right in line with another guy who might be the same talent level, character is going to prevail.”