Aaron Atkins · @Aero_OW
11th Jul 2018 from TwitLonger
Team USA Selection Process
Hey everyone, Aero here to talk team USA:
As head coach it is my responsibility to build and coordinate the best team that the USA can field. Our tryout process went across many scrim blocks, providing us with lots of film to add to the previous OWL and Contenders matches available for review. Everyone that participated in the tryouts has their strengths and weaknesses and overall it was a tough task to narrow down the roster to twelve players, let alone seven. The USA is a highly competitive country with lots of great talent. We're looking forward to showing everyone what we've got.
We received a lot of feedback regarding how we selected the players and why we selected the players that we did. Overall I was looking to build a team that is not only good in this current meta, but also is flexible enough to extend to potential new metas. When building a team there's many more factors than just mechanical skill. This means we needed a team that is skilled mechanically, individually flexible, and highly adaptable as a unit. How a player communicates in-game information, responds to adversity, approaches growth, and interacts among the team are all important traits that come together to define a player’s style. In selecting the seven players to represent the USA in the group stages, we are confident that we have accomplished our goal of creating the best mix of players possible.
We've received a lot of questions specifically about the decision to select Rawkus as the starting flex-support for the group stages. Both Sleepy and Rawkus are very strong players with various strengths in-game and out of game, thus causing this to be the toughest decisions we've had to make. Our roster is comprised of very young, highly talented players and Rawkus’ traits as a leader and teammate help provide a strong sense of coordination that we feel is necessary for the team. Please understand that this does not mean we feel Sleepy is a poor player or leader, it simply comes down to a different style. Sleepy is a very mechanically gifted player and made the top twelve through his outstanding play. There is no doubt that he is a very talented player with a bright future and I look forward to continuing to work with both him and Rawkus over the next few months.
Making the USA's top twelve is a great accomplishment for every player, and as coach I ask that you give each player as much support as the next. We are not simply representing a team or a city, we’re representing the whole nation. Team USA will be working hard to prove that we can be the best in the world and every ounce of support helps immensely. Thank you to everyone who has sent us kind words.The committee and the players definitely appreciate it. We’re very happy with how the tryout process turned out and can't wait for group stages to start.
Aero