Chapter 124 - Meeting New People (2/2)

After a moment, Bruno gave an embarrassed and nervous smile as he spoke.

Bruno: ”Sorry, but I am bad at remembering people.”

Ming and Shun sighed in relief but once again braced themselves to see Douglas's reaction.

But their worries were unfounded when Douglas loudly laughed as he slapped Bruno's back that looked like would knock the air out of someone, but were actually pretty soft for Douglas.

Douglas: ”You don't have to worry about it. And, we lost fair and square, so I am also not mad about it.”

Ming and Shun once again sighed in relief.

Shun put up a question for Douglas.

Shun: ”First time here?”

Douglas nodded while stuffing his face with food, and then tried to ask the same question, but could only gibberish with all that food in his mouth.

Shun smiled as he understood the meaning behind the gibberish.

Shun: ”First for Ming and me, and second for Bruno.”

Then the topic of Shun's age came up, and he repeated the same answer to him.

Ming spoke to Bruno and asked him a question.

Ming: ”Bruno, what can you tell us about the training camp.”

Bruno thought about his experience from last year and asked.

Bruno: ”You guys are aware of the division of the participants at the start of the camp, right?”

Shun nodded and said.

Shun: ”The level of coaching is decided by a test on the first day of camp.”

Bruno nodded and continued.

Bruno: ”The test is similar to the draft combine test. The test involves both physical and technical tasks to measure the players' statistics.

We also play a five-on-five game that is recorded.

Now, you would think that this would be enough to decide the division of the players.”

All of the other three nodded, so Bruno continued.

Bruno: ”All of these results are recorded, but the decision is not just based on this data. We all know some qualities can't be put into numbers.

So, to measure those, all the coaches in this camp watch all the tests and games.

They mark down the players that interest them and then watch the recordings of all the test afterward.

So, the test results aren't the main criteria of evaluation. The main criteria are the coaches' perception of you.

If you didn't do well on the test, but the coaches think that you are good enough then they would assign you a higher division.

There are three divisions. There is no limit on how many can join a certain division, but usually, Division-One has the least members, and Division-Three has the most members.”

The three of them took in the information, and Douglas asked a question.

Douglas: ”What are the difference between coaching in different divisions.”

Bruno gathered his thoughts and said.

Bruno: ”The coaches in this camp are all college-level coaches.”

Before Bruno could continue, Douglas asked.

Douglas: ”Eh, why college-level coaches, they could've asked for professional team coaches to join. Are they being cheap?”

It was Ming who answered the question. He sighed and explained.

Ming: ”College-level coaches and professional-level coaches are different, but that doesn't mean that college-level coaches are inferior, in fact, college-level would work better for us.

College-level coaches have worked with high school graduates for years, they understand how players our age play better than any professional-level coach could ever understand.

They would be able to guide us better than any professional-level coach.”

Bruno nodded and continued.

Bruno: ”Exactly now, continuing from before, the number of people in Division-One is lower, which means that the coach per player ratio is low, and they would be able to devote more time to each player.

The coaches are also at a higher level, the better you place in the divisions.

Plus, Division-One facilities have cameras placed around the gym that would record your every move that you can watch later.”

Shun sighed in amazement as he leaned back in his chair.

Shun: ”That was a lot of information to take in.”

Ming laughed as he said.

Ming: ”One thing is clear, this camp is going to be a lot of fun.”

After that, they ended up talking for a while, and Douglas ended up refiling his plate three more times.