Ms. Hamilton's eighth-grade class wants to participate in the annual three-person-team basketball tournament.  Lance, Sally, Joy, and Fred are chosen for the team.  In how many ways can the three starters be chosen?
When three players start, one is the alternate.  Because any of the four players might be the alternate, there are four ways to select a starting team: Lance-Sally-Joy, Lance-Sally-Fred, Lance-Joy-Fred, and Sally-Joy-Fred.  Or, we can simply note that we have $\boxed{4}$ choices for who to leave out!