quote:Fusilli Jerry
Hello and welcome to the forum.
Do you have a friend named Cosmo?
I believe you have received some very sound advice as is typical of this site.
Keep in mind that not all programs are the same, and one coach who is riding the player may be doing it for completely different reasons than what others might do it for. As PG astutely pointed out, the two typical reasons are to push for improvement, or to push out the door. Either way, you son will know where he stands if either of those are the case.
I was speaking to one of my sons coaches who loves to tell stories, and he said their closer who broke the school saves record was almost dumped after the fall season of his freshman year. The reason was that the pitching coach gave them a winter workout program, but when this kid came back after Christmas break, he was obviously out of shape, and not sharp in the pen sessions. This coach was supposedly a hard a$$ type of guy and told the head coach he wanted him out of the program since he did not take it seriously. The HC decided to give the kid another chance, but the PC was riding him like no tomorrow. In the end the kid turned out to be a gem, but based on an early slip up, he was in the dog house.
So certainly let your son know that things can turn around so long as he works hard, keeps his nose clean, and follows the coaches direction at every opportunity.
Also I agree with most here who point out that separation anxiety and the freshman blues is a transition he will need to cope with and get over. If he doesn't do it now, it will only serve as a problem in the coming years.