Skip to main content

Reply to "Expectations for mid-sized HS baseball program?"

Welcome to the posting side joeG.  I coached HS for many years in Calif. until very recently.  The stipend you mention is actually on the high side.  It is essentially volunteer work.  Your description is typical.  Most fellow coaches in the arena had some depth of experience with the game, usually at the college level.  Assistant coaches were more of a crapshoot.  Some had extensive playing experience, some not so much - it can be hard to find those guys who will do it for free and show up regularly for several months.  Often, HS coaches are working a regular job (sometimes at the school but not always) and then scrambling to fulfill their obligation to the HS baseball program.  Sometimes, you'll get a retired guy. 

With just about all public schools, budget is very limited - don't know if you are at a public or private.  The most important thing to keep in mind is that, no matter how good or bad they are, they are working with a team or program full of players.  So, during the normal course of those daily TEAM practices, one-on-one time is usually limited.  Therefore, even in the best of circumstances, the player must do supplemental work on his own. 

What is typical is that a player can count on an adequate number of defensive and offensive reps over the course of each week as well as working through situational stuff.  We were careful to have a specific pitcher bullpen schedule in place but that is not always the case.  We worked on conditioning but were limited in equipment and extra time when there was always so much baseball-specific work that needed to be done during the available practice hours.  We always stated that each player must do X amount of certain types of conditioning on their own.

The size of 1500 shouldn't really be a factor.  That is plenty to pull enough good athletes from.  And as far as organizing and managing the program, I've seen much smaller schools consistently succeed and larger ones fail miserably.

These days, most baseball players who go on to have successful college careers are playing HS ball, playing competitive travel ball and have some regimen for private training and instruction.

IMO, it is very important that the parent show full support of the coaching staff and program as to set the right example for the young man.  You won't find "perfect".   It is largely what you make of it.  The benefits and special experience that is HS baseball usually far exceed the shortcomings, assuming you put in the effort to make it that way.

Last edited by cabbagedad
×
×
×
×