I guess the rest of the country does things differently than we do. No big deal. Enjoy the practice and just walk a fine line.
Same page tr. Our launching pad was a grassy knoll in deep RF where not even a foul ball came close.
In not only your case, but do you think that coaches, or any person who's profession evolves around baseball, might have a different outlook in watching tryouts and practices than a parent who lives it only season-to-season. My experiences on both sides of the fence has shown that parents watching was never an issue.
. My son never had a problem, but I doubt he even saw me. I wasn't only there to watch him, I enjoy watching the entire process of the entire group.
btw- I've never even sat behind home plate from LL on for tryouts, practices, or games , and my kids a pitcher.
In not only your case, but do you think that coaches, or any person who's profession evolves around baseball, might have a different outlook in watching tryouts and practices than a parent who lives it only season-to-season. My experiences on both sides of the fence has shown that parents watching was never an issue.
btw- I've never even sat behind home plate from LL on for tryouts, practices, or games , and my kids a pitcher.
I have to leave now and catch the last hour of practice. I'll be the one hanging on the fence like a lost puppy, yelling at my kid, and harassing the coach.
IMHO, In HS, team unity expands beyond the players and into the families. A complete team effort, that's HS baseball.
I agree. The season is so much more relaxed and positive when parents are as unified as the team. There is less coach and kid bashing, less infighting, more support and excitement. Yes, some parents can get out of hand and step over the line and interfere, but appropriately involved parents can help elevate the program beyond what happens on the field. If you summarily dismiss the greatest source of team support you have, you've missed out IMO.
At the end of next year, when my son plays his last HS game, I will miss the parents. We are truly a family. Maybe it's a rare thing.
I agree. The season is so much more relaxed and positive when parents are as unified as the team. There is less coach and kid bashing, less infighting, more support and excitement. Yes, some parents can get out of hand and step over the line and interfere, but appropriately involved parents can help elevate the program beyond what happens on the field. If you summarily dismiss the greatest source of team support you have, you've missed out IMO.
At the end of next year, when my son plays his last HS game, I will miss the parents. We are truly a family. Maybe it's a rare thing.
Is it me or didn't we just talk about this watching tryouts just not too long ago....??? lol.
Pretty much everything that is being talked about in hsbb has been covered before, when you have kids getting to this age you become interested in these subjects. The things you like to talk about have also been covered before. And if you're a coach and don't want parents watching then tell them or put up a daggone sign for the love of Pete. Not all coaches are like you... 
quote:One question: Why, if there are over 100 kids trying out for the Freshman and JV teams, do they feel a need to include 8th graders? Why don't they just make an 8th grade team?
In this part of Kentucky, there is not a middle school baseball program in place. So high schools across Kentucky allow 8th grade students from middle schools in the same school district tryout for their Freshman/JV teams. Juniors and Seniors tryout out for the varsity teams. Once in a great while there is the rare 8th grader that is called up to play JV baseball or even varsity ball.However, that rarely happens at the high school T-bone is trying out for.
quote:Is it me or didn't we just talk about this watching tryouts just not too long ago....??? lol.
Give me a break I'm new to this board.
quote:Don't give me those BS that you don't want to watch?
OK, here's your "BS." I don't want to watch. I have the time for sure. And I love baseball. But I have no need to watch my son in tryouts or practice. Did plenty of that when he was younger. Doesn't need me to be there for every move in order for him to do his thing well. Needs his space. Needs to grow up, be a man and work out anything he needs to work out without me doing it for him or telling him what to do or how to do it. He doesn't need my viewpoint after practice, doesn't need my thoughts on what I saw. I trust him. I trust his coaches.
Parents get along very well. Coaches communicate better than nearly any person I've ever known. Kids get along well too. Its a beautiful thing, but its his thing...not mine.
I'll be there for the games.
Its my way and its no BS!
bballman,
Sounds like you were watching from the lot at Roswell HS. You think they planned it that way on purpose?
We never went to a tryout, the reason being we live around the corner from the HS and no need to pick up son for a ride home. But even if we had to, we would have waited in the car. That is their time to do their thing without mom or dadscrutinizing watching. This is how problems arise, a player gets cut and then they go back to tell the coach that they don't understand why their son got cut.
And then there's the "what you did or didn't do". JMO.
Sounds like you were watching from the lot at Roswell HS. You think they planned it that way on purpose?
We never went to a tryout, the reason being we live around the corner from the HS and no need to pick up son for a ride home. But even if we had to, we would have waited in the car. That is their time to do their thing without mom or dad
And then there's the "what you did or didn't do". JMO.
Oh, did I mention that I love math and science too?
But I don't watch him take those tests either.
(OK, being a little sarcastic here...but I think the point is still relevant).
But I don't watch him take those tests either.
(OK, being a little sarcastic here...but I think the point is still relevant).
JB,
Good point!
Do you watch over your kids doing their homework like you watch over them in baseball practice?
LOL
Good point!
Do you watch over your kids doing their homework like you watch over them in baseball practice?
LOL
I believe if you do have the opportunity to see your son's tryout from a distance, it should be judged on the basis of how your son stacks up against the talent of others in his age group or in T-bone's case, kids one to 2 years older than he is. I don't think there is anything wrong for a parent to be proactive in helping develop his son's baseball activities from a distance. If you don't see sometimes you don't know.
And I've met more than a few parents who won't go to the games either, I'm sure they think all the people who like to go to the games are going overboard.
Just because some of you think it's bad to watch your kid at a tryout doesn't mean that it's wrong. It's okay at travel ball and "show cases", but not at high school?
Just because some of you think it's bad to watch your kid at a tryout doesn't mean that it's wrong. It's okay at travel ball and "show cases", but not at high school?
quote:he needs to work out without me doing it for him or telling him what to do or how to do it. He doesn't need my viewpoint after practice, doesn't need my thoughts on what I saw.
But who said this is part of the watching? (Ok, I don't watch tryouts, but I'm not going to say it's necessarily the wrong thing to do. It has to do with the motivation behind the action, IMO.) I think you can watch a practice or tryout without offering any sort of feedback to anyone afterward. Maybe some folks find the whole thing entertaining for its own sake and it has nothing to do with wanting to control or motivate their kid or the coach. There's a difference between observing from a distance and inserting yourself in the process. Each of us has to ask ourselves if what we are doing is bothersome or intrusive, and we each know what is expected by our own kids and their coaches. One person's reality might not be the same for another. That's obvious from the vastly different comments here.
Had a player a few years back at our showcase whose parents were loud and overbearing say this to me " Coach, wouldn't it be great if we could put a bubble over the field and keep the parents out!"
I will never forget that
I will never forget that
quote:It's okay at travel ball and "show cases", but not at high school?
I don't go to travel ball practices or tryouts either unless I have no choice...then I tend to take walks not around the field.
Travel ball games? Yes.
Showcases? Yes...kinda like a game.
quillgirl - I agree...but the majority of parents I know who attend practices are there to evaluate...evaluate their son (usually quite postively), evaluate the coaches and evaluate the other players. And they're not too quiet about their evaluations. I don't want to be a part of that...and I also want my son to do his thing without dad there for every moment. To me, its part of growing up.
And like I said, I don't watch math quizzes for the enjoyment either. And I think math quizzes are a whole lot more important.
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
Had a player a few years back at our showcase whose parents were loud and overbearing say this to me " Coach, wouldn't it be great if we could put a bubble over the field and keep the parents out!"
I will never forget that
We had a similar situation in a league game where the pitcher ON the mound stopped, turned and faced the stands and said: "Dad, if you don't have anything good to say, GO HOME!"
quote:Doesn't need me to be there for every move in order for him to do his thing well. Needs his space. Needs to grow up, be a man and work out anything he needs to work out without me doing it for him or telling him what to do or how to do it. He doesn't need my viewpoint after practice, doesn't need my thoughts on what I saw. I trust him. I trust his coaches.
Well said, Just Baseball.
quote:Originally posted by bbking:
Don't give me those BS that you don't want to watch? The question is: do you have the time to watch? I don't care what the coaches are thinking, I watched my son's every practice, and will watch him try-out, and I won't miss a minute of his game. Because I love to watch him play baseball and I got ton's of free time, period.
I never went to watch high school tryouts nor did I go to practices. Sure, before the kid drove and I had to pick him up I'd get there a bit early and usually what I saw was other cars pulling in around the same time which gave me the idea is that most parents don't stick around and watch tryouts and practice.
The players don't want parents there during tryouts and practices. It's their time and parents didn't belong there. I'm sure some players who had whack-job parents didn't even want them at the games.
As for scrimmage games and regular season games, those I tried to get to as many as I could.
If it were up to me, I would've gone tryouts, indoor workouts, practices, intrasquad scrimmage or anything where they do something with a baseball but I knew my place and where my involvement with the baseball program was.
I think one time when my son was a freshman, I said I might come down to watch a saturday practice and he told me "don't bother, it's not like we're having a game. You'll be bored."
I got the message.
reading all of this, has sure opened my eyes. There are so many different types of parents. Neither wrong or right. Some would fit right in with my parents, some would not. This conversation has struck my interest to see what our tryout is like in regards toparents. If it is acceptable i will write a blog in regards to the process at my high school. I will detail everything from the actual tryout to how and when parents were in attendance. Could be kind of fun.
TRHIT--- One of the Travel ball coaches I use to coah with use to always say "I would love to coach in an orpanage or a prison."
TRHIT--- One of the Travel ball coaches I use to coah with use to always say "I would love to coach in an orpanage or a prison."
Is the purpose of this discussion an effort to seek out a correct protocol?
From the threadstart, it was said:" It is also interesting to hear the parents talk about how great so and so is and he should make the team as an 8th grader, when the kid they are talking about only played rec ball and has never really seen any tougher competition than a 60 mph fastball."
With over 30 8th graders at this tryout, did the poster observe each one of these kids the entire time that transpired from the end of recball to the start of tryouts to arrive at the above quoted conclusion?
Those talking parents may have spent tons of time and money during the offseason preparing their kid with lessons, workouts, etc. and are just interested in seeing it translate to the field?
I rather listen to a parent talk about what their kid did to improve versus listening to one person dismissing 30 other kids sight unseen.
From the threadstart, it was said:" It is also interesting to hear the parents talk about how great so and so is and he should make the team as an 8th grader, when the kid they are talking about only played rec ball and has never really seen any tougher competition than a 60 mph fastball."
With over 30 8th graders at this tryout, did the poster observe each one of these kids the entire time that transpired from the end of recball to the start of tryouts to arrive at the above quoted conclusion?
Those talking parents may have spent tons of time and money during the offseason preparing their kid with lessons, workouts, etc. and are just interested in seeing it translate to the field?
I rather listen to a parent talk about what their kid did to improve versus listening to one person dismissing 30 other kids sight unseen.
I stated my personal preference and opinion, there is no right or wrong.
But I will tell you another reason why I never attended a tryout in HS. I will admit I came to practice sometimes early for a game, but I also was often in charge of opening up the concsssion stand and getting things ready for the game. Coming to a game early is different than coming to watch the team on practice day. At college we often came early for BP, only because we so seldom had time to watch the team in person. We never watched son warm up in the pen before a game (ever), he was "working" amd didn't need distractions. Yet I have seen parents actually standing by the pen watching warm ups. When do you ever let go and stop watching over them for everything they do in baseball?
I have always had respect for son's coaches, though I didn't always agree with everything they did, they have a job to do and IMO it's much easier to do it when not having parents watch over your shoulder. I am sure that many coaches say they don't mind and hold open practices and tryouts for the parents to watch, because they are confidant in their decisions and how they run things. That may not be true for everyone. A new coach, a new team, is that fair? JMO.
I also felt that was a time alone for coaches and players, that was their only time with their players and often times practices may not go as well as you, as a parent, would like, those things are between coach and player.
Do you like strangers to watch over you as you do your job?
Wen my daughter was young she took dance, never were we allowed to watch lessons, that we were paying for, why should baseball be different. Only because there is no door to close, we all assume it's ok to watch.
But I will tell you another reason why I never attended a tryout in HS. I will admit I came to practice sometimes early for a game, but I also was often in charge of opening up the concsssion stand and getting things ready for the game. Coming to a game early is different than coming to watch the team on practice day. At college we often came early for BP, only because we so seldom had time to watch the team in person. We never watched son warm up in the pen before a game (ever), he was "working" amd didn't need distractions. Yet I have seen parents actually standing by the pen watching warm ups. When do you ever let go and stop watching over them for everything they do in baseball?
I have always had respect for son's coaches, though I didn't always agree with everything they did, they have a job to do and IMO it's much easier to do it when not having parents watch over your shoulder. I am sure that many coaches say they don't mind and hold open practices and tryouts for the parents to watch, because they are confidant in their decisions and how they run things. That may not be true for everyone. A new coach, a new team, is that fair? JMO.
I also felt that was a time alone for coaches and players, that was their only time with their players and often times practices may not go as well as you, as a parent, would like, those things are between coach and player.
Do you like strangers to watch over you as you do your job?
Wen my daughter was young she took dance, never were we allowed to watch lessons, that we were paying for, why should baseball be different. Only because there is no door to close, we all assume it's ok to watch.
I came to a few freshmen tryout practices early to pick up.But it was way up on a hill so players couldnt really see you.After that never again. Son did not want me there,I never attended any practices for rest of HS.Like TPM I would come early to watch warm ups some times,I like to watch BP before the college games,but there are tons of people.
I had a good relationship with coaches as they were my sons teachers as well.I still have a good relationship as my son and his hs coaches have stayed in contact.
I dont really care what other parents do or do not do. Its your own business.I just know my son did not want to see us any where near fields for baseball in HS.I respected his feelings on that and showed up for games.
When they get to college there really is no interaction with coaches at all, a wave here and there if they are walking by you but they have a team to run and I havent seen a parent ever approach any of the coaches yet in fall or during their first 15 games.
I had a good relationship with coaches as they were my sons teachers as well.I still have a good relationship as my son and his hs coaches have stayed in contact.
I dont really care what other parents do or do not do. Its your own business.I just know my son did not want to see us any where near fields for baseball in HS.I respected his feelings on that and showed up for games.
When they get to college there really is no interaction with coaches at all, a wave here and there if they are walking by you but they have a team to run and I havent seen a parent ever approach any of the coaches yet in fall or during their first 15 games.
quote:Do you like strangers to watch over you as you do your job?
I'm not a stranger...or a spy...I think what is being objected to here is not the action of watching but the motivation. If your motivation is to be there to make sure the coach is doing his job, that your kid is getting a fair deal, and/or to interject yourself into the process then I agree that is wrong. If you can't just watch, stay away.
Reading these posts have given me a new perspective. We don't have tryouts but, if we did, I would stay away. It isn't a good time to watch since it could be misinterpeted by others and is probably a distraction for your own kid.
I also don't follow my kid around at practice. That would be creepy.
TPM, Centennial HS. Parking lot overlooks the field. You can park in the front row and sit in your car and see the field. I have gone early to pick up and watched the end of a couple of practices. Like I said earlier, I just like to watch baseball. Have never sat through a whole practice and have never gone down to field level to watch a practice. I would feel that is imposing. Would never second guess the coach or question his motives.
I have always taught my son that if you want a particular position or place in the order, you have to work harder and earn it. That will not change.
So far, I have not heard any complaining from our parents about any kind of politics. I have talked to a dad from a neighboring HS that we have played travel with before. Man, I usually can't wait to get off the phone with him. Talks about all kinds of politics, who should and shouldn't be on the team, what's going on with his kid and how he isn't playing the position he wants, etc... Gets real old, real quick.
Anyway, bottom line is, I am a parent that doesn't mind seeing some practice time, but will NEVER express any displeasure to the coach or anyone else. I will NOT yell to my kid any kind of instructions. I will be positive and supportive of my kid and be positive and supportive of the coach and the baseball program.
Not everyone who likes to watch practice from time to time is a subversive underminer of a baseball program.
I have always taught my son that if you want a particular position or place in the order, you have to work harder and earn it. That will not change.
So far, I have not heard any complaining from our parents about any kind of politics. I have talked to a dad from a neighboring HS that we have played travel with before. Man, I usually can't wait to get off the phone with him. Talks about all kinds of politics, who should and shouldn't be on the team, what's going on with his kid and how he isn't playing the position he wants, etc... Gets real old, real quick.
Anyway, bottom line is, I am a parent that doesn't mind seeing some practice time, but will NEVER express any displeasure to the coach or anyone else. I will NOT yell to my kid any kind of instructions. I will be positive and supportive of my kid and be positive and supportive of the coach and the baseball program.
Not everyone who likes to watch practice from time to time is a subversive underminer of a baseball program.
bballman,
I saw that you were from Roswell, and if memory serves me right you can watch from the parking lot. BTW, one of the best HS facilities I have seen. Son played there for East Cobb tourney.
Hey guys, you all can do what you wish, that is your perogative as parents. I was just stating mine. After all these years it still remains the same, even with spring training (which is essentially practice) very close by, we went once last year (last time on the mound before assignment). Games we take advantage of.
No need to feel you have to justify.
I saw that you were from Roswell, and if memory serves me right you can watch from the parking lot. BTW, one of the best HS facilities I have seen. Son played there for East Cobb tourney.
Hey guys, you all can do what you wish, that is your perogative as parents. I was just stating mine. After all these years it still remains the same, even with spring training (which is essentially practice) very close by, we went once last year (last time on the mound before assignment). Games we take advantage of.
No need to feel you have to justify.
quote:Originally posted by bballman:
TPM, Centennial HS. Parking lot overlooks the field. You can park in the front row and sit in your car and see the field. I have gone early to pick up and watched the end of a couple of practices. Like I said earlier, I just like to watch baseball. Have never sat through a whole practice and have never gone down to field level to watch a practice. I would feel that is imposing. Would never second guess the coach or question his motives.
I have always taught my son that if you want a particular position or place in the order, you have to work harder and earn it. That will not change.
So far, I have not heard any complaining from our parents about any kind of politics. I have talked to a dad from a neighboring HS that we have played travel with before. Man, I usually can't wait to get off the phone with him. Talks about all kinds of politics, who should and shouldn't be on the team, what's going on with his kid and how he isn't playing the position he wants, etc... Gets real old, real quick.
Anyway, bottom line is, I am a parent that doesn't mind seeing some practice time, but will NEVER express any displeasure to the coach or anyone else. I will NOT yell to my kid any kind of instructions. I will be positive and supportive of my kid and be positive and supportive of the coach and the baseball program.
Not everyone who likes to watch practice from time to time is a subversive underminer of a baseball program.
bballman - I think you make excellent points and pretty much speak for all the parents who have expressed themselves in this thread that enjoy unobtrusively watching. Nobody should feel like they have to justify themselves.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have seen parents that try and coach their kids while they are in the batter's box and hitting or conversely while they are out on the mound. If the kid does manage to get a hit or strike someone out, the parent looks around and lets everyone know it was because of their astute coaching between pitches. How pathetic is that? They rob their own kids of all the joy
I say let your kids fail. Also, let them have all the credit when they succeed. I don't believe it is asking too much of parents to let their kids stand and fall on their own.
How pathetic is that?
So pathetic. Those are the kids that go far-far away to college!
So pathetic. Those are the kids that go far-far away to college!
Son had a LL coach, and then a travel coach who used terrible language to the players. Loudly - and in a mean way towards the players. Son was shocked. So, when we heard that, we planted our foldable chairs a ways back from the fence, but definitely in view of everyone, read our newspapers, and chatted. Found it interesting that the language wasn't repeated when parents were around. Nothing was ever said, but it seemed to work.
In this day and age, I would think that coaches would be GLAD that third parties are around to dispute any questionable actions. Protects the coaches from a "he said/he said/she said" situation
In this day and age, I would think that coaches would be GLAD that third parties are around to dispute any questionable actions. Protects the coaches from a "he said/he said/she said" situation
quote:Originally posted by rain delay:
As I watched my 8th grader trying out today for the first time for a high school baseball team it was quite an interesting experience to watch from a distance.Weatherwise, it was a cool day with temps in the 40s under cloudy skies. T-bone ran out there in his cold weather Under Armour covered by a baseball jersey with his name on it and he had a big smile on his face while fielding grounders, tracking down fly balls and hitting some batting practice balls. I could tell he was happy to play baseball again. It looked as if there were about 100 to 110 kids trying out for the Freshman and Junior Varsity teams. Some working out on the football field. Some on the baseball diamond. Only current sophmores, freshmen and eighth graders could try out. Out of the 8th graders, the coach indicated that he is only taking one to two 8th graders for the J.V and/or the Freshmen team because of the tremendous turnout. There were over 30 8th graders trying out today. To me and according to my son, there are about 20 8th grade infielders that want to make the team playing shortstop or 2nd base and no other position. It was always my experience that every team that my son was a part of during the earlier years the coaches would encourage the kids to experience opportunities in playing several positions. Especially, if you are right handed and could play numerous positions. You never know which positions the coach is looking to fill. (I have indicated this before in another posting that I have taught my left handed son to play any and every position a lefty can play ). The 1st cut is scheduled Thursday. I guess the most interesting part of watching the first day of high school tryouts was how diversified the talent pool is. I guess with my son playing select ball for the past 4 years I have become use to a pool of considerably more talented players than what is indicated at a high school tryout. It is also interesting to hear the parents talk about how great so and so is and he should make the team as an 8th grader, when the kid they are talking about only played rec ball and has never really seen any tougher competition than a 60 mph fastball. I always thought you were only as good as your competition is. It is like comparing apples to oranges. Or an honors class in comparison to basket weaving 101. I'm not sure if T-bone will make the high school team or not this year but my son and I agree that if he doesn't, he will get more pitching and hitting lessons, more agility training and play with his summer team earlier than first anticipated. For the high school coaches out there, my heart goes out to you.I would hate to try to deal with an over protective helicopter parent that only sees things through rose colored glasses and telling their kid they didn't make the team.
Raindelay....I admire your desire to watch your son practice and encourage him to work hard, etc. but there is a reason that a majority of Dads and Moms on here including myself learned over the years that it is best to stay away during practice. Why? Where do I begin..? Our old coach allowed parents to watch behind homeplate or anywhere for that matter. When/if my son made an error, hit pop ups on every pitch, threw the ball away, etc. he hated that I was there to observe. What he thought was anger on my face from his mistake was really my disappointment for him cause I knew he hated messing up and I just felt for him. It added more and more pressure on him but he couldn't tell me that, or wouldn't. By his Junior year we had a new coach. He didn't care for parents to be around. His take was that it distracted from his coaching, play making, teaching moments, team chemistry, etc.
Watching tryouts is to me the WORSE time to be there as a parent. If he makes the team, let him ask the coach if parents can attend practices. Some coaches will even hold a player/parent meeting after the teams are complete and lay down the rules. You may be able to ask the question there.
Anyways...good luck to your son. I remember when my son tried out as an 8th grader for the JV team. It was quite nerveracking to say the least!
bballman,
I didn't mean you particular about justifying, just if someone wants to go to tryouts and practice, by all means go. The above by you was a good post.
I have seen what CD describes, it's not attractive to anyone. I have even seen a parent in HS sit behind the backstop to critique my own player (throwing what he felt were the wrong pitches), and then tell us we should go speak to coach about his game plan.
How pathetic is THAT!
I didn't mean you particular about justifying, just if someone wants to go to tryouts and practice, by all means go. The above by you was a good post.
I have seen what CD describes, it's not attractive to anyone. I have even seen a parent in HS sit behind the backstop to critique my own player (throwing what he felt were the wrong pitches), and then tell us we should go speak to coach about his game plan.
How pathetic is THAT!
quote:How pathetic is THAT!
I'll give you that one TPM - that is even more pathetic
I'm self employed. This year's schedule is already blocked off in my appointment book. Even though I could make the time, I wouldn't bother to watch tryouts or practice.quote:Originally posted by bbking:
Guys, I am just curious how many of you guys really have the time to watch your kids practice/try-out/play game? How many of you guys are just too busy with your job or jobs and you don't have an hour or two spare time between 3:00pm-5:00pm?
Don't give me those BS that you don't want to watch? The question is: do you have the time to watch? I don't care what the coaches are thinking, I watched my son's every practice, and will watch him try-out, and I won't miss a minute of his game. Because I love to watch him play baseball and I got ton's of free time, period.
When I was fifteen in BR baseball I told my father if he came to the game I would walk off the field. He watched from a road on a hill from the other side of the highway with binoculars.quote:Originally posted by Innocent Bystander:quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
Had a player a few years back at our showcase whose parents were loud and overbearing say this to me " Coach, wouldn't it be great if we could put a bubble over the field and keep the parents out!"
I will never forget that
We had a similar situation in a league game where the pitcher ON the mound stopped, turned and faced the stands and said: "Dad, if you don't have anything good to say, GO HOME!"
My dad had an out of body experience summer. He was never a pain in the year before or after that year until one game in college ball where I stopped it after one game with a very colorful statement. And no it wasn't physically possible.
quote:Originally posted by bbking:
I don't care what the coaches are thinking
I'll bet by reading one of your past posts you really don't care about coaches.
With over 30 8th graders at this tryout, did the poster observe each one of these kids the entire time that transpired from the end of recball to the start of tryouts to arrive at the above quoted conclusion?
Those talking parents may have spent tons of time and money during the offseason preparing their kid with lessons, workouts, etc. and are just interested in seeing it translate to the field?
Rake the Ball[/quote]
To answer Rake the Ball's comment on this subject..... The answer is yes I have seen every one of the 30 plus 8th grade players over the years proceeding through different stages in their development in baseball. In the community where I live, there are very few secrets about the talents of athletic kids unless there is a kid that happens to move into our town unnoticed. There were no surprises at this tryout this year. Especially, if your son plays as many games as we have over the past 7 years. In fact, most of those players trying out have been on my son's former teams through the years or he has played against them one time or another. In fact he has probably worked out with half of them when he was playing baskeball. It doesn't take long to see who has some skills and who does not.
Those talking parents may have spent tons of time and money during the offseason preparing their kid with lessons, workouts, etc. and are just interested in seeing it translate to the field?
Rake the Ball[/quote]
To answer Rake the Ball's comment on this subject..... The answer is yes I have seen every one of the 30 plus 8th grade players over the years proceeding through different stages in their development in baseball. In the community where I live, there are very few secrets about the talents of athletic kids unless there is a kid that happens to move into our town unnoticed. There were no surprises at this tryout this year. Especially, if your son plays as many games as we have over the past 7 years. In fact, most of those players trying out have been on my son's former teams through the years or he has played against them one time or another. In fact he has probably worked out with half of them when he was playing baskeball. It doesn't take long to see who has some skills and who does not.
As I mentioned, I rather listen to each of them before I listen to a high school baseball scout?
quote:Raindelay....I admire your desire to watch your son practice and encourage him to work hard, etc. but there is a reason that a majority of Dads and Moms on here including myself learned over the years that it is best to stay away during practice. Why? Where do I begin..? Our old coach allowed parents to watch behind homeplate or anywhere for that matter. When/if my son made an error, hit pop ups on every pitch, threw the ball away, etc. he hated that I was there to observe. What he thought was anger on my face from his mistake was really my disappointment for him cause I knew he hated messing up and I just felt for him. It added more and more pressure on him but he couldn't tell me that, or wouldn't. By his Junior year we had a new coach. He didn't care for parents to be around. His take was that it distracted from his coaching, play making, teaching moments, team chemistry, etc.
Watching tryouts is to me the WORSE time to be there as a parent. If he makes the team, let him ask the coach if parents can attend practices. Some coaches will even hold a player/parent meeting after the teams are complete and lay down the rules. You may be able to ask the question there.
Anyways...good luck to your son. I remember when my son tried out as an 8th grader for the JV team. It was quite nerveracking to say the least!
Thanks YoungGunDad,
Comments well taken. I guess I need to clarify when I said I was watching tryouts from a distance. I mean a distance sitting in my car in which my son didn't even know I was there watching. I haven't been back since other than to catch the tail end of yesterday's tryout when he was being picked up. By the way, he made it through the first cut today.
I guess I am lucky as it was not a problem with either the coach or my son 
if I showed up to watch practice. I did go to a lot of practices when he was a freshman and a sophmore. I went because I realy like watching baseball and being my only son I love watching him on the baseball field.
In his Jr. year I did not go to very many practices. I can't say why just didn't. When I did go to a practice in his Jr. year I would sit in my car far from the field. I thought I was hidden and out of site. He always saw me. At dinner after practice he would tease me on how sneaky (not) I was. Now his Senior year I have not been to any practices. With all this discussion about practice I think I will go watch practice tommorrow. Remember "We talking about practice man" thanks AI.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI
Best of all after practice son and I are going to watch Stanford beat Vanderbilt at Sunken diamond.
In his Jr. year I did not go to very many practices. I can't say why just didn't. When I did go to a practice in his Jr. year I would sit in my car far from the field. I thought I was hidden and out of site. He always saw me. At dinner after practice he would tease me on how sneaky (not) I was. Now his Senior year I have not been to any practices. With all this discussion about practice I think I will go watch practice tommorrow. Remember "We talking about practice man" thanks AI.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI
Best of all after practice son and I are going to watch Stanford beat Vanderbilt at Sunken diamond.