1st Year lessons others need to know?

As a freshman in college I will say that if you think you don't have anything to do I almost guarantee there is something you could find to do that would help for your next class. It is really hard not to sit on your computer on hsbbw for you hour breaks between classes when you be doing homework that is due in a couple days.

Always stay ahead of the game on your school work. Don't procrastinate and wait until the last minute. Find out ahead of time about work that needs to be done while the team is traveling.

My daughter is through college. My son is a freshman. I was such a crazy person in college I knew what made friends and teammates fail in college. I passed on advice to my daughter. To the best of my knowledge she behaved. Both she and I have passed on advice to my son.

- Have fun but take it easy on the partying.
- If you think you may be in the wrong place, leave.
- College is easy if you get to class.
- College can be hard if you fall behind in getting to class and doing homework.
- Get enough sleep.
- If you don't maintain a 3.5 you're not separating yourself from the pack. It will matter on your first job search.
- Athletically don't look over your shoulder. Just keep pushing. There is someone behind you trying to take your place.

To quote a D1 college baseball coach . . .

"If you're getting a 3.8 or better you're probably not practicing enough" (tongue in cheek, but???)


1st year lessons: being a student-athlete is VERY difficult with huge demands on your time. One really needs to manage their time well to succeed at both.

Focus on what YOU need to do to be successful. That will be different than many of the guys around you sometimes and sometimes different than everyone around you. They may be able to go out every night and still take care of business in the class room and on the field. You may not be able to do those things.

There is going to be a strong pull for you to want to fit in the with guys. They are going to want you to join in with them. Your going to want to be a part of the things they are doing to fit in. I am not talking about drinking or partying solely but simply hanging out playing video games and doing other things. You have to understand that many guys have been there awhile and have a routine down. They can do those things and not have issues. Your a freshman. You might not be able to do those things. So you have to be strong and understand everyone is not in the same position and do what YOU have to do.

In some cases your eyes are going to be wide open to new things. Crazy stuff. Very enticing things. Stay focused. If you don't your going to pay a heavy price for it. You are free to make what ever choices you wish to make. Your not free to choose the consequences of those choices. Stay focused.

Many times the baseball is not the problem. Your talented or you wouldn't be there. And so is everyone else. But are you mature enough to handle the new found freedom? Are you mature enough to handle the peer pressure of wanting to be one of the boys? Do you understand just because someone else on your team can do certain things that does not mean you can?

A 18 year old kid walking into a mans world. On a team with 22-23 year old men who have been there and done that. Exposed to things many times they have never been exposed to. Stay focused and stay on course. If not your going to learn some very hard lessons. Many times players and parents are so focused on the actual performance on the field they don't think about the pitfalls off the field that can totally negate the on field performance or impact in a negative way the performance on the field and in the class room. Just some thoughts.

Very well said coach may. If I was coaching college I'd put that response in my handbook and have parents and kids read it at orientation.
What I learned (3 kids now with 4 degrees, only 1 played 4 yr of baseball) is that there is a culture that exists on that team when you arrive. You're a freshman and you will be tested and tried in every way. By the time you are a senior you will have changed a lot and you will be one of the ones making the culture what it is.
Kids who don't play a sport can pop in and out of their respective cultures without any damage to their psyche, they don't have so much invested, nothing to lose by making frequent changes. As a baseball playeR you are tied to that one thing to a tremendous degree that I know the readers here understand but most would not believe.


(good grief Kenny, get some sleep, 3:34 am? Really?

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:

- College is easy if you get to class.
- College can be hard if you fall behind in getting to class and doing homework.
- Get enough sleep.

I can't emphasize enough how these above are SO important for the young men arriving on college campus for the first time. If you don't think Items# 1 and 2 above are not vital, just wait and see how it can grossly impact you as a Junior or Senior trying to become eligible to still play the game of baseball, i.e. enough hours, GPA, tranferrable hours, etc.

It has a HUGE rippling effect.

YGD

Agree 100% RJM and YGD. Get to class whenever possible.

I would add two things:

1) Your freshmen son's expectations of playing time will most likely be different than the coaches. Enjoy any playing time you get, and make the most of it.

2) Mid-week (non-conference) games may be your son's stepping stone to more playing time. However, it is a double edged sword because he'll have to manage his study time and classroom time well (stay on top of his academics) while he is travelling and playing baseball. My son ended up taking tests (connected wireless) on the travel bus.

Told my son several things but the two I really stressed:
1. Go to class - every day. It's your job.
2. Start out strong. First day, first semester. If you start with a 1.7 gpa, you will be trying to catch up for the rest of your college career. He got a 3.95

First one I'll post. We told our daughter to wait after class and meet every teacher. We also told her to shake their hand and repeat her name. Then, she was to tell them that she is an athlete and that she will miss class for games. Finally, we told her to tell each professor that she was a student first and that her grades are very important to her. Then, she was to check that their email address was correct and for the professor to expect an email as she enters them into her address book.

Besides the obvious about going to class....
son had a possible opportunity to get drafted out of HS. For him, the better option would be going to college, do some growing up and enjoying the entire college experience. He loved the experience and will most likely always remain one of his life's best experiences.

Also keep in mind that they may mess up once in a while, but that's part of it, growing up, and most of us have been there so we understand the lumps and bumps you take learning to live on your own. If they have an issues or a problem, be there to listen, that's what they need more than anything and don't give advice unless they ask for it.

Big adjustment for everyone, he/she misses you but you miss them more because maybe your life isn't as busy as it used to be, keep things in perspective, it's not about us grownups, it's about them. Find new interests or revive old ones.

I would say get into a routine so when the season/ spring does come, all of the other "stuff" is taken care of. Go to all of your classes so school is never an issue and you don't by week 2 end up in mandatory study halls. Meet your friends and have your fun times so when the spring time comes it is all focus on baseball.

I couldn't believe at how many guys started off year one on the wrong foot by skipping classes and not getting settled into the college life. Adjusting to college is tough enough. Trying to get by by only going to half of your classes has disaster written all over it.

Ken Jacobi

author: "Going with the Pitch: Adjusting to Baseball, School, and Life as Division I College Athlete"

I think son wishes last year as a freshman he would have put more time into his classes. He had the chance to start out with a better GPA. I wish he had listened to his wise old parents regarding how to handle ball and academics but he is one to learn the hard way. Think he realizes that last year he should have put forth more effort because the core classes get harder each year.
Go to classes - don't fall behind. Do your homework. Make friends with non baseball people who can share notes, class info.

This is great advice for us "rookies" in the college hunt now. Shaping up as a Golden Thread topic IMHO.

Second thought. It is spelled Weight Room and not wait room. So, when you show up your freshman year, the coaching staff is going to take measurements on just about everything. Speed, quickness, jumping ability, and then strength. If you wait until you get to college to start lifting, you'll be too late. BTW, college coaches expect for you to know the basic lifts and technique. Once those measurements are made, they then have a "plan" for you to follow including those times when you go home to ensure that you are getting stronger. They will test, for instance, when you come back from Christmas/semester break. You'd better be able to show gains.

While some of this info is good to get going with now, i.e. weight room and other preparation that needs to take place before you get to school, some of it will be all the more important when guys are heading off to school for the first time.

I recommend all of you in that situation put a note in your calendar to bump this post in August and start putting blurbs in front of those neophytes heading off to their first time out of the nest.

The references to experienced upper classmen having routines that allow them to look like they are always having a good time is well placed. The frosh won't know what hit him if he does that from day one.

To me the most important lessons are about college life and college academics. The kids haven't been away from home before 100% responsible for their actions without parental supervision. Even though college sports is a whole new level the kids have grown up playing sports. Their sport isn't new to them.

Learn to talk to your professors and TA's if you have them..If you are sturggling,need an extension on something.Let them know (as Coach said), what your face looks like.Some GE classes are larger than others.The professors for the most part can be very helpful.Don't wait to the last minute if you are sturggling or behind to ask for help.

I shared this with my son before his first year of college, and I think it may be helpful to others. I told him to also substitute academics in place of the athletic part as both need the same type of focus.

8 Habits of Serious Athletes

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
To me the most important lessons are about college life and college academics. The kids haven't been away from home before 100% responsible for their actions without parental supervision. Even though college sports is a whole new level the kids have grown up playing sports. Their sport isn't new to them.

I agree, our kids by now should be pretty fairly versed on what's expected playing baseball (or their particular sport), it's the adjustment of being on their own for the first time that I think needs to be addressed before your son/daughter head off to school. That most likely will include topics that you may not want to talk about, drugs, alcohol and s e x. For those parents of D1 players, those things are also addressed in a required class they have to take first semester as freshman.

If this is the fit that your son/daughter was looking for (with your help and guidance) most o issues are addressed by the coaching staff (including the above). IMO, we felt that the most important job of the HC was helping players to make right choices when it comes to being accountable in the class and on the field. If we had to lecture about the obvious, then we didn't do our job correctly of preparing him/her to begin with.

I think that Jack Leggett would have frowned upon son introducing himself as a baseball player, my feeling always was that you don't get special favors because you are an athlete. The expectations were that your first priority was in the classroom, the baseball part will take care of itself.

I wanted to bump this so it doesn't get lost. My son starts college next year and I am planning on sharing the insights on this topic with him.

Now that many freshman are finishing their first year, it would be great if some new advice could be added.

If you think baseball and school are tough during fall, wait till spring it's a much different monster.

I was glad to see this thread bumped back to the top. When your child gets to college, they are all going to try to find out where they fit in. In doing so, they are going to want to befriend everyone on the team. While that sounds good in theory, they need to keep in mind that they are there to take someone else's position and so, that "someone else" is going to assess all of those freshmen there to compete for their job and they might not want friendship. I know for my child that was tough to take.

As we are now completing this first season, we learned another lesson. My child took 16 hours and a lab. It sounded good in theory because her lab was on Mondays which were to be their day off. However, with rain etc. that hasn't been the case. They have played 3 times on Monday. So, that lab makeup is tricky. Our athletic advisor mentioned that this has never happened before but the format of the conference changed this year. For my child, no labs again during spring.

Finally, since our children are attempting to play and get an education, they will probably be behind some in hours unless you plan to have your child take a summer class. We are having our daughter take a summer class each summer to keep her on pace. She will be ahead this way and so, will be able to take 12 hours her senior year for both fall and spring. You must check to see whether your university will accept the transfer credits. My daughter's advisor is working with the JUCO (adivsor in their school) where she is taking classes to make sure all summer classes she takes there transfer.

quote:

While that sounds good in theory, they need to keep in mind that they are there to take someone else's position and so, that "someone else" is going to assess all of those freshmen there to compete for their job and they might not want friendship. I know for my child that was tough to take.

I think guys treat new players on a baseball team differently than girls treat incoming players. I've been amazed at how much comaraderie exists amongst the players, how easily the Freshmen are accepted and how much support they receive from all the players.

The most important adjustments will be; setting priorites (school work, baseball, and then comes leisure, fun), time management (see above priorities) and last but not least, making good decisions (again, see above priorities). IMO you should have this discussion before he departs and look for opportunites later to reinforce their successes. I think being supportive for their on field endeavors is great but not as important as showing more concern in the other most important areas of their school lives! That often takes a mental adjustment for many "baseball" parents.

quote:

I think guys treat new players on a baseball team differently than girls treat incoming players. I've been amazed at how much comaraderie exists amongst the players, how easily the Freshmen are accepted and how much support they receive from all the players.

I saw it the other way around. The girls mother hen the new players. The marginal boys saw new players as a threat.

My expericence from coaching both is girls are tighter. When you chew out a girl you've ticked off an entire team. When you chew out a boy all the rest are thankful it's not them. Then they playfully razz the guy.

Based upon two sons playing college baseball, both having graduated, one in 4 years, one in 5.5 years, and one with a 3.5 GPA, and one with a...well, much less than a 3.5, both bright and personable guys, both had tons of fun.

The difference: (1). Time management.
(2). Make academics a priority.

#1 Figure out who would be a good roomate for his sophmore year.

#2 Don't let your roomate distract you.

With the school year about to start (I drop my college freshman off in less than three weeks), I am bumping this again. Hopefully all of those young men about to start the next stage of their life will take notice and apply these lessons so they have a successful start to their college years!

quote:

The difference: (1). Time management.
(2). Make academics a priority.

hokieone nailed it! No secret, just prioritize.

College is a great period in ones life so you should enjoy it. However, a College Baseball player has two jobs; academics and baseball, in that order.

If there is "downtime" left at days end following, class, homework, workouts and practice, then go ahead and let your hair down a little and enjoy. But never forget the real reason you are there; "to prepare for the rest of your life."

Due to the spring my daughter had, she is receiving offers from various groups on campus under the description of "Leadership Award." She went to her advisor to discuss these offers. Your child really needs to develop a relationship with the athletic advisor. All of these offers sound so good and yet, the advisor told her not to accept any. Why? He said that her junior year, if she continues on her present course, she will be offered a "Leadership Award" from the school's administration. He said that athletes in the past have become school ambassador and so get to network with powerful people in the community. Almost on cue, she was contacted by a gentleman who does the Ambassador program and told that she will be offered a job next summer if she would like one. Ironically, it has nothing to do with athletics. It has to do with everyone on campus knowing this crazy freshman girl along with her academic success. Goes to show you that you have to be both an athlete and a student.

Lots of good advice here as usual. Having just come off their freshman year, here’s how I see it.

As much as we try to give them all of the advice we think they need going into their first year, to some extent they need to experience it themselves and learn some of it “on the job”. For their entire school life, we’ve always preached academics first and then sports, and we have to be confident in them that they will continue that in college. We are thankful that their D1 program has great academic support. As a result, their freshman year went smooth academically and very well on the field.

There will be problems, issues, or situations we cannot foresee. We just need to be there for them when they need us. And HSBBW will be here as well to help in any way we can!

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
Focus on what YOU need to do to be successful. That will be different than many of the guys around you sometimes and sometimes different than everyone around you. They may be able to go out every night and still take care of business in the class room and on the field. You may not be able to do those things.

There is going to be a strong pull for you to want to fit in the with guys. They are going to want you to join in with them. Your going to want to be a part of the things they are doing to fit in. I am not talking about drinking or partying solely but simply hanging out playing video games and doing other things. You have to understand that many guys have been there awhile and have a routine down. They can do those things and not have issues. Your a freshman. You might not be able to do those things. So you have to be strong and understand everyone is not in the same position and do what YOU have to do.

In some cases your eyes are going to be wide open to new things. Crazy stuff. Very enticing things. Stay focused. If you don't your going to pay a heavy price for it. You are free to make what ever choices you wish to make. Your not free to choose the consequences of those choices. Stay focused.

Many times the baseball is not the problem. Your talented or you wouldn't be there. And so is everyone else. But are you mature enough to handle the new found freedom? Are you mature enough to handle the peer pressure of wanting to be one of the boys? Do you understand just because someone else on your team can do certain things that does not mean you can?

A 18 year old kid walking into a mans world. On a team with 22-23 year old men who have been there and done that. Exposed to things many times they have never been exposed to. Stay focused and stay on course. If not your going to learn some very hard lessons. Many times players and parents are so focused on the actual performance on the field they don't think about the pitfalls off the field that can totally negate the on field performance or impact in a negative way the performance on the field and in the class room. Just some thoughts.

Bumping one of the earlier and very valuable posts.

.

I keep going over the priorities with my son (he will be going to a D3 school on a very good academic scholarship):

#1: Academics. He has to maintain a 3.0 to keep his scholarship. No scholarship, no nice private school.

#2: Baseball. His choice. He still has some goals that he wants to achieve in this sport.

#3: Social life. He is talking about joining a fraternity. We have talked about the fact that his team is already a fraternity of sorts but he is still planning on going through rush. This will be the first thing that gets dropped if the grades start suffering.

I will also be printing out a copy of this thread for my son to read. One good thing about being in a sport is that there is some additional support and oversight on the academic side and learning time management skills.

quote:

#3: Social life. He is talking about joining a fraternity.

That's hard to pull off, and frowned on or prohibited by many HC's. He will have 30+ baseball "fraternity" brothers as is ....

I agree with Prime9! The TEAM is his Fraternity!

from the perspective of a current student-athlete:

As others have said, the baseball team is a fraternity, with a group of guys between 35-50 (some schools offer a "JV" team...still trying to figure that out). Sports teams in college hang out together on weekend nights. If your son goes to a party, chances are, it's going to be at a baseball guy's house. Add on the other responsibilities of a student-athlete, and from a time management perspective, a fraternity may be overbearing on his time. Think about this: what aspects of a fraternity does he like? Brotherhood? Service? Responsibility? Leadership? Often, these aspects can be found in other organizations that require much less time commitment--think student service groups, etc.

Chances are, he will get to know some of the guys who rush fraternities on campus. If he is friends with them, there's no doubt he will be welcomed by the fraternity to come hang out. Most guys in the fraternity will come to know and respect the fact he plays baseball. And he will get to meet new people.

Also, to add to the list:

1. If you (your son) have (has) to attend a study hall session, do homework. You're already in the library or study room for a designated amount of time, so use that time effectively. It can be quite tempting to find an abandoned corner of the library and mess around with other freshmen. Instead, use the time to do homework or study for a test. This will help you learn how to bear down when others around you may be distracting, especially come the springtime when you've got long Sunday night bus rides and class on Monday.

2. There are going to be guys on the team who you don't like all that much. That's life. But the quicker you can learn to get along, the better you'll be.

3. It's okay to ignore your parents' phone calls every once in awhile. Mom and Dad don't need to know how every single practice went (My dad was guilty). However, it is okay to call and check up on your mom, she WILL miss you.

4. Be the first one to practice and the last one to leave. Get a key to the weightroom and hitting facility if applicable. Sometimes it's nice to go hit baseballs at 10 PM.

5. Be in contact with someone in all of your classes in the spring. Besides introducing yourself to the professor and communicating absences due to baseball, a friend in the class can help with notes or if you have questions about the material.

6. Go to class. As so many have said already, go to class. This is important especially in the spring, when you'll have to miss class for ball. A professor may be more lenient with a student-athlete who only misses for ball rather than a student-athlete who seldom attends classes.

7. If you're struggling in a class, ask for help. Ask guys on your team who may have taken the class. Often, the older kids on the team can answer questions about a professor's preferences concerning homework, essay styling, and can even give you insight on what to expect on exams. Also, ask the coach to help find you a tutor or ask an athletic adviser if tutoring services are available.

Great List.

But this quote made me smile

quote:

3. It's okay to ignore your parent's phone calls every once in awhile. Mom and Dad don't need to know how every single practice went (My dad was guilty). However, it is okay to call and check up on your mom, she WILL miss you.

I am entering my first year of college at a small D3 school. Reading this post has given me a lot of insight on the parental side and what the parents hear/know. Hopefully I will have enough time during my first year to give everyone insight on the player side and what it takes to do everything expected (maintain grades, study hall, lift, practice, games etc.)

Mr_Infield, I'm glad this thread has helped give you some guidance. It is not easy being a student athlete. GOOD LUCK!