Actually, there were 2 young men with this syndrome trying out for a high school team.
I would be interested in what everyone would do in this situation if you were the high school coach.
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Are you talking tourettes?
If he has turrets you had better be careful, those things have guns in them sometimes. Unless his gun is throwing the ball from third to first you might have a dangerous situation.
Seriously, it depends on the the kid. Tourettes doesn't mean the kid can't play baseball. I did a quick google of baseball player with Tourette's and came up with this gentleman:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Eisenreich
If the kids can play well and make the team then, to me, there is no reason why they can't play the game. This isn't a condition that should keep a player off a team.
If he has turrets you had better be careful, those things have guns in them sometimes. Unless his gun is throwing the ball from third to first you might have a dangerous situation.
Seriously, it depends on the the kid. Tourettes doesn't mean the kid can't play baseball. I did a quick google of baseball player with Tourette's and came up with this gentleman:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Eisenreich
If the kids can play well and make the team then, to me, there is no reason why they can't play the game. This isn't a condition that should keep a player off a team.
I knew a player with tourettes several years ago. A decent player who's dad was the coach and insisted his son pitch. The problem was when ever runners got on he couldn't control his condition and balked the runers around the bases.
Funny and sad at the sme time.
Funny and sad at the sme time.
To clarify, one player has a real severe case of tourettes and the other does not as nobody was aware of his situation until he informed the school.
The coach best not cut him because he has tourettes. He can cut him because there are better players, because his grades are not what is required, for many other reasons. If he cuts him just because of his disability he leaves himself and the school wide open for an ADA lawsuit.
Yep, if he can't play the game at the level needed that is one thing.
If he has emotional problems that will cause a disruption on the team then that can also be a consideration but if he simply says nonsensical things or has tics he had better not cut him for that.
If he has emotional problems that will cause a disruption on the team then that can also be a consideration but if he simply says nonsensical things or has tics he had better not cut him for that.
Well anyone that watched the Giants win the world series saw a player with Tourettes. Freddy Sanchez was diagnosed several years ago and it hasn't hurt his baseball career.
American Idol judges didn't seem to mind either when they selected a singer with Tourettes to go to Hollywood.
I hope you'll become more open-minded and maybe just judge the kids on their baseball talent. Could be a great learning experience for you and many others that prejudge someone like this.
American Idol judges didn't seem to mind either when they selected a singer with Tourettes to go to Hollywood.
I hope you'll become more open-minded and maybe just judge the kids on their baseball talent. Could be a great learning experience for you and many others that prejudge someone like this.
quote:Originally posted by CaBB:
Well anyone that watched the Giants win the world series saw a player with Tourettes. Freddy Sanchez was diagnosed several years ago and it hasn't hurt his baseball career.
American Idol judges didn't seem to mind either when they selected a singer with Tourettes to go to Hollywood.
I hope you'll become more open-minded and maybe just judge the kids on their baseball talent. Could be a great learning experience for you and many others that prejudge someone like this.
CaBB,
Who are you directing the "you" toward in the above quote?
quote:Originally posted by CaBB:
I hope you'll become more open-minded and maybe just judge the kids on their baseball talent. Could be a great learning experience for you and many others that prejudge someone like this.
I agree. Coach Milburn, shame on you.
JMO.
If the kid can play, use it as a teaching opportunity!
High school baseball is all about my kid and winning. Don't get in the way. Take these two kids, the kid with no legs, the blind kid, the retarded kid, the kid with one hand and put them all on the same team. Score 30 runs in the first inning. All you have to do is bunt. This will show them that they'd better find something else to do because there is no place for them on a baseball diamond.
quote:Originally posted by AntzDad:
High school baseball is all about my kid and winning. Don't get in the way. Take these two kids, the kid with no legs, the blind kid, the retarded kid, the kid with one hand and put them all on the same team. Score 30 runs in the first inning. All you have to do is bunt. This will show them that they'd better find something else to do because there is no place for them on a baseball diamond.
Wow, harsh.
First off understand tourettes before you spout off like you have it.
Tourettes is not mental retardation, although some people do have it at the same time. Tourette's is a condition where a kid may make unusual noises and sometimes jerking motions that are semi controlled.
If the kid is running after a foul ball he doesn't jerk and jump all the way there. Physically there is no reason why a kid with Tourettes can't play baseball. THere are Major Leaguers with Tourettes so obviously kids can play with it.
A kid with a serious case of it may not be able to play because he may not be able to control himself in between plays. That may not work well in cases like the aformentioned pitcher or for a kid leading off from first base spouting nonsense or worse obscenities.
But not all Tourettes is like that.
I also reject the idea that there is no place in baseball for kids with handicaps. Yes, they may not play varsity baseball but there are all kinds of things available for kids of all abilities. Playing America's Passtime should be something that ALL American Youth should have access to. The days of locking the 'retard' up and getting him out of site is long past-thank God. Anyone can play baseball, not all can play it well but then again, compared to major leaguers most of our kids play like the blind kid, the retarded kid, the kid with no legs or the kid with one hand.
quote:Originally posted by TPM:quote:Originally posted by CaBB:
I hope you'll become more open-minded and maybe just judge the kids on their baseball talent. Could be a great learning experience for you and many others that prejudge someone like this.
I agree. Coach Milburn, shame on you.
JMO.
Hey TPM,
What the heck did I do for you to make a statement like that????
My son has a mild case of tourette's syndrome has made it to college ball.
quote:Originally posted by AntzDad:
High school baseball is all about my kid and winning. Don't get in the way. Take these two kids, the kid with no legs, the blind kid, the retarded kid, the kid with one hand and put them all on the same team. Score 30 runs in the first inning. All you have to do is bunt. This will show them that they'd better find something else to do because there is no place for them on a baseball diamond.
Are you trying to be funny or sarcastic? I would really hope so, but somehow I think you missed the mark.
I am the parent of a baseball playing child with a disability. Thank God every coach my son has encountered has been very understanding and appreciative of his baseball playing abilities.
quote:Originally posted by AntzDad:
High school baseball is all about my kid and winning. Don't get in the way. Take these two kids, the kid with no legs, the blind kid, the retarded kid, the kid with one hand and put them all on the same team. Score 30 runs in the first inning. All you have to do is bunt. This will show them that they'd better find something else to do because there is no place for them on a baseball diamond.
Wow, how close minded is that!
Coach Milburn,
You consider yourself an experienced coach yet you have to come ask that question, you can't figure that out for yourself? I can, and I am not a coach. You didn't even spell the syndrome correctly, until brought to your attention.
You place him in the team if he deserves to be, just like anyone else.
bcb3,
My son played against a player in college in the ACC (GATech) with tourette's. Did have to compose himself at times but game was called, he handled himself with dignity, while I have seen some "normal" players who can't.
Best of luck to your son.
quote:Originally posted by TPM:
Wow, how close minded is that!
Coach Milburn,
You consider yourself an experienced coach yet you have to come ask that question, you can't figure that out for yourself? I can, and I am not a coach. You didn't even spell the syndrome correctly, until brought to your attention.
You place him in the team if he deserves to be, just like anyone else.
Hey TPM, like you have never made a post in error and then went back to make a correction???
I think some individuals on this board need to go back and read the post again.
There a couple of you jumping to conclusions and again, you do not even have all of the facts to even form your own opinion.
So, please quit making comments directed toward me like I have done something wrong.
Wklink, very nice post!
quote:Originally posted by Bum:
Wklink, very nice post!
For the rest of the story ...
Player A wanted to enroll at the private school to pursue the baseball program.
After a few days after the family went through the application and interview process, the family had yet to hear anything.
Several more days has past as the young man and his family really wanted attend this private school and still yet to hear anything from school officials.
The silence from the school officials on his status prompted a phone call to me from the parents inquiring what was taking so long. The family thought since Player A was not approached by "The Parent" who was helping me in selling the program during the summer that "The Parent" helping me did not sell Player A enough to the school. I replied, "No, that is not true and I am not sure why there is a delay and said I would inquire. I further shared with the family that "The Parent" was helping me to find players over the mountain as I was not too familiar with the area."
So I inquired with one of the administrators and she shared with me that the family informed the school that Player A had a very slight case of tourettes. The lady administrator made this comment to me, "Coach, you know we have to think about all of other students" and I replied, "You know for the family to come out and share that with the school, that's telling you something about them"
Several more days went by and still the school had yet to notify the family if Player A would be accepted. I wrote a letter to the Asst. Head of School basically going into further detail with what I shared with the above administrator who was in charge of admissions.
Outcome ...
Player A was admitted several days later.
Player B, he came out for the team when spring practice started because he really like the baseball guys and they encouraged him to come out.
Please understand, Tom had NO business even being on a baseball field but we all treated him like he had no issues BUT the boys would sometimes encourage him into one of his tics and I would have to get on them about that. Tom had a real severe case with the cussing tic.
After our first scrimmage Player B's mother approached me in person and said "Coach, we really appreciate what you are doing for Tom and he really likes being part of the team" I replied, "Mrs. Such-n-Such, we all like Tom and please be rest assured that we'll never put Tom in a position where he might get hurt."
What happened to Player A and Tom?
Unfortunately Tom did not show up for practice one day and I asked the guys, where is Tom and they informed me he did something that was not appropriate during class and was removed from the team.
Player A, excelled in the classroom with straight A's and went onto Appalachian State then transferred over to Marshall University to finish his career and school and is living and working way down south in WV teaching/guiding the young people.
Very much a true story! Some on here might even know of Player A.
Player A wanted to enroll at the private school to pursue the baseball program.
After a few days after the family went through the application and interview process, the family had yet to hear anything.
Several more days has past as the young man and his family really wanted attend this private school and still yet to hear anything from school officials.
The silence from the school officials on his status prompted a phone call to me from the parents inquiring what was taking so long. The family thought since Player A was not approached by "The Parent" who was helping me in selling the program during the summer that "The Parent" helping me did not sell Player A enough to the school. I replied, "No, that is not true and I am not sure why there is a delay and said I would inquire. I further shared with the family that "The Parent" was helping me to find players over the mountain as I was not too familiar with the area."
So I inquired with one of the administrators and she shared with me that the family informed the school that Player A had a very slight case of tourettes. The lady administrator made this comment to me, "Coach, you know we have to think about all of other students" and I replied, "You know for the family to come out and share that with the school, that's telling you something about them"
Several more days went by and still the school had yet to notify the family if Player A would be accepted. I wrote a letter to the Asst. Head of School basically going into further detail with what I shared with the above administrator who was in charge of admissions.
Outcome ...
Player A was admitted several days later.
Player B, he came out for the team when spring practice started because he really like the baseball guys and they encouraged him to come out.
Please understand, Tom had NO business even being on a baseball field but we all treated him like he had no issues BUT the boys would sometimes encourage him into one of his tics and I would have to get on them about that. Tom had a real severe case with the cussing tic.
After our first scrimmage Player B's mother approached me in person and said "Coach, we really appreciate what you are doing for Tom and he really likes being part of the team" I replied, "Mrs. Such-n-Such, we all like Tom and please be rest assured that we'll never put Tom in a position where he might get hurt."
What happened to Player A and Tom?
Unfortunately Tom did not show up for practice one day and I asked the guys, where is Tom and they informed me he did something that was not appropriate during class and was removed from the team.
Player A, excelled in the classroom with straight A's and went onto Appalachian State then transferred over to Marshall University to finish his career and school and is living and working way down south in WV teaching/guiding the young people.
Very much a true story! Some on here might even know of Player A.