A mom needs advice

In Calif, he can not practice nor play with his outside travel team during high school season.

The 14U age group is difficult because some are in Jr high and others are in high school.

With him working out 6 days a week with the school team, that is more than enough besides homework! The travel team can wait for season to be over, if not they have the wrong priorities.

Welcome aboard the HSBBW PitchersMom2008...you've come to the right place.

Problem number one is easy! In order to be literally two places at once I'd utilize a cardboard cut-out or the more sophisticated cloning.

Problem number two? I don't know...my knowledge is pretty much limited to "swing batter batter swing!"

Seriously PitchersMom2008...your questions will soon be answered by more knowledgeable members here on the HSBBW.

"In Calif, he can not practice nor play with is outside travel team during high school season"

Same here in Louisiana, you should probably check on this.

As stated above 6 day a week 2-3 hour practices and or games should be more than enough. Some one from Texas can chime in on playing on two teams, but why?

Most HS have summer teams and I would either play on it or find a 16U team. After HS 14U is playing down.

Our summer teams suspend workouts during the high school season, I believe that is common. I would just stop going if I was him and of course let the select team coach know. Hitting however is a funny thing, constant adjustment in my opinion but I know >.001%

quote:

Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
I don't know...my knowledge is pretty much limited to "swing batter batter swing!"

It's true! He has no idea what he's talking about!

PitchersMom ...

I understand your concerns and I echo the other sentiments about shutting down the travel team during high school season. Remember, he also needs to get some homework done during this time, and needs to be a 'kid' ... video games and all ... once in a while.

Have been in your shoe closet (not specifically in your shoes) but since Ca high school rules do not allow a high school players to compete on another team during high school season, it was a moot point.

Here in the Northeast is also mandated that HS players cannot play outside of school during the HS season---this includes workouts and pro tryouts

Now if ya' need the brushes replaced on the generator for yur '63 Ford 3/4 Ton pickup...I'm yur guy...'cuz I know how to do that.

Woody
You Goober.


Welcome to the HSBBW, PM08.
I'd Play HS only till the season's over.

EH

Even though your son is eligible to play 14U, he would be better served playing 15U or 16U with and against players in the same grade or next grade ahead. In high school a player competes against the talent, not just his age.

Last year my son played for a 14U team created in an area lacking middle school ball. My son had middle school ball. The travel coach allowed him to miss weekday practices since he knew he was getting in his work.

This summer the team is playing 16U. We're probably taking the team 18U in the fall except for a couple of very competitive tournaments in the 16U age group.

First welcome to the website and hope you find it as helpful as we try to be helpful.

Second slow down. He is young and has plenty of time to play and improve.

A 14 year old body is still developing and might not be able to take the wear and tear of that much physical exertion. He might develop a case of burn out of so much in a short amount of time. He is young and needs to have time for other things.

Now he shouldn't play travel and high school ball at the same time because it's not fair to either one. Being on a team is about commitment and although you might not play the other team it's still not good. Let's say he is pitching for his travel team and takes a line drive up the middle off his throwing hand and breaks a bone. Now his high school team has just lost a player and they had no say in the matter. Also, what if both teams play on the same day at the same time - who gets your son? Let's say you go with the high school team - now his travel teammates are going to be short a good player because of his other commitment.

As for the hitting pick one person (who is credible) and stick with them. Too much differing advice is counterproductive. Some kids just can't hit and they never will but I wouldn't give up on a 14 year old just yet.

We had this quandry when my son was 14. He played both school ball and travel. Looking back it really was too much, IMO. It's especially tough on the school work. More stress.

The decision depends on a few factors, and not everyone is going to like what I'm giong to ask: Which is the better team? He's on a freshman school team, so how many games do they play? Ours didn't play very many compared to the select team. What's the coaching like? Will it benefit him to play at school as a 14 year old, or is he going to play more games and better ball with his select team? Would his select coach be willing to let him skip a certain weekday practices, knowing he's getting the work in at school? What will you do when there is a scheduling conflict? We had several and it was hard to let one team down in favor of another. We had some days when son ended up having to play 4 straight games... not healthy. Will the select coach let him go inactive for the short HS season and come back in April?

Honestly, you end up pretty burned out if you do both. Try to work something out to defer one, or just choose the best situation for your son for the best ball he can play. Too many games and the risk for fatique injuries increases.

In GA, HS players can't play at school and on select during the same season, but that didn't really apply to freshman ball, primarily JV & Varsity.

**EDIT**I want to take this opportunity apologize to Gotwood for implying he's a goober (sorry, that's another thread!)

Here's his real picture

Teams....
Pick one team for the spring and go from there. Travel ball should be for summer.

Hitting....
1. Get his eyes checked if you haven't already. Many players/Parent overlook the eysight issue and later get the kid some contacts and it makes a world of difference.

2. Get him a tee and a bucket of balls...and let him hit off the tee into a fence/old mattress anything whenever he has free time. The constant feeling of solid contact is priceless.

3. If you use an instructor, use the same one, so the information is consistent.

4. Tell/teach him not to worry about hitting, just got to the plate and have fun ...sounds like he is thinking about it too much.

If you are able to or can get an instrcutor to simplify the hitting process that is helpful. He shouldn't be thinking about hitting mechanics during a game ...just get the bat in the zone and try to make some contact.

Hi, PitchersMom. Your son might want to ask his HS coach. Even if there's no statewide rule, I would be surprised if he didn't have a policy of no outside baseball during the regular HS season. Your son might be at risk for growth-related overuse injuries. We know way too much about those, believe me.

Agree with the others who say he should play up during the summer.

Good luck!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!!!. Think about your child's education outside baseball. Unless MLB scouts are showing up in droves to watch your son play 14U ball, let him spend the time the travel team practices on schoolwork. He will need the grades to get into college and the knowledge to make a certain score on his SAT/ACTs. And if he makes really good grades and an high SAT/ACT score he might get an academic scholarship. As a HS freshman it is time to learn to buckle down to making the grade academically as well as on the baseball team.

TW344

Get Dusty Bakers book "How to teach hitting".

How fast does he throw on the mound, If he is a real good pitcher and cant hit, he should just pitch.