Just sitting back reading the interesting discussion on the showcase and AAU forum, and I wanted to get some feedback on how the general consensus feels about their kids playing AAU baseball during the HS season.
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In this area, the HS coaches frown on it, or flat out tell their players no AAU/USSSA/Travel ball until after HS season.
Although they certainly appreciate the advanced level of play that MOST, not all, AAU/USSSA players display, once the HS coach gets them, he wants to mold them "his way".
Although they certainly appreciate the advanced level of play that MOST, not all, AAU/USSSA players display, once the HS coach gets them, he wants to mold them "his way".
We don't have a huge AAU presence in our area, but we have three Babe Ruth programs, two of them quite strong. (Regular regional participants and occasional world series participants) Historically, the high schools coaches coexist with Babe Ruth quite well, telling the younger players on their teams (15 year olds) that if there is a conflict between a Babe Ruth game and a high school practice, they should go to the Babe Ruth game. Some will even "release" them on game nights if the coach knows they aren't going to get in the high school game. There are some exceptions, but the top two players to come out of our area in the last 10 years (both first round draft choices) played Babe Ruth and high school baseball.
Interestingly enough, there was a recent proposal before our state high school athletic association to bar players from playing a sport for the high school team and for a non-high school team during the school year. That proposal got voted down.
Interestingly enough, there was a recent proposal before our state high school athletic association to bar players from playing a sport for the high school team and for a non-high school team during the school year. That proposal got voted down.
Good points made!
Just a couple of questions for the discussion;
1. When do the players rest their arms and bodies if their HS team runs M-F and many times on Sat?
2. When a player is competing for a position, how does it look if you miss a HS game or practice to play in another baseball venue or sport?
3. Injury can happen at any time regardless of which team, is it worth missing your HS season if you get injured playing rec or AAU ball?
4. How does a HS coach deal with "dead arms" when a position player plays on the outside team and is expected or the player expects to pitch for the HS team?
Just a couple of questions for the discussion;
1. When do the players rest their arms and bodies if their HS team runs M-F and many times on Sat?
2. When a player is competing for a position, how does it look if you miss a HS game or practice to play in another baseball venue or sport?
3. Injury can happen at any time regardless of which team, is it worth missing your HS season if you get injured playing rec or AAU ball?
4. How does a HS coach deal with "dead arms" when a position player plays on the outside team and is expected or the player expects to pitch for the HS team?
You see how much you can learn on this site????
I thought the rules were the same everywhere. I hear about kids enrolled in baseball CLASS during the school day and am so jealous. In Kansas, our coach can't have any contact with his players involving baseball until MARCH! They workout through the winter (run, lift, plyos), but NO BASEBALL!
During the HS season, a player is forbidden to play on any other baseball team besided his HS team. You can take instruction, but no games or teams outside of school.
Oh, and we also get ONLY 20 games per season, many times doubleheaders. A pitcher can be very limited when there are only 10-14 dates on the calendar (you can't pitch both games if there's a doubleheader).
Its amazing that my son developed as a pitcher at all! We sure do baseball backwards here in KC!
I thought the rules were the same everywhere. I hear about kids enrolled in baseball CLASS during the school day and am so jealous. In Kansas, our coach can't have any contact with his players involving baseball until MARCH! They workout through the winter (run, lift, plyos), but NO BASEBALL!
During the HS season, a player is forbidden to play on any other baseball team besided his HS team. You can take instruction, but no games or teams outside of school.
Oh, and we also get ONLY 20 games per season, many times doubleheaders. A pitcher can be very limited when there are only 10-14 dates on the calendar (you can't pitch both games if there's a doubleheader).
Its amazing that my son developed as a pitcher at all! We sure do baseball backwards here in KC!
In our region HS rules in NY, CT and MASS prohibit players from playing outside school programs during the HS season==it may well be the same in NJ, NH, VT, RI and ME but I am not certain
The reason I would not allow any of our players to play for anyother team during the season is I want 100% of their effort and attention during the season. I do not want their arms worn out either. And when are they supposed to play on these teams during the HS season? We play three games a week and practice every day except Sunday.
I agree players need to finish their high school seasons before playing travel ball. It is not fair to the high school team for them not to be 100 percent focused on that season. I expect players to be focused on our season during the summer and understand they need to be focused on high school during that season.
Our area also prohibits it during the HS season...any player who would play outside their HS team (practice is ok), would cause his HS team to forfeit any game in which he played.
Reading this thread though makes me realize that rules do not forbid it everywhere. I fear we will reach the day where HS baseball is secondary to travel ball. HS sports is good for a community, a school and the players...I truly hope it is never replaced.
Reading this thread though makes me realize that rules do not forbid it everywhere. I fear we will reach the day where HS baseball is secondary to travel ball. HS sports is good for a community, a school and the players...I truly hope it is never replaced.
Thanks for the reponses!
It seems there are still areas that allow outside baseball during the HS season. As for my program, it is not allowed. The players get enough work during the week especially when we have some Saturday games.
It seems there are still areas that allow outside baseball during the HS season. As for my program, it is not allowed. The players get enough work during the week especially when we have some Saturday games.
I think that one thing that differs in my area than some others is that you can play most high school sports starting in 7th grade. So, a high school coach might want a player in his "system" early, but that player might not see significant playing time until 9th Grade. So, the Babe Ruth programs provide a place for the player to get game experience while having the more intense high school practices.
In addition, the high school coaches and Babe Ruth coaches communicate so that a kid doesn't over pitch. I realize that it's a rare situation, but it's certainly one that has worked for a while in our area, and has helped a lot of players get better. However, the only way that it works is cooperation between the leagues and the high school coaches. I don't know how well that would work when you are dealing with AAU (or other) travel teams, that play a far more intense schedule than our Babe Ruth league does.
In addition, the high school coaches and Babe Ruth coaches communicate so that a kid doesn't over pitch. I realize that it's a rare situation, but it's certainly one that has worked for a while in our area, and has helped a lot of players get better. However, the only way that it works is cooperation between the leagues and the high school coaches. I don't know how well that would work when you are dealing with AAU (or other) travel teams, that play a far more intense schedule than our Babe Ruth league does.
I am with you justbaseball. Other sports have a big problem because the high school team is not looked at as important. I hope this doesn't happen to baseball too. The following link describes what is going on in another sport.
http://ctswim.org/ctswim/Articles/splash-hs.htm
http://ctswim.org/ctswim/Articles/splash-hs.htm
Here in Texas the only conflict would be a HS team that has made the playoffs, since the regular season ends at the beginning of May.
If a HS Baseball player chose to play for a select team while playing in the playoffs, I could only imagine the consequenses.
And yes, we have baseball class here in Texas....but only because Football has a class. I wish they would do away with it actually. At my son's school, they do the Block schedule, and that only leaves 3 "real" classes a day, baseball being his 4th. It will prohibit him from taking some higher level classes that I believe he needs.
Oh well, he's already planning on having a "Senior Off" period next year, meaning he will only have 2 "real" classes a day.
If a HS Baseball player chose to play for a select team while playing in the playoffs, I could only imagine the consequenses.
And yes, we have baseball class here in Texas....but only because Football has a class. I wish they would do away with it actually. At my son's school, they do the Block schedule, and that only leaves 3 "real" classes a day, baseball being his 4th. It will prohibit him from taking some higher level classes that I believe he needs.
Oh well, he's already planning on having a "Senior Off" period next year, meaning he will only have 2 "real" classes a day.
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
In our region HS rules in NY, CT and MASS prohibit players from playing outside school programs during the HS season==it may well be the same in NJ, NH, VT, RI and ME but I am not certain
Hmm, in NY too? Is it just the varsity lever? I never encountered this problem before. Are coaches always just say don't let two to interfere, and don't pitch the day(s) before your high school game.
rh
when my son played HS ball in Westchester County that was the rule and I believe it still holds
when my son played HS ball in Westchester County that was the rule and I believe it still holds
This is not allowed in Illinois. It is an IHSA violation.