Anniversary

Wonderful post at the completion of this stage of an equally wonderful journey!

There's a lot of truth as well as self-revelation there; especially in the sentence that states, "They have to want it or it won't work."

Congratulations to you and your son!

...and continue to enjoy the ride.

Congrats to your son and you for not being your son's biggest obstacle due to ignorance or ego.  Your post is the perfect example of how new people need to come on here so they can learn from this wonderful place and wonderful people.

Let us know how your son continues because the next phase of the journey is just starting.

The biggest wake up for me was exact HOW talented players are when you get outside your little local area. And coming to this site had an effect as well. Because no matter what your son may have accomplished, there are so many here who's sons ability dwarfs yours by comparison. Very eye opening indeed.

Thanks Coach, I do have to say it took me a bit as a newbie. I now appreciate the frankness some speak with. Some of it was difficult to hear at first, I KNEW you all just didn't know MY son or MY situation. Again, I was wrong. PG is correct when he says every situation is differnt, but as many have said, most are very similar and if you put the different situation together that you learn here, you can probably piece together yours.

for all you newbies, hang with us. Some of us are frank and blunt. BUT the wealth of knowledge, the willingness to share, and the friends you will make on here well worth it!

Great post.

As you'll reflect back in a few years, the recruiting part is the easiest part.  Getting on the field at the next level will take all of your son's talent, resources, and persistence. 

I would tell him to go out and enjoy his final season in high school and learn to become the leader.  Not because he is the newly crowned D1 player, but because he cares more for his teammates than the next guy.  Encourage him to be the first guy to practice and the last to leave every practice because he'll never get a chance to play on those fields again.  Encourage him to encourage his teammates to play as a group and go out and try and win something as a group.  Encourage him to be the most humble on the team and to be the guy willing to do anything the team needs to make things better for the group.  Do these things without calling attention to himself and someone will notice.  Most importantly, God notices when you do good things in secret.

Next summer, after the high school season is over, encourage him to love running and begin preparing himself like he were about to go off to Marine boot camp at Paris Island.  Encourage him to get in the best shape in his life - better than he now thinks is possible.  Encourage him to show up at that first college practice and be first in all his running drills - if possible.  Show up in better shape than any other athletes and the coaches and his teammates will notice without him saying a word.  Show up and continue to be a leader as he learned to be in high school - quietly going about his business and always looking out for the welfare of the team.  Encourage him to do these things even if the rewards are not immediate and to be willing to see things through for four demanding years.  Encourage him in all these things and more, and I can assure him and you that the rewards will be beyond his wildest expectations.   

Awesome post chefmike!  I found this site a little later in the game, but one interesting thing was that the very first poster to reach out to me with some GREAT behind the scenes (i.e. PM) advice was none other than...Prepster....way back when his son was just an entering freshman in college.  

I think its great that you're gonna turn back around and help others and that you have sort of taken personal ownership of what this site is all about!  I surely do hope you continue to post your experiences and even newer found knowledge as you and your son continue a fun journey.

We'll see ya at the water cooler.  

Great thread and discussions. Keep 'em coming.

Chef,

So glad to hear. I remember when you first started posting and I have tried to fallow you sons recruiting journey. I am so happy that things turned out. He is at a good school that believes strongly in baseball.

Good luck to him in the future. And get to as many games as you can. Goes to fast. I cannot believe my son is already half way through.

Great thread and congrats Chef Mike I agree with everything you stated as I found the site about a year later than you did.

Cleveland:  copied and pasted your advice for my son , awesome.

CD funny you should mention that. He is already that team leader. Has been for both basketball and baseball team in junior year (only 1 senior on basketball and 3 on baseball, one of who played). So he was kind of expected to take that role beginning last yearand he did well with it. He kind of has the best player thing in 2 ways because of 2 sports. In basketball he isn't the best. Very good point guard but knows his job is to get the ball to the scorers, he likes that role. He is probably the best player on baseball team, he likes that role too. But what I am most proud of is how he handles it. As you said, with grace, humbleness and quiet leadership when it comes to himself and loud leadership when it comes to cheering for others. He gets all of that from is Mama, thank God. He gets his competitiveness from me.  He HATES losing but does it with grace until we get in the car or home then he vents about losing though not inappropraitely. 

As far as final HS season, he is enjoying every minute. I think he has been to every volleyball, football, soccer game when not working. One of his struggles last spring and early summer was just that. He loves HS. He didn't want to think about beyond. He realized late summer his opportunity to do what he wanted (play D1) might be passing him by and he finally go serious. It was VERY hard for me since I had read and finally ingested HE had to take ownership of his future and I felt like he was letting it slip by, but it worked out in end.

His Basketball cocah is a big get in shape kind of guy. They run and lift constantly. His baseball coach not so  much so I thank God for his basketball coach every day that he instilled in my son the work ethic and know how of how to use it.

He will NEVER be the fastest guy running but he will always give his best efort . Your son was a big influence on mine for his dreams. HE has your son bookmarked under his favorites on computer to follow