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I am not sure wich the real reason is, but if I have to guess, I think that nowdays the phisycal conditioning required for some sports, make them whole year activities, and is very difficult for the kids to take time to practice others disciplines.
"Peace is, the respect for the other people's rights".
Benito Juarez
"Peace is, the respect for the other people's rights".
Benito Juarez
It is all the high school and AAU coaches, and the parents who buy the **** these coaches tell them. These coaches want the kids all to themselves, and cheat kids out of a lot of activities they should be doing during their relatively few years of high school.
All for the glory of the coaches.
All for the glory of the coaches.
Our son played Freshman football, and played varsity S O C C E R for 3 years in HS, and played baseball (varsity) all four years. He enjoyed it and it didn't seem to hurt his ability in baseball.
My son's high school does every thing they can to encourage kids to play multiple sports.
My son played freshman football but decided he liked hitting baseballs more than hitting people so he's just stuck with baseball since his freshman year. I know he's glad he gave football a try, just wasn't his "thing". He also played S****R when he was younger, but just lost interest ( I guess I wasn't too encouraging with the "S" sport either
I think the trend is though, more and more for kids to concentrate on one sport and not even give the other sports a try. I think that's a shame. IMO it's great to get exposed to the different sports, see what you really enjoy etc. and there's plenty of time to concentrate down the line.
Usually, I hear talk of a fear of injury and perhaps there might be greater risk in football, for example, but injuries happen in any sport and other activities.
Also, I think it's good to get a little change of pace and there are skills you can pick up in one sport that will help in another.
Specialization at too young an age just doesn't seem to be the best way, but it seems to be the direction of the future.
My son played freshman football but decided he liked hitting baseballs more than hitting people so he's just stuck with baseball since his freshman year. I know he's glad he gave football a try, just wasn't his "thing". He also played S****R when he was younger, but just lost interest ( I guess I wasn't too encouraging with the "S" sport either
I think the trend is though, more and more for kids to concentrate on one sport and not even give the other sports a try. I think that's a shame. IMO it's great to get exposed to the different sports, see what you really enjoy etc. and there's plenty of time to concentrate down the line.
Usually, I hear talk of a fear of injury and perhaps there might be greater risk in football, for example, but injuries happen in any sport and other activities.
Also, I think it's good to get a little change of pace and there are skills you can pick up in one sport that will help in another.
Specialization at too young an age just doesn't seem to be the best way, but it seems to be the direction of the future.
When I was in a hs just 2 years back I played 2 sports, football and baseball. My freshman and sophomore years i started for the lower level basketball teams. I gave up basketball so i could have some time in the winter to recoup from football and prepare for baseball much to my football coaches dismay. He was pushing me to play basketball to help my footwork for football and to keep me in shape for baseball. But who needs a sub-6' forward that can't shoot on a varsity team?
I think that it's stupid for kids to focus on one sport during hs. different sports require different skills, and that may benefit the primary sport. From my personal experience, my feet were very slow until i started playing football and doing agility drills and other footwork stuff for playing quarterback. My feet got very fast and i could block balls much better since i could actually move behind the plate, and my pop time got much better because my release was a little quicker because i could get my feet in the right position faster. It's the little things like that that can be overlooked when looking at the pro's and con's of playing multiple sports.
I think that it's stupid for kids to focus on one sport during hs. different sports require different skills, and that may benefit the primary sport. From my personal experience, my feet were very slow until i started playing football and doing agility drills and other footwork stuff for playing quarterback. My feet got very fast and i could block balls much better since i could actually move behind the plate, and my pop time got much better because my release was a little quicker because i could get my feet in the right position faster. It's the little things like that that can be overlooked when looking at the pro's and con's of playing multiple sports.
Potential conflicts during the overlapping parts of a season can be detramental to the team concept. Also, many times in order to be 100% committed you need 100% dedication.
IMO it seems to depend on the area, school/player pool size, level of competition, and the sports you are trying to combine. In CA, mainly due to the weather, many programs play and conduct sport-specific conditioning all year round. It makes it difficult for any kid who would like to play multiple sports to stack up against their single-sport competition. When you add keeping up the GPA into the mix....while it might not be impossible, it certainly is challenging.
Well spoken, RHP05Parent.
Too much overlap in basketball interferes with the beginning of baseball. Track, same overlaps.
Since academics is #1, there's just not enough hours in the day to do it all.
Too much overlap in basketball interferes with the beginning of baseball. Track, same overlaps.
Since academics is #1, there's just not enough hours in the day to do it all.
As an AAU coach, I encourage my players to play other sports. My son plays baseball and basketball. The reason you see the reduction of multisport players is the changing trend in the world of specialization. I buy into it to a degree. When I was in HS, I played 4 sports (basketball, football, baseball and tennis), but my best sport was basketball. Many people said if I had played only basketball I could have played pro ball. I tell my son not to focus on one sport, but on the other hand, don't play all sports just because you can. He has tried all sports and decided on the two as his best/favorites. I believe 2 sports that barely overlap can be managed without a problem. He plays all sports with his friends.
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http://www.kristensfastpitchworld.com/index.asp
My son played basketball thru Jr. High and rec thru 10th, football thru 8th and s****r, both outdoor and indoor thru 5th grade.
Once he hit HS, he went straight baseball because it was the game he loved.
But you know, there are other activities besides athletics that develop skills/abilities of a well-rounded person. In HS, he's involved in theatre, choir, music and dance all of which have helped in one aspect or another in sports.
Too many athletes limit themselves to sports alone and miss out on the many other opportunities that HS can offer.
Once he hit HS, he went straight baseball because it was the game he loved.
But you know, there are other activities besides athletics that develop skills/abilities of a well-rounded person. In HS, he's involved in theatre, choir, music and dance all of which have helped in one aspect or another in sports.
Too many athletes limit themselves to sports alone and miss out on the many other opportunities that HS can offer.
I think that this is a personal decision based on the level that the player wants to achieve in a particular sport. My son concentrated solely on baseball (and academics), not that he did not excel in other sports, he just lived for baseball. There was also a possibility of injury that could take you out for the season or ruin a career. That was his choice.
Recently he has taken up another sport, something called "how many chicks can I date in my senior year",however beginning baseball season he has to give it up.
Recently he has taken up another sport, something called "how many chicks can I date in my senior year",however beginning baseball season he has to give it up.
Our son has attended three winter camps held by schools that he is interested in. All D1 schools.
At each camp I have been able to speak with the head coaches and their asst coaches at length about almost anything I chose.They have all been very helpful.
When I ask the question about multi sports in highschool, everyone of them said that it was very important for a highschool age kid to participate in as many sports as they could. As each sport lends itself to making a better ATHLETE and baseball player out of them. Also emphasized was the fact that their highschool years were very short and they felt a kid needed to enjoy them while they were there.
For our son baseball is his goal,he plays football and basketball also. His offseason weight training for football helps his baseball.Instead of shooting extra hoops after basketball practice,he goes to the hitting cage.So his extra work is still focused on baseball.
I asked the coaches about their recruiting process, who they looked at first etc.. The answer was always, Pitchers/Catchers after that we look for an ATHLETE.
At each camp I have been able to speak with the head coaches and their asst coaches at length about almost anything I chose.They have all been very helpful.
When I ask the question about multi sports in highschool, everyone of them said that it was very important for a highschool age kid to participate in as many sports as they could. As each sport lends itself to making a better ATHLETE and baseball player out of them. Also emphasized was the fact that their highschool years were very short and they felt a kid needed to enjoy them while they were there.
For our son baseball is his goal,he plays football and basketball also. His offseason weight training for football helps his baseball.Instead of shooting extra hoops after basketball practice,he goes to the hitting cage.So his extra work is still focused on baseball.
I asked the coaches about their recruiting process, who they looked at first etc.. The answer was always, Pitchers/Catchers after that we look for an ATHLETE.
I believe the reason you are seeing less mult-sport athletes is due to the fact that kids now days are looking beyond high school. They are taught from a young age to be prepared for what they want to do in the future and if that is baseball, then they concentrate more on that. Now let's not forget the possibility of "big money" in today's sports. This is in everybody's mind.
Knowledge is Power! Thank you Mavens and HSBBWEB!
Knowledge is Power! Thank you Mavens and HSBBWEB!
I love for my players to play it all. There is no substitute for competition, and the more times you put yourself in pressure situations, the more likely you are to be successful. But, basketball is a serious detriment to the success of baseball players here in the big schools (5,000). When you start after school practices at the end of January, and you have had them in a baseball class every day since school started, those kids coming out of basketball are way behind. Basketball kids don't come out after school util Mid March, so the straight baseball kid has a month and a half of 3 hours a day in structured practices jump on him. In 20 years I have seen less than 5 kids that could come straight out of the gym and compete for a job. It is not that I judge him differently because I want him myself, it is about being able to perform, and they have a hard time doing it after missing so much crucial time.
Pool size? Very small. Small 3A school. Lots of emphasis on participating in all sports.
Emphasis on football program..off season designed to ...yes you guessed it benefit football...powerlifting....benefits ....yes once again, football...track....big push to participate due to speed and agility for football..
No off season baseball program. No jump on getting ready for the spring.
Sometimes I tend to think that word emphasis is given such priority that a kid who might not want to play football gets thought of in a lesser light...
(my oldest played football...loved it..so that's not what I'm trying to say...here...)
but youngest son played 3 sports from 7th thru 11th grade..football, basketball and baseball.
At conclusion of 11th grade he said firmly no more football...he wanted to have some input into his "high school" experience.
Hubby and I (after a family meeting...we do this alot..to be sure where everyone is coming from)....decided to support our son ....
Therefore this year (his senior) he is playing basketball because he ENJOYS it so much and he loves his coach...
And he will play baseball of course, and basketball may overlap a wee bit...but still, he'll do his long toss, weights and of course he's getting the running in basketball..our guys run till the sun goes down and then they do sprints ..they are in shape for sure.
In the larger schools we've heard of having off season baseball etc....so not sure son would have really made the basketball team in a really large school either...
Too many things factor into this equation to just say yes or no...
Emphasis on football program..off season designed to ...yes you guessed it benefit football...powerlifting....benefits ....yes once again, football...track....big push to participate due to speed and agility for football..
No off season baseball program. No jump on getting ready for the spring.
Sometimes I tend to think that word emphasis is given such priority that a kid who might not want to play football gets thought of in a lesser light...
(my oldest played football...loved it..so that's not what I'm trying to say...here...)
but youngest son played 3 sports from 7th thru 11th grade..football, basketball and baseball.
At conclusion of 11th grade he said firmly no more football...he wanted to have some input into his "high school" experience.
Hubby and I (after a family meeting...we do this alot..to be sure where everyone is coming from)....decided to support our son ....
Therefore this year (his senior) he is playing basketball because he ENJOYS it so much and he loves his coach...
And he will play baseball of course, and basketball may overlap a wee bit...but still, he'll do his long toss, weights and of course he's getting the running in basketball..our guys run till the sun goes down and then they do sprints ..they are in shape for sure.
In the larger schools we've heard of having off season baseball etc....so not sure son would have really made the basketball team in a really large school either...
Too many things factor into this equation to just say yes or no...
My son is out of HS but these are a couple of hindsight questions concerning the multi-sport athlete.
Did any of the multi-sport athletes play the the Wood Bat championships in Jupiter or another PG event in the Spring, Winter, or Fall?
If so, did it conflict with another hs sport season?
If it did conflict, were there problems with coaches from the HS or the select baseball team because of your decision?
Did anyone NOT do a planned baseball event because of another sport?
Do you feel that the other sport(s) hurt the recruitment process because you did not participate in the PG events or have the time to get in "baseball shape" (pitcher related)?
Did any of the multi-sport athletes play the the Wood Bat championships in Jupiter or another PG event in the Spring, Winter, or Fall?
If so, did it conflict with another hs sport season?
If it did conflict, were there problems with coaches from the HS or the select baseball team because of your decision?
Did anyone NOT do a planned baseball event because of another sport?
Do you feel that the other sport(s) hurt the recruitment process because you did not participate in the PG events or have the time to get in "baseball shape" (pitcher related)?
No, multi-sport athletes are NOT a thing of the past.
COACHES who require their athletes to SPECIALIZE are a thing of the past.
Why not let kids be kids?
...and the silliest of all coaches are those that have the 5'11", 160# running back that make the kid believe that he is the next coming of Walter Payton on offense or Deion Sanders on defense, when, in reality, the only football the kid will see past high school is on television!
COACHES who require their athletes to SPECIALIZE are a thing of the past.
Why not let kids be kids?
...and the silliest of all coaches are those that have the 5'11", 160# running back that make the kid believe that he is the next coming of Walter Payton on offense or Deion Sanders on defense, when, in reality, the only football the kid will see past high school is on television!
BeenthereIL...
I know of someone who is about that size (football)..and coach had him and his parents convinced that he'd have every DIV 1 school after him...
guess what...now the boy has one offer (thank goodness) to DIV 111 (nothing to sneeze at)...but the boy said he'd probably not take it...waiting for that big school to call...
Makes me sad to think that this coach really didn't have this players best interest at heart...
I know of someone who is about that size (football)..and coach had him and his parents convinced that he'd have every DIV 1 school after him...
guess what...now the boy has one offer (thank goodness) to DIV 111 (nothing to sneeze at)...but the boy said he'd probably not take it...waiting for that big school to call...
Makes me sad to think that this coach really didn't have this players best interest at heart...
rz1
My son missed those events due to his other sport. He did his showcasing during the summer. We actually felt that playing another sport was a positive during his recruitment. Remember...the fact that he was able to play more than one sport and also make the grades with Honors and AP courses looked good!
quote:
Did any of the multi-sport athletes play the the Wood Bat championships in Jupiter or another PG event in the Spring, Winter, or Fall?
My son missed those events due to his other sport. He did his showcasing during the summer. We actually felt that playing another sport was a positive during his recruitment. Remember...the fact that he was able to play more than one sport and also make the grades with Honors and AP courses looked good!
Texas 2004 makes a great point about the size of the pool. Obviously, the best high school athletes can and do contribute to multiple programs.
No, I don't think multi-sport athletes are not a thing of the past, but many high school coaches (especially football coaches) are trying to influence a single sport culture to their personal advantage.
My son played 3 sports in Jr. High and found it to be just too much. Too much overlap. He went to 2 sports in his freshman year -- playing varsity football and baseball -- although baseball has always been #1. Every year we wrestled with the football coach as summer league world series would always overlap the opening of football camp by a day or two.
At the end of the season, the football coach would hold the baseball players in football practice and workouts and not release to baseball until early spring. This was with the support of school administrators.
Schools shouldn't make it so tough to participate in more than one sport.
- Whoever said a walk was as good as a hit, couldn't hit.
No, I don't think multi-sport athletes are not a thing of the past, but many high school coaches (especially football coaches) are trying to influence a single sport culture to their personal advantage.
My son played 3 sports in Jr. High and found it to be just too much. Too much overlap. He went to 2 sports in his freshman year -- playing varsity football and baseball -- although baseball has always been #1. Every year we wrestled with the football coach as summer league world series would always overlap the opening of football camp by a day or two.
At the end of the season, the football coach would hold the baseball players in football practice and workouts and not release to baseball until early spring. This was with the support of school administrators.
Schools shouldn't make it so tough to participate in more than one sport.
- Whoever said a walk was as good as a hit, couldn't hit.
Therer are two aspects involved --as noted above the size of the pool is one
The second, as I see it is the overlapping of seasons--it used to be baseball ended and football began--football ended and hoops began--hoops ended and baseball began
Today baseball goes to mid football season, football goes to nearly spring training for baseball and pro hoops goes all the way to June--this I believe is being reflected at the HS level-- with winter camps for baseball, summer football camps and basketball camps in the summer as well
No longer is there a clear line of definition between the respective seasons of each sport.
TRhit
The second, as I see it is the overlapping of seasons--it used to be baseball ended and football began--football ended and hoops began--hoops ended and baseball began
Today baseball goes to mid football season, football goes to nearly spring training for baseball and pro hoops goes all the way to June--this I believe is being reflected at the HS level-- with winter camps for baseball, summer football camps and basketball camps in the summer as well
No longer is there a clear line of definition between the respective seasons of each sport.
TRhit
i teach at a 4-a high school where we have over 2100 kids. we have a few, but not many, multiple sports athletes. my wife teaches at a much smaller school where most of their athletes compete in multiple sports. i agree with the numbers to pull from, changes things. most of our 2 sport athletes are spring and fall sports. not many winter athletes play more than one. i think this has to do with the large overlap in seasons. i like for my guys to play other sports, especially football. i like the mental toughness it develops. (of course i did coach football for 20 years also)
Multiple sports can give kids more options come graduation time. I knew that I wanted to play baseball in college. Unfortunately there were a few schools' baseball coaches that wouldn't look at me until I told the football coaches who were recruiting me that I wanted to play baseball too, and that was a huge factor in my choice of school. Now, I play at a D3 that doesn't have a football team, and the schools that wanted me to play football were only d3's, but because I did play another sport pretty well it opened some doors and options that I wouldn't have had. Oh, and the school I'm at now (my coach was a high school football coach for a few years) once my coach heard that I played quarterback for my schools football team he pretty much wouldn't leave me alone. He's much like mittman. And i greatly agree with mittman on the mental toughness thing.
rz1 to answer your question from hindsight:
My 01's experience
Gave up track after Fr year as it conflicted with baseball Played football his Jr & Sr years. Played basketball all four years (and of course baseball.
Did he miss out some opportunities - yes - but in truth he missed out on more opportunities because of BASEBALL than all the other sports combined.(in Iowa we play summer baseball).
He played on a fall travel league with The Perfect Game during football season. That meant football on Fri nights - travel on sat for 2 games, overnight at hotel, 2 games on sun , then travel home. Tough - no doubt - but ask him and he will tell you it was it was the most fun he ever had.
He looks back on it quite positive. But, and this is a big but, it left little time for leisure activies (including girls) - something he was content with, but a lot of kids would not be.
He graduated with a 3.96 gpa so his grades did not suffer, but he learned fast how to study anytime anywhere, including a noisy bus.
It can be done. But only if the kid is having fun doing it. It isn't for everyone. Too often though it seems to be the parents or the coaches deciding for them.
For what it is worth - his freshman year in college he said being a multi-sports athlete helped with fall conditioning. Said it was no worse than football 2 a days.
Is it necessary to concentrate on only one sport to do it justice? My suggestion is to take the time to look up the bios on some of the top players at some top colleges and minor league teams. You will find a lot of those kids were multi-athletes.
My 01's experience
Gave up track after Fr year as it conflicted with baseball Played football his Jr & Sr years. Played basketball all four years (and of course baseball.
Did he miss out some opportunities - yes - but in truth he missed out on more opportunities because of BASEBALL than all the other sports combined.(in Iowa we play summer baseball).
He played on a fall travel league with The Perfect Game during football season. That meant football on Fri nights - travel on sat for 2 games, overnight at hotel, 2 games on sun , then travel home. Tough - no doubt - but ask him and he will tell you it was it was the most fun he ever had.
He looks back on it quite positive. But, and this is a big but, it left little time for leisure activies (including girls) - something he was content with, but a lot of kids would not be.
He graduated with a 3.96 gpa so his grades did not suffer, but he learned fast how to study anytime anywhere, including a noisy bus.
It can be done. But only if the kid is having fun doing it. It isn't for everyone. Too often though it seems to be the parents or the coaches deciding for them.
For what it is worth - his freshman year in college he said being a multi-sports athlete helped with fall conditioning. Said it was no worse than football 2 a days.
Is it necessary to concentrate on only one sport to do it justice? My suggestion is to take the time to look up the bios on some of the top players at some top colleges and minor league teams. You will find a lot of those kids were multi-athletes.
Maybe it's because we live in the north and can't play baseball year round but my son was on the varsity golf team as a Fres and soph, Captain of the varsity hockey team for 2 years, played JV basketball and made the varsity team but gave it up because of too many conflicts with hockey, played varsity football his senior year and was on the varsity baseball team since 9th grade....oh yeah, he got drafted in the June 2003 draft in the 11th round. We had major league scouts come and watch him play these other sports just to see his athleticism and how he handled himself.
UNFORTUNATELY...and I mean UNFORTUNATELY the trend has grown towards players selecting one sport and training year round for that sport. When I was in high school, not that long ago...lol...1976-78, multiple sport athletes was common and encouraged. However, in those days players rarely played baseball but in the spring and summer and there was definitely not the types of opportunities that are out there now.
I believe that the trend has changed because working year round, getting the edge in visibility and in experience has prompted athlete's to make a decision...get behind or get ahead. There are so many more opportunities I know of in baseball year round now as apposed to years past.
Competition and the desire to be the best at your specific sport is a good thing but has reduced the number of multi-sport athlete's to a much smaller number.
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"The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards!" - PAUL BEAR BRYANT
I believe that the trend has changed because working year round, getting the edge in visibility and in experience has prompted athlete's to make a decision...get behind or get ahead. There are so many more opportunities I know of in baseball year round now as apposed to years past.
Competition and the desire to be the best at your specific sport is a good thing but has reduced the number of multi-sport athlete's to a much smaller number.
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"The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards!" - PAUL BEAR BRYANT
My son played junior varsity baseball as an 8th grader and varsity all 4 years of HS. He played jv basketball his freshman and sophmore years. He ran indoor track his junior year (3rd in the district in pole vault).
Let the kid decide what he wants to do. If he wants to play another sport then ok go ahead. If he does not want to play another sport because he wants to concentrate on one sport in order to be the best he can be whats wrong with that? Thats his decision to make. I have seen kids pressured to play other sports because they were good athletes but their heart was not in it. I dont see where that is a good thing at all. My youngest son loves baseball and plays alot but lately over the past year and a half has decided to spend more time running and conditioning in order to become a better baseball player. He has been hounded by coachs of the football team to play. He made the decision that he would rather work out for baseball. Let the kids decide its their decision. If they want to play then support them and if they do not support that as well.
coach may,
even though i like my guys to play other sports, i agree that it had to be the kid's choice. that should also be the same TO concentrate on just one. there should not be any influence from the coach or parents to specialize, just as there should not be any influence to play other sports.
even though i like my guys to play other sports, i agree that it had to be the kid's choice. that should also be the same TO concentrate on just one. there should not be any influence from the coach or parents to specialize, just as there should not be any influence to play other sports.
My son plays baseball and basketball at a 2A school in Ok. This year there are no seniors on the team. This is not because of the coaches, but the boys decision to concentrate on baseball. My son has already said he won't be playing basketball next year because of the abuse his body is taking.
Another thing, all the coaches encourage the boys to play other sports because they know with a school this size, its the only way to be competitive.
Another thing, all the coaches encourage the boys to play other sports because they know with a school this size, its the only way to be competitive.
My oldest son started out with football and didn't like it. Loves baseball and hasn't even tried anything else since.
Now his brother played basketball on the elementary level and played baseball. Grades did go down. But he did work harder on homework and made it through. I didn't like the practice with basketball. It was run until you dropped or had to make a trip to the bathroom to "toss your cookies". I call it the "Pitinio Style". We do live in KY and that's the way they teach, in my opinion, 80% of the programs in the state. (On my soapbox, sorry). After half the season was over most of theam looked like zombies. I wanted him to quit but it was his choice to stay. They were playing for the county championship and it was his last year. So we let him stay on. It actually hurt his performance for about half of the baseball season.
Now with HS they wanted him to play basketball. He went out and it was the same ol' thing. And he didn't like it. He misses playing. But baseball season is around the corner. Thank goodness!!
Now his brother played basketball on the elementary level and played baseball. Grades did go down. But he did work harder on homework and made it through. I didn't like the practice with basketball. It was run until you dropped or had to make a trip to the bathroom to "toss your cookies". I call it the "Pitinio Style". We do live in KY and that's the way they teach, in my opinion, 80% of the programs in the state. (On my soapbox, sorry). After half the season was over most of theam looked like zombies. I wanted him to quit but it was his choice to stay. They were playing for the county championship and it was his last year. So we let him stay on. It actually hurt his performance for about half of the baseball season.
Now with HS they wanted him to play basketball. He went out and it was the same ol' thing. And he didn't like it. He misses playing. But baseball season is around the corner. Thank goodness!!
This is so near and dear to me:
There are still plenty of HS kids playing more than one sport. There are, however, very few playing more than one sport at a level where they could be recruited.
If you are serious about a sport other than football, you really have to be active in the private sector. And that creates overlap.
Overlap is a huge problem. For example, the hockey season lasts into early March, which is tryouts and the first games. If you are a serious hockey player, spring is showcase season and junior tryouts, which is a more important in many cases than the regular season.
Then preseason work is in mid- to late August, which, of course, is part of baseball showcase season.
If you are in the private sector in any sport, the high school coach doesn't care about overlap. If you're not at his practice, you're toast.
My 04 might not play baseball in his senior season because the baseball coach expects him at unofficial preseason workouts (he was throwing with my college baseball player during the break). He was all but told he will have to choose now, a month before tryouts even take place and two months before hockey season ends.
If he actually has to choose, with this child, the choice won't be baseball. He is expected to play junior hockey next year. And he is probably the second-best catcher in his high school league.
There are still plenty of HS kids playing more than one sport. There are, however, very few playing more than one sport at a level where they could be recruited.
If you are serious about a sport other than football, you really have to be active in the private sector. And that creates overlap.
Overlap is a huge problem. For example, the hockey season lasts into early March, which is tryouts and the first games. If you are a serious hockey player, spring is showcase season and junior tryouts, which is a more important in many cases than the regular season.
Then preseason work is in mid- to late August, which, of course, is part of baseball showcase season.
If you are in the private sector in any sport, the high school coach doesn't care about overlap. If you're not at his practice, you're toast.
My 04 might not play baseball in his senior season because the baseball coach expects him at unofficial preseason workouts (he was throwing with my college baseball player during the break). He was all but told he will have to choose now, a month before tryouts even take place and two months before hockey season ends.
If he actually has to choose, with this child, the choice won't be baseball. He is expected to play junior hockey next year. And he is probably the second-best catcher in his high school league.
some questions are timeless.
I agree with Coach May. Let he kids decide. However even if you do that be prepared for some hassle. My son is a LHP and 1b. Baseball is the sport he willplay in college. Hoever he also was a 3 year starting varisty QB.
Some of my baseball dad friends gave me a hard time about how i am the parent and i should step in and not let him play football. Kind of "for who for what" type attitude. They could not believe that I was allowing him to risk injury and hurt his chances at a baseball scholarship.
I can tell you I had some sleepless nights but I cannot imagine taking away all the great memories and experiences he had playing football. I am glad I let him decide and did not listen to my friends.
He does have a baseball coach that believes in playing multi-sports..the football coach was just glad he came out and understood him missing some of the football summer stuff becasue of baseball.
Let your kid decide.
Some of my baseball dad friends gave me a hard time about how i am the parent and i should step in and not let him play football. Kind of "for who for what" type attitude. They could not believe that I was allowing him to risk injury and hurt his chances at a baseball scholarship.
I can tell you I had some sleepless nights but I cannot imagine taking away all the great memories and experiences he had playing football. I am glad I let him decide and did not listen to my friends.
He does have a baseball coach that believes in playing multi-sports..the football coach was just glad he came out and understood him missing some of the football summer stuff becasue of baseball.
Let your kid decide.
In my sons HS the coaches all say the same thing. Play multiple sports. It is a 3,000 kid HS in Phoenix.
Then the reality hits. All of the sports overlap. Every sport schedules workouts and voluntary practices during the other seasons. Year round sport specific work outs. Classes in your sport where they work on plays, that kind of thing. It is almost impossible to play football and baseball. Two sports that don't overlap. Basketball and either football or baseball? Forget about it.
I have noticed one thing. The superstars get a pass. There seem to be one or two kids per class that are incredible athletes that can produce in overlapping sports and the coaches don't seem to mind. But if you are "only" an above average kid? Pick one or you won't play anything.
Then the reality hits. All of the sports overlap. Every sport schedules workouts and voluntary practices during the other seasons. Year round sport specific work outs. Classes in your sport where they work on plays, that kind of thing. It is almost impossible to play football and baseball. Two sports that don't overlap. Basketball and either football or baseball? Forget about it.
I have noticed one thing. The superstars get a pass. There seem to be one or two kids per class that are incredible athletes that can produce in overlapping sports and the coaches don't seem to mind. But if you are "only" an above average kid? Pick one or you won't play anything.
The only things that should keep an athlete from playing multiple sports is if he doesn't enjoy playing another organized sport or it's too much a conflict with schoolwork.
HS head coaches should encourage multi-sport player, not demand them to choose between sports. Those who do are being selfish.
For four years, my son missed much of the winter workouts for baseball because his teams went deep into conference and state tournaments every year which extended the winter season, but the baseball coaches knew when the season ended and expected him to report when he was done. Also, the winter coach wanted him to focus on the conference and state tournaments so this was never an issue. Sure, he was a little behind on the conditioning part but by time the season officially opened (tryouts & scrimmages), he was always ready.
Whether it was a star player, perceived star player or not, it didn't matter, although star players got treated differently. No players were ever given ultimatums to decide on one sport or another. Frankly, I'm glad it was that way because HS athletes shouldn't have to be forced to decide what sports to play.
HS head coaches should encourage multi-sport player, not demand them to choose between sports. Those who do are being selfish.
For four years, my son missed much of the winter workouts for baseball because his teams went deep into conference and state tournaments every year which extended the winter season, but the baseball coaches knew when the season ended and expected him to report when he was done. Also, the winter coach wanted him to focus on the conference and state tournaments so this was never an issue. Sure, he was a little behind on the conditioning part but by time the season officially opened (tryouts & scrimmages), he was always ready.
Whether it was a star player, perceived star player or not, it didn't matter, although star players got treated differently. No players were ever given ultimatums to decide on one sport or another. Frankly, I'm glad it was that way because HS athletes shouldn't have to be forced to decide what sports to play.
My son attends a large classification high school. Other than track/track and football/track there probably aren't more than ten varsity multiple sports males athletes in the high school. Three are baseball players (football, s0ccer and hockey). The coaches expect commitment to their sport. The baseball coach is cool about kids playing fall sports. He prefers they participate in winter workouts.
My son was playing three sports. After being the starting point guard on the freshman basketball team, the following season the varsity basketball coach cut him for missing all the optional off season workouts and not playing summer basketball. He told my son it was obvious he didn't have time for basketball. Had he been 6'6" I'll bet he would have been kept as a backup forward.
Getting cut from basketball was the best thing that could have happened for baseball. It gave him winters to workout and prepare.
My son was playing three sports. After being the starting point guard on the freshman basketball team, the following season the varsity basketball coach cut him for missing all the optional off season workouts and not playing summer basketball. He told my son it was obvious he didn't have time for basketball. Had he been 6'6" I'll bet he would have been kept as a backup forward.
Getting cut from basketball was the best thing that could have happened for baseball. It gave him winters to workout and prepare.
4 of my kids were multi-sport, the other had one year round sport. One of them tried a 3rd sport, but gave it up. This is in a big school, so it's possible. But, each coach is different.
We did have problems with it though:
- one kid was cut as a junior in a sport probably because of the 2nd sport (not because of practice overlap, just because)
- you sit on the bench longer because you missed the overlap practices
We did have problems with it though:
- one kid was cut as a junior in a sport probably because of the 2nd sport (not because of practice overlap, just because
)- you sit on the bench longer because you missed the overlap practices
At the risk of having my head ripped off I'll say girl's sports are different. There are less female "athletes" in the high school. The coaches chase them down. My daughter played volleyball, ran track and played softball. She was a basketball player through soph year (in the varsity rotation soph year) until she went to speed camp for softball and loved track.