Asking To Play A Position

Well, you said it two different ways... the "advisor" says he should be telling his travel coach that he NEEDS to catch specific games... and then you say a player should not be requesting to play a position...

Of course, he DEFINITELY cannot tell the coach what he NEEDS to do.  He SHOULD try to work on this together with the coach.  Much depends on the exact purpose of the travel team.  It could go either way with 15u.  But, assuming the purpose is at least in part to help these young players advance their game so that they can play at the next level, the coach should be open to trying to take into consideration that your son has an opportunity to be seen by RC's.  With this, often the travel coach will share with the player or RC what the rotation will be... what game he will be catching, so the RC can choose that game if it works with his schedule.  Or, often, the player (or someone) will put the travel coach and the RC in communication so they can work it out.  For example, the RC can contact the travel coach, express his interest in seeing player X play because he may be interested in him as a catcher and the travel team coach will ask him when he plans on coming out and share whether that might work with his rotation plans for player X to catch.  In this instance, the travel coach may slightly adjust his rotation plans to fit both the RC's schedule and his primary objective of putting the team in the best position to win games/tournaments.

The key is having an open, honest and respectful relationship with the travel coach, communicating regularly with potential opportunities and then putting the two parties (travel and RC) in communication with each other so they can figure out what works for both, if possible.  Also, have a clear understanding of what the travel team goals and objectives are and respect that.

Curious what you knew about this travel team before your son joined it.

Coaches recruiting players usually go through the travel coach.

Cabbage covered the rest.

Go44dad posted:

Curious what you knew about this travel team before your son joined it.

Coaches recruiting players usually go through the travel coach.

Cabbage covered the rest.

That's another side of this thing. When my son mentioned to the travel coach about the legwork that the other fellow was doing, the travel coach's answer was: It's too early for you. This is just a bunch of D3 coaches trying to lock you up before the D1 coaches get a look at you. Wait until it's time and then I will get you recruited.

Francis7 posted:

Go44dad posted:

Curious what you knew about this travel team before your son joined it.

Coaches recruiting players usually go through the travel coach.

Cabbage covered the rest.

That's another side of this thing. When my son mentioned to the travel coach about the legwork that the other fellow was doing, the travel coach's answer was: It's too early for you. This is just a bunch of D3 coaches trying to lock you up before the D1 coaches get a look at you. Wait until it's time and then I will get you recruited.

Well, he may very well have a point.  It is fact that, generally, D2 and D3 recruiting is not done during freshman or sophomore year.  What is the travel coach' history/track record with getting guys recruited?

That said, if he truly is interested in helping your son with the recruiting process, he may share that news with him but still be accommodating to interested schools.  If they are schools your son my have sincere interest in, he should share that information with his travel coach.  If he still balks, then you know you have other issues.  If your son doesn't really have interest in these schools but instead just wants schools in general to come see him (sort of wants his ego stroked), then the coach may be properly looking out for his best interest, whether the young player likes it or not.

I'm going to second GO44 here. This whole thing just seems very fishy

First, a team with 13 players is a very very small roster. Then to not carry an OF is also very strange to say the least. I get moving guys around but if I were a SS and found myself playing RF 60% of the time I would be looking for a way out of that contract. Doesn't exactly sound like a team I want to be part of. Even if they find a way to make it work, the small roster numbers and disorganization tells me everything I need to know. From everything I've read on here your son is a good player. Put him on a team that carries OFers and pitchers. I'm surprised your advisor has not mentioned this. 

If your son reached out to some D2s and D3s and they asked to send the schedule they were most likely being polite or trying to gain some level of interest from you so you will attend their camps. No D2/D3s are recruiting freshman. At all. When they say they'll be at his next tournament they will most likely just be there watching the older guys. This is not a shot just to knock you and your kid down, its just not happening to anyone. There are plenty of P5 schools that won't have any 2022 commits after the summer. Anybody can fake interest to make a buck. These camps are what pay rent for a lot of these young coaches. Went to a college team showcase event at a P5 school a few weeks ago with 2022. Was talking to one of the D3 coaches there. He said he was wasting his time being there. He would love to have most of the kids there, but he is at least 2 years away from them even considering his school and most would be picked up at that point, but his parents lived close and they payed him to be there so no brainer. 

As for your question. If your son is in contact with a school and they say they're coming to watch or ask when he's catching you need to ask your coach what the catching rotation is. If you're scheduled for Tues but they're coming Thurs he needs to ask to swap and say why. Or say hey coach ______ is coming to watch me this week - do you have the rotation yet. If he gives you a hard time you really need to ask yourself what can this team do for him? But I also would not be changing my lineup for D3s this young. 

15u post freshman year isn’t the time to be thinking about D2, D3 exposure. These programs recruiting time is mostly post junior year summer. 

Your son is only playing 15u competition. Success only shows coaches potential relative to his age class. A kid drawing D2, D3 interest should be thinking how to improve to draw D1 interest. 

What is his travel coach telling him about his big picture potential? 

I agree with Cabbage. The player doesn’t dictate when and where he plays. But it’s not unreasonable to ask when and where. But don’t be surprised if the coach chuckles and responds, “Son, this is 15u.”

I will strongly agree that your son/you are doing a great job of getting him out there.  I do not think freshman/sophomore summer is too early.  I will agree with your travel coach also that it may be that if your son really is D1 material then a D2/D3 coach can get him before he is seen by D1 they will definitely do it.  I disagree that D2/D3 coaches are not recruiting this early because in today's world everybody is recruiting early.  My son is Juco coach and he is recruiting upcoming freshmen.  Trying to get them committed before D1 gets them because he knows once they commit to any level many coaches will drop off the scene.  I also think it is not inappropriate to have a conversation with a coach about when you will be playing a certain position.  We did it on a regular basis with my son's teams when he was being recruited as a pitcher.  Some times the RC/HC would contact the coach and sometimes he would contact us.  They would want to know when son was pitching and sometimes said I can be at X game, any chance he is pitching or can pitch that game.  I agree that it takes a lot of communication.  But don't get so caught up in the process this summer that you get frustrated.  One of the worst things was when a coach told my son he was coming and my son would get on the mound and realize he was not there.  We had to work through the fact that he had a job to do and it should not matter if the RC was there or not.  Then there were other times that RC would show up out of the blue.  Son would say after the game, did you see Coach X there? 

One of the greatest experiences for my son in his journey was when he was at WWBA sophomore summer.  He was scheduled to pitch a big game and it got rained out in first inning and he only threw 5 pitches.  No one was there because it was at a nowhere field long from Lakepoint.  About 2 pm, my son found out the game was going to be picked up that night at 12:45 AM at Lakepoint.  We sent emails and texts to everyone letting them know of change and that he was going to be pitching.  Really did not expect anyone to be there after midnight.  He warmed up and no one was there.  By the end of the inning almost every SEC and ACC team were there.  He pitched a great complete game and his fastest pitch was last inning.  Most stayed the entire game.  Never know when they will show and why.  But be ready when they do. 

Thanks to all for the feedback. It's appreciated.

Yes, the travel team set up is not ideal. It's really a  flawed roster construction. And there's no pitching depth. I suspect that they couldn't find the players to make it more rounded. But, it's excellent coaching and instruction. That's big to me. And my son enjoys it. But, for sure, I know others are less than thrilled with the playing time situation in terms of where their kid is logging innings.

The key to baseball development for position players is hitting. If you can hit you play somewhere. Each level moving up may mean a different position. Next year even in high school can mean a different position. There’s nothing wrong with learning to be versatile. 

A friend’s son got to his ranked program as a freshman to discover he was one of five catchers (three freshmen). He had never played another position. Guess which catcher got red shirted. 

In reverse, one of the best defensive catchers of all time (Bob Boone) didn’t catch until the minors. He was an All American third baseman.

D2 & D3 coaches are generally not scouting 15U players.  Somebody isn't being real with you.

stay patient, let the kid develop, playing lots of positions is a good thing.

my 16U kid played 3B/1B/2B/SS this spring as well as a couple of innings in LF.  This Summer so far he's mostly played 1B with a game or two at 3B.  

None of it really matters, it's all about whether you can hit, or not.  Versatility is a good thing. 

When college coaches are interested in a player they sometimes will talk to the coach prior to a tournament or game and ask to see player x at a certain position... 

Francis7 posted:

15U team.  Roster of 13 players.

We have 3 catchers, 4 shortstops, 2 third basemen, and 2 first basemen.  Yes, that’s 11 players and 4 positions.  (Other two players are P/OF and a P-only.)

So, naturally, every game, we have a number of players “playing out of position” (or, at the least, out of the position that they consider their primary position).

My son is one of the catchers.  And, he has no problem playing somewhere else when he’s not catching. In fact, he has a lot of fun playing the outfield when he’s out there.  (And, he’s very capable there.)

Someone who got to see my son play this spring was very impressed by him.  And, he’s someone who has been through the process of playing in HS and then playing in college.  Even though my son was a freshmen this year, he’s been trying to get people to come out and see him now in his travel summer games.  And, I guess he’s been pretty persuasive with his “you have to see this freshman catcher who played varsity” pitch because there are some D2 and D3 assistant coaches who have contacted my son and asked him for his schedule and mentioned that they will be coming to his next tournament.

While I think it’s early for this kind of stuff, I’m going with it because you never know.  But, I do have a situation that I’m not sure how to handle and wanted to run it by you guys.

Because of our roster construction, my son won’t be catching every game in his tournaments.  (And, that’s a good thing.  I really don’t want him back there for every game.)  But, my son’s “advisor” (for lack of a better description) is telling him that he should be telling his travel coach that he needs to catch specific games when he knows someone is coming to watch him play.  And, while that seems to make sense, my son and I both do not feel it’s the appropriate thing to do.  A player should not be requesting to play a position in a game.  That is entirely up to the coach.  Or, am I wrong here?

 

Your son shouldn’t have to ask. If college coaches are coming to see him at specific times, he should communicate that with the guy making the lineup.  If he’s playing for a guy that gives a darn, he’ll do his best to help.  If possible try to get the summer ball coach to figure it out with the college coach.  (Not 100% in your control).

Try not to stress too much about the position. Be one of the top 9 hitters, preferably the best hitter on the team, lol.  In our experience, position players need to hit. Really hit. Make sure he’s hitting the ball hard. The position thing will work itself out. And when you get there, the college coach will have the top 9 hitters playing. Of those top 9, coach will put together the best defense he can. 

Truth is that you're there for your kid. You have to be reasonable, but when coaches want to see your kid play he needs to be in the game. That is a big part of the reason you're paying these guys, they need to go to work for you too. I get the team aspect, but are you trying to get recruited or win the 2019 Summer Jam June Classic? 

What a coach needs to do is say hey you're catching game 2 make sure to let the coaches know or when are the coaches coming so I can set the catching rotation. 

What a player needs to do is say hey ________ University will be at game 1 on Friday, can I get the start. Or I know Mikey is set to catch but can we swap games? 

At this stage it is about getting seen. If you have enough good players the wins will take care of themselves.