Can I watch my son practice during the season in NCAA div 3 baseball

There's no rule against it.

Some schools make a point of announcing practices and opening them to the public.  Others do not.

Best to have your son find out what "normal" is at your school and report back so that you don't invite unwanted attention to him or you.

If you have any doubts, stay away. I would let the subject lie until if and when your son has established himself a bit and he can find out through experience if that's something that's acceptable.

Considering you will be the only parent there I suggest you check with your son.

Hint: His answer will likely be "Dad I love you but STAY AWAY"

PS; If there are trees in the area check to see if you can climb up in them without being seen. 

I forgot the obvious. Have you brought the subject up with him at all? I sure wouldn't have wanted my father at practices when I was in college.

Joseph:

I would go watch every chance I got. I just would not say anything while I watched. Enjoy every moment of this. It does not last very long.

Robert, 

If your son will attend the school you described last November, there's a pretty good chance it's the school BOF's son attends.  His advice may be particularly relevant.

Best wishes, 

S

Thanks for the replies. He's okay with me watching on occasion. Time flies by so fast. I remember when he was in tee ball and now his last year in HS then the next level and that too will be gone in a blink. I He knows that I don't coach from the stands. It was just the question that I was curious about since I don't know. The coach is really open and spent about an hour talking to my wife and me before our son committed and has an open door policy but I know not to go to that door. He is a young man and he can take care of himself I just wanted to ask about the see a practice now and then. Not too much to ask but again if I am not allowed I am okay with it. 

My sons played 3 hours away from home but occasionally business would result in my being in the area when practice was going on and I never missed an opportunity to watch. "Seen and not heard" is a good idea, but my experience was the coaches walked over to me and talked a little, very welcoming but that was their nature anyway...and of course you get to take junior to dinner.   These 4 years will fly by so fast you'll be amazed when they're over-get to every game you can, take a lot of photos, and enjoy the ride!

My son will be attending & playing at a Big 10 school for 2015/16 a little over an hour from home. I work in the area frequently and have every intention of quietly observing an occasional practice as well as hope of having dinner with him. I don't care what anyone thinks, like others said above, it will be over in the blink of an eye...... Until such time I will also continue to drop in on his HS practice every now and again

JosephR

If you go watch practice know that you will not be the only one that has. My son attended the same school. During his freshman year my wife was on campus for other reasons. She noted a dad sitting in his car, in the parking lot above the left field fence behind the trees. He was there watching his son at practice. My wife talked with the father at that time; we ended up becoming good friends with the family, their son became my son's college roommate and this spring will be one of his groomsman.

If you do it; there are plenty of places to watch where you will not be seen by anyone; the upper parking lot, the beach club, the upper dorms, the bell tower. I wouldn't sit in the stands.

I know this is a different sport but when I ran track in college I would have been horrified if my parents showed up to watch practice.  No one came out to watch practice.  At that point in my life I was wanting to be on my own and did not want any interference from the parental units.  If you are going to stop and watch make sure your son is really ok with it and not just saying it to appease you.

ILVBB, That is a good one I never thought about there!  I will have to check it out. 

I can see campus security now, "hey look up there is that a sniper, no that's just Mr. ILVBB with binoculars watching practice...."

Seriously if you are in the area and stop by and be non conspicuous it is fine IMO. On parent weekends or on random weekend visits I have seen people in the stands watching, I have walked by and stopped for a few minutes and watched a few times. The team scrimmages a lot and I have seen a few people in the stands for them.

My son plays at a D3 not to far away. I do not go to the practices, but in the fall they have intrasquad scrimmages. They divide the team into 3 teams and they play for the Red and Black World series. The winner gets bragging rights until the following fall. Assistants draft teams and make a big deal about the whole process.

All parents and fans are encouraged to come. The final game is usually on homecoming weekend. We usually have a pot luck so everybody can meet the new parents and players.

Some schools have Alumni games in the fall as well.