I warned you shortstopmom...never...ever relinquish control of the duct tape...let this be a lesson to you...now hang in there while I get the scissors and the bottle of Goo Be Gone...
JSTRAWN1, Just a little short story about a dad who didn't want his kid to ptich. The kid was probably the best cather in the State of Texas. But the coach wanted him to pitch. The dad and the coach went round and round over this. The kid ended up pitching in college and the major leagues , still there. And was rookie of the year. Kid already has stuff from his first major league start in the Hall of Fame. 
If it allows your son a chance to play...
...then go for it. A kid I used to coach started catching at age 14, fulltime at age 15, and got a D-I scholly. The key, as others have mentioned, is WANTING to be back there. Also, if he embraces it (heck, a cannon arm and quick release is needed in catchers), send him to all the instructional camps you can. You will be suprised at the doors that will open for a passionate and talented catcher.
...then go for it. A kid I used to coach started catching at age 14, fulltime at age 15, and got a D-I scholly. The key, as others have mentioned, is WANTING to be back there. Also, if he embraces it (heck, a cannon arm and quick release is needed in catchers), send him to all the instructional camps you can. You will be suprised at the doors that will open for a passionate and talented catcher.
My son changed to catcher going into high school. He had always been an outfileder. He loves the position, however we have been told he is a football player that plays a little baseball. I agree there is a mentality to catching that you have to have to be behind the plate. Worked out for my right hand thowing/left hand hitting son. He signed early and is starting at the college level as a freshman. My other son is a pitcher and he says no way he would get behind the plate.
JStrawn1,
I agree with all the input you have received so far, even though some of it comes from different points of view. Catching and pitching are two positions where a kid really needs to want to be there, but some kids may LEARN to want to be there, for various reasons. Maybe he learns to want it because...
...he knows it is his best chance to be in the starting lineup, or
...he realizes he is the best option for his team at that position, or
...he grows to love the position when he gets better at it!
My son is a pitcher, and two of his HS years he was pitching to catchers who did not consider it THEIR best position, but were catching because the team needed them to. It was frustrating sometimes for the catchers, and made the pitcher's job a little more difficult too, but everyone understood that the catcher was doing his best to help the team. Even in college (D3) there has been one year so far when both catchers were basically playing their secondary position, and I recall my son commenting several times how much he and his teammates appreciated that, rather than complaining about a pass ball, etc. (And the next year, the primary catcher got to move back to his preferred position of 3B for his senior year, and excelled there.)
I'm not suggesting that your son needs to pretend that he wants to catch, I'm just sharing some of the things we have seen happen. It kind of looks as if 3B might be taken this year, if the coach's son plays it and his son is reasonably close to being as good as yours. Maybe your son can tell his coach that catching is not his preferred position but that he is willing to try it if that works best for the team. And maybe you could practice with your son how he could express any concerns he has to the coach, such as letting him know that he is nervous about being inexperienced at catcher and not wanting to let his team down. (I mentioned the practicing part because when my son reached his freshman year of HS, he handled all conversations with coaches from that point on, but we talked with our son about pitch counts, etc. In my opinion it would be best if your son is the one who discusses the catching issue with the coach.)
Good luck, and let us know how tryouts went!
I agree with all the input you have received so far, even though some of it comes from different points of view. Catching and pitching are two positions where a kid really needs to want to be there, but some kids may LEARN to want to be there, for various reasons. Maybe he learns to want it because...
...he knows it is his best chance to be in the starting lineup, or
...he realizes he is the best option for his team at that position, or
...he grows to love the position when he gets better at it!
My son is a pitcher, and two of his HS years he was pitching to catchers who did not consider it THEIR best position, but were catching because the team needed them to. It was frustrating sometimes for the catchers, and made the pitcher's job a little more difficult too, but everyone understood that the catcher was doing his best to help the team. Even in college (D3) there has been one year so far when both catchers were basically playing their secondary position, and I recall my son commenting several times how much he and his teammates appreciated that, rather than complaining about a pass ball, etc. (And the next year, the primary catcher got to move back to his preferred position of 3B for his senior year, and excelled there.)
I'm not suggesting that your son needs to pretend that he wants to catch, I'm just sharing some of the things we have seen happen. It kind of looks as if 3B might be taken this year, if the coach's son plays it and his son is reasonably close to being as good as yours. Maybe your son can tell his coach that catching is not his preferred position but that he is willing to try it if that works best for the team. And maybe you could practice with your son how he could express any concerns he has to the coach, such as letting him know that he is nervous about being inexperienced at catcher and not wanting to let his team down. (I mentioned the practicing part because when my son reached his freshman year of HS, he handled all conversations with coaches from that point on, but we talked with our son about pitch counts, etc. In my opinion it would be best if your son is the one who discusses the catching issue with the coach.)
Good luck, and let us know how tryouts went!
Thank you all for your responses. It definitely helps to hear from those who's sons' have been in the same type of situation and how they dealt with it. So far it's not come up again but tryouts should be complete by Friday, maybe Saturday at the very latest. I'll certainly provide an update when I get it.
Thanks again and keep posting!!
Thanks again and keep posting!!
As a freshman, my daughter made her HS softball JV. First week of practice, coach asked her if she would like to try catching. Her response: "Coach, I have never caught before, but if that's where I can help, I'd be happy to learn." ( I am still SO proud of that answer!)
Starter soph catcher broke her thumb third game of the season, and my daughter started every game the rest of the season!
She loved being involved in every pitch and learned a lot.
Starter soph catcher broke her thumb third game of the season, and my daughter started every game the rest of the season!
She loved being involved in every pitch and learned a lot.
Nice post, shortstopmom.
And you have one more power! You can show them the "Help Wanted" ads the next time they refuse to fundraise!
And you have one more power! You can show them the "Help Wanted" ads the next time they refuse to fundraise!
Updated Information: Just found out this morning that our son did make the frosh/soph team. He just got his "letter of Congratulations" this morning following the final day of tryouts. He seems excited and his parents are both ecstatic. Not sure yet what will develop as far as positioning changes but should know more this next week as they begin team practices.
The position changes seemed to take a back seat to him "just making the team" during the last few days. There were a lot of good players and even more "tweeners" who are good enough to play baseball at other high schools, but won't make the team simply because of the number of team slots available. Roughly 32 to 34 players, 16 or so slots, 8 or so returning sophomores from last year.
Thanks for the comments throughout this post. It really has helped to hear your thoughts and opinions!!
The position changes seemed to take a back seat to him "just making the team" during the last few days. There were a lot of good players and even more "tweeners" who are good enough to play baseball at other high schools, but won't make the team simply because of the number of team slots available. Roughly 32 to 34 players, 16 or so slots, 8 or so returning sophomores from last year.
Thanks for the comments throughout this post. It really has helped to hear your thoughts and opinions!!
Duck tape is removed from SSmom's mouth and she is hollerin', " WAY TO GO JSTRAWN1's son!!! ".
Congrats on making the team!!!!
Keep us posted as the season gets rolling. Would be great to hear how things are going!!!
( Heck,..we're parctically neighbors! ha! )
Congrats on making the team!!!!
Keep us posted as the season gets rolling. Would be great to hear how things are going!!!
( Heck,..we're parctically neighbors! ha! )