College: Fall "Season"

Prime, that is correct, the D1 schools only intersquad, not sure about D2 and D3. Son's JC plays games against other programs.

My son's team (D-III) "Intra-Squads" September and October. Near the end of October they hold a 3 game "championship" series between the two teams Friday-Sunday. Parents are encouraged to attend and they have a cookout at the end of the 3rd game to celebrate the winner. It's a good time, kinda gives you a small baseball "fix" to carry you through the LONG winter months and a good way to meet the other baseball players and parents.

Good topic. I am going to feature this one to see if we can get parents of college players to share their experiences. It is one of the most exciting times in a young player's life. This is when they'll call home and let you know about that first college hit or that first college strikeout from the mound. It will give you goose bumps, have you floating around on a cloud at work the next next day, and it will be a call you will not forget.

Please let the stories begin - positive, negative, or otherwise

School starts on 8/30 for son. He has 2 weeks to settle in to the academic side of things then fall ball starts.Then they go 6 days/wk for 6 weeks. NCAA limits the number of hours/day that the team can officially practice but team captains can also run the practices. Players that have a good fall showing can really cement their place on the team.

They play intra-squad games and parents do come and watch. They play the alumni at the end of fall ball but this does count against their NCAA max number of games. Coach hosts a BBQ after the game (and per NCAA we do pay for the food).

It's a really busy time for the players between school and baseball but they love it. Winter they run and they run and then run some more. Lots of conditioning (and more conditioning) to get ready for the season.

Schools can play other schools in the fall. But it counts against their spring total without entering into the equation for NCAA tournament eligibility. Some cold weather programs play a few games.

My son's DII had their first meeting last night and conditioning practices start this week on the 18th. I got their fall schedule and they have eight intrasquad games scheduled and then a green/white three game series. Today(Monday) are physicals, first classes and tomorrow meetings about NCAA rules etc.

Sons dIII and school start 8/30. They have two weeks of captain lead workouts, and then fall practice with intrasquad scrimmage. They also play a doubleheader at a DI school.

My classes start 8/25, and our first team meeting is at 7 am that morning. Our first fall practice is on 8/28. I play at a DIII school and we practice 4 days a week until the beginning of October. In the last weekend in September we scrimmage a Juco about an hour and a half from our campus in an all day event. Fall season is a good time to get to know the new players coming in and continue to work with your returning teammates. My advice to incoming freshmen is to gear up for some harsh workouts (for us fall and preseason are toughest. Preseason is the beginning of 2nd semester until the first game of the spring), work your hardest to gel in with your teammates and enjoy yourself. Do not go into the fall with any expectations (everyone on the field is competing for a position, nothing is guaranteed). Don't put too much pressure on yourselves to impress the coaches. You have played many baseball games in your life and the fall season is just more baseball. If you play to impress, you generally don't play up to your potential. You are already on the field with the other guys, so all you need to do is play the game like you know how to play it and let your skills and your confidence take care of everything else.

quote:

Do not go into the fall with any expectations (everyone on the field is competing for a position, nothing is guaranteed). Don't put too much pressure on yourselves to impress the coaches. You have played many baseball games in your life and the fall season is just more baseball. If you play to impress, you generally don't play up to your potential. You are already on the field with the other guys, so all you need to do is play the game like you know how to play it and let your skills and your confidence take care of everything else.

Outstanding advice Josh!

I'm looking forward to this Fall,
As son has not been able to pitch for 2 seasons now.
He did pitch last fall hitting 87, but there was pain and had TJ surgery in early Nov.09.
I'm not sure if he will be able to pitch in the fall, But he should be able to throw harder and farther.
He's throwing now, but not at 100%.
It just will take time to get there, and there's no need to rush it.
But I believe by the start of the season he will be pitching as hard if not harder then before.
But the accuracy?
Only time will tell.
Good luck out there to all the players.

EH

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
[QUOTE]Do not go into the fall with any expectations (everyone on the field is competing for a position, nothing is guaranteed). Don't put too much pressure on yourselves to impress the coaches. You have played many baseball games in your life and the fall season is just more baseball. If you play to impress, you generally don't play up to your potential. You are already on the field with the other guys, so all you need to do is play the game like you know how to play it and let your skills and your confidence take care of everything else.

Yup, great advice. Boy is heading back to school this week. Coaches advice? "Do what gotcha here."

As RJM stated, schools can play other schools, with each 9 innings constituting a game and each game being deducted from each D1 total allotment of 56 per year. It is becoming more common for D1 schools to play several fall games vs. other schools. The games count regardless of whether the competition is d1, d2, or d3.

quote:

Originally posted by CaBB:
School starts on 8/30 for son. He has 2 weeks to settle in to the academic side of things then fall ball starts.Then they go 6 days/wk for 6 weeks. NCAA limits the number of hours/day that the team can officially practice but team captains can also run the practices. Players that have a good fall showing can really cement their place on the team.

They play intra-squad games and parents do come and watch. They play the alumni at the end of fall ball but this does count against their NCAA max number of games. Coach hosts a BBQ after the game (and per NCAA we do pay for the food).

It's a really busy time for the players between school and baseball but they love it. Winter they run and they run and then run some more. Lots of conditioning (and more conditioning) to get ready for the season.

The alumni game counts against their NCAA max number of games? Interesting. I wasnt aware of that and wondered why some other schools do not play an alumni game. Perhaps that is the reason

I could be wrong about the alumni games counting! I thought I read that some where. I'm sure someone will chime in if it's incorrect.

In D2 you get 24 practices in a 45 day period in the fall and can play 3 scrimmages against juco's that are exempt from counting against the total of 50 games allowed in D2. Also alumni game in D2 is exempt as well so it doesn't count against the maximum of 50 games allowed.

Last year D2 was allowed 56 but the NCAA reduced that this year to 50.

quote:

In D2 you get 24 practices in a 45 day period in the fall and can play 3 scrimmages against juco's that are exempt from counting against the total of 50 games allowed in D2

Thanks to all of you for your feedback.

Tholm21; good stuff and exactly what I was looking for. Couldn't find any definitive info on the NCAA site. I knew in D2 they had reduced game by six.

tks!

I don't believe the alumni game counts against a schools spring totals, many of the large schools play a couple fall scrimmage games, (Texas/ Baylor comes to mind)they can afford to reduce there spring number because they are in major conferences, smaller schools need all the spring games they can get to gain RPI points, so they tend to have intersquad games all fall. (It can get a little old hitting off the same pitchers all fall)
Most importantly though about fall ball is coming to school "In Top Shape" as the first few weeks of fall can and will be brutal. Most schools send freshmen their expectations and a summer workout program, and everyone else never forgets that first fall. Not much time left, get some serious running in. Good Luck everyone, it is a GREAT TIME!!!!!!

UT has this posted:

"Aug. 9, 2010

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Longhorns will play three fall baseball games this season the team announced on Monday. All three of the games will be played at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

The Longhorns host Texas State on Sunday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.

Texas hosts Vanderbilt in a pair of games, including a 5 p.m. contest on Friday, Oct. 15 and a 1 p.m. game on Sunday, Oct. 17.

The Horns open practice with a Scout Day on September 19 and conclude their fall allotment of team practices on Oct. 28."

Seems pretty unusual. I believe the 3 games count against the 56 game max for 2010-2011.

They do count, but with a name and RPI like Texas they can afford to play 3 less this spring. A smaller school/ conference (WCC for instance)on the other hand has to schedule as many tough opponents in the spring as possible to raise their RPI in case they don't win their conference. They need to take advantage of all 56 games to earn respect and hopefully an NCAA regional bid. Texas will get a bid almost automatically regardless of 53 or 56 games.

For all three NCAA divisions, one alumni game per year is excluded from the number of games calculation. See 17.2.5.3 (D1 and D3) or 17.2.7.3 (D2).

quote:
Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
[QUOTE]Do not go into the fall with any expectations (everyone on the field is competing for a position, nothing is guaranteed). Don't put too much pressure on yourselves to impress the coaches. You have played many baseball games in your life and the fall season is just more baseball. If you play to impress, you generally don't play up to your potential. You are already on the field with the other guys, so all you need to do is play the game like you know how to play it and let your skills and your confidence take care of everything else.


Yup, great advice. Boy is heading back to school this week. Coaches advice? "Do what gotcha here."

What great advice! Antoher way to say it that we have always told our kids:
Do What You Know.

Son plays D1. I think the NCAA rules are that they are limited to 4 hours of practice a day with the coaches (I think they can be on the field longer than this and can call their own practices, but only 4 hour sessions with coaches per day). Also, I think the NCAA rule is stated in terms of days of fall practice - so you count the days depending upon when you start actual practice.

Here is a typical weekday for son last fall.

Run or lift varied weekday mornings 7:00 or 7:30 a.m. depending upon which squad was called out (workout times for squads were determined by inter-squad victories/defeats - that is to say, losers would go to early session) and what coaches wanted them to do on any particular day
Breakfast
Classes 9:00 - 12:50 (class sessions could vary 8-12 or 9-1)
In the locker room noon - 12:30 (unless a class that runs 'til 12:50),
on the field warming up by about 1:00-1:15,
practice 1:30-5:30, which could include intra-squad
Dinner alternating with evening class discussion sessions (if any - 6:00-8:00 - they can have one or two maybe a week)
Relax, study, sleep
Repeat

Weekends both days:
On the field (time depended on coaches) but usually 10- 11:00, which meant for him he was in the locker room by 9:00 a.m., practices could include intra-squad - not all sessions are with coaches, some are team-run and coordinated.
Done anywhere between 4-5p.m.,
Relax, study, eat, sleep
Repeat

At the end of fall practice they will play freshman v. upper classes. Practices open, many local parents and other assorted fan-types go watch.

Oh, and if rain was predicted, the team was on the field by 8:00 a.m either putting the tarp on or taking it off.

They play an alum game in Oct., no other teams.

CaBB's post for his son sounds much like ours.

JH's advice is to be read and re-read by all incoming freshman. I would only add that while there is some comfort level to being on the field and knowing that you are recruited and all, our son learned very quickly last year (translation: the first day work out) that peak conditioning and all-out work and work ethic is key to playing time in the spring. He was lucky he started in very good condition (I would not say peak, but by the end of fall, man he was really in peak condition - and you could see it in his body tone, etc) others did not start fall as ready as they should have been and he said it showed.

Remember, an individual remembers best whatever is first imprinted on the brain/memory. Again, translation being that first impressions are the strongest - and our experience has been that coaches are no exception to this rule.

Fall practice and scrimmages cannot be understated.

I sent 4thGen off last week to spend a week with my family and a couple of his buddies. The returning players are voluntarily returning to school a week early to help out with the new student orientation and start captain’s practices while the weather is good.

my son is playing at a kansas junior college...they have a pretty full fall schedule..playing other programs...he is a lefty 1st base/pitcher...coach said he would allow him to try to play both ways for the fall...got the text last night...he is a pitcher only...he seems pretty excited about it...loves the program...the school...the whole experience...we were fortunate enough to attend his first game....and collect his first collegiate foul ball!...the fall season started the last weekend in august and runs through the first week of october

Not sure if this is the right thread for this, but here goes:

Freshman son is a pitcher at a very good mid-east region DIII. First 2 weeks of practices are captain's practices and started 8/31. On Thursday, they split the squad for a scrimmage, all freshmen pitchers getting 1 inning of work. Son started the game for his team, walked the first batter he faced, but then struck out the next 2 and got the 3rd to ground out. I asked him if they were only playing against freshmen, and he said they were upperclassmen, but not starters. The starting infield was all on his squad!

Thanks to all that responded. It appears that there is a great variance amongst the schools, perhaps Regionally, concerning Fall ball.

I thought the NCAA might have guidelines that all the Colleges followed such as High Schools here are governed by the GHSA which dictates when practices, games begin and end, the number of scrimmages allowed and total games scheduled. Apparently not, though.

Son's DII have been working out daily, but in groups of four, per Coach. Apparently, they can't work on the field as a Team until "the Fall practices" can commence. So group workouts (pitchers, infielders, outfielders) rotate between Cage, field hitting, defense on field, hitting on field, weight room, conditioning (running) and speed/agility. What I was looking for were the details governing that period; when actual fall practice begins, ends and how many "intra-squad" games are allowed. Son says Coaches haven't given them any info and apparently he isn't getting much info from the guys? He knows it will begin sometime this month and end in October?

Just a curious Dad being "spoon-fed" tidbits of info from Junior! Still it's exciting stuff, can't wait.

So far at University of Tampa the team has only been in the weight room. Tuesday is the first day on the field.

I hear that there will be a few games begining October. We are looking forward to heading down soon to catch some games.

My younger son is walking on our local JUCO after recovering from a torn bicep injury. Not sure if he will make the spring roster, but he has extended his playing time at least through the fall! They have been throwing on the field for about 2 weeks now.

quote:

Originally posted by Prime9:
What I was looking for were the details governing that period; when actual fall practice begins, ends and how many "intra-squad" games are allowed. Son says Coaches haven't given them any info and apparently he isn't getting much info from the guys? He knows it will begin sometime this month and end in October?

Just a curious Dad being "spoon-fed" tidbits of info from Junior! Still it's exciting stuff, can't wait.

From the DII Manual:

DII fall practice: "A member institution shall not commence practice sessions or engage in outside competition in the nonchampionship segment before September 7 or the first day of class, whichever is earlier." "A member institution
shall conclude all practice and competition in the nonchampionship segment no later than November 15."

"Nonchampionship Segment Activities. During the segment in which the NCAA championship does not occur, student-athletes may participate in any practice or competition activity as permitted by other legislation provided such activity is restricted to a maximum of 24 days that occur within a period of 45 consecutive calendar days, omitting vacation and
examination days officially announced on the institution’s calendar and days during which the institution is closed due to inclement weather, as long as no practice or competition occurs on such days."

So fall practice at DII can start anytime in September, but must end 45 days from when it started. And they can't practice as a team more than 24 days of those 45. Unlimited number of intersquad games are allowed as long as it falls within the rules above.

Floridafan: Looking forward to meeting you at UT. In October they start scrimmaging about 2-3 days a week and several parents come out to get a look. See you there!

We will be there often, looking forward to meeting you!

My son who is at a D-3 in the nescac shocked me when the coach said there was no fall or captians practice. He told the kids thay are on thier own till spring.

quote:

Originally posted by ken:
My son who is at a D-3 in the nescac shocked me when the coach said there was no fall or captians practice. He told the kids thay are on thier own till spring.

Are they "unoffically" running captains practices? Or is there something in the league rules against any practices being run?

Backstop17 thanks!

Exactly what I was looking for but unable to find! Thank for the explanation. Our guys started when classes began so looks like they must end 45 days later!

Will wait to hear when on field practices and practice games begin.

Good luck to all....

Birdman I asked my son and he said there are no practices at all, that is what surprised me.

the league does not allow any out of season practice.

My son's DII begins official Fall practice as a full squad this Wednesday, September 8th, and has their first team scrimmage scheduled for the 15th. Can hardly wait. They got the holiday weekend off and he and four teammates traveled to Pensicola Fla. his roommate's home town for a little fun in the sun.

Ken - That was a major reason that my son turned down his NESCAC opportunities. Great conference that wants to encourage kids to play two sports with tough academics. In an unofficial visit we saw a coach "stretching" the rules so I imagine the league is cracking down. I believe the Centennial conference allows 16 fall practices. RightyShortstop had his first official practice yesterday and he is thrilled to be on the college field with kids who have so much in common with him.

LeftySS,
I also witnessed some "stretching" of the rules last Fall at a NESCAC. If they are going to sneak around, they should just open it up to those who want to do it or do something like Centennial with 16 practices.

Fenwaysouth jr had two weeks of captains practice, media guide picture day, medical clearance, and (finally) coaches official practice on Sept 4. Walk on tryouts are this week, and then the roster is published soon thereafter. I understand they have various skills contests & mini-games in addition to intra-squad scrimmages. It is only a 5-6 week Fall period to earn your spot on the depth charts for the Spring 2011 season. Most importantly he likes D1 college baseball, his coaches,team mates, and his classes. I just wish he was closer than 8 hours.

Fenwaysouth- congrats to your son and your family! Your "media guide" comment caught my eye. I think the NCAA banned printed media guides this season, only online??? Did they say anything about this yet?

CaBB,

Thanks, we're real excited that my son is finally getting on the baseball field. Regarding your question.....my understanding is that a D1 school CAN'T give a printed media guide to a recruited student athlete or his family. They can provide an electronic copy via USB key, CD, or online guide on its website.

So, I guess D1 schools CAN provide printed media guides to anyone but recruited student athletes and their families. I have yet to figure out "why" the NCAA does some of the things it does. I noticed a lot of the recruited athlete forms have really gotten squirrelly. Why did they ban distribution of printed media guides to just D1 recruits when they have oversight for many, many more schools than just D1. If you figure it out, please let me know.