Does anyone share my feelings?

fmom03 ...

Yes, I understand what you mean. So many young men seem to work their tails off and still sit "in the shadows" of players who seem to catch the breaks.

The only thing I can add to this ... and yes, I do think it is something that MOMS understand better (how many times were you told that you were looking through rose-colored glasses?) ... GOOD THINGS WILL COME ... trust me on this one, ofmom03 !!!

H-mom

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Go Highlanders ! ! ! !
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Ah yes... the ups and downs of baseball! Keeps it interesting...right?

I agree with HighlanderMom...your son's hard work and perserverance will pay off! His time will come!

In the meantime, he could work on his confidence. What do they say..."90% of baseball success is mental". Tom Hanson at Tom@focusedbaseball.com may be of some help.

All of this is tuff on Mom's. Believe me... many of us have "been there ... done that".

Mom03,
I absolutely know what you're talking about.
Although not at the college level, we've seen (and personally know) several players who seem to be touched by the "luck fairy". Two of them are touted as high draft prospects, but are VERY heavy partiers and don't work nearly as hard as many other kids.
But, I truly believe what goes around comes around. Pure talent will only take them so far. At some point they will have to get a work ethic or will be passed by.

I understand why you would worry about your son if he's so hard on himself. Wish I had some great words of wisdom, but I don't. I have to believe if he cares that deeply, he'll be successful at whatever he applies himself to.

I'm pulling for you both and am sending loads of POSITIVE thoughts your way RIGHT NOW!!!




_______________________
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Rogers Hornsby, Hall of Famer

ofmom03..

No easy answers....what I do glean from this is...

your son's work ethic...his desire to improve...his "want to"....

while he's going through this "valley" it's hard to hold one's head high...

If and only if he doesn't make the travel team, then help him to consider working on his own - on those aspects that will get him that shot at making it down the road...on the traveling team.

We mom's always want our kids to get "those breaks"...as I too know some kids who no matter what they do privately, or what they appear to be like...things just land in their laps.

Keep encouraging. Say a few prayers. Give him positive input.

The road is often bumpy...as our kids find their way...and we mom's do know that life isn't always fair...

but a mom's love for her son will always be constant...unchanging....that's for sure...

ofmom03

I am glad you are back, first of all.
The whole issue last time was unfortunate, and I am a little embarrassed I didn't delete some of the comments directed at you. Forgive me.

Your son's work ethic will hopefully turn things around for you. I like the advise given regarding working on his confidence. There is a school of thought out there that "make up" is sometimes as important or more important than ability....

Get a copy of the MindGym...An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence written by Gary Mack and David Casstevens

Believeing in yourself is half the battle.


______________________________
By the time you learn how to play the game...
You can't play it anymore ~ Frank Howard

Yes, you did post in the right place! We're purty durn warm and fuzzy 'round here....and occasionally slightly off-color...

I've seen just what you're talking about, although I believe there are a number of different reasons (interpretations?)for the good luck/bad luck players.

Good luck:
- Dad or big brother was a star, even if not at that school or in baseball, therefore the player gets every chance to become the same
- Player is very attractive (and no, I'm not going all Kazuhito Tadano here). There have been plenty of educational studies about how good-looking children are interpreted as smarter & more talented. I call this the 'all sizzle and no steak' player
- There is an affable-but-controlling parent involved that convinces the coach that he's seeing a star

Bad luck, IMHO, is either beyond the player's control or between the ears. Orel Hersheiser said 'perfect is the enemy of good', and I believe it. There is no perfect in baseball: no zero ERA, no batting 1.000. The boys who pressure themselves to be perfect are frequently the ones who freeze up at crucial times -- the Big Game, evals, scouts are watching.

Does your son understand that having a shot at making the travelling team at a D1 as a freshman is proof of his talent? (And is there somebody who might be able to say this to him...I know mine wouldn't always believe me, as he figured I was Mom and thought he was wonderful no matter what.)

Worrying may simply be his nature, and I've always thought the most useless phrase in the English language is 'don't worry'. Has he gone to talk to his coach? Just to ask about progress, things he needs to work on...not to display his worry. (Mine did at the end of the Fall semester....his coach said he was pleased he wanted an early eval, most guys don't ask until into the Spring season.) Worry is usually the product of not knowing....if he can know better how his coach sees him, he should both feel better and know where to concetrate his efforts.

I agree with Chill....send him a book on The Mental Game (including that one), reminding him that corralling his mind is as important a skill in baseball as hitting.

Best of (Good ) luck to both of you!

---------------------------------
From 'Nice Guys Finish Last' by Leo Durocher:

Baseball lives at the center of a never-flagging whirl of irreconcilable opinions.

I am not one to press the luck issue - as I truly believe you make your own luck.

However, I also believe the path to baseball success is like running in a very unusual track event.

In this event there are hurdles in some lanes and not others. Therefore some kids have an advantage over others. (the hurdles are placed there whenever they are missing some vital element - be it size, arm strength, foot speed, school size or locaton, funding, work ethic etc.)

Every player still has a chance to win the race, but some need to put in a whole lot more effort to do so.

It isn't so much luck - although being born with a 90 mph arm may be considered lucky) as it is learning how to run fast with more hurdles in your lane than the next guy has. (kind of daunting at times insn't it).

(ps - try to remember how far you have already come - if your son is playing at the D1 level there are probably a lot of folks from his LL and hs days that that would call him lucky).

Thank you for the replies I have received so far. There is lots of good advice.

I have told my son numerous times that HE is own worst enemy sometimes. I have told him that he can take the fun out of things. He is just so serious and wants to do good that he forgets you can't do good all the time.

He has been like this since he was young...in school, academics, baseball, etc. Just when I thought maybe he is growing out of it and maturing to handle the perfectionism a little better, he takes a slide backward. That's why I cringe when I know he is down on himself. I am envious when I see kids that are so laid back and nothing seems to bother them. Or the kids who use adversity to their advantage to make them more aggressive to show the coach their capabilities.

I guess it does have its advantage though because he is an extremely hard worker in addition to having talent. He is usually one of the last ones to leave the weight room, stays over to hit, etc. Also, there are times when a lot of his teammates are going out but he chooses to stay in and study. He is in a tough cirruculum.

I bought him the book "The Mental Game of Baseball" for Christmass 2002. He read a little of it but not as much as he should have.

A conference with the coach may be a good idea, if nothing else at least to find out what he needs to work on. But he may not do it as he is a little intimidated by the head coach. The head coach is a little "stand offish" and is not "friendly" with the kids.

Orlando,

Sometimes I feel like your quote:

"Nice guys finish last"

ofm,
I can so relate to your dilemma...my son is short...and due to that fact has always had to be tougher, stronger and work harder than anyone else on the team...when he does not hit well he comes home and studies clips of himself and then stands in the mirror to reflect it back...it breaks my heart...all that extra effort to be what he wants to be....he, too, has always been a perfectionist...I remember in first grade him telling me that he and Danny would race to see which one could get their numbers done first and it has been that way ever since...it has always amazed and confused me when I see and know kids who by virtue of previous reputation gain advantages that they so do not deserve...cas in point there is one who I know is doing some very serious drinking but yet every time he comes to a field he is treated as if he walks on water....mine now spends a good 3 hours per day in the gym attempting to make himself stronger...I worry he is way over doing it but he is 8 hours away and in control now so I can't interfer..I have no solutions and all the cliches fall on deaf ears...I just pray alot

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

ofmom03,

I have two HS sons who seem to represent the opposite ends of the spectrum that you mentioned ... the perfectionist who works so very hard, all the time, and has tremendously high expectations for himself ... and the laid-back, easygoing guy who never seems to worry about anything even when it seems he should worry a little! I have taken turns worrying a bit about each of them, but I've realized that in the end, they will find their own way if mom and dad continue to be supportiveand encouraging, push the easygoing one now and then, and give the perfectionist permission not to be perfect! Yes, there are times I have had to tell him, when he had too many demands on his time, that it would be okay not to get an A on this assignment, or not to be perfectly prepared for a piano recital, or whatever.

And I agree with the post above, that I hope someone who your son will believe, will tell him what a great thing it is as a freshman, to be playing at a D1 and have a chance of making the travelling team! That is something he can be very proud of!

ofmom03,

This poem was written for your son!


"The Power in Me."

When morning comes and the sun rises in the east,
I think of the power in me.
When I stand up for what is right and what I believe,
It is because of the power in me.
No matter who it is or what they want me to do,
I will stand up for my beliefs because of the power in me.
When you are mad, sad or scared,
What will help you through is the power in you.
That power comes straight from the heart.
Believing is what creates the power in anybody.
If you don't believe in yourself,
Then say good-bye to the power in you.
When I go to sleep, before I close my eyes,
I look at the sun setting in the west,
And I thank God for giving me the power in me.


Maybe something as simple as a poem written by a 9 yr old girl will remind him of what a great person he is. It's indeed that "power" that's gotten him this far, right?

I go thru the same "feelings" from time to time with my kids. Sometimes a word of encouragement is all I can do to "fix" it up.

www.charactercount.com and www.tothenextlevel.com are good resources for messages of encouragement.

Ofmom,
So many similarities. My son is a junior this year. Didn't redshirt, started sporatically, rode the pine quite a lot, only hit about 230 as a freshman. Soph was some better, but he still "didn't feel it" Seemed whatever he did was wrong, and when he did something great coach thought (and said) must've been luck. So you can imagine what happens when you take a player that's struggling with confidence and add no faith, no encouragement and negative remarks. It is heartbreaking for the player, and also the parents. We pretty much tried everything to un-do what was being done. Positive re-enforcement, books, we tried to get him to "put some bad on" his attitude (he's not cocky by nature) We very nearly went to a hypnotist.

The season hasn't started here yet, but practice has so can't be sure...but, we're hearing and seeing a whole different player. He finally figured it out on his own. His attitude is he's got nothing to lose and will prove to the naysayers what he's had along. He's excited in general. He's "crushing" the curve, and mentally finally were he should be.

So what changed....I wish I could tell you there is a "fix" but honestly there isn't. It came from within him. Was it self doubt? a maturity thing? lack of size? now being the small fish in a big pond? coaching style? I'm sure it was all of them. I never heard him say he wanted to quit, but I heard a few "I just don't care anymore" Maybe that was the ticket....he finally relaxed.

All we could do as parents was be supportive, offer help if we could, listen, and hope tomorrow was better. Your son is not alone, maybe he needs to know he's not the only one. I'm sure mine would be willing to IM with him if he's interested.

It's really hard, but keep good thoughts. We are for this year.

"There's no crying in baseball!"

It sounds sooooooo cliche', but I am a firm believer (and I always tell my kids this when they are feeling that their hard work and dedication isn't paying off) that "The cream always rises to the top." They always roll their eyes when I tell them this, but it always seems to be right on the mark. Keep the faith.

ofmom03,

It should get better! My oldest is now a senior at a DI school. Has always been harder on himself than any coach or critic ever could be....and has had terrible luck, if you want to call it that. How does a pitcher throw a one-hitter, 12 strikes outs, no walks and still loose? Just a sampling of what it seems my son's situations have always been. Now approaching an "04 college graduation, all he can think about is getting out of school. Where his love for baseball is still very much there, it's just different than it use to be.

College baseball is a full-time job and hours of hard work. He resolved some time ago that every year the coach is going out to look for new guys to throw harder and harder and guys that can hit it out of the park consistantly...the goal for the coach is to win.

My son started as a freshman, hurt his arm with the "NEW" arm slot that the coach said he wanted him to use. It didn't feel right, but he did it because he was asked to... Now why would a coach change a kid's arm slot when he was throwing 86-87 mph, and had 3 pitches that he throws for strikes? He was trying to please the coach and the coach (Head coach...no pitching coach) really didn't have a clue. Even me, a mom knows that if you want more movement on the ball, there's other ways of getting it. Anyhow, that's history. His arm has never quite been the same and he's had to work harder and fight his way back (never red shirted) AND he has had to assume a different role. It may not be the role he had invisioned for himself, but he's resolved to be part of the team and play the role that the coach has given him. His soph. year was very hard and discouraging with very limited innings. Last year he saw significant time....more as a closer or in mid relief. He made the most of the starts he had and did very well. Where he may not have that 90 mph fastball, he has tons of control and lots of good other "stuff." He doesn't have control of when or if he starts. He continues to work very hard, but has NO control of the coach's decisions. The biggest lesson he's learned is that there are things you can control and there are things you can't. Worry about what you can do something about....just work hard and do the things that will help you get better. Each practice is a new practice and a new opportunity. He just knows he has to be ready for any and every opportunity....physically and mentally.

My son realized early on that only a very select few go on to the next level. In HS, everyone knew that he was a better pitcher than the guys that were throwing in front of him, and the other area players guys that were getting all the publicity.....Politics, Politics and more Politics!!!! It's just a reality of life. He got the scholarship to a DI school and the others got their "ALL-Met, All-State" recognition and that was that. With playing college ball, every day you have to earn your spot and there are never any "etched in stone" guarantees. If your son wasn't capable, he wouldn't be on the team. The coach saw something in him....so he has to remember that AND he needs to continue to swing the bat. He needs to communicate his frustration about his batting to the coach and ask what he can do to "fix" things. Coaches love to "tweek" players. Some even like to tweek when things don't need tweeking! Anyhow....I understand and feel like I could go on about some of this stuff forever.

I'm still going to be doing this baseball thing for a while because my youngest is a Senior in HS and will be heading off to college next fall. He signed his DI letter of intent in Nov. and now all we have to do if get passed the HS season. [That's another story for another time )].

Your son will be fine! Just keep supporting him the way you are! Agreed..."The Mental Game of Baseball" is definitely a great book to get for your son!

Thanks for letting me share...I've been reading the HSBW site for more than 2yrs, but this is the first time to post on this board....hoping to get some good advice from you moms, later, too!

I knew posting on here would help me feel a little better. It is good to know that others do share the same thing.

Cntrfieldsmom,

Your story does hit home. I am hoping that with maturity he will finally overcome the perfection problem. We have also tried to "add the bad" since my son also is not "cocky". It does seem that most of the players that don't worry as much have the cocky attitude. I just worry that my son is 4 hours away and I wish we were there to help him when he is feeling down but I guess that is part of "growing up."

Baseball Mom,
Thank you for the poem. I am going to print it out and send it to him.

Everyone's story has made me feel better. Thank You.

No thanks needed, the girls gotta stick together. Rest assured, there is someone here with similar circumstances. Kind of like group therapy here, except it's free! Glad you're feeling better.

"There's no crying in baseball!"

ofMom - Others have said it better than me, but just wanted to chime in with my support. We've been through this at our house as well, but with my daughter. I'm happy to report that she finally seems to be hitting her stride and is doing well, but it has been a long few years. Always tougher when the other child seems to be coasting along. I want to echo Chill's suggestion about Mind Gym. It is an excellent book (Barry Zito used it) and is an easy read. My son has read it as have several members of his summer team. Good luck, and please keep us posted! Thank goodness for the HSBaseball Web and in particular, the Ladies Lounge!

-----------------------------
Pay attention to the feedback that takes you where you want to go!

I just now completed the order for Mind Gym to be sent to my son in VA. Thanks for the tip. I hope he reads it and shares it with his 3 roommates...all baseball players.

I love this forum. Such great support.

Ofmom03

Yes, I share your feelings! (What a great forum - so glad I found you all!) I agree with most everyone here, but just wanted to add my support . I have two children, one so much like yours and one who lets everything roll off his back. It's been a long haul with my oldest, but things are working out so well now in college.

The one thing that I wanted to add is that you can't really change who they are. That is part of their personality and how they deal with life and it's challenges.

Your son will be fine because all his hard work will pay off some day. And it really aready has in many ways!

It's funny how things work. For years our oldest was overlooked -- never made the all star teams, the travel ball coaches didn't give him a chance. We had one coach tell us how surprised he was that he was successful since he "didn't look or act like a player".

He's an easy going kid; great with people. Not a leader, but absolutely everyone likes him. On the mound, he's intense but very poised. Coachs saw him as 'not caring' since he didn't show his emotions. Of course, I saw his hurt and his disappointment when he didn't play up to his expectations or didn't receive any recognition.

Freshman year of high school, there are three upper class pitchers and three freshmen. The other two freshmen 'look like players" big, strong, arrogant, years of elite travel ball. One couldn't make the grades and transferred; the other transferred to a higher profile high school since his parents thought the scouts wouldn't come to our small school. Out of desperation our freshman makes the varsity team and low and behold -- much to the surprise of his coaches -- has a great year.

Sophomore year -- still projected to be the #3 guy, and guess what. The #1 hurts his arm and #2 can't throw strikes. OUr little #3 becomes 'the guy' and blossums. By his junior year he's the solid #1 and has two great years.

He's now at a D3 and the coach has told him he'll get several opportunities to pitch this year as a freshman.

Sad to say that the other two freshman who were both projected to be D1 prospects are both out of baseball. One hurt his arm, the other had some serious off field problems.

All this to say, I think that eventually, overlooked, hard luck guys get their chances -- and when opportunity knocks -- they'll get their chance to shine and prove a bunch of people wrong because they know they have to do it because no one is going to do it for them.

I will say, that a turning point was a travel ball coach who told him he couldn't pitch. He played a bunch of mind games with our kid. It's a good thing that I'm not violent or I would have smacked this guy in the nose. OUr pitcher on the other hand, very quietly and with a lot of determination went out a proved him wrong. At the time, I thought he'd stop playing, in fact, it gave him new motivation to improve.

I've shared your feeling. I hope you son gets his chance to prove those folks wrong.

Best of luck.

Mays

Say Hey!

My husband and I were just talking about this very subject this morning--son has never been the clear-cut standout player, he's always struggled to play at the next level. He had a similar experience to MAYSFAN's son, when he didn't make the final cut for our state all-star showcase. I think that made him all the more determined to show that he COULD play at the next level.The lastest example is that his college coach had to twist arms to get him a spot on a wood-bat team this summer--all we ask is that he gets a CHANCE to show what he can do.I do think the experience of getting cut was the moment of truth-he could have given up, so I guess it really is a question of maturity and confidence. We moms can build them up all we want, but motivation has to come from within. I think it helps when the academics are going well too.
Good luck to your son...

Great topic and wonderful responses. My son is at a ranked D1 program but it looks as if he is slotted to always be a "backup" and doubtful he will ever get an opportunity to really contribute. As a freshman, this was somewhat expected but difficult nonetheless. As a sophomore its getting REALLY tough. He continues to work hard, do the right thing, keep his grades up and his nose clean....but that elusive chance is not coming. I definitely understand about the "golden kids!" and would love to believe that his hard work will pay off...but it is getting increasingly hard. Its nice to know there are other moms out there who understand.

Well, a little to add to my initial post. My son has not been redshirted yet (he is a freshman). He dressed for the 1st series which was at home but he did not play. He was a little disappointed after the series was over but I think it just made him tell himself he had to work even harder (which is hard to do compared to work ethic already). Their series last weekend was rained out. All last week they didn't get to practice much due to rain. This week he did good in practice (or so he thought). They posted the traveling team today for the out of town series this weekend. His name was not on the list. He called to tell me and he said he was OK but I know better. He said I am going to work even harder and show them. He felt like he is just as good as a couple of the kids (freshman) who get to travel. He said he feels like he always has to take the long road to achieve things and some kids just have to take the short road and things fall in their lap.

What do you say to your child when they feel that way? Sometimes he thinks no matter how hard he tries, the coach just doesn't pay attention to you if you are not one of the "chosen."

My son is a good kid all the way around (and I am not looking through rose-colored glasses). He made a 4.0 in his first semester at college as he did in HS also. He is just a genuinely nice person...to adults and peers. Sometimes he thinks the coach doesn't like him. He doesn't drink or doesn't go out much. He also spends a lot of time studying as he is majoring in Pre-Med.

I told him that he is going to have to work even harder to show the coaches. Make sure he is early to practice, stays late and goes above and beyond what is expected of him. My heart is just breaking for him right now. What can I say to him that will make him feel better?

I definitely feel your pain. Its hard to keep telling them to work hard and it will pay off when the struggles just continue. I do believe strongly that many coaches do have their "chosen" players and it is impossible to change their perception. The tack that I have taken is to play and perform for yourself, recognizing that things might not work out as hoped for, but that at least you will have the satisfication of personal accomplishment. So far, this has carried my son -- they have yet to break him or destroy his own confidence. I also keep returning to David Eckstein as an example of a kid that was never encouraged and was never one of the "chosen" but who now wears a World Series ring...

ofmom03 and letsplay2...and other moms...

stories like the one's you share scare me for my future college son...next fall he'll be headed off..

I do believe that some have the pieces all fall into place faster, while others endure (with much character) seemingly hard lessons...

I hope your son's have success and get the opportunities to show their stuff...and that they persevere...

ofmom03

We are not just raising baseball players we are raising the next generation of men.

A diamond would be just another rock - except for the fact that it endured great amounts of pressure and heat while it was being formed. The result is a wonderful thing - and well worth it.

Simply tell your son he's on the way to becoming a diamond.

Ofmom
I just read your post, I'm new here. That is exactly the reason I started reading these posts.My son, 05,varsity catcher in high school. Had a great year last year, would have made varsity last year but coach said he would not play a sophmore over 3 senior catchers, fair enough, This year he thought he would be the most senior catcher to be the starter until they brought in another guy from the outfield, to top it off, word had it he lives in Mexico and plays in US. He is called the exchange student, which is not legal. But I have no proof, and don't want to say anything because I may be wrong, and the team would have to forfeit the games that they already won. My son works his butt off, never missed a practice, goes to batting cages everyday after practice, works out at the gym 3-4 times a week, and runs the other nights. Hits batting average is low at this point. But defensivly he is far better than the other guy, who also rides into school with the coach. But my son just can't seem to catch a break. They put him in, in the 7th inning 2 outs bases loaded. He grounded out. to end the game. There are games where he doesn't even play. It does get frustrating, but he keeps telling me that he will win the position soon. I as a mother am heart broken, but keeping my mouth shut. I know he has to do it on his own. But it just doesn't seem fair. I have learned by reading these posts to just bite my tongue.

Thanks for listening and any advise.

Tongue hurts.

Welcome aboard LoveBBall mom...

Your son has the right attitude...his hard work speaks for itself and his fortitude is what a lot of people need in their lives...

he will go far...

although it sounds like that the coach has or might be pretty attached to the other new guy...tell your son how proud you are, encourage him (which I'm sure you do)...and keep us posted...

I hope he gets the chance to shine...

Pam

Love, catchers have the toughest job on the field on many levels -- mentally, physically, the broadest range of skill requirements....and generally they get to try it all with the least coaching. It astonishes me how little most hs and travel team coaches know about the position.

Ah, but they can understand batting averages! (Coaches are usually men; men are simple creatures). We had a OF in hs who would probably get to the ball, but would rarely know what to do with it --- he'd hold on to it or throw to the wrong base while two runs scored. But the kid would hit a hr every 3 or 4 games, so he played every inning and was celebrated as a star by the coach. It would have been extremely interesting to tally up his 'runs allowed' vs rbi's....but it was a nuance that escaped our coach(and most of the coaches I've seen around here).

Catcher's D is more subtle, and more crucial. Innings may go by without a hit to the OF, but the catcher is involved in every pitch. Pitchers don't want to throw that nasty breaking ball in the dirt to a catcher who can't block, so it doesn't get thrown or it gets thrwon too carefully to be effective...there goes his Out Pitch. Pitchers who throw to the corners lose strikes if the catcher can't stick the pitch or rotate the glove in to (ahem) 'give blue a better look'....so the pitcher either walks guys or has to throw down Main Street for not getting the calls. (Of course, at that point who is catching is immaterial....balls ain't getting to him! ) Hey, you're a catcher's Mom, you know this stuff.

So, what to do? A pitcher's best friend is a good catcher. Perhaps the pitchers will return the favor. Have your son start with the team ace, having a conversation about how the two catchers' relative D impacts his game. Then have him ask for support, seeing if that pitcher (and others) will ask for your son to catch them, explaining to coach how much more comfortable they are throwing to a quality D catcher.

Insert 10 minutes of Piazza-bashing here...I know I blame him for coaches who believe a catcher's bat is more important than his glove and brain combined! (ooo, look, something shiny!)

Best of luck!

Excellent post Orlando!

Texas,Orlando,CatSure,
Thank you so much for the encouragement. It really does brake your heart. The hard part is,CatSure, that my son is great friends with 2 of the pitchers, they hang out a lot, going surfing and at each others houses a lot I am sure they have requested my son to catch, one pitcher has been pitching with my son for approx. 5-6 years now through little league but the coach doesn't seem to care. But, my son will be just fine.

What kind of qualifications do colleges look at for prospects? Because my son is not playing that much this year, he still has senior year to go, I'm afraid he won't get noticed. We are not looking at D1 schools, he just wants to get to any college. What do you think?

thanks

LoveBball...does he play on a travel or summer team that is seen by colleges or plays in the larger arena in your area?

My son's high school team has been on the losing end of the scene...so we got out of our area and played on a select team in Dallas...and then on a showcase in the fall of his senior year.

It was that area that paid off for my son...getting seen and noticed during the jr to sr year of your son's high school year is important.

Pam

Texas is right, it's summer ball that gets him seen. Most colleges are playing at the same times that hs are. Recruiters might come to see someone particular IF they can fit it into their schedule and IF the game is close enough...but they're not going to go fishing at the local hs games on one of their very few afternoons free.

California is a great baseball state; help him find a quality summer team. If you're not currently aware of them, ask on the CA forum.

WOW - Thanks for the quick responses! Phil is not currently on a travel club, He has not been invited on one so far this year. He played on a new one his freshman year but left after the season was over because we didn't think the coaches really knew much about baseball. They would lose games, and a championship because the coach made a bonehead move. Phil also play football and they start practicing the last day of school. He only gets 4 weeks off during the summer - he goes to year round school. So it is difficult. I would like him to try a summer team, but don't know how to go about finding one. Do you have to be invited onto the team? What are some of the good teams in So Cal, if anyone knows?

Thanks

LoveBball

Orlando

What is the CA forum? How do I get there?

It's the California Forum, under the State Specific Forums here on the message board. Just keep scrolling down the main message board page, and the good folks there will be able to help you with finding contacts for a summer team.

...and remind him that bonehead moves by coaches are frustrating, but they're neither uncommon or fatal. Competitive players want to win, and being on a winning team is more fun and gets you more games in the tournaments. However, his purpose on a summer team is to elevate his game against better competition and be seen.

Thanks Orlando,

We certainly keep that in mind. But when the players know more of what to do than the coach, its time to move on.

another question?

Are the area code games for seniors and up? Seems like the times are during school hours. and the last week of school around here. My son has finals that week, so I guess we just have to look elsewhere?