DUH !!!!!!!!!!

Today, baseball is about power and the long ball. Until you are the size of Giambi, you need to get bigger and stronger. That's not to say that there aren't smaller players. The big guys just set the standard.

And which Jason would that be --- pre or post?

I suspect that's part of the question TR is asking.

To me, it means he needs to eat right and work out hard. It might mean the coach is telegraphing that the player isn't ready to play.

But it might depend on how the comment was couched. Number of pounds mentioned, time frame, any innuendo to suggest that Better Hitting Through Chemistry is being encouraged?

The comment wouldn't be made in a vacuum.

quote:

If a coach asks your son as an incoming college frosh tells your son that he needs "to get bigger and stronger" and you are aware of the request---what does this request mean to you?

I may be naive, but I would not assume just from that comment, the coach advocated breaking rules.

Going through recruiting, my son was told at several schools specifically what was expected in terms of nutrition and off-season conditioning, down to the number of reps for each exercise, with tours of the weight room, and athletes dining hall.

the bigger - stronger - faster - comment would be simply be viewed my me as a welcome to some hard work ahead - - however when he finishes his thought with

"and add 30 lbs of muscle mass this offseason"

I'd have some flags goin' up??

I am a coach, and a parent.....I have told many players that they need to get stronger and faster. Never once was there an implication of doing anything other than working hard in the weight room, eating right, running, etc.

What coach doesnt tell their kids that they need to get bigger faster and stronger? I tell my kids that all the time. It means get in the weight room. Run Run Run. Eat properly and participate in the 8 month off season conditioning program that we run for all our players.

I heard those words from my football coaches from 4th grade on up! It meant LIFT WEIGHTS and EAT!! Nothing more. It is ridiculous to think that a high profile DI coach in this day and age would mean otherwise. In the story alluded to the player suggested that the other player must have been doing 'roids because he gained 30lbs. Well many kids that age have late growth spurts. I grew 3in and gained 60lbs. my 2nd year in college. My mother didn't recognize me when I came home. No 'roids here, just weights, food and natural late bloomer. IMO college coaches have too much to lose than to "wink, wink" do 'roids. It's just silly nonsense by a media that is trying to make a story. I'd be willing to bet that if Duke had a winning record the story never would have surfaced and the few disgruntled players crying now would be ignored. JMO.

TR, I actually think the question you have posed is more serious than the title you have given. We often post about the recruiting process and how players and parents need to listen "carefully to what is being said, don't just hear what you want to hear." That may be at work in the "get bigger/stronger" message also. Fortunately or unfortunately, I am in a line of work where I am forever sorting out what was said at some time in the past and what was heard. And always, this is influenced by anger and disagreements that subsequently happened. From the posts and from the experience of us who were never around steroids, when a coach says you need to get bigger and stronger, we have not thought of steroids. Unfortunately, there are too many stories now, always influenced by disappointment, disagreement and anger, where young players assert they "heard" one message and the coach said the message was something different. There are no winners. Just a suggestion, but maybe the Coaches and parents need to change or add to the message and minimize the chance that there is any question about the message.

InfieldDad,

Your post is excellent!

When most of us hear or say "get bigger and stronger" we are thinking weights and maybe an extra meal a day", I agree we need to be sure the players understand that is all we are talking about.

Infieldad

You are on my page---I see this statement pop up all too often--- It does not mean steroids --it means hard work and dietary regimen, at least to me---

Lets keep this thread going-- some interesting thoughts from knowledgeable people so far--- I think we are on the correct trak

quote:

Originally posted by TRbooty:
It means your son sucks

2nd most useless and disrespectful post ever!

Why do you even want to post anything like this? Unexcusable!

I agree with the other posters. I wouldn't read anything into it other than proper nutrition, and hard work unless, like Bee says, bulk and muscle mass were specifically requested. I still don’t think there are many college coaches that endorse artificial enhancement. With college age players, the responsibility of what goes into their body has to rest with the player. These young athletes need to be continually educated about steroids and other chemicals available to them. College players may be mature in some respects, but they still make some bad decisions.
Fungo

As a parent, I would take it for what it is, that the coach feels he needs to get bigger and stronger. Nothing more, nothing less. I would tell my son, let's look at your diet, you need to work tremendously hard in the weight room, and run, run, run. My son is a junior LHP who is 6'4 1/2" and 210. I don't know how much bigger they want him, but even he believes he needs to get stronger. I think in this day and age, that coaches are stearing clear of the steriod issue. Just because he wants you bigger and stronger, doesn't mean he wants you to take a short cut and take steriods. You as a player make the choice of taking steriods not the coach. If it was taking steriods or getting cut, the choice is simple for my son, he would rather be cut. There is always a coach out there who does it the right way!

If a coach today says "you have to get bigger and stronger" and does not follow that with "I mean legally through hard work not steroids" IMHO he's either irresponsible or the bad guy we are all making him out to be. What happened to good communication; saying exactly what you mean? Why should it be left up to the listener to "read into" the statement? Only someone who wants interpretation left open would do that.

I am not forming an opinion whether or not this Duke thing is a witch hunt or not. I want to be clear though. If you don't want your message confused, then communicate fully and clearly.