Skip to main content

48 replies

Education Vs. Playing Ball

C cball500+ posts
I read a lot of discussions here where it seems many parents are willing to accept a "lessor" school even a Juco so long as son has a chance to make the baseball team. I don't understand this entirely. To me it makes sense to go to the best school you can get into and afford and if that means not playing baseball then so be it.
Where do you stand on this?

(I'm not disparaging anyones personal decision just stikes me as...curious.)
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

D dominick100+ posts
Agree.

The only reason I can think of to decide that way is if you want to coach or get into the business of baseball. My sence (and I certainly do not wish to speak for others), is that baseball can generate some financial aid now or down the road, and a general disagreement that a college degree from one institution is different or not equal to that of any other institution. As to the latter, that proposition is unanswerable.
TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
Why is said that " many parents are willing to accept a lessor school"---isnt it the kids decision but then perhaps I did it all wrong in telling my guys " you find the school you want and we will make it happen"---they have now all played college baseball, possess a college degree and are in the USA work force gainfully employed

You can both the education and baseball no matter where you attend college----most of the elite(nonlessor) college stuff is for the parents ego

MAy I ask what determines a so-called "Lessor" school?
Last edited by TRhit
P PGStaff10,000+ posts
The very name of this site should explain. I would venture to say that "baseball" is "very" important to 99% of those who visit this site.

If someone wants to play college baseball it makes all kinds of sense to find the best combination of education and baseball, whatever that might be for the individual. Lots of people have selected a college based on athletics being an important part of the decision. This site is full of people who consider baseball that important. If baseball is not part of the equation, this is not the appropriate site.IMO
floridafanfloridafan5,000+ posts
We based our decision purely on Baseball. Son was offered a number of opportunities at very good liberal arts universities as well as colleges. He chose to go the JUCO route for a variety of reasons, none of which had anything to do with academics. This guy is a baseball player and he will take it as far as baseball will allow him. He is not desirous of becoming a doctor, lawyer or engineer. He is more likely to become a Firefighter or some other physical civil servant position or the Military. Also, he can always join me in the Financial Services Industry as I own my own firm.

My younger son is a member of the National Honor Society with a weighted 4.2 GPA. He is motivated to become a lawyer and therefore he does consider academics important. None the less, he also will place a fair amount of weight on whether an opportunity will be made available to him to play baseball at the next level by any institution where he chooses to study.
Last edited by floridafan
C cball500+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by floridafan:
We based our decision purely on Baseball. Son was offered a number of opportunities at very good liberal arts universities as well as colleges. He chose to go the JUCO route for a variety of reasons, none of which had anything to do with academics. This guy is a baseball player and he will take it as far as baseball will allow him. He is not desirous of becoming a doctor, lawyer or engineer. He is more likely to become a Firefighter or some other physical civil servant position or the Military. Also, he can always join me in the Financial Services Industry as I own my own firm.

My younger son is a member of the National Honor Society with a weighted 4.2 GPA. He is motivated to become a lawyer and therefore he does consider academics important. None the less, he also will place a fair amount of weight on whether an opportunity will be made available to him to play baseball at the next level by any institution where he chooses to study.


floridafan,
That's a dang well thought out answer and plan for yours. Mine is not yet in HS (8th grade) but as an excellent student and baseball player at this point in time I would skew toward academics over sports but I admit my attitude could change in a few years if he truly excels at the game.
I guess the next logical question would be would you skip college all together for a nice pro contract.
Last edited by cball
fanofgamefanofgame5,000+ posts
Floridafan

Great post.I think that as parents of kids still in junior high, think education and they push that. I did as well. My son like Florida fan was agood student out of high school(3.50 with all college prep classes. Not a genius but a smart kid.
He wanted to go to the Junior college, not me. I will tell parents of younger kids, these boys change from 8th grade until their senior years. They begin to have their own opinions, ideas, dreams.
As a parent we can advise but we cant cram things down their throats. My son is doing fine at the JC, he's elgible and keeping decent grades.
One thing to understand , it is easier to get into the UC system in Ca. with baseball out of a JC then a highschool.If a kid goes to JC and keeps a 3.0 and does well in baseball, he will get a ton of looks.
My son is like Floridas son, he wants to play baseball. We came on this site for the first time when he changed his mind about going to a great D3 school to play and a great academic schoo. I was so dissapointed, but the people on here helped me realize that its his dream, and life.
One year at the junior college almost already done, 28 units completed, taking a summer school class, cost me 300.00 a semester.Hes playing every inning,in the top of his conference, maturing, moved out for most of this semester, hes home now, and its fine.
What I though would be a huge mistake on his part ended up being ok. Would I still have chosen four year school, yeah I would,but its his life and I am learning to let go and let him grow up and make decisions, and sometimes I dont agree with them.But part of letting your sons grow up,is letting them make decisions.
I will not tell my son YOU will do what I want and thats it. I do tell him, keep your grades up, stay out of trouble and we will continue to support your baseball.
Life is a split second in time.Many of our sons have dreams, maybe far fetched but dreams, I believe dreams are a good thing. I belive every human being should have dreams, and go after them. You may fall flat on your face, but one day when your old and rocking in the chair on the portch you can smile at yourself knowing that you spent your life attempting to do what you love and by the way you have that degree from college as well.JMO
Last edited by fanofgame
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
I've told both kids they will use sports to help get them into the best possible college for academics they choose to attend. It worked for my daughter. I think she would have got in anyway. But the extra 7K thrown at her for softball didn't hurt.

My son is next up in three years. My feeling is if a kid turns into a pro prospect in college he will be found and get his shot. If he's a pro prospect chances are he'll play in a summer league with all the other prospects. I don't have any delusions of my son being a pro prospect. College ball is extended play. Then if it (pros) happens, it happens. If my son should turn into a big prospect before college the decision will still lean towards academics.
Last edited by RJM
fanofgamefanofgame5,000+ posts
I guess my question to many parents is what do your kids want? Many parents get on here and say my son will do this or that, WE have decided this. What if your son or daughter comes to you and doesnt want that? For my son to play pro ball is not my dream.I want him to get his degree, anything else is just icing on a well prepared cake.
I am not singling out anyone, and I know posters on this site who have kids in great schools, and doing well in class and baseball.
My question is at what point is it the young persons decisin? When do they get to decide what they want?
My son came to us and told us he wanted to go to a JC, he had a D1 scholarship to a good school. But turn of events and financial problems at the time, he began to feel uncomfortabale. He was given a complete release,what would you do? force him into a situation he doesnt want ?
My husband had cancer and financially we had a tough time, so as a family it was good he didnt go tp private D1. it was a blessing at that time.
I guess I just do not feel that as parents we should force 18 or 19 year old boys into something they do not want for themselves.If thats what they want great.I believe young people have the right at 19 to begin to make their own decisions as long as they are healthy ones.
We send them to war at 18 but then they cant make any other decisions for themselves.
Last edited by fanofgame
FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
quote:
Many parents get on here and say my son will do this or that, WE have decided this. What if your son or daughter comes to you and doesnt want that? For my son to play pro ball is not my dream.I want him to get his degree, anything else is just icing on a well prepared cake.

Let me play devil's advocate. What if he doesn't want to get a degree? Do you then revert to being one of THOSE "WE" type parents that forces "their" dream of a degree on their child? Most people criticize other parents for influencing their child's decisions (because they don't agree with the decision) and then in a hypocritical way do the same thing only in a different direction. In my uneducated mind I feel as if the parent is supposed to guide and direct the child as long as the parent determines direction is needed and the child accepts the guidance. My son is currently in the final stages of getting his degree AND has played three years college and three years of pro ball. Being drafted out of high school I advised him in the college vs pro debate that was battering his 17 year old brain. It was not about his dream vs my dream. It was just a good 'ole father son discussion about what would serve him best.
Fungo
MTHMTH10,000+ posts
Our philosophy was simple, so long as you are in high school academics come first. Baseball is secondary. BUT, so long as you are taking care of the school work you will have plenty of time for baseball, and we will try to help you attain your "dream." But your "dream" is not your "future." Your future is your brain and what you do with it. Hopefully, you get to live your dream for another 20 years, but your future is the next 50 years.

Requiring that school came first did not always make us popular, with son or his coach. But for the most part he understood, did what he needed to do, and had plenty of time to work on his dream. He ended up with 1560 (math plus verbal) on the SAT and a 4.7 GPA.

Once he graduated the choice of where to go to school and what to major in was his, not ours. He did not want to go the JC route, but that was his choice, not ours. Had he chosen JC we would have supported him. He's now playing baseball at at an ACC school.

I just think you kick their tales in high school to make them get as much out of it as they can, but after that it's up to them.
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
cball,
Your son is in 8th grade and many things will change before he graduates HS.
My philosophy is to work hard on the field and in the classroom and should be conveyed to all your players at an early age. By the time they get to make the decision you and he will have figured out what is best for him.
In the meantime enjoy the little things and don't worry about the things that you will need to think about later on, life is too short for that stuff.
It all does fall into place eventually.
observer44observer441,000+ posts
cball...

Observations...

- I'll go out a limb and say that for those of us who have had to make the decision (twice for us, and heading into a third) the choice is not quite as simple as baseball or education....or Rice or Texas Corpus Christi....Individual situations may vary. Cost, personal goals, grades, geography, majors, placement, social aspects, educational support, parental dreams, player dreams, family needs and all aspects of baseball are all considerations. It is not black and white and it is a package of aspects, and frankly many of them compete.

- As a result of this complexity despite what you see on the HSBBW, the decision and the result is never as easy as it seems. The decision still holds great risk, unanswered questions, and fear if you are a parents...and no matter how much research you do there is an element of faith/leaping into the dark in any decision of this importance. (and if you do not feel that you are either blind, fooling yourself or trying to fool he greater public) On the other end (post decision) if I only had a dime for every parent I have talked to personally, or who has posted how "perfect" their decision was, and is later dealing with unforseen challenges. Suffice to say that there is seldom a perfect choice, or a perfect outcome simply becasue of that choice. In the end, the success or the failure of this entire enterprise is going to come down to the character of the player and their ability to adapt and adjust and weather storms and grow as a human being and begin to take control of their world and their life. These challenges either create, engender, or provide food for character. If I only had a dime for every parent who had watched with amzaement as their young man faced challenges and grew before their eyes into men.

- Even without baseball...There are three parts to a college education that may or may not overlap: prestige/reputation, grades, and education. There are kids who go through prestigious schools and get decent grades and a decent education with a major that they are OK with. There are kids who go to "lesser schools" who get academic honors, in a major that they love, and come away greatly educated, but missing/lacking the prestige of a Prestige school. Who is better off? All depends on what you value, and what your goals are. There is no pat answer. Add baseball and it seriously complicates the decision.

- In the end education is up to the individual, to make with the resources what he/she will. Most every college offers the resources needed to get educated, if that is what you really want. It is possible to make a good argument that TR is right, that in many cases the college choice (both for baseball or academic prestige) is one more trophy for parents competing THROUGH their kids, rather than FOR their kids. Have seen a whole lotta kids blow out of high baseball and high academic schools for the simple reason that it was never their choice. IMO, in these "elite" environments, most players/students have to be completely passionate to thrive in this competition, and in collge that drive/passion has to come from within, not without. Parents steering their kids into college are often best off listening to, and understanding the motivations and dreams and limitations of their students/players and working with them as a team.

- "...even a Juco..." JC actually CAN be the best educational choice if a player needs "educational seasoning" or is young...and an argument can be made that general educational requirements may be "boilerplate" and so just as easily taken at JC...and without the stadium sized classes of many high end 4 years, and at a much lesser cost...and that academic performance at a JC can open academic doors that may not have been open previously.

- Playing devils advocate...Some have said on the HSBBW, and it can be argued that your baseball life is very short and as such you ought to chase it if you have that passion...while education has a longer lifespan, it will be there. I am sure this will rankle the intelligencia.

And here is my advice....For now, while it is good to start to research the options of choice...my major goal would be to laugh together, to play together, to communicate, to listen, to tell them you love them, to get into their heads, to hear them out, to become a team...and to use that close relationship to build the kind of character that makes them clear on who they are, what they stand for, what they value, where they are headed, what their boundaries are...

...You do this and not only will the decisions be clearer, but more importantly you can send them away with some hope that they have the tools to take on their challenges with character, and to make the best of any decision: Baseball, academic, or some combination of both.

Cool 44
.
Last edited by observer44
FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
I saved something special that O44 said back a month or so:
quote:
'll stick my neck out here a bit.......Big picture, This journey is not about baseball it is about academics...Big picture this journey is not about academics it is about education...Big picture this journey is not about education it is about what you do with that education...Big picture it is not about WHAT you do, it is about WHO you are...character.
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
quote:
Originally posted by observer44:
cball...

Observations...

- I'll go out a limb and say that for those of us who have had to make the decision (twice for us, and heading into a third) the choice is not quite as simple as baseball or education....or Rice or Texas Corpus Christi....Individual situations may vary. Cost, personal goals, grades, geography, majors, placement, social aspects, educational support, parental dreams, player dreams, family needs and all aspects of baseball are all considerations. It is not black and white and it is a package of aspects, and frankly many of them compete.

- As a result of this complexity despite what you see on the HSBBW, the decision and the result is never as easy as it seems. The decision still holds great risk, unanswered questions, and fear if you are a parents...and no matter how much research you do there is an element of faith/leaping into the dark in any decision of this importance. (and if you do not feel that you are either blind, fooling yourself or trying to fool he greater public) On the other end (post decision) if I only had a dime for every parent I have talked to personally, or who has posted how "perfect" their decision was, and is later dealing with unforseen challenges. Suffice to say that there is seldom a perfect choice, or a perfect outcome simply becasue of that choice. In the end, the success or the failure of this entire enterprise is going to come down to the character of the player and their ability to adapt and adjust and weather storms and grow as a human being and begin to take control of their world and their life. These challenges either create, engender, or provide food for character. If I only had a dime for every parent who had watched with amzaement as their young man faced challenges and grew before their eyes into men.

- Even without baseball...There are three parts to a college education that may or may not overlap: prestige/reputation, grades, and education. There are kids who go through prestigious schools and get decent grades and a decent education with a major that they are OK with. There are kids who go to "lesser schools" who get academic honors, in a major that they love, and come away greatly educated, but missing/lacking the prestige of a Prestige school. Who is better off? All depends on what you value, and what your goals are. There is no pat answer. Add baseball and it seriously complicates the decision.

- In the end education is up to the individual, to make with the resources what he/she will. Most every college offers the resources needed to get educated, if that is what you really want. It is possible to make a good argument that TR is right, that in many cases the college choice (both for baseball or academic prestige) is one more trophy for parents competing THROUGH their kids, rather than FOR their kids. Have seen a whole lotta kids blow out of high baseball and high academic schools for the simple reason that it was never their choice. IMO, in these "elite" environments, most players/students have to be completely passionate to thrive in this competition, and in collge that drive/passion has to come from within, not without. Parents steering their kids into college are often best off listening to, and understanding the motivations and dreams and limitations of their students/players and working with them as a team.

- "...even a Juco..." JC actually CAN be the best educational choice if a player needs "educational seasoning" or is young...and an argument can be made that general educational requirements may be "boilerplate" and so just as easily taken at JC...and without the stadium sized classes of many high end 4 years, and at a much lesser cost...and that academic performance at a JC can open academic doors that may not have been open previously.

- Playing devils advocate...Some have said on the HSBBW, and it can be argued that your baseball life is very short and as such you ought to chase it if you have that passion...while education has a longer lifespan, it will be there. I am sure this will rankle the intelligencia.

And here is my advice....For now, while it is good to start to research the options of choice...my major goal would be to laugh together, to play together, to communicate, to listen, to tell them you love them, to get into their heads, to hear them out, to become a team...and to use that close relationship to build the kind of character that makes them clear on who they are, what they stand for, what they value, where they are headed, what their boundaries are...

...You do this and not only will the decisions be clearer, but more importantly you can send them away with some hope that they have the tools to take on their challenges with character, and to make the best of any decision: Baseball, academic, or some combination of both.

Cool 44
.

I don't even know where to begin... these thoughts are well... very well thought out Smile

Why am I a member of the hsbbweb? Because we have the best writers and thinkers in America. In one sense, none of this is about baseball.

That said, I completely agree with PG's thoughts. If it is all about academics, then we should seek out the academichsweb. No one should be ashamed for loving baseball. It is the greatest game ever invented. Impossible to perfect. So simple but so complex. Kind of like trying to answer the question - education vs. baseball. The "correct" answer can only be found within the context of each family who asks it.
fanofgamefanofgame5,000+ posts
quote:
And here is my advice....For now, while it is good to start to research the options of choice...my major goal would be to laugh together, to play together, to communicate, to listen, to tell them you love them, to get into their heads, to hear them out, to become a team...and to use that close relationship to build the kind of character that makes them clear on who they are, what they stand for, what they value, where they are headed, what their boundaries are...

...You do this and not only will the decisions be clearer, but more importantly you can send them away with some hope that they have the tools to take on their challenges with character, and to make the best of any decision: Baseball, academic, or some combination of both.



Observer 44, you are one of my absolute favorite posters.
Fungo, I love playing devils advocate.I am not saying we cant influence our young men, we talk to our son all the time about education and life.
There comes a time when they step out on their own to live their own lives..
I have learned that the more you try to control kids, sometimes the worse they may rebel. The original poster stated that he sees parents opt out of good colleges for lesser schools. I think sometimes for the baseball kids maybe they arent getting the looks they think they should have, maybe they are not ready to move so far from home.
I think observer44 stated it nicely. One size does not fit all. I would never criticize anyone for their families decision as to where their kids decide to go to school.
We raise our kids, and they begin to have their own ideas. Honestly if my son didnt play baseball I would of liked to see him go into peace corps, or military for a couple years and then go onto get his education.But thats not what he would of decided.
I am an Italian parent. I like to be very involved with my children, I love them more than life itself, but I have learned that they are a gift to us, they are not our possessions, and sometimes (for those of us that have older children 25-30 age bracket) we begin to realize that they dont always choose what we think is best for them.
I wish I could say that school was the main thing on my sons mind at 19 , but he has other things. Hes a great kid, great son, great human being.
But like O44 said, its not about what you do it is about who you are. and I do think there are many parents out there, I have sat with them for years, that are all about where thier kids go to college and their 5.0 GPA and etc etc. the world is made of different types of people and thank God for that or it would be a very boring place to be.
Observer 44 you will have a PM in afew minutes.
fanofgamefanofgame5,000+ posts
quote:
That said, I completely agree with PG's thoughts. If it is all about academics, then we should seek out the academichsweb. No one should be ashamed for loving baseball. It is the greatest game ever invented. Impossible to perfect. So simple but so complex. Kind of like trying to answer the question - education vs. baseball. The "correct" answer can only be found within the context of each family who asks it.



We were posting at the same time. ANother great post. that is the best summary. "correct answer". There isnt one size fits all.
Your right we have some very good writers on this site.
OzoneOzone500+ posts
this is a great topic ....I think in a lot of cases it's hard enough to get through HS for some kids without athletics as a motivator. If you take that away in college sometimes a kid loses interest in school. That's why it's important not to rule out D2, D3, NAIA or Club ball. Just continue to do what got you through HS, the degree at the end from any school is better than no degree at all.
CollegeParentNoMoreCollegeParentNoMore1,000+ posts
THere are many factors in choosing a school, unless your family is loaded with funds, it has to work for the student and his family. More so for the student then the family, once you get past the cost choice.

School choice is a lot like trying to figure out if your kid can play D1 baseball, you can plan and target "the best" all you want only to find there is really nothing you can do to "insure" or influence the "right/best choice". You can in fact help your son make the wrong choice! I'll admit I wanted/encouraged my son to go to a good 4 year school, however in hindsight the best thing he ever did was to transfer to a JC. If had it to do over, I would not have closed my eyes to starting a JC, even if some believe, as did I, JC's are lesser schools.

If your son is not interested in the schools/majors you think he should be, I suggest you, the parent, are working on a long-term losing proposition. Focusing on the preceived prestige of a school can backfire.
Last edited by CollegeParentNoMore
fillsfanfillsfan1,000+ posts
O44, one of the top 2-3 posts I've read here in the past 2 years. Brilliant. We all have different situations and these situation will determine which way we go, not just in college but in life.

I also appreciate the honest postings from floridafan and others.

My son is a funny, outgoing kid who has a lot of friends. He works hard at baseball but not so hard at school. He is perfectly happy with his B's & C's. We pull our hair out over it but he is unfazed. I have been telling my wife for years that we have to get him through college and then he has to find something to sell.

Baseball will definitely determine where he goes to college. Sometimes when talking to other parents about schools I feel insecure thinking this way. They are picking the school based on academics and then determining if baseball fits in with that school. This made me ask my wife, are we are going about this the wrong way. After reading this thread the answer is now he ll no! We have to deal with our situation and do it smartly.

If baseball gives him more options than he would have without baseball we should take advatage of it. Not all kids are 4.0 students. He has to find a school that fits his academic ambitions and his baseball skills. If this is a Juco or 4 year school so be it. I probably should say baseball skills first and academic ambition second because this is the way he sees it at this point. Whatever he/we choose will be what's best for him to succeed now and for the rest of his life.

At this time maybe Juco is the answer. Let him mature some, allow him to play with a good program and go from there.
C CaBB1,000+ posts
Fillsfan, you could be describing my son except he was over a 4.0 in high school. He choose his college based on baseball. It was one that I don't think he would have even looked at w/o baseball. HE made the choice, he loves everything about it at this point (freshman). He made the choice based on fit, scholarships, baseball, and lastly academics.

He's a great student but this year we can tell it's been all about baseball. I think this will change as he matures but for now he's in a great place. '

Bottom line, he's happy with school and the baseball program so it sure seems like a good decision. Who knows what the future holds but luckily this is a school he'd stay at even w/o baseball.

All we can do as parents is help them with the final decisions but realize it must be their choice as they'll be in the trenches doing all the hard work. All the prestige in the world may not make them happy if it's a poor choice.
C cball500+ posts
I originally came to this site looking for information on how to be a better teacher of the game and have found many tips on other boards that I have used and still use with success. But what really amazes me and may be the most valuable information to be gained from HSBBW is from all of you that have gone before those of us with younger kids and are willing to share your experiences.

O44 wow. Thanks.
zombywoofzombywoof1,000+ posts
JUCO not a bad option. In fact, if it's a good college, it may be a better option for some than going straight into a 4-year college. The tuition's cheaper, so if it turns out to be a bust academically or athletically, it won't be as much a waste of money if it don't work out. Plus, after two years if everything works out, they can get their associates degree then transfer to a 4 year college if the picture is clearer on what they choose to do once they enter the job market.

When my son was looking into colleges, he was considering juco and playing baseball but once he decided on what he wanted to major in and got accepted into a 4 year college that's one of the best in the state for what he wants to do academically, he chose not to pursue baseball. The decision was all his. Even though he says he misses playing, he don't regret it and it's working out good for him.

Sure, it would've been fun to watch him play college baseball but if he knew he has no realistic shot at making the major leagues and the grades may take a dip since baseball's a full time committment, he felt his best option was to put all his efforts into school and get his degree with high marks.

I also think that since baseball was always fun for him and saw it just as a game, once it looked like it wold become a job, I think he decided that was it.

He said he still picks up the ball and throws in college with one of his friends who was his high school teammate said he still hasn't lost anything off the fastball even though hasn't played since last spring.

He still does have a goal in baseball which is to become a head coach of a high school team. Since he getting his teaching degree, that goal is very realistic.
Last edited by zombywoof
DE Double Eagle100+ posts
I would venture to say that every poster here has dreamed at one time that the player posted about could make a living playing baseball. Some parents here still hold and are living that dream with their players. My son is a freshman in college and has never said that the dream is dead. As he sees the reality of the competition it may be clearer that the original dream may have to take on some new twist. But I will never tell him not to dream or that he should give up on the dream.

I start that way because I wonder what happens when the dream is gone. This first year of college is fraught with academic\social\baseball related pitfalls. Throughout the year, no matter what the prevailing emotional high or low, one constant has been baseball. I have had more than one message which states in substance, "Off to practice, I love baseball".

My son was an excellent high school student and a very good baseball player. His grades helped attract a coach at a school which is a good academic fit. I can't stress how important the grades are. It just opens doors which might not otherwise be available. From my view, my son now views baseball as a friend which he has taken with him to college.

I don't have any perspective on advising a stud player who has pro and top 10 DI schools knocking on the door. For those without those options however, I hope that the academic choice they make allows them to continue to succeed in all their future endeavors. And since this is a Baseball site I hope also that they find a friend in the game which we all love.
DB Danny Boydston1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by CaBB:
Fillsfan, you could be describing my son except he was over a 4.0 in high school. He choose his college based on baseball. It was one that I don't think he would have even looked at w/o baseball. HE made the choice, he loves everything about it at this point (freshman). He made the choice based on fit, scholarships, baseball, and lastly academics.

He's a great student but this year we can tell it's been all about baseball. I think this will change as he matures but for now he's in a great place. '

Bottom line, he's happy with school and the baseball program so it sure seems like a good decision. Who knows what the future holds but luckily this is a school he'd stay at even w/o baseball.

All we can do as parents is help them with the final decisions but realize it must be their choice as they'll be in the trenches doing all the hard work. All the prestige in the world may not make them happy if it's a poor choice.

CaBB,

That's our situation almost to a T. You can insert Sophomore where you have Freshman. Also, I will go against the grain here and say that our son would not be at this school if it were not for baseball. I know a lot of elders here mention right fit, make sure it is where you would want to be if baseball were taken away etc....but although son is having the time of his life with his teammates, playing time and doing well academically, this school would not have even been on the radar if it were not for baseball.

This school offered our son a chance to continue to play the game for another four years and threw in a few bucks both academically and athletically. We as parents are proud of the hard work son has done and for that reason let him decide on whether or not he wanted to move on in life and get an education at a top academic school or continue his baseball career at a good academic school. We know that we won't have the scouts knocking on our door in four years, but that's not what it was about for us. It was about rewarding our son for the things he accomplished to get him where he is at today.

I truly believe that it's not where you get your education, it's what you do with the education you get!

NO REGRETS!
Last edited by Danny Boydston
infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
Well, I would never want to hit in the order behind Fungo and O'44. Their posts on this thread clearly indicate why.
In my view, the topic of this thread could also be phrased as Education "and" Playing Ball.
As the posts before this one show, there are many options available; each can lead to success on the field and in the classroom.
In my view, what is truly important for the parent is to help and support our sons trying to ensure our sons make the choices as they enter college which maximize a positive result and outcome...for them, when they finish college and/or baseball.
It is where they end, not where they start, that we as parents should help nurture, guide and support.
If we respect them as they evolve into adults, that respect for them and our relationship with them can create a mutual environment where there is the trust to discuss their choices, disagree with some, support others, to let them choose, but also let them know we are still with them if they make a mistake.

What this thread and experience should demonstrate is that results/outcome on the field and in the classroom will likely reflect the effort as a student and as a player. What this thread and experience will also demonstrate is that the 4 years of college often is a time of major transition and development.
Some find they lose interest in baseball and gain interest in the other aspects of college life. Some gain interest in baseball and recognize other aspects of college life need to be sacrificed. I doubt many of our sons are the same as people, students and/or players when they finish as contrasted with when they started.
To apply this thread to our son's experience, there is little doubt baseball helped him get admitted to a top academic university. I doubt he would have been admitted without baseball despite very good SAT's and solid academics from a very rigorous high school.
During those 4 years, he evolved as a student and especially as a player. What really evolved was his love of the game and those who play it.
So, with his baseball career behind him, with his degree from a school right up there with Rice in terms of academics, he is off to pursue his career...as a college baseball coach.
Education "and" playing ball helped him find his passion and the place he fits best. It is the result we would never have guessed when he chose his collegiate route.
fanofgamefanofgame5,000+ posts
quote:
So, with his baseball career behind him, with his degree from a school right up there with Rice in terms of academics, he is off to pursue his career...as a college baseball coach.
Education "and" playing ball helped him find his passion and the place he fits best. It is the result we would never have guessed when he chose his collegiate route.


That is awesome. Good for him. Still involved with a game he has passion for. Couldn't ask for more than that. Good luck to your son and his college coaching.
M mikamom100+ posts
JC is not a bad option! There are teachers in big fancy 4-year schools who can't hold a candle to some JC teachers,and vice versa. I have a daughter at a big school, I know from experience! JC is not necessarily a "lesser" education. My son had a 3.8 out of high school. Economics plays a big factor these days too.
Baseball is the reason my son decided to go to the JC. He is getting his GE out of the way, he is learning how to deal with a different coaching philosophy, how to accept responsibility, and what is important to him. He is young, able to play, and I would never ask him to give it up to go to a different type of school. As long as he keeps his grades up and works hard on them, I'm good.
Last edited by mikamom
Next

Add Reply

Post

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Link copied to your clipboard.
×