Everything You Need To Know About Playing High School Baseball

The ultimate high school experience.  Being part of a team, friends, school spirit, big crowds on Friday night,  girls, winning, etc.... it's what it's all about for a male teen!  It's a "fraternity" that keeps my son on the right track and keeps him accountable to others.

Echo the above with the added thought: don't expect to understand your son's coach's decisions about playing time and/or strategy, plus don't panic when you don't understand.

A lot can & will change over the course of 4 years

it is never too early to focus on getting Bigger/Stronger/Faster.  Making that your #1 priority will give you a huge edge over 98% of your competition

Be part of the team.  If you aren't playing, cheer your team on.

Be early to practice.  "If you are on time, you are 10 minutes late".  Always hustle/run.  Run on and off the field.  Stay late if you can.  

Be prepared:  Belt, socks, cup, hat, etc.  

Do what your coaches say.  I have seen dads call pitches behind the plate.  Ug.

As a parent, go to all the games you can, because "you never know when it will be the last" game.

As a parent, be prepared to open your wallet.  Fundraising comes in all sizes.

As a parent, find a nice comfortable chair and plant it down the 1st or 3rd baseline, out of earshot.  

...and remember, "you never know who is watching"...

Excellent stuff, everyone.  Thank you.  And, if anyone else has more, it would be appreciated.

Your getting ready to start your High School career. You want to come in and make a splash with the coaching staff. You know get your name out there. Get them to notice you. You are wondering what are some of the things you can do accomplish this goal. What can you do to give yourself an advantage over the competition. Of course there are the obvious things. Throw it well, hit it well, field it well, run well, etc etc. But what about the things you can do that will take no more talent than you already have?

1. Show up early. Be the first player to practice. Every day. Have a smile on your face. Let the coach know that he is not the only one excited about being on the field.

2. Show up looking like a ball player. Shirt tucked in. Hat on straight. Cleats on and tied properly. Show up ready to go to work. And looking like your ready to go to work.

3. Look me in the eye when I am talking to you. Look me in the eye when your talking to me. Speak with confidence. Carry yourself with confidence. I don't care if no one ever taught you to say it but Yes Sir, No Sir tells me something about you.

4. Never speak or look away when I am talking. I want to know you are paying attention. When I am talking and I look at you and your looking me dead in the eye that is powerful communication. From you.

5. Get where you need to be and get there with a purpose. That lets me know you care. That lets me know you want to get better. That lets me know your serious about what I am serious about. That lets me know you don't have any time to waste. I like that because that's what I am about.

6. When something needs to be done don't wait for someone to tell you. Do it. I like that because it tells me something about you. It reminds me of myself.

7. Consistency in everything you do. Every day. The same way. Because that's what you are about. Because I am watching to see who is consistent. I am watching to see who cares. I am watching to see who is for real and who is for show.

8. What you do when you think no one is watching means more to me than what you do when you know I am watching. Trust me I am watching. I want to see if your soft toss is as good when no one is watching. I want to see if you run as hard when no one is watching.

9. How do you fail? Do you show anger, frustration, lack of confidence when you struggle? If you boot a grounder do you look at your glove? Smooth out some dirt in front of you and act like every boot is a bad hop? Do you run to the back of the line or ask for another one? I want to know you can handle failure. I want to know your the same hitter when your 0-3 that you are when your 3-3.

10. Do you know how to be a good team mate? When that guy your competing against for a spot boots a ball do you smile? Laugh? Grin? Do you pick him up? Do you pat him on the back? Do you offer encouragement? I want to know who you really are.

11. When a group gathers in right field during BP are you with them? When a group gathers behind the dug out to talk while others are working on T's are you with them? When everyone is running at the same pace do you push them to run harder?

12. When I jump you for not doing a drill properly that I have instructed you on several times how do you handle it? Do you have an excuse for me? Do you look down and away and act like your ticked off? Or do you look me in the eye and say Yes Sir?

13. How do you treat your parents? When they show up for the parents meeting are you distant from them? Do you roll your eyes when they ask a question you think is stupid? Do you treat them with respect regardless of how they treat you? Do you introduce them to me?

14. Are you coachable? If I ask you to do something do you tell me about how you think it should done a different way? Or do you simply work on what I ask you to work on? Do you look me in the eye and ask the question like a man? Coach I have a question. I have always done it this way and I was wondering why you think we should go this route? I like that. Now were working together.

15. You want an advantage over the other guys? Have a work ethic they don't have. Look like they don't look. Act like they don't act. Be what I am looking for. Ball players. Now I can work with that.

I copied this from a thread I started a few years back. "So you want an advantage."

Great info. My son finished up HS baseball this year. As the catcher, I liked to hear him call out plays on the field consistently. But I really liked to hear him cheer/pick-up his team mates. Not everyone can and will be a team leader, but everyone should be a team player.

HS baseball, good, bad, and ugly, always felt like it was completely about the TEAM and the SCHOOL. In that regard, it beat out travel baseball for me.  

Coach_May posted:

Your getting ready to start your High School career. You want to come in and make a splash with the coaching staff. You know get your name out there. Get them to notice you. You are wondering what are some of the things you can do accomplish this goal. What can you do to give yourself an advantage over the competition. Of course there are the obvious things. Throw it well, hit it well, field it well, run well, etc etc. But what about the things you can do that will take no more talent than you already have?

 

1. Show up early. Be the first player to practice. Every day. Have a smile on your face. Let the coach know that he is not the only one excited about being on the field.

2. Show up looking like a ball player. Shirt tucked in. Hat on straight. Cleats on and tied properly. Show up ready to go to work. And looking like your ready to go to work.

3. Look me in the eye when I am talking to you. Look me in the eye when your talking to me. Speak with confidence. Carry yourself with confidence. I don't care if no one ever taught you to say it but Yes Sir, No Sir tells me something about you.

4. Never speak or look away when I am talking. I want to know you are paying attention. When I am talking and I look at you and your looking me dead in the eye that is powerful communication. From you.

5. Get where you need to be and get there with a purpose. That lets me know you care. That lets me know you want to get better. That lets me know your serious about what I am serious about. That lets me know you don't have any time to waste. I like that because that's what I am about.

6. When something needs to be done don't wait for someone to tell you. Do it. I like that because it tells me something about you. It reminds me of myself.

7. Consistency in everything you do. Every day. The same way. Because that's what you are about. Because I am watching to see who is consistent. I am watching to see who cares. I am watching to see who is for real and who is for show.

8. What you do when you think no one is watching means more to me than what you do when you know I am watching. Trust me I am watching. I want to see if your soft toss is as good when no one is watching. I want to see if you run as hard when no one is watching.

9. How do you fail? Do you show anger, frustration, lack of confidence when you struggle? If you boot a grounder do you look at your glove? Smooth out some dirt in front of you and act like every boot is a bad hop? Do you run to the back of the line or ask for another one? I want to know you can handle failure. I want to know your the same hitter when your 0-3 that you are when your 3-3.

10. Do you know how to be a good team mate? When that guy your competing against for a spot boots a ball do you smile? Laugh? Grin? Do you pick him up? Do you pat him on the back? Do you offer encouragement? I want to know who you really are.

11. When a group gathers in right field during BP are you with them? When a group gathers behind the dug out to talk while others are working on T's are you with them? When everyone is running at the same pace do you push them to run harder?

12. When I jump you for not doing a drill properly that I have instructed you on several times how do you handle it? Do you have an excuse for me? Do you look down and away and act like your ticked off? Or do you look me in the eye and say Yes Sir?

13. How do you treat your parents? When they show up for the parents meeting are you distant from them? Do you roll your eyes when they ask a question you think is stupid? Do you treat them with respect regardless of how they treat you? Do you introduce them to me?

14. Are you coachable? If I ask you to do something do you tell me about how you think it should done a different way? Or do you simply work on what I ask you to work on? Do you look me in the eye and ask the question like a man? Coach I have a question. I have always done it this way and I was wondering why you think we should go this route? I like that. Now were working together.

15. You want an advantage over the other guys? Have a work ethic they don't have. Look like they don't look. Act like they don't act. Be what I am looking for. Ball players. Now I can work with that.

I copied this from a thread I started a few years back. "So you want an advantage."

 

Thanks for sharing this! 

Again, thanks to all for this great info and would love to hear from anyone else!

I've been an assistant coach at the High School level, a few things I've noticed:

You might have an idea of what your best position is, but you'll play where the Head Coach tells you to play, or you will sit the bench.

Versatility is incredibly valuable.  I've seen good Baseball players never get an at-bat on Varsity because the only position they can play is occupied by an All-Conference teammate.

It has been said here before:  high school coaches hate parental meddling, parental complaints, and parents asking about playing time.

The best players put in a ton of time practicing on their own in addition to team practices.  The mediocre players only practice when the team practices.  A vast majority of those mediocre players have an excuse for everything.

Hustle requires zero talent.

Coach_May posted:

Your getting ready to start your High School career. You want to come in and make a splash with the coaching staff. You know get your name out there. Get them to notice you. You are wondering what are some of the things you can do accomplish this goal. What can you do to give yourself an advantage over the competition. Of course there are the obvious things. Throw it well, hit it well, field it well, run well, etc etc. But what about the things you can do that will take no more talent than you already have?

 

1. Show up early. Be the first player to practice. Every day. Have a smile on your face. Let the coach know that he is not the only one excited about being on the field.

2. Show up looking like a ball player. Shirt tucked in. Hat on straight. Cleats on and tied properly. Show up ready to go to work. And looking like your ready to go to work.

3. Look me in the eye when I am talking to you. Look me in the eye when your talking to me. Speak with confidence. Carry yourself with confidence. I don't care if no one ever taught you to say it but Yes Sir, No Sir tells me something about you.

4. Never speak or look away when I am talking. I want to know you are paying attention. When I am talking and I look at you and your looking me dead in the eye that is powerful communication. From you.

5. Get where you need to be and get there with a purpose. That lets me know you care. That lets me know you want to get better. That lets me know your serious about what I am serious about. That lets me know you don't have any time to waste. I like that because that's what I am about.

6. When something needs to be done don't wait for someone to tell you. Do it. I like that because it tells me something about you. It reminds me of myself.

7. Consistency in everything you do. Every day. The same way. Because that's what you are about. Because I am watching to see who is consistent. I am watching to see who cares. I am watching to see who is for real and who is for show.

8. What you do when you think no one is watching means more to me than what you do when you know I am watching. Trust me I am watching. I want to see if your soft toss is as good when no one is watching. I want to see if you run as hard when no one is watching.

9. How do you fail? Do you show anger, frustration, lack of confidence when you struggle? If you boot a grounder do you look at your glove? Smooth out some dirt in front of you and act like every boot is a bad hop? Do you run to the back of the line or ask for another one? I want to know you can handle failure. I want to know your the same hitter when your 0-3 that you are when your 3-3.

10. Do you know how to be a good team mate? When that guy your competing against for a spot boots a ball do you smile? Laugh? Grin? Do you pick him up? Do you pat him on the back? Do you offer encouragement? I want to know who you really are.

11. When a group gathers in right field during BP are you with them? When a group gathers behind the dug out to talk while others are working on T's are you with them? When everyone is running at the same pace do you push them to run harder?

12. When I jump you for not doing a drill properly that I have instructed you on several times how do you handle it? Do you have an excuse for me? Do you look down and away and act like your ticked off? Or do you look me in the eye and say Yes Sir?

13. How do you treat your parents? When they show up for the parents meeting are you distant from them? Do you roll your eyes when they ask a question you think is stupid? Do you treat them with respect regardless of how they treat you? Do you introduce them to me?

14. Are you coachable? If I ask you to do something do you tell me about how you think it should done a different way? Or do you simply work on what I ask you to work on? Do you look me in the eye and ask the question like a man? Coach I have a question. I have always done it this way and I was wondering why you think we should go this route? I like that. Now were working together.

15. You want an advantage over the other guys? Have a work ethic they don't have. Look like they don't look. Act like they don't act. Be what I am looking for. Ball players. Now I can work with that.

I copied this from a thread I started a few years back. "So you want an advantage."

 

This is some good stuff here.  Not only to stand out for a coach but when scouts come around believe me they are watching for the same thing. Even if the scouts isn't there for you they will notice notice these things

Coach_May posted:

Your getting ready to start your High School career. You want to come in and make a splash with the coaching staff. You know get your name out there. Get them to notice you. You are wondering what are some of the things you can do accomplish this goal. What can you do to give yourself an advantage over the competition. Of course there are the obvious things. Throw it well, hit it well, field it well, run well, etc etc. But what about the things you can do that will take no more talent than you already have?

 

1. Show up early. Be the first player to practice. Every day. Have a smile on your face. Let the coach know that he is not the only one excited about being on the field.

2. Show up looking like a ball player. Shirt tucked in. Hat on straight. Cleats on and tied properly. Show up ready to go to work. And looking like your ready to go to work.

3. Look me in the eye when I am talking to you. Look me in the eye when your talking to me. Speak with confidence. Carry yourself with confidence. I don't care if no one ever taught you to say it but Yes Sir, No Sir tells me something about you.

4. Never speak or look away when I am talking. I want to know you are paying attention. When I am talking and I look at you and your looking me dead in the eye that is powerful communication. From you.

5. Get where you need to be and get there with a purpose. That lets me know you care. That lets me know you want to get better. That lets me know your serious about what I am serious about. That lets me know you don't have any time to waste. I like that because that's what I am about.

6. When something needs to be done don't wait for someone to tell you. Do it. I like that because it tells me something about you. It reminds me of myself.

7. Consistency in everything you do. Every day. The same way. Because that's what you are about. Because I am watching to see who is consistent. I am watching to see who cares. I am watching to see who is for real and who is for show.

8. What you do when you think no one is watching means more to me than what you do when you know I am watching. Trust me I am watching. I want to see if your soft toss is as good when no one is watching. I want to see if you run as hard when no one is watching.

9. How do you fail? Do you show anger, frustration, lack of confidence when you struggle? If you boot a grounder do you look at your glove? Smooth out some dirt in front of you and act like every boot is a bad hop? Do you run to the back of the line or ask for another one? I want to know you can handle failure. I want to know your the same hitter when your 0-3 that you are when your 3-3.

10. Do you know how to be a good team mate? When that guy your competing against for a spot boots a ball do you smile? Laugh? Grin? Do you pick him up? Do you pat him on the back? Do you offer encouragement? I want to know who you really are.

11. When a group gathers in right field during BP are you with them? When a group gathers behind the dug out to talk while others are working on T's are you with them? When everyone is running at the same pace do you push them to run harder?

12. When I jump you for not doing a drill properly that I have instructed you on several times how do you handle it? Do you have an excuse for me? Do you look down and away and act like your ticked off? Or do you look me in the eye and say Yes Sir?

13. How do you treat your parents? When they show up for the parents meeting are you distant from them? Do you roll your eyes when they ask a question you think is stupid? Do you treat them with respect regardless of how they treat you? Do you introduce them to me?

14. Are you coachable? If I ask you to do something do you tell me about how you think it should done a different way? Or do you simply work on what I ask you to work on? Do you look me in the eye and ask the question like a man? Coach I have a question. I have always done it this way and I was wondering why you think we should go this route? I like that. Now were working together.

15. You want an advantage over the other guys? Have a work ethic they don't have. Look like they don't look. Act like they don't act. Be what I am looking for. Ball players. Now I can work with that.

I copied this from a thread I started a few years back. "So you want an advantage."

 

I printed this "a few years back" and it is in my baseball folder.  Folks, read everything Coach May writes!

Playing high school baseball....well I can only speak about one yer so far on JV, but it was a rough year for some.

-This is not travel ball, it's nothing like it, so don't even compare the two.

 -The "best" kids won't necessarily play, they are grooming JV to go to Varsity, that generally means 10th graders get the playing time.

-Your position will be where the HS coach wants you to be, it doesn't matter what you play on travel ball, or what you are trying to be recruited as.

-Sometimes the Varsity low rung pitchers will come down to JV and "help you out", so what if your kid was scheduled to pitch, Varsity kids need the reps.

-The high school coach may be less knowledgeable than the Travel Ball coach, it is what it is.

-Your son may be asked to change his swing, it doesn't matter that his swing is finely tuned by the best hitting instructor in the state...he can change it or he can sit.

-Varsity is a completely different team, don't assume you get to go to the same dinners and special activities that they do.

-The team could have 9 kids, or it could have 25 kids.

-If you pitch, don't expect to be in the line up that game.

-Yes, you are expected to show up even if coach told you there was zero chance of you playing today.

-Yes, pinch runner is a real thing and may be the only time you see the field that game.

-Parents aren't told much, only where to send the checks.

-They have no obligation to play you, AT ALL. 

-Parents, do your time in the concession stand and shut up about it, we all have to do it.

I think that covers most of the grumblings I heard.  Overall, my son had what most would consider a good JV year.  He had about 20 innings on the mound, 15 innings in the outfield, and a total of 8 at bats. He was one of the lucky ones, but his school is huge, has only JV and V, and has some very talented kids. This was about the best he could have hoped for as a Freshman.

Coach_May posted:

Your getting ready to start your High School career. You want to come in and make a splash with the coaching staff. You know get your name out there. Get them to notice you. You are wondering what are some of the things you can do accomplish this goal. What can you do to give yourself an advantage over the competition. Of course there are the obvious things. Throw it well, hit it well, field it well, run well, etc etc. But what about the things you can do that will take no more talent than you already have?

 

1. Show up early. Be the first player to practice. Every day. Have a smile on your face. Let the coach know that he is not the only one excited about being on the field.

2. Show up looking like a ball player. Shirt tucked in. Hat on straight. Cleats on and tied properly. Show up ready to go to work. And looking like your ready to go to work.

3. Look me in the eye when I am talking to you. Look me in the eye when your talking to me. Speak with confidence. Carry yourself with confidence. I don't care if no one ever taught you to say it but Yes Sir, No Sir tells me something about you.

4. Never speak or look away when I am talking. I want to know you are paying attention. When I am talking and I look at you and your looking me dead in the eye that is powerful communication. From you.

5. Get where you need to be and get there with a purpose. That lets me know you care. That lets me know you want to get better. That lets me know your serious about what I am serious about. That lets me know you don't have any time to waste. I like that because that's what I am about.

6. When something needs to be done don't wait for someone to tell you. Do it. I like that because it tells me something about you. It reminds me of myself.

7. Consistency in everything you do. Every day. The same way. Because that's what you are about. Because I am watching to see who is consistent. I am watching to see who cares. I am watching to see who is for real and who is for show.

8. What you do when you think no one is watching means more to me than what you do when you know I am watching. Trust me I am watching. I want to see if your soft toss is as good when no one is watching. I want to see if you run as hard when no one is watching.

9. How do you fail? Do you show anger, frustration, lack of confidence when you struggle? If you boot a grounder do you look at your glove? Smooth out some dirt in front of you and act like every boot is a bad hop? Do you run to the back of the line or ask for another one? I want to know you can handle failure. I want to know your the same hitter when your 0-3 that you are when your 3-3.

10. Do you know how to be a good team mate? When that guy your competing against for a spot boots a ball do you smile? Laugh? Grin? Do you pick him up? Do you pat him on the back? Do you offer encouragement? I want to know who you really are.

11. When a group gathers in right field during BP are you with them? When a group gathers behind the dug out to talk while others are working on T's are you with them? When everyone is running at the same pace do you push them to run harder?

12. When I jump you for not doing a drill properly that I have instructed you on several times how do you handle it? Do you have an excuse for me? Do you look down and away and act like your ticked off? Or do you look me in the eye and say Yes Sir?

13. How do you treat your parents? When they show up for the parents meeting are you distant from them? Do you roll your eyes when they ask a question you think is stupid? Do you treat them with respect regardless of how they treat you? Do you introduce them to me?

14. Are you coachable? If I ask you to do something do you tell me about how you think it should done a different way? Or do you simply work on what I ask you to work on? Do you look me in the eye and ask the question like a man? Coach I have a question. I have always done it this way and I was wondering why you think we should go this route? I like that. Now were working together.

15. You want an advantage over the other guys? Have a work ethic they don't have. Look like they don't look. Act like they don't act. Be what I am looking for. Ball players. Now I can work with that.

I copied this from a thread I started a few years back. "So you want an advantage."

 

For what it's worth, if you are a parent that wonders why your more "talented" kid isn't seeing the play time you think he deserves, please reference this list! 

CaCO3Girl posted:

Playing high school baseball....well I can only speak about one yer so far on JV, but it was a rough year for some.

-This is not travel ball, it's nothing like it, so don't even compare the two.

 -The "best" kids won't necessarily play, they are grooming JV to go to Varsity, that generally means 10th graders get the playing time.

-Your position will be where the HS coach wants you to be, it doesn't matter what you play on travel ball, or what you are trying to be recruited as.

Well, yeah, shouldn't a player be expected to play the position the helps the team the most when playing a team sport?  Amazing that some don't get this and expect to play the position they play in travel or the position they want to play for recruiting purposes.

-Sometimes the Varsity low rung pitchers will come down to JV and "help you out", so what if your kid was scheduled to pitch, Varsity kids need the reps.

Yes, usually players are with V because they are closer to being ready to contribute at that level.  A significant portion of the purpose of JV is to be a feeder program to V.  So, in some instances, where a P is with V but not getting the innings he needs to continue to develop, it makes total sense for him (and for the overall program) to get some innings on the mound at JV.  A pitching schedule at the HS level, particularly JV, will be very much a moving target for so many reasons, including this one.

-The high school coach may be less knowledgeable than the Travel Ball coach, it is what it is.

-Your son may be asked to change his swing, it doesn't matter that his swing is finely tuned by the best hitting instructor in the state...he can change it or he can sit.

-Varsity is a completely different team, don't assume you get to go to the same dinners and special activities that they do.

-The team could have 9 kids, or it could have 25 kids.

-If you pitch, don't expect to be in the line up that game.

-Yes, you are expected to show up even if coach told you there was zero chance of you playing today.

Why, on earth, would a player not be expected to be there for his team, regardless of that particular day's lineup?  There is plenty a player can do to support his team from the bench that can help them succeed.

-Yes, pinch runner is a real thing and may be the only time you see the field that game.

-Parents aren't told much, only where to send the checks.

Isn't this a great thing?  Your son is learning, at an appropriate age, to handle his own business.  As a parent, this is something I greatly appreciated.

-They have no obligation to play you, AT ALL. 

Yes, as is the case for his playing career from this point forward (except when he "pays to play" travel).  Again, isn't this a great thing?  Learn that you have to earn things in life as you enter adulthood.  It's not just given to you.

-Parents, do your time in the concession stand and shut up about it, we all have to do it.

Everyone does their part with a little sweat equity (not just writing a check) to make something special happen in the community.  Again, isn't this as a good thing?

I think that covers most of the grumblings I heard.  Overall, my son had what most would consider a good JV year.  He had about 20 innings on the mound, 15 innings in the outfield, and a total of 8 at bats. He was one of the lucky ones, but his school is huge, has only JV and V, and has some very talented kids. This was about the best he could have hoped for as a Freshman.

CaCo, this is actually a pretty darn good list of the typical grumblings one hears around HS programs.  It also is a pretty good snapshot of the down side of the mentality that travel ball creates - see my comments in red.  I am typically involved in both travel and HS ball and am a proponent of both.  But...  so many things that seem to have obvious reasons often aren't obvious to those with the full on travel mentality.

I would tell anyone to watch the PBS documentary Kokoyakyu. IIt is about the Japanese High School national baseball tourney. What's amazing is how big high school baseball is in Japan and how much it means as a life experience to the student-athletes and the rest of the school. The dedication and commitment is breath-taking when you compare the experience to that of our kids here in the States.

Cabbage, my son's HS coaches explicitly tell the parents that the coaches' priorities are "Program, Team, Player, IN THAT ORDER."  I think it's a good lens into HS baseball -- and certainly much different than travel ball. 

cabbagedad posted:

CaCO3Girl posted:

Playing high school baseball....well I can only speak about one yer so far on JV, but it was a rough year for some.

-This is not travel ball, it's nothing like it, so don't even compare the two.

 -The "best" kids won't necessarily play, they are grooming JV to go to Varsity, that generally means 10th graders get the playing time.

-Your position will be where the HS coach wants you to be, it doesn't matter what you play on travel ball, or what you are trying to be recruited as.

Well, yeah, shouldn't a player be expected to play the position the helps the team the most when playing a team sport?  Amazing that some don't get this and expect to play the position they play in travel or the position they want to play for recruiting purposes.

-Sometimes the Varsity low rung pitchers will come down to JV and "help you out", so what if your kid was scheduled to pitch, Varsity kids need the reps.

Yes, usually players are with V because they are closer to being ready to contribute at that level.  A significant portion of the purpose of JV is to be a feeder program to V.  So, in some instances, where a P is with V but not getting the innings he needs to continue to develop, it makes total sense for him (and for the overall program) to get some innings on the mound at JV.  A pitching schedule at the HS level, particularly JV, will be very much a moving target for so many reasons, including this one.

-The high school coach may be less knowledgeable than the Travel Ball coach, it is what it is.

-Your son may be asked to change his swing, it doesn't matter that his swing is finely tuned by the best hitting instructor in the state...he can change it or he can sit.

-Varsity is a completely different team, don't assume you get to go to the same dinners and special activities that they do.

-The team could have 9 kids, or it could have 25 kids.

-If you pitch, don't expect to be in the line up that game.

-Yes, you are expected to show up even if coach told you there was zero chance of you playing today.

Why, on earth, would a player not be expected to be there for his team, regardless of that particular day's lineup?  There is plenty a player can do to support his team from the bench that can help them succeed.

-Yes, pinch runner is a real thing and may be the only time you see the field that game.

-Parents aren't told much, only where to send the checks.

Isn't this a great thing?  Your son is learning, at an appropriate age, to handle his own business.  As a parent, this is something I greatly appreciated.

-They have no obligation to play you, AT ALL. 

Yes, as is the case for his playing career from this point forward (except when he "pays to play" travel).  Again, isn't this a great thing?  Learn that you have to earn things in life as you enter adulthood.  It's not just given to you.

-Parents, do your time in the concession stand and shut up about it, we all have to do it.

Everyone does their part with a little sweat equity (not just writing a check) to make something special happen in the community.  Again, isn't this as a good thing?

I think that covers most of the grumblings I heard.  Overall, my son had what most would consider a good JV year.  He had about 20 innings on the mound, 15 innings in the outfield, and a total of 8 at bats. He was one of the lucky ones, but his school is huge, has only JV and V, and has some very talented kids. This was about the best he could have hoped for as a Freshman.

CaCo, this is actually a pretty darn good list of the typical grumblings one hears around HS programs.  It also is a pretty good snapshot of the down side of the mentality that travel ball creates - see my comments in red.  I am typically involved in both travel and HS ball and am a proponent of both.  But...  so many things that seem to have obvious reasons often aren't obvious to those with the full on travel mentality.

LOL, that's why I started with this isn't Travel ball, don't compare the two.  Some things shocked us, some more than others *cough* (never had to work for anything in their life before this, you privileged brats) *, some of us handled it better.