Fall Baseball/Football

Don't do it.  You want them to see him at his best, as a poor performance could cause him to be struck off the list.  There is plenty of time for school to see him in the Spring/Summer.

That is what I thought.  Son is pushing to go.  He feels he is missing out!

 

Thanks

 He has a big decision next Fall if he has not been offered. If he believes his future in college athletics is baseball, then a tough decision on football is coming which we all know will make him very popular with FB coach.

Tough decision
R u at all worried about injuries w football since he wants to play baseball in college?  We had a broken arm and three concussions on our HS team this yr.

If he gets an offer this summer or in fall before football season starts I will push him to give up football as I am sure he will.  If he doesn’t’ get an offer before, he will have to do some soul searching about his love for the game of baseball. Football is something he “really” enjoys and quite frankly gets him stronger and refreshed for the spring baseball season.

 

Playball2011-Injuries are always a concern no matter what sport one plays. We have thought about that as well as football may have a greater exposure.  You know how 16 year olds think though. lol

Yes injuries r in all sports but most definately w football since its a contact sport.  Wish him well but what if he gets injured and cannot be seen at his best in HS or summer ball?  There is a short window for recruiting in HS  and injuries from any sport including baseball  can change things. There is always someone else waiting for that spot who is healthy and just as good. If he can accept that then continue w football and hope for the best.

JABMK,

 

I agree with everything that has been suggested. I'm not going to sugar coat it, your son will most likely have to either adjust his recruiting approach to accommodate Ivys/ academic schools, or try to get recruited before football season starts up next year (if he plays at all). 

 

Late summer/Fall is when most Ivy and academic recruiting business gets done which of course is right in the middle of football season.  There is a lot that happens prior to this timeframe too, but we'll keep it simple for now.   A lot of these recruits make Official and UnOfficial visits to these schools at this time.  Coaches are making decisions, and it is difficult to be top of mind or showing your skills playing another sport unless your son is an absolute stud.  Possibly your son is the exception, but most are not.  He has some tough choices ahead. 

 

Has he thought about playing football and baseball at the next level?  I know some D3 coaches that coach both football and baseball (D3 Williams comes to mind).  Just a thought.

Baseball is his passion. Football will not be an option in college.  It is apparent that he will have to make the decision to give up football if he wants to play college baseball.

 

Thanks for the great advice!

Good friend of mine is dealing with a similar scenario right now with his son. 

 

Son is already committed as a pitcher to a D1 school but late on the scene for the pro scouts (velo hopped from 85 to 90+ over summer) so really needs to throw at the big events.

 

My buddy must have some influence skills because somehow he convinced the football head coach to miss two Saturday film sessions and a Thursday practice before a game so he can throw in a PG Event, AZ Classic and in Jupiter.  So it can be done.

 

In the case of the OP where son is a position player I think it would be really tough to not face live hitting and then go to some of these events with really good competition and show well. 

 

For position players, watching the 2014s closely that I know, it is sort of out of sight out of mind for a lot of the guys that are on the edge of playing for a D1 school or in the situation that your son faces.  There are lots of those and if you aren't in the forefront of the coaches minds it is going to be tough IMO.

The football team does have their BYE week this week.  He has received permission to play a couple of baseball games this week with his HS Fall Team. As a 2015 catcher, this fall is important but the spring and summer are crucial for recruiting.  I had him read the feedback on this thread and he has decided he will be giving up football this year.  This winter he will be taking some unofficial visits to some schools as well.

 

I hear ya on the “out of sight...out of mind” with the coaches.

 

This has been some great advise!!

It's interesting how much practice (repetition) it takes to be good in baseball compared to football, IMO.

 

I haven't heard of any kid giving up baseball to concentrate on football in high school.

To play the devil's advocate

 

My 2015 son is looking to play baseball in college(D2 or D3 level) but starts on the varsity football team. He has talked to a lot of coaches and everyone has recommended he continue to play football if he loves to play football. Many coaches love multiple sport athletes.

 

Again, in our situation - my son loves both football and baseball - I would never ask  him to make that decision in hopes that he may(or may not) play baseball in college. Yes, I know there is a risk of injury - in fact - my son tore his ACL as a soph. But I have also seen numerous shoulder/arm injuries in baseball as well.

 

Bottom line - nothing is gauranteed. As long as he has no regrets - then good for him in making a very tough decision.

 

 

My son has a friend who gave up baseball for football.He is a true freshman at the University of Illinois. He is the third string quarterback and has scored three touchdown's. He was recently named big ten freshman of the week. He had an injury in baseball sophomore year of high school and his parents didn't want to chance another baseball injury that might jeopardize his football scholarship.

Many coaches love multiple sport athletes.

 

This may be a down the line tie breaker between two players. More than anything baseball coaches like players who excel in baseball and can remain academically eligible regardless of what else they do.

Football can provide the scholarship for a baseball player, if the two coaches in college will permit and encourage the player to do both sports.

Each year our International teams will have 2-3 football/baseball players.

 

Later they all received college scholarships because of football.

 

Years ago, our Michigan State U. College World Series team had all three QB on the team. Two later played in the NFL. One played both fo Detroit Tigers and New England Patriots.

 

Bob

 

 

As a football coach and even as an AD before you make the decision to give up football please sit down with the football coach (mainly your son because it needs to be his decision) and talk it out.  One thing that drives me nuts as a coach and AD is kids quitting because of ________ without talking to the coach.  Have your son sit down with the football coach and explain his goals of playing at the next level.  Explain what needs to happen to make that happen - going to showcases and camps.  Then now the two of them can sit down and see what the coach can allow to happen.  I don't fault the football coach if he's not willing to bend because he has a team to prepare to win.  He's got around however many kids on the team who want to be there and doesn't want to open the flood gates of allowing one kid to miss time for something legit.  Next thing you know every kid on that team will have something legit to go to now.  But the reality of the situation is that until your son talks to the coach he doesn't know what will or will not be allowed.  This conversation needs to take place before any real time is spent in football development (if any).  These are grown up decisions that need to be handled as grown ups and this is a wonderful opportunity for your son to develop some maturity with your guidance.

 

Speaking for myself if I have a player who approaches me this way I'm going to do everything I can to help them without compromising the team.  When I was head baseball coach I told my guys I don't expect them to love baseball as much as I do but they will respect it.  Because guys came and talked to me about other sports I could work something out and it was beneficial to them.  Most coaches will be like this but sadly some are not.  Maybe the football coach will fall into the jerk category or the uncompromising category and won't work with you.  It's better to find this stuff out now where the fallout will be minimal / controllable instead of during the next football season when it could get ugly.

 

Now that being said does your son have a strong arm?  Does he have a nice mechanical swing?  Does he know what he's doing and look good in the field?  If so then it's not going to hurt him to play in this showcase after not playing since Aug.  They aren't looking for stats - they are looking for skills.  Skills can get rusty but a 16 - 17 year old won't get that rusty to where they look terrible.  

 

Another avenue to get recruited which can help alleviate the football issue in the fall is making a list of schools he would like to attend based on if they offer what he wants academically, is a good fit athletically and is a good fit socially.  Then attend their camps so he can be seen by the coaches he wants to be seen by and impress them that way.These typically take place during the summer so he shouldn't be rusty.

 

Good luck

The process of getting recruited and seen for baseball as I am learning can have many paths.  Many of these posts have really opened my eyes and I have concluded there is no one right way.

Another issue I would like to also point out is the physical appearance side of both sports.  Football requires a different body weight than baseball.  Football playing shape is quite different than baseball.  In my son’s case, and depending on their respective position, football generally requires considerable more weight than baseball. 

 Although I see both sides of the decision ultimately giving up football is going to be the best scenario for my son.  This season which is  his junior year and the summer between Junior and senior year seems to be the crucial time to get in front of coaches.  Football is something he really enjoys… is a good break from baseball but baseball is his passion and has always wanted to play in college.

Sounds like you/he are giving up a bit early on football with the entire spring and summer recruiting season ahead of him.

 

Lots of professional players were multisport athletes in high school.  The college coaches I know are looking for athletic position players, inlcuding catchers. With a little adjustment I don't see a HS weightliftng program causing any problems for a baseball player.    

 

Sure focusing his efforts soley towards baseball may help him get some college attention he wouldn't get otherwise, but at the same time he/you are throwing away a great learning opportunity with the football team. My son learned alot from his HS football coach. IMHO Your son dosn't have to choose one or the other in HS.  If he's a D1 player and no one picks him up from HS, he can always go to a JC to show his D1 goods.

 

In a worst case scenerio, you drop football to get a D1 baseball scholarship and it doesn't happen.  He's back at the JC option, but missed his senior football season.....

 

btw, The key to making multiple sorts work is all the coaches recognizing the kid will play baseball in college and allowing him to work baseball around their team schedules.  Sounds like the football coach in this situation is already there

Interesting topic. Long time lurker and very infrequent contributor but this one hits home. 36 jr2 was a HS QB. A VERY strong team out here. Team was expected to give the perennial nationally ranked private it's toughest league test and in playoffs. Baseball was passion, but commitment to team(s) was his driving force. OP states son has not played since August. Hmmm. CM coach- a CWS vet- stated "you cannot take a single day off.....well, okay December 25th." jr was determined to put in his 4 years of FB to beat the Natl. power, with teammates counting on him. What were his soph/Jr year summers like? Brutal. FB M-F, CM practice and games M-F nights and Sat/Sun. Obviously he lost out on the work experience paid learning for teenagers! The previous combo FB-QB/(now college) baseball player a few years before him parents cautioned us "He MUST choose between the two after soph year." Well, he played both sports all four years, was extremely focused as a scholar-athlete and was a Sr year recruit to a mid-mjr D1. He attended the Az Jr showcase (his only Sat. film/lift he missed all four years- FB coach dinged him) and put in West Coast showcases and camps on the weekends FB had no OTAs. His CM coach gave him some leeway there which was very much appreciated.

What was the college coach getting? "We need a few tough-ass guys" (FB.) A very dedicated scholar-athlete, with no worries about classroom work-ethic (3.5, VERY strong FB and Baseball teams/league). He moved to the heavy lifting group after one month on campus. And in so many words, an untapped potential as he's spent so much time with FB. Did his FB coach make it easy to do baseball on weekends? No. But he was in the cage/lifting/fielding with a teammate from 6:30-dark every night in fall after 3-6 FB. (QBs always "throw around" for another 20 while the band uses half the field.) Did his CM coach have an understanding as to his reasons for both sports? Yes. Did they tug at him relentlessly? Not really. They gave in to each once jr showed he was willing to make it work. It did, and frankly, he said he'd do it again. Plus mom and dad got to see FNL for 8 years (36jr1 played both too.) Did he miss out on some d1 opportunities? No doubt. Any regrets? No, loves the fact he's at "where they want you."

My son's experience has been that several D-1 Coaches asked him why he is not playing football this year. (2015 LHP/1st Baseman) To make it somewhat short, new head coach at school. Sr. QB that is getting some D-1 looks.  QB did not play Baseball, so he was able to work with coaches during that time, but he is also a stud. Coaches first conversation to my son was, "I've heard you are a great Baseball Player and that you'll probably get your school paid for playing baseball.  I just want you to know that if you are planning on missing any Fall Football for Baseball, I will probably just have you play JV."  Good or Bad, this was the wrong thing to say to my son, because baseball his his first love. He decided on his own to forego his Jr. Football Season, so that he could attend a PG Event, the Arizona Jr. Fall Classic, a few other showcases, and make two OV's. Although I was disappointed, it has worked out for both parties.  Football Team is doing great, and son has had a lot of fun pursuing his dream. He has also decided to talk to Football Coach after the season is over about playing next year. 

I also wanted to state that one of the D-1's HC said that he loves his kids to play football. He said that he believes the kids who play in Showcases instead of football, sometimes forget how to compete.  He wants guys that compete.

One year during the Area Code games I asked Student Sports to send me the names of all football players from the Nike camps who played baseball. I sent each a request to attend one of our tryouts. It was most interesting. Pro scouts often attend track meets, football games to find the competitive athlete.

 

Bob

Not all stories r positive
To tell other side- we had big PG tourn and just lost very good player to football injury. Just be aware it can happen and be willing to accept that. Sure injuries can happen anywhere but football is a contact sport and like no other.

Depending on the state and type of FB program the school has, practice makes for a long day for the kids.  I know in Florida football is very big and many of the teams spend a tremendous amount of time to compete especially if a nationally ranked program. For instance, many student/athletes leave for school at 7AM and do not get home from school/practice until 8PM. Then diner, homework/study and much needed sleep to then start the same schedule next day all over. As suggested in one of the post, I am not sure there is any time to train for another sport.

 

I admire these kids for their focus and drive to succeed on the field and in the classroom. To do FB as BB at the same time is almost impossible.  I am glad to hear HC like that character.  As in any decision, there are many pros and cons to look over. It is my feeling, at least for our situation, choosing a sport is the better option.  We are choosing the sport where there is more passion, college opportunity and a less likely chance of injury.

 

This was my first post and I hope others in this situation have leaned as much as I have to help make a decision.  The amount of knowledge provided is invaluable to us “rookies” to the recruiting process.

My son had to work through this decision this year. He is a junior who has been playing football since he was 8. He started as a sophomore last year at safety on a team that was 1 game away from playing in the state championship in a football crazed state. He also had a good baseball showcase/tournament season this past summer.

 

With his academic workload the choice he had was to play football and take a break from baseball Aug-Dec or give up football and focus on training exclusively for baseball and doing the showcase/college camp circuit. He could not realistically do both and still get enough rest. We sat down several times and worked through a pro/con list. I helped him look at all the different aspects of each choice but ultimately it was up to him. He chose to give up football this year to focus 100% on baseball to see how good he can become. That was where his heart was. After his decision I asked him "Son, won't you regret not playing football on Friday nights. You'll never get to do that again". He replied "Yes, I'll regret it some. But I would regret it more next summer not being the best baseball player I could have been if I hadn't given it everything I had." I was impressed with the maturity of his answer and saw him grow up some working through this process. It's great to see sports teaching our young men life lessons that will benefit them as they mature.

 

He says he plans to go back and play football his senior year. I hope he does because I think I've missed it more than he has!

 

 

 

The only issue with going back to play football is if he has an offer from a school to play baseball. Is the risk of injury worth giving up a college baseball opportunity?

 

Yet another decision! 

At our local high school,   we have had 4-6 kids get D! scholarships for each of the last 4 years and all of them played football and baseball but ended up getting baseball scholarships and it did not affect them.   Almost all of them position players.    TCU, Stanford, Rice and Texas among the schools they have gone to.  

Bennyandthejets- What's wrong with a break from baseball for the boy? My son plays football Aug-Nov. That's a nice break for him to get away from all of the travel baseball. Dec-July is plenty of time to play baseball. Long toss/workout/cage for three months before the season starts in March. Of course, you can workout/hit/longtoss on the weekends during football season to stay even sharper, but as my son is a pitcher, I like giving him some rest.

It depends on your sons goals.  There are a lot of big Scouting Events in the Fall, and some football coaches don't want to work around them.  My son decided the big Fall events were too important to his baseball goals.

Absolutely nothing wrong with taking a break from baseball. In fact he's done that for the last 8 years by playing football in the fall. He just decided that with this being his junior year he wanted to do some things this fall with baseball and recruiting that playing football would have prevented. He's playing in the PG WWBA underclass in Ft Myers, the WWBA in Jupiter in a couple of weeks, and going to a few college camps and unofficial visits. In fact today in Fort Myers he was 2-2 with a double and a triple in front of 10-15 ACC/SEC type schools while his football team was back home playing their Friday night game. He wouldn't have been in game shape for baseball if he was also playing football. Tonight at supper he acknowledged that it's been a sacrifice not playing football but the exposure that he's gotten on the baseball field has been more than worth it.

 

JABMK. The risk of injury in football is real so I don't know what he'll do next fall. He's seen several of his classmates go down with season ending knee and shoulder injuries. We also have a good friend who played both baseball and football at a high academic DIII school that had his baseball career cut short by a serious shoulder injury suffered in football.