Football and baseball

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Mine played football, baseball, and basketball as a varsity starter for three years and chose to not play football his senior year as we had moved and offensive line was not real good and was going to several tournaments that would conflict.  He didn't play much fall ball his freshman year but when he did he pitched only in afternoon games on Saturday or Sunday.  His sophomore year through Junior Year played almost every weekend in some form.  He was blessed to be able to tell the coach when he would be available to play and the coach was fine with it. 

I felt it hurt a little because he was not at full speed during the fall but still was close and did great.  Coaches knew he was doing baseball after a football game on Friday night where he had played both ways and was the kicker.  I felt like maybe basketball hurt him more because he had to work real hard around it to get ready for baseball season but again he wanted it so he did the extra work many times by himself.  If the coaches are fine with it, then it works.  Mine always made football camp during the summer but rarely made any other summer workouts unless he was in town.  It just meant he had to earn his spot back every August when they went full pads which he did every year. 

My son played football, basketball and baseball as a freshman in HS (1400 kids in the Chicago Private school) and then dropped basketball before they dropped him sophomore year. 

He definitely benefited playing both football and baseball.  Started on the offense line for junior and senior years where he claimed he was the smallest offensive lineman in the league at 5'11" and 235 pounds.   Started in baseball senior year. 

I truly believe in kids playing multiple sports.  Summer is tough as both coaches wanted his time.

My son played football and baseball in HS.  He considered baseball his #1 sport and the one he wanted to play in college, but he loved playing football and wanted to include it in his HS experience.  My wife and I thought that it was important he have a rich and full HS experience, and as long as he knew there were risks and issues that could impact his opportunity to play baseball in college, we were 100% supportive.

Football workouts began in June.  This included weight lifting and practice 5 mornings a week, with baseball practice, cage work, long toss in the evenings.  He also did a fair amount of travel tournaments (JOs, WWBA, etc) in June and July.  He stopped playing baseball on August 1 each summer to focus on football, which ended early December.  Did this affect his development?  I would say no.  He was a little rusty in December when he started back up, but he quickly got back to game ready.  In fact, the strength training, athleticism and swagger he picked up from football probably made him a better player.

With that said, he missed some baseball opportunities because of football.  He couldn't play scout ball, AC games, Jupiter, plus he missed a lot of additional recruiting opportunities his travel team organized.  Because of this, he decided to not play football his junior year so he can have a full summer and fall of baseball and baseball recruiting.  This made a big difference in his recruiting as he got some great opportunities teed up.  He went back to football his senior year after he committed during the summer.  I will add that I was very nervous about injuries his senior season but he came through unscathed.

My son is a 2020 played both all the way through hs and is being recruited in both sports by a few colleges and a few wont let him do both...if there is any specific questions please dm me I feel like I could write a book on the subject lol

Good to hear that the coaches of both sports are working together so far to keep best athletes in multiple sports.  Ultimately how well the coaches work together coupled with the talent in the baseball program will determine your sons ability to do both.  Something to think about before just jumping from football into the baseball class at seasons end is the differences in weight training between the two.  If the baseball class does not provide the big muscle training that football typically does it might be beneficial to stay in the football class as a fresh/soph as that will only benefit on the baseball field as well.  Best of luck to your son.  Multi-sport at the 6A HS level in TX is a tough go especially when you get to V/V...

Thanks for all the responses! There is some really great info in here. I will definitely start talking to him about timing for recruiting, workouts, etc.

It is very appreciated.

The most important piece of info is that the coaches are working together and letting him play both.  My 2020 plays football and baseball.  I always joke that the football coaches encourage kids to play multiple sports as long as it doesn't interfere with football.  Football is king at our school and it is pretty much year round.  Playing football made my kid tougher, stronger and more disciplined.  It probably held him back in baseball to some degree because he plays QB and P and there is only so much throwing you can do.  It also hurt him with college camps because he was never at his peak.  Camps were always right after football ended or right when it was ramping up. 

I was just as guilty as everyone else, but parents and kids focus too much on college and the future.  Enjoy the now.  If your kid wants to play multiple sports, go for it.  He gets one shot at it and he needs to have as much fun as possible.  I've seen kids make very poor decisions in high school based on trying to play college sports, only to find out the college sports aren't all they are cracked up to be.  

Play both, develop different muscles.  Football and basketball help the quick twitch muscles.

Let him find success and failure in both sports and anything else that he wants to try.  It is about being an athlete.

Remember Frank Thomas was a Tight End with Auburn on the Bo Jackson Team.

https://www.al.com/sports/2014...football_player.html

I was wondering this myself, but with baseball and basketball. My son is a catcher and worried about the hoops schedule in January interfering with his ability to catch bull pens and work with the pitching staff. He's a freshman and will most likely be JV for hoops and varsity for baseball.

The coaches seem supportive but the baseball coach seems to change his demeanor when we ask about January. I get the feeling he would prefer my son only play baseball but that he doesn't want to tell him. 

TerribleBPthrower posted:

I was wondering this myself, but with baseball and basketball. My son is a catcher and worried about the hoops schedule in January interfering with his ability to catch bull pens and work with the pitching staff. He's a freshman and will most likely be JV for hoops and varsity for baseball.

The coaches seem supportive but the baseball coach seems to change his demeanor when we ask about January. I get the feeling he would prefer my son only play baseball but that he doesn't want to tell him. 

Read the thread on catchers and showcasing.  Your son is a freshman, will he get playing time on varsity baseball or  will he just be a bullpen catcher?  How much playing time does he expect as a freshman?  It is all about reps. Let him enjoy school and sports. Save his knees for the summer.

CollegebaseballInsights posted:

TerribleBPthrower posted:

I was wondering this myself, but with baseball and basketball. My son is a catcher and worried about the hoops schedule in January interfering with his ability to catch bull pens and work with the pitching staff. He's a freshman and will most likely be JV for hoops and varsity for baseball.

The coaches seem supportive but the baseball coach seems to change his demeanor when we ask about January. I get the feeling he would prefer my son only play baseball but that he doesn't want to tell him. 

Read the thread on catchers and showcasing.  Your son is a freshman, will he get playing time on varsity baseball or  will he just be a bullpen catcher?  How much playing time does he expect as a freshman?  It is all about reps. Let him enjoy school and sports. Save his knees for the summer.

His coach told me he is going to be the starter for varsity. He’s asking for his gear sizes so he can order the custom team gear for him

TerribleBPthrower posted:

CollegebaseballInsights posted:

TerribleBPthrower posted:

I was wondering this myself, but with baseball and basketball. My son is a catcher and worried about the hoops schedule in January interfering with his ability to catch bull pens and work with the pitching staff. He's a freshman and will most likely be JV for hoops and varsity for baseball.

The coaches seem supportive but the baseball coach seems to change his demeanor when we ask about January. I get the feeling he would prefer my son only play baseball but that he doesn't want to tell him. 

Read the thread on catchers and showcasing.  Your son is a freshman, will he get playing time on varsity baseball or  will he just be a bullpen catcher?  How much playing time does he expect as a freshman?  It is all about reps. Let him enjoy school and sports. Save his knees for the summer.

His coach told me he is going to be the starter for varsity. He’s asking for his gear sizes so he can order the custom team gear for him

This is a tough one.  I am usually in the camp with Collegebaseballinsights as a proponent of multiple sports and the full HS experience when possible.  But you are correct about the issue of catchers working pitchers.  As a HS coach, we would conduct pen ramp-up sessions for the pitching staff, starting several weeks in advance of position player work and then separately when the whole group started working out.  Having multiple catchers to catch pens is essential to efficiency for these workouts.  But far more importantly - while it is certainly feasible to find guys to step in and catch pens, having the catchers that would actually be catching those pitchers in-season is particularly valuable for all involved.  It is great work for P's and C's in many ways.  Pitcher benefits are obvious.  C's get good receiving and blocking reps, learn all the P's ball movement, personalities, tempo, pitch preferences, pitch strengths, they start to get their legs conditioned for the season, etc.

A few of our recent C's played soccer (same time as basketball) and while I always supported our guys playing other sports, this was particularly challenging and somewhat detrimental.  Just something to be aware of so you may be more understanding of the coach's reservations.

TerribleBPthrower posted:

CollegebaseballInsights posted:

TerribleBPthrower posted:

I was wondering this myself, but with baseball and basketball. My son is a catcher and worried about the hoops schedule in January interfering with his ability to catch bull pens and work with the pitching staff. He's a freshman and will most likely be JV for hoops and varsity for baseball.

The coaches seem supportive but the baseball coach seems to change his demeanor when we ask about January. I get the feeling he would prefer my son only play baseball but that he doesn't want to tell him. 

Read the thread on catchers and showcasing.  Your son is a freshman, will he get playing time on varsity baseball or  will he just be a bullpen catcher?  How much playing time does he expect as a freshman?  It is all about reps. Let him enjoy school and sports. Save his knees for the summer.

His coach told me he is going to be the starter for varsity. He’s asking for his gear sizes so he can order the custom team gear for him

Question, does your son think he will be the starting catcher?  Is his strength defense, offense or both for the varsity team. 

Here is why I'm asking, if his strength is defense and he is not physically ready to hit varsity pitching, the coach might DH for him.  Note, his defense will flourish, but his offense will need to wait for the summer.

You will also need to project how many games your son will be playing next year.

He has a high potential to hit a wall around June/July.

# of games (2020)  = High School + Summer Travel + Fall Travel.  So you have potentially 70 to 80 games, (assume he catches 65% of his games. He is potentially catching 45 to 50 games.

The issue for catchers is two-fold,  wear and tear on knees and shoulders, specifically the labrum (SLAP tears are common)

Remember this is a marathon not a sprint, pace and balance is critical

Also, try to stay clear of talking to the coach, let your son create the relationship, as for it will prepare both you and him for what will come down the line.

Good luck.

 

 

 

Question, does your son think he will be the starting catcher?  Is his strength defense, offense or both for the varsity team. 

Here is why I'm asking, if his strength is defense and he is not physically ready to hit varsity pitching, the coach might DH for him.  Note, his defense will flourish, but his offense will need to wait for the summer.

You will also need to project how many games your son will be playing next year.

He has a high potential to hit a wall around June/July.

# of games (2020)  = High School + Summer Travel + Fall Travel.  So you have potentially 70 to 80 games, (assume he catches 65% of his games. He is potentially catching 45 to 50 games.

The issue for catchers is two-fold,  wear and tear on knees and shoulders, specifically the labrum (SLAP tears are common)

Remember this is a marathon not a sprint, pace and balance is critical

Also, try to stay clear of talking to the coach, let your son create the relationship, as for it will prepare both you and him for what will come down the line.

Good luck.

 I would say at this point he is definitely stronger defensively. I would think the possibility of the coach DH’ing  for him is there. As far as whether he thinks he will be the starter, I think he knows it but he does not talk about it or act like  The job is his. 

 My wife and I try to avoid talking to the coach. My son has been on his travel team going on two years so we are somewhat friendly with him. Basically we will not talk to him unless he talks to us first. 

cabbagedad posted:

TerribleBPthrower posted:

CollegebaseballInsights posted:

TerribleBPthrower posted:

I was wondering this myself, but with baseball and basketball. My son is a catcher and worried about the hoops schedule in January interfering with his ability to catch bull pens and work with the pitching staff. He's a freshman and will most likely be JV for hoops and varsity for baseball.

The coaches seem supportive but the baseball coach seems to change his demeanor when we ask about January. I get the feeling he would prefer my son only play baseball but that he doesn't want to tell him. 

Read the thread on catchers and showcasing.  Your son is a freshman, will he get playing time on varsity baseball or  will he just be a bullpen catcher?  How much playing time does he expect as a freshman?  It is all about reps. Let him enjoy school and sports. Save his knees for the summer.

His coach told me he is going to be the starter for varsity. He’s asking for his gear sizes so he can order the custom team gear for him

This is a tough one.  I am usually in the camp with Collegebaseballinsights as a proponent of multiple sports and the full HS experience when possible.  But you are correct about the issue of catchers working pitchers.  As a HS coach, we would conduct pen ramp-up sessions for the pitching staff, starting several weeks in advance of position player work and then separately when the whole group started working out.  Having multiple catchers to catch pens is essential to efficiency for these workouts.  But far more importantly - while it is certainly feasible to find guys to step in and catch pens, having the catchers that would actually be catching those pitchers in-season is particularly valuable for all involved.  It is great work for P's and C's in many ways.  Pitcher benefits are obvious.  C's get good receiving and blocking reps, learn all the P's ball movement, personalities, tempo, pitch preferences, pitch strengths, they start to get their legs conditioned for the season, etc.

A few of our recent C's played soccer (same time as basketball) and while I always supported our guys playing other sports, this was particularly challenging and somewhat detrimental.  Just something to be aware of so you may be more understanding of the coach's reservations.

This is great insight, and seems to validate our son’s decision to not swim this winter as a sophomore. If he did swim, he would miss the first 3 weeks of practice and catching pens. If he made state, it would be even longer.  

Perhaps more importantly, swimming would prevent him from ramping up his arm correctly. This happened last winter and it was telling through the late spring & summer. He took the fall off from playing to really rest (first fall he’s missed in 6 years), and he’s hoping it lets him come back fully replenished. 

But man, he’s gonna miss swimming (and we’ll miss watching him). 

My son payed both football and baseball up to his senior year.  He liked the break from baseball, enjoyed playing the game and really liked the energy of the "Friday Night" games.  Once January came around he was reenergized for the upcoming baseball season and his "arm" was ready to go.  2 sport athletes should play the sport that they enjoy and have fun with regardless of what a coach thinks.  

Having said that, however, during the recruiting process  it can be a problem when OV/UOV present themselves.  With baseball most of these visits take part in the fall and my son found himself missing some football practices and even one game due to a desired visit.  Coach was not happy but understood where my son's future was.  Eventually son committed to a D1 HA his Junior year of HS and "retired" from football his Senior year to assure there was less chance of getting hurt in football.

Good Luck!

Bigger question might by why you still let your son play football?  

https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/07...te-nfl-player-brains 

Lol, that's the bigger question? Ok, I'll bite.

I can understand why you feel that way Ross, but I have read plenty of studies on youth concussions too - enough to know that football is 4th (according to meta-analyses) on the list of youth sports incidence - begind rugby, hockey, and soccer.

To be honest, I didnt want him to play football at first, but the way it is coached today (heads up), and the slower speed of the youth level games have made me comfortable  with it. Also, I see (as many others have noted) a confidence that he gets from football that carries over into his baseball. Scouts, recruiters, and other coaches all seem to love multi-sport athletes. It says something about a player's overall athleticism. Why only stick to one unless you want to or have to?

I teach high school kids every day who play 6 hours of xbox a night and can't climb the flight of stairs next to my room without being winded. Setting a young person up for a lifetime of healthy habits seems just as important to me as educating their minds. If football (or any other sport for that matter) is the avenue they prefer why should I tell them no? Which is truly the greater risk to their long term health? I assume you understand your baseball kid can get hit in the head with a fastball or have his knee taken out on a hard slide, right? The defensive end my son practices against broke his foot last week... walking his dog after practice (he stepped off a curb wrong).

I believe the benefits of sports (at this age specifically) far outweigh the risks of doing nothing - and let's be clear, unless your kid participates in no sport or activity at all, there is some inherent risk. 

We can agree to disagree, but we are talking about small percentage point differences in health risks between all major US youth sports. The SI article is very dramatic, but my son is not in the NFL and likely never will be. The NFL guys playing now know the risks, but for some crazy reason they still line up every weekend. Maybe for them the benefits far outweigh the risks.

I'm still not sure if you were serious in your post or just poking the bear, but I hope my thoughts gave you an insight into why people may feel the way I do - even if you disagree.