Freshman Year Adjustments

catchersdad08,
What your son is experienceing is not unusual for first year players.
Former Observer's statement is so very true, and this is essentially what baseball is about on any level. The young players do have much to learn, so in the beginning the natural assumption is that the older players will get the positions first. However a very interesting thing happens mid season to end, the coach begins to rely on those who he feels will be the teams future, and sometimes the older players that have struggled a bit or injured begin to get phased out, it is a fascinating experience and part of the process.

The important thing for freshman, work hard, learn the system, do whatevwer the coach wants you to do with no questions asked. Lots of players find themselves into the lineup by way of another players injury. Then they (the injured player) has to work even harder to find their way back into the lineup.

I can't beleive that your sons first semester are halfway over. Time flies. Start getting ready for spring!

TPM, the quote in my previous post was actually taken from catchersdad08 post, so I don't want to take credit for it by remaining silent.

It was not my statement, but I quoted it to emphasize how important the concept is and it had not been previously presented in this thread.

In my opinion, it is the single most difficult freshman year adjustment to be made.

FO,
I meant your statement after the quote.

Like I mentioned earlier, Bum Jr. took a small break before college fall ball and looked a bit "Rusty" in his first outing. But what an adjustment! Finished the fall with nine consecutive scoreless innings and 10k's with no walks.. clocked in at 90 for the first time. Next stop, 2009.

Thanks, Kbat.. but at his size to get 1st round he better be 94+.

FormerObserver and TPM,

Great feedback and advice. Thank You!!

No one on this topic has mentioned that when they do come home for the 1st time they are more interested in seeing their friends then sitting on the couch watchings games and spending time with their family all day...?(he never seemed to mind in the past??) We did get a couple of family meals and good conversation between visits....

I enjoyed hearing about all the different personalities of the players and coaches. His observations on the team, his place within the team and what likes and dislikes. Happy to hear very few dislikes. Many new friends from all walks of life!

As we were talking about his classes and politics, I could see the son I left at school in July had changed. Not anything that most people would notice but in a way only mom or dad notices. A good change!!

Got a call today saying "thanks for everything" and that he wished he would have spent more time at home this weekend. Thanksgiving isn't that far away..!

He also said that he was surprised with another start in today's inter-squad. They have 6 catchers(4 juniors, 2 freshman) and he is the only one with multiple starts behind the plate with another start in right field. He loves calling his own game and he threw a game speed 1.84 to 2nd(told to him by the coach)and the player was safe! I couldn't stop laughing as he went over the details of his story. Another welcome to college ball!!!

Catchersdad08,


"No one on this topic has mentioned that when they do come home for the 1st time they are more interested in seeing their friends then sitting on the couch watchings games and spending time with their family all day...?(he never seemed to mind in the past??) We did get a couple of family meals and good conversation between visits...."

Now this is a subject I can relate to as a mom of a sophomore! My son is going out of state and had not been at home at all when he flew home last year for Thanksgiving. I was really, really excited and imagined this wonderful - family filled week. Didn't happen.

First off - he asked if one of his friends could pick him up at the airport. We were picking him up and taking him to one of his favorite restaurants for a family meal. He wanted to go to Whataburger. We did pick him up and went to the favorite restaurant. He also wanted to spend the night with his friends the very first night he was home. Late nights,arguments, etc. We couldn't wait to drop him off at the airport for his trip back and get our peaceful home back.

After that experience - we set up some ground rules for Christmas and I definitely lowered my expectations. Spend some time with us - eat dinner with us early in the evenings and meet up with your friends 8:30 - 9:00. We also told him we had to have some curfew rules that were flexible due to what was going on. (Okay - we definitely echoed what our parents had told us) Texting worked great for communicating late at night. Christmas was much better. And I did let his friend pick him up at the airport when he came home for Christmas!

It seems all the "newness" of seeing the old friends wears off after the first week of being home at Christmas. It is a very exciting time of life for these kids as they swap their stories of the first year of college. I loved having the house full of his high school friends and seeing how they were doing.

Good luck!

I lowered my expectations about "face time" before son came home for Columbus Day weekend. We did get to spend a couple of dinners together. I have noticed that he treats his younger sisters much better.

I still find it hard not watching the progress on the field. I did get one call of frustration after a practice -- but mostly I am told "I'm fine". They have not had any formal scrimmages as I've heard about at other schools, so it is just perfomance at practices/workouts and bullpens.

This weekend is "family weekend". The parents of the senior baseball players are hosting a bbq at the football game. I am very excited to meet the "baseball family". I just wish they'd play a little ball when we are up there.

I am sure this will ring a bell to most if not all of you Old Timers.

During fall ball Younggun practiced daily, had intersquad games, conditioned lightly with the team, etc.

Fall ball officially ended last week and the players were told they would begin with weights and more detailed conditioning this week.

Apparently on monday the coaches had them duck walking and lunging for like 2 miles (younggun's guess!) and he ran a total of 7 miles (3 on his own earlier in the day, 4 with the team). When he sits down in his desk during class he said he wants to cry from the pain! LOL. Going to the bathroom is a HUGE dread!

I laughed so hard I couldn't stop! He didn't find it too amusing! LOL

Very good story YoungGunDad!!

I have one from my son this year.

Team was condictioning by running bases to finish up the last 15 minutes of practice. For the 2nd time in that week the same Freshman missed a base. The coaches stopped practice went to the dugout and walked back with two chairs, gatorade, cold towel and h2o. They placed the chairs on the mound area requiring the poor baserunning Freshman to sit in one and put his feet up on the other. They placed the towel around his neck and handed him the gatorade and h2o from the cooler. He was required to sit and watch his 48 teammates run for 1 hour around the bases due to his mistake.(It was 95 degrees in the early evening while they were running!!!)

Not to surprising there were some unhappy Upperclassman at the end!! My son said that a few went and had a talk with the Freshman when it was done..... It's been a couple of weeks since that happened and my son said that Freshman hasn't missed another base!!!

In my opinion that is the worst kind of coaching.

My son's coach punished the team like that and he was finally fired after running the team into the ground. Hardly the way to build team spirit.

Fall Break came and went and got to have my son at home for 5 days and it was great. He didn't really spend too much time away from the house as most of his friends weren't on their break. Was pretty cool as 2 of them drove home for the weekend because they hadn't seen him since July. He was pretty excited and they were also, happily most of all their time was spend at the house with me and we played halo until all hours of the night. (any other dad's out there into HALO 3, boys got me into it and now we all play on xbox live every couple of days together)

Was just really cool to get to spend a little time just hanging out and talking and catching up on his time at school.

Said his head coach told him he had the worst pick off move in the history of baseball, so he has been working on that. Also, he has known the team manager for awhile before he got to school and he was kind enough to give my son the tighest practice pants in the history of baseball. I think it has something to do with the fact that they have now bestowed upon him the title of biggest butt on the team.

Used more groceries in those 5 days than we had in the whole month previously! But, the great thing was that all his favorite foods are also mine, and mommy cooked everything he wanted during his time at home. I think for a second he actually let it show that he missed his little sister too!

I have gotten to see all their world series games so far, and he has done fairly well. 2nd outing was a little rough with 4BB on 2 innings, but only 1 hit and 1 K.

My God, as I read the experiences from this forum I have to say to myself. "I thought this just happened to us"...First year is almost over, school is finally finished but we are in the NCAA regional playoffs and team is doing well. My son had one offer from NAIA in Tennesse, five offers from DIII and possibility of making one DII squad. We went with the best DIII program probably in NC. At this point not sure if it was the correct move.

Coach recruited my son from his baseball showcase, where my son was only pitcher asked to stay behind and coach expressed sincere interest. We were almost sold on mid level DIII program in VA, when my son changed his mind and decided to go to NC program.

My son was runner up player of the year, so I was surprised he did not receive more looks from DII school. I knew his grades were not great, but baseball talent was there.

During the Fall, pitching coach was "absent landlord", pitchers were left to fend for themselves and sort of run their own program, which I thought was ridiculous. Some long toss and lots of running but what about "learning to pitch at the College level???"....Nothing...My son was doing reasonably well at scrimages and then we played a DI program and he was told to go 3 iinings....really check. First time ever against another team and he played badly. got 0-2 on first 4 batters and gave up hits to 3 of them, due to inexperienced of knowing where to place pitch in that situation...much different than blowing it by batters in HS. During their 3 game World Series he pitched well....

Going into Spring, head coach tells him his role will be middle relief...so far has seen 6 total innings in 4 appearances, only when team has been well behind...a lot of trouble adjusting to being number one pitcher on team to pitching one inning every 4 weeks...timing is off, fastball is 2-3 miles an hour slower and location is not as crisp...still no pitching coaching help...He is at the point where he just wants season to be over to come home and play summer ball, get stronger, and get some innings in his belt and go back in the fall and challenge for a job...TOUGH is not even the word for how this year has gone.

quote:

.He is at the point where he just wants season to be over to come home and play summer ball, get stronger, and get some innings in his belt and go back in the fall and challenge for a job...TOUGH is not even the word for how this year has gone.

Your son's team starts Regional playoff competition tomorrow? This seems like a very unusual post to be making today.
One thing that gets repeated so many times on this site is the difference between high school and college baseball.
Since you had indicated you felt your son could play DII, what did you expect for him this year at a DIII?
I will tell you it seems "odd" to read a post so critical of a coach/program/season that has been so successful, for many, many years. It seems odd to be reading a post that your son will be happy the season will be over but to know his teammates are competing for a chance to get to play in Wisconsin.
Do you think there is any chance that maybe you are only providing one side of a two sided story?
How could a coach and program be so successful for such a long period and coach, or not coach, at the level you are describing?

What is so odd about being truthful ? Are there no unhappy freshmen out there ?

BHD,
Probably a lot of unhappy freshman.
How many of their parents are posting it the night before the "Team" plays in a Regional?? What is that saying..."there is no I in TEAM?"
How does the TEAM enter into this for you, if at all?
How many unhappy freshman parents are laying that "unhappiness" at the doorstep of the coaching staff which got their team to a Regional and which also gets their team there almost every year, and happened to "stumble" on a DIII National Championship?
Are you willing to accept the coaching staff is "so inept" but yet successful year in and year out, including this year?

I would agree with you if he named the college. He is venting a bit and may be off base but I don't see anything wrong with what he said if true.
Maybe they weren't prepared for what they faced.

I wondered if he was accurate about being in the regionals at this time of year ? I also must have missed the part about successful program.

The name of the school was included in numerous past posts by RLSCosta.

Help me here:"may be off base but I don't see anything wrong if what he said is true??"
What does that mean?
Does it mean "I" is more important than "team."
Would you want his son showing up for a Regional Championship tomorrow with those thoughts running through his head?
BHD, he said his son plays at a DIII. The DIII regionals start tomorrow. His son and his team are in the South Regional

You are right if that is his attitude but it is his dad talking.
It is easy to understand how you might think it is selfish nut I would think lots of players would feel like he does if he felt left out. To think every player doesn't have selfish thoughts is unrealistic and doesn't mean he won't show up to do his best.
Have you ever seen a selfish player at all levels. Egos are part of the game and obviously this player is upset with the realities of college ball for many if not most freshmen.

quote:

It is easy to understand how you might think it is selfish nut I would think lots of players would feel like he does if he felt left out.

It is his parent...I don't know if it is the Dad, talking/posting about how his son is feeling.
He says his "son" wants the season to be "OVER."
The team is in a Regional.

The team has been in the Regionals before,
The staff has won a National Championship.
Do you accept they "left out" pitchers who can help them win. Do you accept they coached the other pitchers well enough to get to post-season play but happened to miss/leave out this one?

Yes I get your point and it was imprudent of him to post his son's feelings .
My point is that I can understand how he feels and have seen it many times.
Do coaches leave out great pitchers? Yes they do. Happens all the time. Do great pitchers get over looked ? Yes they do. Should his dad post that here ? No he shouldn't especially since he named the college in an earlier post.
His son didn't have the lowest # of innings on the team and if his coach gets wind of this it may affect his future. I suggest he removes the post for his son's sake. His son has normal feelings .

More frosh pitchers than you can imagine get limited innings especially in a program is that is strong team year in and year out--- it may happen in the sophomore year as well

Son is finishing his 1st season of D1 baseball. Talking to him this week-end and kind of reviewing his freshman year there are a couple of things that really stand out about the transition to college ball.

Nine innings is a lot more than the 7 innings in high school! Parents and players notice it during the games.

56 games is a lot more than the hs season.
The players do get more tired by the end of the season.

56 games are challenging to keep your academics up. College classes are harder (even compared to AP classes). It's tough to miss so many classes in the spring.

After watching son and teammates it's amazing to me that with missing so much class time the baseball players do so well.

It is a HUGE adjustment to step up to the college level in many ways but luckily son found tons of support from his coaches, professors, and the academic advisor. This is something parents and players definetly need to check when looking @ schools. How well are they supported as athletes? Makes a big difference in their overall success in the classroom and on the field.

So, overall son had a great 1st year with few complaints.Hopefully next year goes as well as he adjusts to living off campus.

quote:

a couple of things that really stand out

quote:

Nine innings is a lot more than the 7 innings in high school!

quote:

56 games is a lot more than the hs season.

quote:

56 games are challenging to keep your academics up. College classes are harder (even compared to AP classes). It's tough to miss so many classes in the spring.

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It is a HUGE adjustment to step up to the college level in many ways

quote:

Hopefully next year goes as well

It will.

Nice post, CaBB

infielddad,
I agree strange post, do D1 programs play D3 programs. And how does a program with no practice get to regionals?

Not too hard to figure out who the player is.Perhaps the coach felt he needed more practice for mental or physical maturing than in actual games for this year, with improvement hopefully over the summer.

You are so right, people just do not understand the transition from HS to college, especially for pitchers. They often sit more than anyone first year.

Seems to me that the parent is upset, not enough innings, I think parents fuel that fire in their players. Freshman year at any school any division is an adjustment, it is NOT HS baseball.

TPM

If you think the transition is tough for pitchers as it is for hitters---talk to a hitter who nver saw a 85/90 slider before

It aint just pitchers who need to adapt

Yes, I agree with you.

Most HS pitchers off to college usually dominated in HS, then they get to college where everyone in the line up can hit and they have issues. I think it was mentioned somewhere his son was a low 80's pitcher, successful in HS. What did he use to get hitters out? And we don't know the whole story, was the player coachable and willing to learn? That makes a HUGE difference. Some players come to college thinking that they got it all down, then the you know what hits the fan. I know that this happened to mine and I am not ashamed to admit it. It can be like starting all over.

Freshman pitchers do often put in less time, unless they are needed. For health issues alone.

TRHit is right,

My freshman son has said for the most part fastballs have not been a big adjustment for him but some of the sliders he saw early in the season absolutely befuddled him. He said even when he knew they were coming he couldn't touch them.

My son's biggest adjustment has been managing the academic requirements while spending so much time on the road early in the season. South Dakota State played its first 25 games on the road with many of the trips being in excess of 500 miles one way. With the help of upperclass teammates he has learned that roadtrips are not a break away from school. You have to take the school work with you and get it done on the bus or in the hotel room.

He came thru freshman year with pretty good grades and he has hit a few sliders along the way.

Some comments on adjustments from my son, who also just finished his freshman year:
-Boy, I'm tired. a 56 game D1 sched is A LOT tougher than a 25 game HS season!
-Dad, I'm used to seeing 90mph fastballs from HS. But almost every pitcher in college has movement on their FBs.
-He ran into several opposing pitchers who had devastating changeups. In HS, no one had a decent changeup.
-On a positive note, he appreciated that college umpires had a "real" strike zone. In our area, HS umps were VERY liberal with the corners. Of course, in college, this is probably partially due to the fact that college pitchers (in general) have better location.

son of mediocrehscoach also just finished his first year at one of the Ga Juco's. What a whirlwind. Did it go well, absolutely not, were there some positives to build off of, absolutely yes. He was a two sport athlete (football) in high school and didn't feel like he showcased to his potential in the fall of either his junior or senior years and wasn't getting the offers he wanted, several DII's but just tepid interest from any of the regional mid level D1's which is what he wants. So he signed early to a up and coming Juco, and got a nice combo scholarship package. Missed him awfull in the fall, Friday nights were miserable. He worked hard over the summer and showed up in shape in the fall, however the head coach who recruited him had left for a higher paying high school job and the assistant was promoted. This created some worry from a baseball standpoint for him. He had several friends from travel ball on the team, and lots of guys he had played against at some point, and was really happy with his team mates. The ball however was not real good, new young coaches feeling their way through the process of running a program. Fall season started out ok, he went as a two way player, I remember getting a call from him after the second intersquad saying he went two for three with a double and a home run hit into the street, said he thought to himself as he rounded second that "I guess I'll be a infielder here". Not to be; at the end of fall meeting he was told he would be a P.O. (pitcher only) and he hadn't gotten much instruction or work on the mound. In the opener in a Florida Juco tournament in front of about 40 scouts, it was about 41 degrees and the wind was screaming off the gulf at about 9:00 at night in the bottom of the seventh down 5 he gets the call from the pen after about 6 warm up pitches (he had never been a relief pitcher), bases are loaded with one out, gets the first batter in a 0-2 count and hits him with a inside curve ball, walks the next batter, gives up a double, then a single, and the game is over, 5 runs just like that, not a recorded out. He sits the next 20 games, gets a start throws 3 innings gives up three runs (gets the win), sits 15 games, gets a inning, sits 8 games, gets a inning, and gets 3 innings the rest of the year, a decent inning against TCC, and one against Wallace. He was miserable with his baseball. I think he was embarassed that he didn't have the success he was used to. I told him I was proud of him, one of only three freshman pitchers to survive the whole year, one of 23 of 50 kids to survive the whole year, that shows some mental toughness, sticktuitiveness, qualities that are way more important than stats on a website. At year end meeting 13 of 16 freshman refuse to sign scholarship papers or LOI's, son included, he won't go back. He is working hard getting ready for his first year of collegiate summer ball, working with his travel ball coaches trying to arrange a transfer to a closer to home Juco, trying to work to his goal of getting to a mid major conference team. It was frustrating to say the least, bottom line was, he was not prepared to have success in the situations he was placed in, he didn't prepare himself, his mediocre hs coaches didn't prepare him, and his college coaches didn't either, he just sort of fell through the crack. Even more frustrating was that several of his hs team mates who were baseball only but had similar stats in hs, had great success on their mid major D1 teams. Confidence is low right now, hoping that through hard work, it'll be fun for him again! What a rambling post, sorry.

mediocrehscoach - I can understand the frustration. That is part of the gig at the collegiate level. Part of the equation is luck and your son did not have much (if anything) go his way imho.

For young hitters out there, you have to show the coaches you can hit right away. It may be true that if you were given 10 at bats, you would produce 3 or 4 hits. The hard, cold reality is they are going to want to see those 3 or 4 hits in his first 5 at bats rather than his second five before they will give them another opportunity. That is indeed the hard part and where luck can come into play.

For young pitchers, the same thing - they need to start getting them out yesterday and throwing strikes immediately. They may get thrown in there under terrible circumstances. Sometimes, the only opportunites available are these little crumbs or bones thrown their way every once in a blue moon. That is the life of a college player. Encourage them to prepare for that one moment. Encourage them to have fun. Encourage them to lay it all out on the line for the world to see. Encourage them no matter what the outcome. Find victories even in defeat. Find victories even from their bullpen or batting practice sessions while they are waiting for that one opportunity. Encourage them is my best advice.

First year not much playing time. Failed one class but got A's and B's in others. Realized he would have to pitch to get playing time because other two upper class catchers are two best hitters on team and his lack of speed is a real issue. Off to summer wood bat league in northeast to pitch after barely one week at home. He's very comfortable with his situation and very dedicated team player willing to take what he can get, with no grand expectations. If he excels and becomes a superstar it will be a pleasant surprise for him. He's riding this horse as long as he can and will have fun while doing it, I think.

Some more to add on son's year:
-Was told at start of fall, would be battling for starting MIF spot. Last season's SS (a JR) was going to move to CF. Soph 2B probably going to start there. Then 3 freshman.
-Son had a good fall, but ultimately relagated to reserve 2B role.
-One of the freshman got the starting SS job.
-3rd freshman settled ultimately into a P role (and did quite well come spring).

SPRING SEASON:
2B plays/hits awesome. SS struggles though. Good D, but low AVG and lots of Ks. Son gets opportunity and makes most of chance (coach moved 2B over to SS and son started at 2B).
Ends up starting 19 games, playing in 32. Hits .340, highest freshman batting average.
Started last 10 straight (except for final game, got HBP in elbow and couldn't play).
Coach was impressed that he was only freshman who worked his way into lineup.
No promises, but coach said at end of season he was going to try and increase his scholly.

There were definite academic and social adjustments. Ups and downs during season.
But I am a believer that luck is really preparation meeting opportunity.

Cleveland Dad gave good advice....find victories whenever you can. When son was not playing much mid-season, he took great heart in a pre-game BP. Most of his teammates told him he would never hit one out of the park. Lo and behold, he hit a BP ball 30' over LF fence. Made his week at the time!!!

Good luck to all playing summer ball,,,,,,and then back at it this fall!!!

Update....
Son found out Friday that his scholly has been increased (just finished his Freshman season).

Just an FYI to those out there that think in today's "25%" world you may not have a chance to "increase your value", here is proof that hard work (and performance) can be recognized.

Awesome news on the increased scholly amt. esp with the economy. Sounds like your son went in and battled.Congratulations to him.

Younggunson was used in 25 relief/closing innings all season. I think his biggest struggle was not that he wasn't used as a Starter as he had been in HS, but more that his JUCO coaches never defined his role, i.e. relief, closer, etc. So he never knew from game to game how or if he would be used. He went 1 stretch for 3 weeks not used. No injuries, discipline, etc. problems. Go figure. He threw regularly around 89-91 on the bump and still no starts. He never said a word to the coaches about playing time which I was proud of. He learned to a degree what a role player was...sorta.

Anyways, first season is over and I'm glad! The growing pains from being away from home, homesick, etc. was more than Pop could bear! lol.

If all goes well this friday, he will have a new JUCO and Coach to play for. The JUCO he played for last year is going to NAIA and he wants to play another year of JUCO ball.

Good luck to all next year!

Where is he headed to next?

Costa, who is the D1 team that NC Wesleyan played/scrimmaged?

quote:

Originally posted by floridafan:

Where is he headed to next?

Floridafan, once some JUCO's learned that he was looking to play JUCO ball again next year the phones lit up like crazy. Definitely a different scenario than we had expected, but welcomed. The Chipolo, Santa Fe, Daytona coaches to name a few called but younggunson felt they might be a bit far for him. Currently he has 3 others surrounding Georgia that have offered and I believe that by the end of the week we will have a decision. Some of the offers are too good to be true so we are thankful to say the least of his options.

I'll let you know as soon as I know! lol

The offers in Florida were 100% including room, board, books and meal plan, right? Florida JUCO's are a great place to play, and not that far from Georgia. Let me know if you want any info. I am familiar with Santa Fe and Daytona.