Freshman Year Adjustments

Great advise as always Observer.

If I might add to that....

Cards, as a parent of a college player myself I like to take these "hardship" opportunities and turn them into teaching opportunities for me. Now more than ever our sons will learn numerous things during this time that they just haven't dealt with before and/or aren't ready mentally, emotionally, or mature enough to handle. I have learned on some cases that when my son called seeking advise, I just didn't have either "a" answer or "the" answer and we'd just break it down and let him see his options.

It really is hard for players who were the most talented or gifted kids on their high school teams to be just another minnow in the pond. It's a humbling experience for them. I just reminded my son last year as a freshman that he needed to be that "team" player he was in highschool. And that he now needed to learn how to be roleplayer, no matter the role. There have been players before him that were roleplayers and there will be many after him.

Observer hit the nail on the head. Ask your son when (if) he calls what he thinks the Coach(s) would be looking for in him going forward, i.e. one that sits and sulks or one that turns it up a notch and works like a horse?

99% of coaches will hold an exit interview at the end of the season. Guaranteed the coach will bring up his work ethic and attitude. How does he want to be prepared to answer that when it comes? Good questions to ask him.

Good luck. Let us know if he makes the travel team!

YGD

quote:

Observer hit the nail on the head. Ask your son when (if) he calls what he thinks the Coach(s) would be looking for in him going forward, i.e. one that sits and sulks or one that turns it up a notch and works like a horse?

Outstanding post by ob44 and YGD!

I mean, that is the only advice you can give imho YGD. When my son called in tears and told me he did not make the travelling team (he was redshirted), I told him he could do one of two things. He could feel sorry for himself or he could show those coaches what he was made out of and most importantly work to improve his own game.

I told him to shag every ground ball he could get to. Chase down every fall ball that was hit out of play. Carry the water cooler if necessary. Do as much field maintenance as possible. Outwork every kid on the team in the batting cages and in the field. Do any team dirty work that needed done. Be the most positive kid on the team and always put your teammates' welfare above your own. Be the best teamate and never, never, ever hang your head.

He caught a lucky break a few weeks after that discussion and found himself on the team. He caught another lucky break a few weeks after getting on the team where the coaches finally let him hit for the first time. It turned out to be a walk-off game winning base hit that absolutely turned his college career around. He was ready when the opportunity knocked. When he called me that evening, I was the one in tears.

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Yep CD, that is about the ultimate example of what can happen if a player keeps his head up and stays ready for the opportunities that most certainly will come. Should be required reading for every freshman who is strugging with PT and travel issues...

44
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Great additions YGD...

...teaching opportunities...options...team player...great stuff.

I know that it is not PC on the HSBBW, but there are players out there who have made great college careers of bringing it as team players. I've said it before, star or not, college ball is the best gig going. The team, the frills, the friendships, the support, the lessons learned, the fitness, the college environment...there is a great deal more to college ball than being a star and anxiously awaiting the draft.

44
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Things can change in one practice. One at bat. One batter pitched to in practice. Never let your spirits get down for one minute. Take it as a challenge to prove the coach right or prove him wrong. Right if your playing and wrong if your not.

My son redshirted last year. I told him it was either an opportunity to take advantage of or an opportunity to sulk and feel sorry for himself. Every day is another opportunity to prove yourself. Its another opportunity to get better. Its another opportunity to prove to the coach he is wrong. Or it can be waisted. Just tell him to continue to do the things that he knows he needs to do. And to make every day count. Good luck

What's the old adage?

"Pray not for lighter loads, but for stronger shoulders"

Or something like that?