Got volunteered to help???

LOL...."To my knowledge, this kid doesn't play any sports at all. I'm not sure why anyone thinks this is a great idea, but, it looks like I'm volunteered."

 

More like you were voluntold to me!!!!!!!!   Good luck with that one

One of my baseball memories comes from when I was around 11. I had played tee ball, coach pitch and was then into kid pitch. I had played every summer since I was 5 or 6 and regularly threw with my grandfather. If I had no one to play with, I threw tennis balls against a brick wall and fielded them off of the wall.

 

One day a relative came by to visit and my younger, distantly related cousin wanted to throw baseball. He brought a glove with him and said he played. I was hesitant but threw one softly to him. Call it luck, actually bad luck, but the ball landed right in his glove. He threw it back and said, no, throw it harder.

 

So, I did.... As the ball came at him much faster than the previous throw, he had one reaction, to close his eyes and hold his glove in the same position as before. Except this time, it didn't land in his glove. The ball hit him square in the chest with a thud and he began to cry. He actually did not play baseball and the first throw just happened to land in his glove.

 

For some reason, that memory keeps popping up in my head as I anticipate meeting up with this kid.

 

I'd say with hitting the experience with that kid will be the same.  He'll hit the first one by luck and then...?

 

 

Look at it this way. When he sees the difference between himself and your son, he may realize he should not try out.  Better to be in front of just one kid wanting then half the 9th grade.  You could be doing him a favor.

What a dilemma! Don't we love our wives!

 

What if you were straight with him about the difficulty of learning baseball in a short amount of time -- and made it really clear that if he wants you to spend time with him, he has a LOT of work to do on his own.

 

Then put together a rigorous schedule of hitting off a T, and other drills, and insist that he do them.

 

He might, as they say ... self attrite.

Could be worse... could have been your wife's boss.

 

Good advice, JP

 

I feel for you and don't want to be in your shoes.

 

I think the two above is the best advice you could get on how to handle it.

After the workout talk with the parents. Explain the baseball background of the typical kid playing high school ball. Suggest he sign up for the local rec league program. If he wants to be around the high school players suggest he sign up to be a team manager. Then let the parents tell the kid. Worded properly it becomes about how good the baseball players are rather than how lacking their kid is.

Work out w him once then give him names of anyone u know in town who gives lessons. Why didn't the kid play sooner?

In the future I wouldn't volunteer son to help without asking him first. 

I would tell the kid that you weren't aware that he never played baseball and given that information you won't be able to help him. 

Why not take a more positive outlook. The kid may be looking forward to someone sharing an experience with him that he's never had an opportunity to try. He may be a better athlete than you expect and surprise you. Even if he doesn't, I'm sure you could make it a positive experience for both of you if you put in a little effort. It doesn't seem she's asking you to coach the kid but just give him a few pointers. Afterwards, point her to guys who do this as an income revenue and if he has the desire, see if he has the ability. I never played the game as my father had no interest in spending time with the kids. I wish I could have experienced the fun and dreams my son is now experiencing. Even if your experience is limited, the contact with the young man could be beneficial for all. I most always say no to parties but would never turn down a kid. You may very well gain more than the young man. Who knows?

I agree.  It could turn out positive for all.  It's not going to hurt to hold one workout, and if it is obvious he is terrible, he may either figure it out, or you may have to clue him in a little bit.

A little different situation but can share a great experience for my son when he was 9 years old. One of my friends sons played JV as a pitcher. My son had just finished the first season of 9/10 which was 1st year of kid pitch & had pitched (or really thew the ball) & was pretty excited about getting the opportunity. Was talking to my friend & telling him how much my son enjoyed pitching & was thinking about trying to get him some lessons. My son proceeded to VOLUNTEER his son to give mine some pointers in the offseason. I was reluctant at first & requested he talk to his son first to see if he was willing; also told him only way we'd do is pay his son for his time. Did several weeks of two sessions per week & helped my son a great deal. Found a mentor who gave him some pointers & spent a good deal of time talking baseball. My friends son got some spending money & my son learned about pitching; it was a win win. I truly believe the time the JV player spent with my son is equally valuable as all the time & money I've spent on private lessons since he was 12 (& the lessons have been a great investment IMO). Understand this kids a lot older & different situation but you never know what kind of impact you might make.

Good story.  My wife and I expect our son to help other kids, and we do not ask him in advance.  We figure since many coaches have volunteered their time to help our son over the years, he needs to give back.  Thankfully, he has helped other kids graciously, and we believe it has been a positive experience for all.

This isn't hard to figure out. Go work with the kid. What's the big deal. Maybe no one ever took the time to teach the game to this kid and doesn't know who to turn to . If he never picked up a ball before, then maybe take him to a game or a HS scrimmage  or to a baseball training facility to give the player an idea where he needs to be if he wants to compete for a spot on the team. If the player has some physical ability and can learn the game, who's to say he couldn't join a rec team, get some lessons, try and catch up for tryouts the following year. He' not going to know unless he tries and if he has interest, he may just learn and become a player by his junior or senior year. If not, then the player will likely be the first to know he's in over his head but at least he tried.

I disagree.  His own son needs his spare time to get ready for his important senior season, not wasting his time with a wanna be.  I don't know what the quid pro quo is with respect to the business relationship, but his son is family and is priority number one.

 

Bum, Jr. has been working out at a local health club.  A staff member saw him throwing against a racquetball court wall and found out he was a professional pitcher.  The next day, this guy had bought a brand new glove at a sporting goods store and offered to play catch with son, who politely declined.  Outright dangerous.

Why would your wife volunteer your son's services without asking him first?

 

Bum, you give out some great advice from time to time. Your son worked hard and overcame the odds and is pitching for a living now. I wish him the best of luck. I hope he makes a pile of money and has a great life. That said sometimes, correction most times, you come off as a 'set in his ways old sourpuss'. Everything is black and white with you and the hard way is the best way. Never give an inch, life is tough so get over it and persevere; yada yada yada. You're a tough old codger. You're the John Wayne of this forum. The rest of us know our place. However, from time to time it would be nice if you stepped out of your comfort zone and offered an opinion that was a liitle less rigid. Its an open forum and that's for the best, but your demeanor wears thin over time. I still like ya though, even if ya slam me.

OP seemed to be having some conflicts about offering a little experience to a friend. Unless he's planning on opening a batting cage and making a dollar out of his knowledge of the game, whats the harm in offering a couple of hours to a kid. The mother wouldn't be asking if there was another male figure in her social circle who could help her son explore a sport that he's interested in.

His own son is a senior this year. What time would he be taking away from him if they both went to the field to show the kid the ropes. What lessons would his son be learning by helping Dad help others. There are more important things to learn in life than baseball.

My son quit listening to me reference baseball when he was 12, after we hooked him up with a pair of knowledgeable coaches. I pay to have him coached by the best that I can afford and that is available and I keep my mouth shut. I don't pretend to know more than they do because I don't.

That said, I would be ashamed if my son refused to help a kid with his game considering all that he has learned from others. That is the nature of the game. Its Americas pastime for a reason. Its a game that can be played by all and its simply a matter of matching skill set to equalize the game.

Many moons ago, when I envisioned having children of my own, I never imagined spending years of my life at baseball fields throughout the southeast. You see, I never played the game nor had any interest in watching it played. As my son grew we, his parents, kept wanting to introduce him to new things that he may have found interesting. Soccer, pee wee football, etc. Baseball became his passion at 7, if thats possible, He didn't want to do anything else at that time or since. I've never seen a kid so single mindedly focused throughout his formative years. It hasn't changed. He has a passion.

This isn't complicated, the OP can either choose to give a little of his time and experience to a kid, or not. It won't be long and he'll be relegated to the sidelines as will we all. Some choose to continue to enjoy the game by giving back their experiences and contributing to continuing Americas pastime for future generations. Those guys and gals, the ones that I have seen, seem to be getting more out of coaching and out of life than they are giving. Funny how that works. Merry Christmas everyone!!

 

Disclaimer; this is maybe the third time I've posted on here even though it says I'm over a hundred. My wife is the one who spends her time on here and has gleaned much helpful information from the experiences of others. Thankyou all for taking the time to post. Mostly the curmudgeons, who's advice and experience is most needed.

  

Sorry you feel that way, Hunter, but I'm not as cold-blooded as you might think.  Having said that, with respect to helping the kid, a few hours help is okay.  Who knows, he might be a natural with speed.  Probably not, so he should be offered advice as to nixing the second session due to lack of talent.

 

After all, the only thing a coach (or mentor) owes you is the truth.

 

Hey Hunter, I like me.  I'm not changing.  Get used to it.

When my son was 8,9 10 no problem.  Going into Senior year, no way.  There is not a person on the planet who could make my sons HS team starting the game for the first time a month before tryouts.  The kid will get hurt.  The issue is how to handle it.  I think the professional help route is the best.  My wife would know better.