Pitchingfan: Glad that one ended well!
I would agree with vast majority. There are very few programs that I have seen other than military schools that REQUIRE short hair and clean shaven. I like it but again not worth fighting over.
I have always been surprised that opposing coaches have not argued that the constant hat falling off is a distraction to his batters. Has anyone ever seen this? BTW......the hat coming off while pitching is a major pet peeve of mine!!! It drives me crazy, and if it were my son I would do whatever it takes to keep that hat on his head when he pitches. It looks childish and unskilled in my opinion.
PitchingFan posted:I would agree with vast majority. There are very few programs that I have seen other than military schools that REQUIRE short hair and clean shaven. I like it but again not worth fighting over.
OK, Pitchingfan and BJER, for the sake of fun debate....
Thought I'd have some fun with this and do a little test... I wanted to pick something middle-of-the-road, something that should be fairly typical and likely representative of the whole. So, I picked a mid level D1 conference, not too high or low on academic focus, not too far West or East, not ultra-conservative or ultra-liberal, and one I happen to have particular new interest in 
. I give to you the Mid-American Conference....
I looked at each of the ten school baseball rosters via "list view" that shows head shots of each player for 2019. 8 of the 10 schools have ZERO players or coaches with hair longer than the neck lines of the jerseys. The vast majority of those players are either completely clean shaven or have very well trimmed facial hair. The other two schools have two players and three players respectively with hair longer than the neck line and four of those five, the hair is just barely to the neckline. Again, the majority are clean shaven or well groomed and short on facial hair.
You mean to tell me over 300 20ish year olds are all deciding on their own to keep themselves that clean cut with no influence from the program HC??? Look at the team shots. Come on, really?
To be honest, I was surprised to see it that far to the extreme of clean cut across the board. This is the reality of college baseball today... right there in front of you, plain as black & white... or color, rather 
Yes, of course, there are countless exceptions. But there are certainly plenty of coaches and programs who do have some influence/guidelines with regard to long hair. To bring that back around, I'm sure that those coaches would prefer seeing HS recruits looking like future college players than not.
Okay, I like your thought process, Cabbage. You may be on to something, and I have a feeling you're right overall.
However, I would point out that, while the game day program may show a bunch of clean cut, freshly shaven boys, the reality may sometimes look like the pic below. Notice the difference in the same Vandy Boy, one pic taken pre-season, the other mid-season, after a few late night study sessions and frat parties. Kid's head didn't see a razor all season! Or else, maybe he had a ponytail for his program pic.
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Yup, definitely something to that... the picture day factor. But, still, at least it was more likely that the HC said clean up for pics as opposed to mom
Quite a lot of chin fuzz on some of those teams. And, most were wearing hats, so you can't really tell what the hair is like, other than it's not long. They do a lot with spiky hair on top of the head these days! Do coaches object to that?
Hahaha... yeah, there are so many levels we can take this. But you did bring up another good point. The hats. In those images, you will see an occasional flat but no crazy tilts, no bills off to the side, no inverted flats, no sitting high on top... a whole lot of traditional old school slight curve, straight forward and pulled down, worn like it's supposed to be. Again, there's still a prevalence of convention and tradition. It is still considered, in college circles, proper respect for the game. The "wear the uniform with pride and respect - you are representing..." speech is not uncommon at all. If I have a young HS player working hard to open as many doors as possible... this is something I want to make sure he is aware of.
bjer posted:Okay, this is getting ridiculous. My LHP 15u kid's been letting his hair grow all summer. I'm cool with it, even though it looks like a mop. Whatever. Let him be his own guy, I say. I personally sported New Wave hair in high school. It's time to grow up soon enough.
What does bother me, though, is that nearly every single pitch, no exaggeration, his hat flies off his head. Then he picks it up off the ground, whips his Absalom locks back into place, and replaces his hat. On to the next pitch. Repeat.
Personally I love the clean-shaven, tidily barbered look of the Yankees. But knowing I can't sway my kid's opinion on this matter with talks of professionalism and respect for the game, I'm looking for solutions.
Have any of you experienced the same problem, and found a solution? At first he suggested he would turn the back of the hat up to help tighten it. But either he forgets, or it doesn't work. I've thought about getting an elastic band sewn inside his hat. I've also wondered about making him wear one those skull caps you always see the NFL guys wearing on the sidelines. On occasion, I've thought of making him borrow bobby pins or ribbons from his sister. Anything that keeps that hat on.
We've got a game in front of lots of scouts next weekend, and I hope to avoid the distraction of the hair show. Any suggestions are appreciated!
BJER - your post reminded me of my son (now 25) when he was about that age (14-15). At the time he had hair not quite down to his shoulders. Wife called it the "surfer dude" look - his hair was sort of blondish and in all honesty he did look like he'd be more comfortable on a surf board than a baseball field. He did pitch from time to time, but I don't remember his hat constantly falling off when he pitched so I can't help you there. I tried to find a pic of him at that time, could not find one.
A few weeks after making the Varsity squad as a sophomore, his hair was considerably shorter. I don't recall if the coach ever said anything to him or had a rule about hair length, but I found it interesting that he got it cut that short (almost military).
Here's a high school pic (he's in the middle of the back row - #12)
Junior College:
D2 University (Regional Playoffs):
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Cabbage: I, for one, love it that the college game keeps it more traditional, and it sounds like that's the consensus here. Sometimes I wish that tradition would spill over more into the pros. But who knows, maybe it wouldn't appeal to the broader audience? And I do agree that keeping the look from drawing attention would tend to open more doors.
Fox: Thanks for sharing that! Loved seeing the progression. He was quite the Hoss by the time he reached D2, eh? Post if you find the surfer dude pics.
cabbagedad posted:PitchingFan posted:I would agree with vast majority. There are very few programs that I have seen other than military schools that REQUIRE short hair and clean shaven. I like it but again not worth fighting over.
OK, Pitchingfan and BJER, for the sake of fun debate....
Thought I'd have some fun with this and do a little test... I wanted to pick something middle-of-the-road, something that should be fairly typical and likely representative of the whole. So, I picked a mid level D1 conference, not too high or low on academic focus, not too far West or East, not ultra-conservative or ultra-liberal, and one I happen to have particular new interest in
I looked at each of the ten school baseball rosters via "list view" that shows head shots of each player for 2019. 8 of the 10 schools have ZERO players or coaches with hair longer than the neck lines of the jerseys. The vast majority of those players are either completely clean shaven or have very well trimmed facial hair. The other two schools have two players and three players respectively with hair longer than the neck line and four of those five, the hair is just barely to the neckline. Again, the majority are clean shaven or well groomed and short on facial hair.
You mean to tell me over 300 20ish year olds are all deciding on their own to keep themselves that clean cut with no influence from the program HC??? Look at the team shots. Come on, really?
To be honest, I was surprised to see it that far to the extreme of clean cut across the board. This is the reality of college baseball today... right there in front of you, plain as black & white... or color, rather
Yes, of course, there are countless exceptions. But there are certainly plenty of coaches and programs who do have some influence/guidelines with regard to long hair. To bring that back around, I'm sure that those coaches would prefer seeing HS recruits looking like future college players than not.
You got me thinking and looked at UT where son is going. There is only one in roster pics that has long hair and none really with facial hair. BUT by playoffs the coach had a full beard and doesn't even look like the same guy and his hair is longer. There were 7 with long hair and facial hair at the end. Don't get me wrong. I wish mine would cut his hair and I was hoping UT would make him cut it but neither seem to be going to happen. I also agree that some coaches make them tuck it behind or put it in a band for team pics. If that is his worst problem, I will count my blessings. I went back and looked at the photos from the College world Series. The %'s change drastically from beginning of season to the end of season so I wonder if some coaches have a rule that says you have to start with this but if we are winning I don't care.
The Royals made their players, summer scout team, have hair that did not touch ears or collar all summer long but got a little lenient in the fall. No facial hair at the beginning of the summer.
Wasn't it the 2013 Red Sox who all looked like homeless men by the time they won the Series? I know they were all growing facial hair. Pretty sure some of them didn't cut their hair. And by the looks of it, many had not taken baths in months. How's that for respecting the game?
It was the 2004 Red Sox. Their nickname was “The Idiots.”
From watching the NCAA post season and looking at rosters and profiles I was wondering if some of the college baseball teams picked up the NHL post season tradition ... no shaving and haircuts while your team is still active. On the other hand maybe coaches tell their players to clean up for profile pic day. Then there’s a few months before we start looking at most of them as the post season wears on.
2004?? I must be getting old! Feels like yesterday.
I guess my main issue with this "old school/short hair" argument is that it's largely based on faulty memory. When did these flat-top guys play, 60 years ago? Hairstyles have varied but you'd have to go back before the 1970s to find short hair consistently popular with young adults. If it's just "young guys should have short hair like the military", it's not what their role models have (except those of us who are bald) so not sure where they'd get that from. The whole discussion seems pointless.
And yeah, I wouldn't tell a hockey player he needs to shave, not unless you want to drop the gloves...lol
bjer posted:Fox: Thanks for sharing that! Loved seeing the progression. He was quite the Hoss by the time he reached D2, eh? Post if you find the surfer dude pics.
Found one, though it's not of him pitching. It's a team pic. He's the 3rd from the right, front row. Of all the kids in that pic, only 4 would go on to play varsity baseball.
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Stranded: You know, you make a good case.
Fox: You must have been ecstatic when the locks came off. But kudos to you for enduring it. That's my philosophy, too, giving the kid freedom wherever you can on anything that's not a moral failing. My kid's hair isn't nearly that long, more like the kid on the back row on the far right. (Was the team barber David Crosby?) But I'll still be glad for the day he gets tired of it.
bjer posted:Stranded: You know, you make a good case.
Fox: You must have been ecstatic when the locks came off. But kudos to you for enduring it. That's my philosophy, too, giving the kid freedom wherever you can on anything that's not a moral failing. My kid's hair isn't nearly that long, more like the kid on the back row on the far right. (Was the team barber David Crosby?) But I'll still be glad for the day he gets tired of it.
Actually, his long locks didn't bother me (I had hair nearly as long at about that age). Like you we tried to give our children leeway on many things so long as it wasn't detrimental. How else will they learn? I have three daughters as well and three grandchildren (all from my oldest daughter who is 33). And all my daughters played softball.
As I am sure you've been told, enjoy the ride. We enjoyed the 15 years our son played ball from LL to HS to College. He last played in 2015. He will have his Bachelors this December (Yay!) and is contemplating going after his Masters (Physicians Assistant). We still miss watching him play and driving by a ball game gives us some pangs, but time will heal all woulds (so they say).
Team barber? Nah. Though some parents probably wish we did have one. LOL!
Cabbage - the pic below you might find fascinating. Taken during the 2015 CIAA Championship game at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary (which his team won). That's what I call "going for it!"
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Fox Dad, that's a Sports Illustrated or ESPN shot!! Perfect "all or nothing"!
My rising soph son goes to a pretty strict Catholic HS, with specific hair length restrictions. So over the summer he has been letting his "flow" (I believe that is the correct vernacular) go. While he is more floppy Bieber than Hunter Wood, he has been experiencing the cap flips on the mound. Luckily he is on the bottom of the depth chart so it has not been a distraction
Thor. Just enjoy.
if it ain’t bothering him. Who cares
https://twitter.com/skylartmea...250835527479301?s=21
Read the comments as well. Several coaches weighed in.
I read this entire thread, but all I could hear was 'get off my lawn'.
Sultan:
Update from me, the OP. Kid played a show game this weekend in front of lots of college and pro scouts. Not his best performance, though it wasn't disastrous. But . . .
The Hat Never Came Off!
Miracle! So when he went to get his hat, he asked for a size Small. The smallest they had was a Medium. I think he was a little worried, as I'd told him if it comes off more than twice, he'd be getting a haircut on Monday. Then I changed my mind, as I was afraid he would be more worried about the haircut than the batter, so I told him, don't worry, no matter what happens you're not getting a haircut. Even so, we placed a velcro strip inside the lining, kind of similar to the idea BaseballHS suggested at the beginning. And, not unimportantly, he mashed it down on his head.
I saw it moving a couple times. But the thing never came off. I feel like Sherlock, along with all of you, finally solving the mystery, though the answer lay in plain sight the whole time. Thanks for sharing the Twitter feed, BaseballHS. I had no idea it was such an epidemic.
So if you see it happening on your team, or in your game, just yell: "Mash the freakin' D1 hat down, bruh!!!!" Problem solved. Or if it isn't, get a smaller hat or put something inside the lining, then mash it down. Or if it's your own kid, and you are so inclined, take him to the barber. And still mash it down.