High school baseball.

You can drive yourself crazy trying to understand that which you will never know. I wouldn't worry about those upper classmen who will never see the field as that could be coach rewarding program loyalties.  If they don't play they didn't take a spot from a better player.  As for your son, the coach may see more value in your son getting reps and AB's on JV vs watching from the dugout on Varsity.

Five tools relative to what? 14u? High school ball is 18u. If he was truly a five tool player he would have been moved to another position on the varsity field. Is your son too good to associate with JV players? 

Take off the rose colored glasses. Encourage him to work hard on JV. If he’s the best player on JV he will start somewhere on varsity next year. 

The four or five upperclassmen on varsity who don’t play are irrelevant. If they’re seniors the uniform is a reward for sticking it out. Now they get to cheer and retrieve foul balls. 

No offense meant to you personally but these are the kind of questions that frustrate me. You answered your own question? He is not going to play ahead of the 2 MIF's so he will receive limited reps. Best place for him to get reps is JV. If he plays for an elite FL HS program then I am going to assume they are playing an elite non-conference schedule. Those elite opponents are going to have tougher JV teams. Heck...we just had one of our frosh JV players from last spring, commit to a competitive D1 program over the summer. I don't know his HC does things but we will move up JV players for specific games to get them reps and keep them motivated. However, nothing worse then watching a young talented player sit on the bench for an entire game, when he could be getting some AB's and working on his game at the JV level.

Stop worrying about where he starts and enjoy the ride. Take it from those of us who have kids in college or beyond. It won't be long and you will be missing his HS days!

ConcernedPapa posted:

Would love some feedback from baseball community.

My son is a freshman at a private HS known for baseball.in Florida. He has 5 tools and can give details if it makes a difference.  Tryouts occur and he clearly is right behind the two upperclassmen MIF as far as skill etc but head coach keeps him on JV, putting multiple, maybe 4 to 5 upperclassmen on the team who will never play in games , only because of seniority. 

I realize he won't play ahead of the 2 MIF until they graduate but do you think most programs would want to develop a SS behind those two junior MIF, using them as mentors, rather than stick him down with less skilled players on JV.  Very frustrating. Just curious if most HS coaches do this. I hope I explained this correctly 

Welcome to HS Baseball!  I suggest you search archives for this subject. Plenty of meat on that bone. 

The kicker here is that there an enormous difference between varsity practices and reps with better players than the weaker JV coach. JV practice is basically babysitting kids who play baseball with 4 superior players vs playing and learning from HS upperclassman and more thorough, experienced coaches. Again I'm curious if most HS coaches keep juniors and seniors on the bench rather than allow underclassmen to compete with the more experienced players, knowing they will be the starters in a few years. 

Recent long time HS coach - This is a common issue.  Each case is unique.  Keep in mind, that while the coach is making determinations what is best for your son, he is also making determinations what is best for each young man out there as well as the program as a whole, the V team on it's own and a host of other factors.  Even aside from all the external stuff, deciding what is best for this young man at this time isn't a no-brainer decision.  There is a long list on both sides of the pro's/con's for such a player, both for being with varsity and with JV.  There is no way you are going to have visibility to everything.  Encourage him to embrace whatever role, whatever situation he is in and remind him how fortunate he is to be in a strong baseball program where he is not top dog coming out of the chute but in the conversation.  Embrace that he will be getting playing time with others that will likely be his teammates as he moves forward with his HS baseball career (which, BTW, is one of many factors the HC is considering).  If he is clearly better than the others who were brought up, if something happens with the starters, I'm sure the HC will consider all his options.  Coaches of strong programs tend to keep pretty decent tabs on what is happening at the levels below.  He will want to continue rolling out his best options when tough games are on the schedule.  Your son should focus on continued improvement and preparation for when his number is called for those tough, competitive varsity games.

ConcernedPapa posted:

The kicker here is that there an enormous difference between varsity practices and reps with better players than the weaker JV coach. JV practice is basically babysitting kids who play baseball with 4 superior players vs playing and learning from HS upperclassman and more thorough, experienced coaches. Again I'm curious if most HS coaches keep juniors and seniors on the bench rather than allow underclassmen to compete with the more experienced players, knowing they will be the starters in a few years. 

Well, then, those 4 "superior" players better take seriously their role in helping the other 10-15 players in that group make significant strides.  They will be varsity teammates before you know it and relying heavily on each other.  That is the best outlook your son can take right now.  At times, the much bigger tests in this game are not what your individual performance is but how you help the team and the program in other ways... whether you will be a positive leader or something else.  

I really appreciate the past two comments. I agree with both of you entirely and I really wish I believed my son would continue to develop under the JV coach and his program,  but I played under him before.  My son is an extremely hard worker as most kids who have some success are, and it seems like canbagedad has it correct.  The varisty coach is more concerned about the HS program as a whole then the development of my son in particular, or any particular player. He ckearly knows the difference in the two teams practice schedule, coaching abilities and overall poor development capability of the jv. But you are correct my son does need to play with the other teammates in future years for sure and learn to elevate the play of others but I am having a tough time swallowing the so called baseball coaches that are all about development when really all they want to do is coach kids who get developed by other people. 

ConcernedPapa posted:

... but I am having a tough time swallowing the so called baseball coaches that are all about development when really all they want to do is coach kids who get developed by other people. 

Continuing with the same line of thinking... your son is likely where he is in part because he is getting good outside instruction to help with his development.  There are very few players these days that advance to next-level play (college and/or high level HS) without getting external (from the HS program) instruction and putting in a great deal of work on their own, with or without good HS coaches.  He will need to continue down that path.  This, too, can only help him going forward.  Had he made varsity and assumed that he would get sufficient skill advancement and could back off of outside instruction, that would probably have been a mistake.  HS coaches, even the best of them, are somewhat limited with how much they can develop skill sets, if nothing else, just because their time is divided among 15-20 players every day and they have other team responsibilities - not just focusing on individual skill set development.

There will be plenty of opportunity for your son to find ways to continue improving within the HS JV environment, even as you describe it.  Again, he needs to embrace it.

You may be surprised to learn down the road that many college programs are similar in that their focus is to bring in players who are ready to contribute more so than rely on development.  Not all, for sure.  But probably far more than you imagine.

Cabbage. You are spot on.  And I appreciate the conversation. Hopefully in 4 years I can complain about the college program. 

I should just walk away from this thread but you seem to throw a jab in every time you respond, even when you are saying you agree entirely. I don't know what it is like in FL but out here in CO, finding quality coaches for every level is almost impossible. Hell, you are lucky to have a full-staff at the varsity level that is all-in. What I do know is, if your son is truly a 5-tool player and only waiting out 2 senior MIF's before he is playing every varsity game, then I would stop worrying about where he plays this year. I am assuming with 5-tools, he is playing high-level summer ball where the competition is consistently better anyway! We have a couple of alumn who are playing in the show right now and neither one of them played varsity baseball their frosh year. One of them even played frosh ball because our HC at the time did not think he was mature enough to play at a higher level. 

ConcernedPapa posted:

The kicker here is that there an enormous difference between varsity practices and reps with better players than the weaker JV coach. JV practice is basically babysitting kids who play baseball with 4 superior players vs playing and learning from HS upperclassman and more thorough, experienced coaches. Again I'm curious if most HS coaches keep juniors and seniors on the bench rather than allow underclassmen to compete with the more experienced players, knowing they will be the starters in a few years. 

My son played JV ball as a freshman along with three other superior players. He started varsity opening day soph year. The other three were called up mid season. They helped the team contend for the conference title. 

Junior and senior year four of those “other players” from the JV helped the team win the conference. ALL eight from their class went on to play college ball at various levels. From the junior year roster twelve went on to play college ball. 

Being the best four on JV freshman year and being the first to move up the following year came with a commitment to become team leaders.

The reality is if a kid wants it to work out in the long run nothing stops him.

I'd try to find a way to relax some over your son's situation this year. First of all, as a percentage of his total time devoted to the sport in 2019-20, I'd be willing to bet that high school constitutes no more than about 20%. The rest would be spent involved in travel ball and some sort of training like that offered in baseball academies. In each of the last two, he'd be expected to be playing for expert coaches and surrounded by other high-caliber players. Even if he were on the high school varsity, travel ball and academy-style training would account for the majority of his development as a player.

Then, assuming that he's promoted to varsity next year, he's facing only one of 4 high school seasons playing for the junior varsity. If all of this is a fair representation of his overall experience over the course of his 4 high school years, this one JV season is relatively inconsequential.

ConcernedPapa posted:

Cabbage. You are spot on.  And I appreciate the conversation. Hopefully in 4 years I can complain about the college program. 

Oh please no...don’t be one of those who complains any time things don’t roll Johnny’s way! It’s a good time for you and your son to learn that things aren’t always going to roll your way, and to keep working hard when they don’t...because attitudes and hard work are a lot of get players noticed.

Interesting how perspectives can differ.  Last year my son was a freshman on the bubble during varsity tryouts.  My wife and I were hoping he wouldnt make it be placed onto the JV team.  JV team has a great coach and he would get more playing time.  Last day of tryouts he got sent down to JV, coach told him to kick ass and come back stronger next year.  He ended the season with the best BA, best ERA, and tons of confidence.  It couldnt have turned out any better and he has had a fire under his butt all summer, weightlifting 3 time a week and hitting in the cages 5 days a week.  Adversity often brings the best out of people.

Don't sweat this.  We were in about the same situation, private school, competitive baseball, son is a MIF.  Freshman year he had a few varsity starts at 2nd, behind a senior who had not yet finished his basketball season, but son primarily played JV.  It was a great experience to grow and mature with his buddies on the JV team, and he actually got to pitch and had a no hitter.  It was so cool!  Thank goodness he was playing JV.

He started at SS on the varsity team his sophomore year, on a heavy senior team with high expectations for success.  It was a different level of pressure  

If your son is anything like mine, he picks up on the attitude my husband and I have about everything.  If he senses we are frustrated with something, it becomes a frustration for him.  If we talk about a problem with a coach, team, etc.  he picks up on that as well.  Fortunately, we saw was happening early on and vowed to let things unfold as they will - without adding our negative take.  Attitudes are contagious!  You don't want your son to have a bad rap for having a bad attitude or thinking he is "above" JV (which he may be, but he can't act like it!).  Like someone said before, there are a number of reasons the coach made this decision that you may never know.  Our job as parents is to encourage and uplift and model a good attitude.  I am sure if he embraces this team and takes it as an opportunity to showcase his leadership skills and talents, he will be recognized.  That can be his 6th tool, making him that much more of a sought after player. 

A few things you ought to be teaching your son:

1. Baseball is a TEAM sport.

2. There is no "I" in TEAM.

3. Coach is the boss of the TEAM. Your son works for COACH when he is between the lines. JV is giving him reps, play time. Be thankful!... He's learning &/ or polishing up some life skills, like patience, perseverance, persistance...and mostly TEAM building.

4. Because COACH is BOSS, it is HIS job to win games by utilizing the players that give the TEAM the best opportunity to WIN. 

Is your son learning to be a TEAM PLAYER? 

Relax...This is Fall of his Freahman year. He needs to be focused on his own development. Mentally, in addition to skills development. 

You need to be focused on providing him the means to his end...Nothing more! Teamates that are older, with better skills are good examples for him. Be thankful he has 2 available mentors. 

Your going to get as many opinions as responses, but the only one that matters is your son's coach.  If you think the Coach developing him on JV is going to be an issue then I'd like to suggest your son schedule a meeting with the Coach, and I'd like to hear how that goes.  I can tell you how it would have gone with my 3 son's high school coaches....not too well.  I don't know anything about your son other than you claim he is a five-tool player at 14 years old.    I'm not going to comment on that claim because I've never seen a 14 year old dominate with all 5 skills against 17 & 18 year old 

If I was the Head Coach and I thought he could bring value (wins!) to my Varsity program as a freshmen then I would play him somewhere (OF, DH, whatever) to give him at-bats or swipe a couple bases.   So, this leads me to believe the following:

-Your son will get more reps at JV.  Possibly the Coach wants to see him play before making a decision on moving him up.  This is what I would do if I was the Coach...I would want to see him dominate JV games before moving him up to Varsity.  Over the years and 3 high school playing sons, I've seen a lot of guys who are really good at practice and BP.   However, when it was "showtime" they struggled because the game was too fast and they could not adapt to hitting breaking pitches.  We live in a baseball talent hotbed.  Many of the guys who make it to the next level play JV in 8th and 9th grade then get moved up to Varsity.  A couple played Varsity in 9th grade but were used very sparingly, and they did not like it.

-Your son is not at the skill level of the 2 MIFS, but he is also not at the hitting skill level as the rest of the starters otherwise he'd be playing another position.   Golden rule of baseball - Those that hit best, play.  Therefore the Coach is giving him JV reps in the field and at the plate.

-You're going to hear the word "opportunity" a lot in the coming years especially if he is an aspiring college player.  JV baseball is his opportunity to show that he belongs in Varsity.   My advice is to take that opportunity and run with it.   Force the Coach to make some tough decisions.   Play Varsity outfield if it gets him to where he belongs as a starting point.

Good luck!