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High School Fall Ball

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TripleThreat2TripleThreat210+ posts
I agree with nobraggers. Seems like a waste of time. And it is daddy ball in most cases I've observed. I know one family who choose to do a hard core training session at Michael Johnson's Performance to work on quickness/speed, along with private lessons twice a week. Why not use the fall to focus on becoming a better athlete..stronger, faster, etc.
M Maverick0714500+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TripleThreat2:
I agree with nobraggers. Seems like a waste of time. And it is daddy ball in most cases I've observed. I know one family who choose to do a hard core training session at Michael Johnson's Performance to work on quickness/speed, along with private lessons twice a week. Why not use the fall to focus on becoming a better athlete..stronger, faster, etc.


My son did not play fall ball for his HS team and the coach had no problems with it. He trained every day and played games in the MSL. It was the best thing for him.

Fall ball is fall ball... talent level is down and so is the play. Just the way its always been.
UB Uncle Bubba10+ posts
How can it ever be a waste of time to go out and experience game experiences and situations? Is it a waste of time for colleges to play a scrimmage in nearly every practice? Our fall ball is in conjunction with our off season baseball class. The class focus is on strength, speed, and conditioning. We use fall ball competition for game skills, situations, and mental approach. Seems to be working well in our situation, except for rainouts. By the way, some of us Dads played college ball and know a few things and people. Not all of us are in it strictly to promote our own sons, but I do realize this happens a lot.
LF Lamar Fan 08100+ posts
I played Fall Ball in High School, because Select Ball was a relatively new concept and our talent level wasn't down by any means. Lots of the kids went on the play college ball and some even pro ball. There were dads that coached but the HS coaches suggested who they would like to pitch and what positions they wanted to see kids play. Most of the dads that coached had college or pro experience. All of the area high schools played in the Fall league.

I think there is still a place for HS Fall Ball. You learn how to play the game with the guys that you will play with in the Spring. You learn your teammates tendencies in certain situations and it never hurts to get extra cuts in...

Lamar has had a good bit of talent over the last several seasons, but I think a weakness within the baseball program is the kids not playing together during the Summer and Fall.

Just my 2 cents
Last edited by Lamar Fan 08
T tymiller10+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TripleThreat2:
I agree with nobraggers. Seems like a waste of time. And it is daddy ball in most cases I've observed. I know one family who choose to do a hard core training session at Michael Johnson's Performance to work on quickness/speed, along with private lessons twice a week. Why not use the fall to focus on becoming a better athlete..stronger, faster, etc.


Why not use the fall to play a different sport - stronger, faster, tougher - with no lessons and a break from baseball?
Old School79Old School791,000+ posts
As Funnel said Fall ball serves a purpose, it might be a little different in each schools case.

The larger schools need the time for evaluating the new players and the smaller schools seem to use the time to develope team unity and consistancy. Most play on Saturday and some even play during the week.

Another point that has not been touched on. It helps each schools baseball program raise much needed funds for their respective upcoming seasons.

Most are under funded and need every opportunity to improve their budget. The ability to charge gate, sell concessions and lease their fields will all add up for them when Spring planning begins.
Out in LFOut in LF500+ posts
In some cases it is daddy ball but I witnessed a freshman team that is coached by 3 yr removed from HS boys who told the team to show at 8:30 for a 10am game, to not even being there themselves until the 2nd inning for one and the other showed up after the 3rd. Kuddo's to the incoming freshman boys for putting together their own lineup and starting the game. This is coming from one of the top HS programs in the area. So the young men or kids just removed don't always have the sense to provide the proper guidance and sometimes an adult dad especially if he has some select coaching skins may be the better answer. It really depends on the dad and if he is doing it for the right reasons or to promote himself.
WA What A. Game!10+ posts
Son's playing freshman fall ball and if I hadn't been a member here and already read what other experiences had been I'd probably be really disappointed and frustrated with our 1st exposure to HS baseball. Thankfully y'all spared me the frustration.

My take of the experience so far is that it's not very good baseball, but it's a good chance for son's name to get back to the coach if he does well. No daddy-ball on our team that I can see, thankfully.
WAG!
F funneldrill1,000+ posts
As a high school coach, I sympathize with parents that are disappointed with the "lack of competition." If you were expecting "high school fall ball" to resemble the Connie Mack World Series...well, that just is not the case. In regards to my upperclassmen, I want/expect them to play on a competitive team on the weekends. My goal for the "high school" team is to get this year's group to start playing together, develop chemistry, and give me a chance to go and watch ALL OF THEM play at the same time. I would love for the HS leagues to be more competitive. Most times they are not which is why I'm a big fan of MSL and other fall teams that go and play in competitive showcases and tournaments.

I have 2 former players coaching our 2 freshman teams. As far as coaching experience, they had none. What they do have, that none of the dads have (even if they have coached a "high" level of select baseball) is the experience of playing for me. They know what I expect, what I am going to teach, the terminology that the kids need to know. The guy that coaches both varsity teams played independent league ball a few years back, knows the kids, knows my terminology, knows what I expect, knows the game in and out. Same thing for him, he answers to me, not the parents.

Their job is not public relations with the parents, not to "communicate" with the parents. If parents want communication, then they need to contact the booster club officer that is in charge of organizing our fall baseball teams (or go the league website to find out if there is a rainout). These "kids" job is to coach these incoming freshman and hopefully give them a little insight in regards to what they will need to do to give them the best chance to make the team. The fall ball coaches answer to me and no one else. For the rookie high school parent, this may be something new. But, then again, high school baseball is all new to them. There is a learning curve for the parents as well as the kids. There are all kinds of rules on and off the field that will be new to them. These expectations were put in writing by me in a "freshman" packet that they all received the first day of school. Plus I speak at every booster club meeting and make my expectations clearly known.

My advice to incoming freshman parents, to ask questions and use the parents of the upperclassmen as a resource. They have been in your shoes before and can really help you if you let them.

Good luck to all!
Last edited by funneldrill
F funneldrill1,000+ posts
Ken,

You left out the Rice Krispie treats that we dye Marcus Red! I go to watch just to get my hands on those...they are a great post-game treat that makes you feel good even if you go 0 for 3 with a hat trick.

Seriously though, we don't dye them but they are part of the post-game snack treat package.

As for the packets, I do try to communicate expectations to the parents and give them as much information as they need. It really does save me headaches in the end.
M Maverick0714500+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by funneldrill:
As a high school coach, I sympathize with parents that are disappointed with the "lack of competition." If you were expecting "high school fall ball" to resemble the Connie Mack World Series...well, that just is not the case. In regards to my upperclassmen, I want/expect them to play on a competitive team on the weekends. My goal for the "high school" team is to get this year's group to start playing together, develop chemistry, and give me a chance to go and watch ALL OF THEM play at the same time. I would love for the HS leagues to be more competitive. Most times they are not which is why I'm a big fan of MSL and other fall teams that go and play in competitive showcases and tournaments.

I have 2 former players coaching our 2 freshman teams. As far as coaching experience, they had none. What they do have, that none of the dads have (even if they have coached a "high" level of select baseball) is the experience of playing for me. They know what I expect, what I am going to teach, the terminology that the kids need to know. The guy that coaches both varsity teams played independent league ball a few years back, knows the kids, knows my terminology, knows what I expect, knows the game in and out. Same thing for him, he answers to me, not the parents.

Their job is not public relations with the parents, not to "communicate" with the parents. If parents want communication, then they need to contact the booster club officer that is in charge of organizing our fall baseball teams (or go the league website to find out if there is a rainout). These "kids" job is to coach these incoming freshman and hopefully give them a little insight in regards to what they will need to do to give them the best chance to make the team. The fall ball coaches answer to me and no one else. For the rookie high school parent, this may be something new. But, then again, high school baseball is all new to them. There is a learning curve for the parents as well as the kids. There are all kinds of rules on and off the field that will be new to them. These expectations were put in writing by me in a "freshman" packet that they all received the first day of school. Plus I speak at every booster club meeting and make my expectations clearly known.

My advice to incoming freshman parents, to ask questions and use the parents of the upperclassmen as a resource. They have been in your shoes before and can really help you if you let them.

Good luck to all!


I wish all the HS coaches were like FD... If you son happens to play at FM Marcos... Go home and thank the Lord for the Good Blessing.

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