High School Team issues...What do I do?

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Originally posted by RJM:

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...and yes the coaches sons that are in his grade play that position

It doesn't matter what position your son plays in high school as long as he eventually works his way into the lineup and enjoys playing. There's a 95% chance if he eventually is recruited for college ball it will come from his travel team. Playing a second position is good for demonstrating versatility when getting recruited.

I agree with RJM on this one. Seems the focus should be getting on the field somewhere at this age vs. where do I want to play.

Maybe since my son's primary position is catcher it is me, but I actually enjoy watching my son play some OF or 1B. Nice little break and I can tell you my son would say he enjoys the break as well.

True story that I am sure many of the regulars on this board are familiar with. Kid from Corpus Christi area. Word is never caught a single inning at his HS one of the top 4As in the state (course he is such a stud he played SS and pitched) but he is a top 20 draft eligible catcher and going to Texas to catch.

Next year if my then freshman son has the opportunity to get on V he won't care what position it is. He wants to catch but understands his summer team is what is important there.

dolphin, don't let these old farts here get to you. Many, maybe most, frosh Dads have the same questions as you. I think it's a natural process that will sort itself out.

Good luck. Relax.

quote:

Originally posted by biggerpapi:
I've been thinking about this for a couple of days as I'm not too familiar with 8th graders playing JV or V baseball.

To me JV or V means 10-12 grade. Right?

So if there are so many 8th graders at this school that are Varsity quality, does that speak highly on the 8th graders or poorly on the 11-12 graders? Or even the program?

Just a question.

Understand the thought here but sometimes money matters!

In our city there is no middle school baseball so the 8th graders have to try out for JV at the High Schools. My son's school graduated two players that were Major league Allstars last year (the only high school in the country that can make that claim), won the State Championship in the largest class, finished in the top 30 in 3-4 National polls.

They usually take anywhere 5-7 players per year and it is considered to be a huge honer to make the club. The JV is something like 64-7 over the past 4 years and these 8th graders get to be absorbed into the program by practicing and watching games from the bench. Only the very best will actually start or make significant contributions.

About half of those kids would be 3 or 4 year starters in about 2/3 of the area schools and most won't nail down varsity positions until their Jr. year. That assume's they don't get passed out by some younger hotshot by then. When that happens they have to decide if they will ride the bench, transfer or quit.

Short of abuse, I really don't think transferring solves anything at all. It doesn't provide the life skills most of us need to succeed in life. You usually can't quit a job when the boss passes you up for a promotion but must work through it as just one example but staying, putting your head down and working applies in all area's of life every day.

Nothing is better then my son now, having landed on top and proved doubters wrong beyond any doubt after being cut from varsity as a junior and now headed to a D1 of his choosing. Like a previous poster mentioned, teach your son to let adversity **** him off so that he is completely dedicated to proving people wrong. Make it work for him! The tools you will provide in the long run exceed anything manipulating a better HIGH SCHOOL baseball experience can provide.

Regarding position, I doubt many people's kids play their "best" or projected position in high school. The best kids are fit onto the field and my son plays short stop in high school when he has never seen an inning there on his club team! Why? Not because he can't field the position but because another is better but on hs team that isn't the case. He won't see short stop in college either but honestly, his ability to play where they need him is nothing but helpful as colleges wonder how a player fits their program.

Good Luck and don't obsess over this...honestly, sit back and enjoy it and understand he is too young for you to lose any sleep over but not too long for you to teach.

Serious question about middle schoolers that play high school ball, since it doesnt happen here in St Louis.

Dont you guys have 13 U or 14 U ball that they can be playing instead? Kids around here play select ball or whatever you want to call it instead. I mean some of the boys were probably good enough to play on the freshmen or JV team, but they just didnt do it here. The summer teams started playing leagues or tournemants in late March.

Also, of these boys play high school ball, where do they play when the season ends in mid May? Again, all the teams here start way earlier and it would be too late to get on one of those teams.

Dolphin-
Ignore the smart *** comments by some. you will get to know a little about personalities here soon enough. Lots of people are well intended but remember we don't know you, your son or high school at all. We've been given a couple of one sided paragraphs to go by and no one here is an expert on your situation so take all comments accordingly. You've been told to make lemonade out of lemons by some and embrace the adversity learn that life is not fair don't cut and run, work hard and prove yourself and they will have no choice but to play him. BULL!!! NICE FANTASY!!! Let's get to the real world. Focus on summer ball. that is where the real opportunities will come. If the coach is unethical and wants his kid to play no effort by your son will change that. Some poor coaches remain for years or at least long enough to outlast a kids two or three year high school career. Staying the course and beating your head against a brick wall to prove you can survive adversity. How noble. Would you stay in a job with poor management little to no chance for advancement to prove you can take it and become a so called stronger person if you had other opportunities and options. Yes sometimes you have to fight through stay the course and it does make you stronger and more prepared and sometimes your just a martyr taking a bullet for nothing. Make a calm unemotional well thought out decision. Enlist the advice of those who know better than we do and know more about your situation. Scout the private schools for a good baseball fit. Coaching character players winning and advancement. Remember you son will spend 99 percent of his high school days off the field. it must be a good fit socially or he will hate it. Last, it must be his decision alone and academics must come first and be most important because statistics tell us that I can bet my house no one is going to pay your son the play baseball in the end. Let us know how it works and best of luck

Speaking of smart*** comments:

I get the feeling some of these people go to the barbershop after games and harrangue the coach when he comes in for coffee.

quote:

Originally posted by Mizzoubaseball:
Serious question about middle schoolers that play high school ball, since it doesnt happen here in St Louis.

Dont you guys have 13 U or 14 U ball that they can be playing instead? Kids around here play select ball or whatever you want to call it instead. I mean some of the boys were probably good enough to play on the freshmen or JV team, but they just didnt do it here. The summer teams started playing leagues or tournemants in late March.

Also, of these boys play high school ball, where do they play when the season ends in mid May? Again, all the teams here start way earlier and it would be too late to get on one of those teams.

Yep we have it. But they won't join until after the school season is over. Pretty competitive too.

During the summer a lot of schools will enter Legion Ball with 20 man rosters and players will play on both the travel team and the Legion games when they can. Sometimes the Legion game has 17 kids and others 11. They play about 20 games from the 2nd half of June through early August mostly during the week. If your kid is maxing out they can play 40+ games in the 7-8 weeks after school ends. Almost everyone takes 3+ weeks off in August until after labor Day. Fall Ball is about 6 weeks until late October with about 10-12 games.

Isn't coffee kinda gross at a barbershop?

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Originally posted by ironhorse:

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Originally posted by dolphindan1:

Thanks....sarcasm is pretty subtle....but to respond to ur statement.....u are right i will make **** sure its the best choice for my son....cause the choice he was given by the school district sucks

Colt McCoy's dad, a high school coach here in Texas, came and spoke at my church and said something that struck a nerve with me. His advice for fathers was:

"Prepare your child for the path, not the path for your child."

Kinda seems to me like it addresses one of the main reasons this country is heading off course.

Easy words for a High school coach whose son was very good.

If I was Colt McCoy's Dad I would have tried to prepare him for any path other than the Cleveland Browns.

Parents can manipulate their children's situation but ultimately not their talent. High School is the time to let them stand on their own feet.

The words of Colt McCoy's father aren't really easy as I've lived them. It's a brutal path but my son and I are proof it works out without parent meddling if it's meant to be. This time last year I thought his dreams were ending but by letting it play out, he ends with the last laugh and a great lesson.

Bottom line, get on the best club team you can with a coach who knows how to help his team be seen and be placed on college teams, that's all you need beyond talent and effort.

Last thing, although as a high school freshman I think it's way too soon to worry about high school ball, it's not too early to get on the right club team. Spend your time and energy doing that.

I was not being sarcastic. I was giving my advice just like everyone else is giving you advice. That is why you posted right? You wanted to hear what others thought right? So why did I say I think you should transfer your son?

You believe the coaches are playing Daddy Ball. You don't think they gave you son a fair shake. You don't believe he can get a fair shake at this program. That is what I got out of your posts. So why would you leave him there?

Now if I was his coach and you felt that way I would want you to transfer your son. I wouldn't want you in my program. And I wouldn't want a kid who was getting that stuff poured down his throat at home from the person he trusts the most. Is that wrong of a coach to feel that way?

If the coach could come on here and give his side of the story and the team mates of your son both JV and Varsity maybe we would have both sides of this story. Maybe it would all check out just as you say. But really for your own peace of mind just transfer him out of this BS program and give him a fresh start and you as well. Is that being sarcastic?

I have been around this block more than one time in the last 25 years. Your doing the coach right, your son and yourself by leaving. Now if you can go to the AD and get the coached fired, get the HC position and make all the decisions you believe should be made by all means stick around. Otherwise do everyone a good one and transfer. A little sarcasm there. A whole lot of straight truth. Wether you like it or not.

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Originally posted by tradosaurus:

quote:

Originally posted by ironhorse:

Colt McCoy's dad, a high school coach here in Texas, came and spoke at my church and said something that struck a nerve with me. His advice for fathers was:

"Prepare your child for the path, not the path for your child."

Kinda seems to me like it addresses one of the main reasons this country is heading off course.

Easy words for a High school coach whose son was very good.

So principles change based on your kid's athletic ability?

Thou shalt not covet is easier if you're wife is hot? What if your neighbors wife is hotter?

Principles should stay the same.

This has been a very interesting post to say the least. I believe you honestly want to do what is best for your son. That is admirable. I will give you an honest take from both a coach and a father.
First,I do not believe that honesty builds character..it reveals it. It sounds like your son has enjoyed great success and was thought highly enough of by a coaching staff to keep him as an 8th grader. Something I would think does not happen much. Now, faced with adversity, you are telling your son to blame it on the coaches. Even if you are not telling him directly, he will know how you feel. You are now telling him to run from this adversity and take the easy way out.
Second, you said that the JV program is good but you criticize the way the team practices. Maybe they are learning more than you give them credit for. Maybe the staff wanted to see how your son dealt with some adversity to see if he had the makeup to be a varsity player.
Third, why are you at every practice? Drop him off and go home. He is at practice so he can become a better ball player. It is not for you, it is not about you. It is about your son becoming a young man. If he is bothered by something, let him tell you. You appear to enjoy your son's summer team, let him work through this a little and then have a nice summer.
My first year as a varsity assistant, my younger brother was on the JV team. I felt he was pretty darn good but he wasn't starting or playing that much. I did not say a word. My advice to him, play as hard as you can, practice harder than everyone else and be ready when you get your chance. He got his shot and never left the field. He went on to play pro ball. He learned that things will not always go your way and you have to work hard and be patient. I will tell you as a high school coach I do not pay much attention to summer stats. I follow my boys but I judge them by what I see. What are you showing these high school coaches? Are they seeing a dad judging them and undermining anything they do? Are they seeing a hard working kid that wants to be better? I am not trying to judge because I am not there, but again I would say drop him off and stay home and see how he handles it. If you are not capable of doing that then I would listen to Coach May's sound advice and move on. It would be best for everyone at that point.

As I start my due diligence this year and next scoping out high school baseball programs in preparation for my son's entrance into high school I will look at how the coaching staff teaches the kids.
The advantage parents who desire to understand baseball mechanics have today are the multitude of youtube videos and books by the professionals that illustrate proper fundementals of batting and pitching.
One poster in another forum said his son's high school coaches were taking video of each kid batting and then making the same undeducated comments to each kid on how to "fix" the swing.
Just because you are a high school baseball coach doesn't mean you know anything about how to play the game.
Due diligence before hand will help a parent find the program that will develop a kid and prepare him for the next level.
I already know for certain where I will not send my son to play high school baseball in our area.
Right now I am fortunate to have a travel ball coach with 15 yrs experience who understands the game more than most small town high school baseball coaches.

If you're gonna go watch every practice why not bring the coaches some snacks for after? They have to be hungry after all those fungoes.

quote:

Originally posted by tradosaurus:
As I start my due diligence this year and next scoping out high school baseball programs in preparation for my son's entrance into high school I will look at how the coaching staff teaches the kids.
The advantage parents who desire to understand baseball mechanics have today are the multitude of youtube videos and books by the professionals that illustrate proper fundementals of batting and pitching.
One poster in another forum said his son's high school coaches were taking video of each kid batting and then making the same undeducated comments to each kid on how to "fix" the swing.
Just because you are a high school baseball coach doesn't mean you know anything about how to play the game.
Due diligence before hand will help a parent find the program that will develop a kid and prepare him for the next level.
I already know for certain where I will not send my son to play high school baseball in our area.
Right now I am fortunate to have a travel ball coach with 15 yrs experience who understands the game more than most small town high school baseball coaches.

I have not lived in Texas since the early 90's so maybe I am just out of date, but how do you choose your kid's high school, assuming it is public? Even in metropolitan areas aren't you zoned for a particular high school? (My choice was San Saba or San Saba.)

"As I start my due diligence this year and next scoping out high school baseball programs in preparation for my son's entrance into high school I will look at how the coaching staff teaches the kids."


Interesting that you are looking at schools for their baseball programs. Not once did I read anything about educational programs. Don't take this the wrong way, but you might have your priorities out of whack. What will you do if your son decides not to play, or is injured and his career is over? It ends for everyone at some time. Maybe look for the best education and then look for strong baseball opportunities.

you can move or get a sham apt.

some growing school districts allow open enrollment to new schools.

quote:

Originally posted by tradosaurus:
As I start my due diligence this year and next scoping out high school baseball programs ... The advantage parents who desire to understand baseball mechanics have today are the multitude of youtube videos and books by the professionals that illustrate proper...

Just because you are a high school baseball coach doesn't mean you know anything about how to play the game.

Yeah TOTALLY, I can see where a parent searching through youtube videos would be way better than trusting a HS baseball coach.

Do you have any idea how many different "expert" hitting philosophies are floating around the internet? Of course if there's actually a youtube video, I'm sure that makes it legit.