HS Ball vs Alternative HS baseball

You've already said it's a no brainer decision.

I know a kid who played for an absolutely terrible high school team. He was easily the best player, starting at SS and #1 pitcher. Probably went 3-7 due to terrible defense and 0 run support as a pitcher.

On his legion team, he is 6-1 and they will be playing in the state tournament. He has already committed to a local juco.

Put yourself in the shoes of a college coach.   If you saw a potential talented recruit that fills a need would you care if he played HS Baseball, Alternative HS Baseball, or even overseas high school baseball.  As for me, I wouldn't care either way.  I would be interested in his skills, attitude, and academics.

Where you may have challenges with Alternative High School Baseball is exposure because it is fairly new.  We get some (in-state) college coaches at some high school games depending on the circumstances and who they are recruiting or wanting to see.  The question becomes do college coaches come to some or enough Alternative High School games in your area?  I don't know because Altenative High School is not an option where I live.  Most recruits are seen by college coaches through travel and showcase teams where I live.

I'm writing this, not as a reply to the OP; but, as a reaction to the website linked to his post...and its prominent photo of scouts and recruiters lined up at the fence.

Are we coming to the point that scholastic baseball is just about playing with other studs and being seen? Don't travel teams and showcases in the summer and fall create enough visibility to allow the talented player to be evaluated by scouts and recruiters? Aren't there year-round development opportunities for young players who are committed to the game?

Most high school teams aren't powerhouses; but, they're populated with friends who have shared experiences. Guys who are fun to play with. They're together during the school day in class, and they work out and play baseball after class. They organize workouts during the off season. They have a favorite local restaurant that they love to go to after games. In a sentence: Baseball is fun for them, and it's more than just baseball.

Then, in the summer and fall, they gravitate to the level of baseball that suits them best; some to travel teams, some to legion, some to other sports. Some of them go on to play college or professional baseball...all without being very concerned about who saw them during their high school season.

For my son, who was totally dedicated to the game, the "no brainer" between an alternative team and his high school team would have been the high school team.

Here in IL, I know for a fact from talking to some college coaches that a kid who doesn't play for their HS automatically causes a red flag-no matter HOW GOOD the kid might be at baseball.  Now, this doesn't mean that they won't take a chance on a kid, but it causes some additional concerns. 

Many have posted on here in other similar topics with the reasons I heard these coaches give to me:

1. HS baseball develops a true sense of "team" more times than not over a summer/alternative/showcase team.  Not ALL the time, but most programs.  (playing with the same kids, progressing together as a unit, knowing the kids on and off the field for extended periods of time, etc).

2. Learning to structure their life with baseball, school, responsibilities, etc-preparing them for college and adult life.

3. If a kid leaves his HS program because it's bad for a "grass is greener" chance somewhere else, what might the kid do if the college program has 2 awful seasons and/or the kid doesn't start? Might he leave?  College coaches consider this.

Obviously this is just what I've heard from some IL coaches, and I know the landscape of things is different in other parts of the country. 

My personal take too: playing for a HS state championship, making history for town/school, and being remembered by an institution FOREVER is worth it over showcase.  

I am firm believer in that HS ball AND travel/showcase is necessary to further a dream-if that dream is for a kid to play beyond HS.  

Well, he'll need a travel team now that his eligibility is trashed...

In all seriousness, I'd gather that part of the player pool for teams like this comes from ineligibles - either academic, or whatever other reason, from kids who were young for grade and wanted another year of HS age ball after they have graduated, and from players who are at strong high schools and didn't make their HS team. 

You all have made good points which is why we are at a cross road.  He is going to have to do a lot of soul searching with this topic.  I let the decision up to him.  

Just as a side note the person running the alternative program is also the director of the USA Baseball So Cal NTIS.  

Be careful of titles. Just because they run the local NTIS does not always mean much. I do not know much , or anything really obout the SO Cal , branch, but if you do a search on this web site you will see plenty of complaints about the NTIS in other area's. I do not believe they are actually run by team USA. Each organization puts a team together. Some people have had bad experiences.

My son played in this league in the Spring of 2012. 

Our situation had nothing to do with a weak high school team or not enough exposure.  My guy started high school as a 13 year old, graduated at 17, and really needed another year of maturity.  Hence he did a gap year of working, volunteering, taking a few college courses, and playing some baseball before going off to play D1 baseball out of state.

In many states, including California, unless there are special circumstances, a player has eight consecutive semesters to complete high school athletics.  So my guy was done with traditional high school sports.  This league was one of the few possibilities for him in the Spring.

The level of play was excellent.  Some guys with similar situations to my son.  Others in similar situations to the OP.  Some were college kids who had just transferred.  Others were college kids who failed to make Spring rosters.  I'm sure there were other reasons for playing as well.

Optimally, my guy would've played for his high school.  Perhaps starting high school at 14 and graduating at 18, in hindsight.  Not because of college coach exposure...he got zero of that at his high school or in this league for that matter.  But this league was well run, with good coaching, and a high level of play from my perspective.

True Story...A player from the San Gabriel Valley which is located in Southern California went to a Tournament last summer in Florida.  The scout that saw him contacted the area scout to compare notes.  Area scout said that he never heard of him nor had any idea what high school he played for.  The scout in Florida spoke to the player who stated that he did not play high school baseball that he played for the Alternative League.  The scout told him if he wanted the opportunity to be drafted by his organization that when he returned to California he better get on a HS baseball team because they refused to scout the alternative league.

Yes I understand not every organization believes this.  However it is something to think about.

A couple of other comments.

I believe what the previous poster said.  But I also know that virtually every MLB team had scouts at some of this league's games dependent upon who was playing.  I recall one game that had 20+ teams represented looking at a couple pitchers.  I talked to many of those scouts.  There were also games with zero scouts.

From our experience, college coaches did not care where my son played high school baseball. They assessed him at camps, showcases, summer tournaments, and via video.  In four years of varsity baseball and one season in this league, I never saw a college coach...presumably because they too were in season and did their face to face recruiting mostly in the summer.

My son's travel coach was contacted for references.  Neither his high school coach, nor the coach in this alternative league, were ever contacted for references by colleges.

One more thing.  Do not assume that it is a higher level of competition. The following is taken directly from the link the OP posted.

D1 Information

The ABCL 2013 Division 1 schedule is packed with top talent from Southern California and beyond. D1 is equivalent to a strong high school varsity level of competition. This year the D1 league boasts 12 of the top baseball teams and academies in Southern California and countless student-athletes that aspire and have the ability to play baseball beyond their high school years.

I spent some time this year going and watching a lot of these games, all at the D1 level of this organization, just to see for myself.  It was no different that watching a high school baseball game.  What they claim is on the field is not on the field.  Yes there were some legit players but by the whole there were a lot of average high school players, kind of like watching a typical HS baseball game.

Look, I understand that times are changing just this morning I was watching the USA 18U game and the guy from the Astro's said that if they are scouting a kid they are the best on their HS team.  They want to see them in the summer when its best on best.   I can support that and agree with that.  However, as a parent, why pay the extra fee for a product that is no different?

PS...Oh and its ironic that you stated he has been asked to forgo.  If you are being honest, and I have no reason to not believe this.  It goes against what ABD always claimed.  They stated that they did not try to recruit players away from high school baseball.

There are a lot of good perspectives on this subject.  High School baseball has gotten very tough over the past 10-15 years for many decent ball players.  Competition is a good thing.  Many good high school ball players don't play for their school programs every year for a variety of reasons.  Most of which are talent related in comparison to what that particular school has in terms of accross the board talent that season or what they have coming in as Freshmen or transfers.  You also have your attitude cases, academics, etc. that come in to play in not making a program.

I have recently read about the Alternative Leagues and the ABCL out in California.  I run a Program in Houston similar but with a different approach.  Although it is a great thought and concept, in my opinion, it can quickly get out of control if not approached in a way that teaches the player to respect the game.

If we allow players and parents to quit their HS team and play for an alternative team based on competition level, then we are allowing the players and parents to disrespect the game.  It feeds the notion that the player is "above" the team and that he is "too good" for the team, hence, too good for the game.  The "baseball gods" do not like this approach.  It also disrepects the very High School that the player attends.

I started a program in Houston in 2007 called 2nd Chance Baseball.  www.powerbaseballclub.com and www.2ndchancebaseball.com We take in players that have been cut and/or their HS does not provide a baseball program and we form JV and Varsity level teams.  We play and practice a full Spring schedule against area Private Schools and Home School teams.  We get about 30+ games and about 25+ practices from Feb.1 to the end of April.  The program is built around development of the player in a replicated HS experience that requires each player to strive to get better at the game to hopefully make their School Program before they graduate.  Each player has to continue to tryout each season for their HS team and want to be a part of that experience.  It obviously does not happen where every player makes his school team but there are many success stories of players who have and also players that at the very least, were able to play High School ball in the Spring when the baseball fever runs the highest.  There are also players that have moved on to the college level.

Contrary to what many people believe, the level of competition that a player plays in High School does not have an impact on his ability to play college or pro ball.  His talent, attitude, work ethic, determination, ability to make adjustments, etc. have the biggest impact on being able to move on to the next level.        

Helping a player develop and stay in the game they love...what a terrific concept! I'd think that it would be particularly well suited to a metro area the size of Houston.

Kudos to you and others there who are involved in it.

My son had a similar experience.  The year before he made varsity as a sophomore, the varsity was terrible with a 5-14 record and two of the wins were "forfeits".  His sophomore year they turned it round (with a new coach) going 12-8 and an appearance in the district playoffs.  His junior year they improved by one game, but just missed qualifying for the playoffs.  Senior year they finished the regular season 16-3 in a three way tie for 1st place in the district, but won the district tournament - it had been 25 years since the HS team had even a share of the district championship.  Went on to claim the runner up trophy in regionals before falling in the state quarterfinals.

I agree there is something about playing for "your" school, with your friends and representing your community vs playing for an alternative team.  For most it is sufficient as only 10-15% play at the next level (college).

Around here, aside from travel ball in the summer, there is no real alternative to your local HS.