Hypothetical Question

So is he entering school at a JUCO now, or is he entering his Senior HS year?  Or something else? 

Sounds like my son.  Has the ability but not the desire, at least not now.  My son is 17 and just graduated HS (1 year early).  Played baseball since 5yrs old. Travel ball for 3 yrs., stopped at 16U, played HS thru this past spring (his Senior HS year).  Now, maybe doing a Trade apprenticeship or starting at a Junior College this month, but as of now does not want to try out to play. 

I'd say if your son has the desire and he is entering a Junior College, or is in College already, have him do a tryout with the coach of the school he is at. 

However, if he still has no desire to play, you can't make him at this level.  It is a lot more "work" at this level and maybe he doesn't want to do it right now.  Just tell him to stay in shape, just in case he changes his mind in 6 mos or 1 yr.

He has graduated and already registered to go to a B1G school in a couple of weeks.  No desire to play, based on what happened it got me to thinking what would need to be done in this situation.  For one thing I think once he registers for class the NCAA clock starts ticking.  In addition its too late to change schools for this school year.  

What does, "the clock starts ticking mean"??  If he DOES want to play again, he can ask the coach for a private tryout, and if he doesn't see anything he likes, then try out at a Junior College or smaller school.  The baseball season doesn't start until next spring, so if he tries out, he can maybe still make the team, even if it is as a sub.  If he is not interested but changes his mind during next spring's baseball season, then maybe try out for next year (2019), and play travel ball next summer to get him back in playing shape.

jamesb posted:

What does, "the clock starts ticking mean"?? 

I believe the NCAA clock starts ticking once you register as a full time student.  Again, this is all hypothetical, but he would now have 5 years to complete 4 years of eligibility.  As its too late to transfer schools he would be "stuck" at his current school for this year.  If the coach as this school did not want him on the team its a wasted year.  So now he has 4 years to complete 4 years.  In addition he would need to find a way to get in front of the coaches.   Im not sure "private tryouts" are allowed at all levels.

In my sons case, if he did decide to play, he most likely could contact the coach at his school as its one that was starting to recruit him before he decided he did not want to play.  He has a couple of friends on the team and probably be able to get a decent look at their open tryout.  But for many this would not be an option.

Once your son starts college he has five years to play four. If he's interested in playing he should go to the baseball coach's office the first day to find out about walk on tryouts. It would help if a reputable high school or summer coach can call and put in a good word. 

It's possible there aren't any available roster spots. But if he draws interest maybe the coach will recruit him for the following year. In the mean time he can play club ball for the college and the best possible summer league. 

Do they have club baseball at his school?  Are there adult leagues he could play in?

Private tryouts are always allowed.  You think a Coach is not gonna let someone tryout who may be able to help his team?  But tell your son to keep in shape just in case he does change his mind and want to play. 

joes87 posted:

He has graduated and already registered to go to a B1G school in a couple of weeks.  No desire to play, based on what happened it got me to thinking what would need to be done in this situation.  For one thing I think once he registers for class the NCAA clock starts ticking.  In addition its too late to change schools for this school year.  

Is this about him not having the desire to play or you having the desire to see him play?

Your son is a big boy now, if he decides, then he needs to take the necessary steps to make it happen.

jamesb posted:

Private tryouts are always allowed.  You think a Coach is not gonna let someone tryout who may be able to help his team?  But tell your son to keep in shape just in case he does change his mind and want to play. 

A private tryout can get a D1 team sanctioned and barred from post season play. He's welcome to attempt to walk on. If he attempts to walk on it's important to get all the NCAA eligibility center work done ahead of time.

TPM posted:

joes87 posted:

He has graduated and already registered to go to a B1G school in a couple of weeks.  No desire to play, based on what happened it got me to thinking what would need to be done in this situation.  For one thing I think once he registers for class the NCAA clock starts ticking.  In addition its too late to change schools for this school year.  

Is this about him not having the desire to play or you having the desire to see him play?

Your son is a big boy now, if he decides, then he needs to take the necessary steps to make it happen.

TPM, you read my mind!

joes87, he probably doesn't need you setting him up...in other words, accept HIS decision. He knows by now what it takes & perhaps, he's realized that he was playing to please dad, or just knows himself well enough to know baseball is no longer "it" for him. Think about what he wants to make of his life. Since he obviously doesn't have that "burn in his gut", that "eat, sleep, breathe"  to further challenge himself with baseball...respect him. Respect that you raised a terrific kid, that is able to forge HIS own path. 

You're in marketing...sales of some kind...that's competitive...You thrive on the competition, the "beat last year"...it's in your personality...your mentality...

Son is different! And that is perfectly OK! 

ps, What has 2017 said that would lead you to ask this "hypothetical"? 

What would I do with a student who a) decided not to pursue college baseball early in high school, b) abided by his decision without regret even while his teammates secured college playing opportunities for themselves, c) was accepted to a Big 10 school as a normal student, and d) may have the arm strength to be an effective pitcher?

I would probably consider d) to be irrelevant. It's not new information. He knew as a sophomore that he had the physical tools to compete for a college roster spot somewhere. 

He chose another path than baseball. Help him succeed on the path he chose.

baseballmom posted:

TPM posted:

joes87 posted:

He has graduated and already registered to go to a B1G school in a couple of weeks.  No desire to play, based on what happened it got me to thinking what would need to be done in this situation.  For one thing I think once he registers for class the NCAA clock starts ticking.  In addition its too late to change schools for this school year.  

Is this about him not having the desire to play or you having the desire to see him play?

Your son is a big boy now, if he decides, then he needs to take the necessary steps to make it happen.

TPM, you read my mind!

joes87, he probably doesn't need you setting him up...in other words, accept HIS decision. He knows by now what it takes & perhaps, he's realized that he was playing to please dad, or just knows himself well enough to know baseball is no longer "it" for him. Think about what he wants to make of his life. Since he obviously doesn't have that "burn in his gut", that "eat, sleep, breathe"  to further challenge himself with baseball...respect him. Respect that you raised a terrific kid, that is able to forge HIS own path. 

You're in marketing...sales of some kind...that's competitive...You thrive on the competition, the "beat last year"...it's in your personality...your mentality...

Son is different! And that is perfectly OK! 

 

ps, What has 2017 said that would lead you to ask this "hypothetical"? 

All

My question was purely hypothetical.  Nothing my son said lead to it.  His path is not changing, and I am not trying to change it.  I was just wondering what you would do if you had a son who decided he wanted to play after he started his frosh college year and had the numbers to back it up.  

joe, OK, Good! Personally, I would do nothing...it would be his decision...

baseballmom posted:

joe, OK, Good! Personally, I would do nothing...it would be his decision...

 

FYI, here is the conversation we had after he came home and told me he hit 87....

Him:  "Hey the guys and I had a fastest pitch contest at the game, I hit 87 on the gun"

Me: "Cool did you win"

Him: "Beat all my friends, I won the contest.  Johnny X (a kid we know who pitches for a D1 team) was there and hit 89".

Me: "Oh ok"

Him: "Yep didn't win the T-Shirt, but now all my friends owe me a beer"

Me: "Uh Your only 18"

Him: "Almost 19"

Me: "Uh yea, better be careful"

Him: "Don't worry about it"

Throwing 87 is a lot easier than pitching 87.

Good luck to your son in college!

joes87 posted:

baseballmom posted:

joe, OK, Good! Personally, I would do nothing...it would be his decision...

 

FYI, here is the conversation we had after he came home and told me he hit 87....

Him:  "Hey the guys and I had a fastest pitch contest at the game, I hit 87 on the gun"

Me: "Cool did you win"

Him: "Beat all my friends, I won the contest.  Johnny X (a kid we know who pitches for a D1 team) was there and hit 89".

Me: "Oh ok"

Him: "Yep didn't win the T-Shirt, but now all my friends owe me a beer"

Me: "Uh Your only 18"

Him: "Almost 19"

Me: "Uh yea, better be careful"

Him: "Don't worry about it"

 

 

 

Gotta love those conversations.

HYPOTHETICALLY...  a player who changes his mind at that point could try to walk on at the school he is attending, play college club ball, play the best summer ball he could find to figure out if he could use that velo along with whatever tools he has to compete against college level pitchers, attend a few showcases in fall to see if any schools are interested, attend a few school-specific camps to schools he would be willing to transfer to in order to play, etc.

OR, he could just stick with "yeah I threw hard enough to play D1 college baseball but chose not to".  

There are several options but none are ideal by any means.  It really would come down to the individual and many variables would have to be identified.

If the hypothetical is what to do if he changes his mind, I would advise him to go to the open tryout at his school and see what happens.

If that doesn't work out, I'd advise him to play anywhere he can: club ball at his current school, an 18u team for a local travel program, whatever gets him back on a field.

Then I'd advise him to re-activate his baseball network and ask his former high school and travel coaches for advice and recommendations.

I'd also tell him frankly that the odds are against him. College baseball has lots of off-ramps. He chose an exit that usually doesn't have a corresponding on-ramp.

He has already fallen behind his classmates who stayed with their conditioning and development programs.

And he will have a hard time getting the attention of coaches after making choices that don't demonstrate the desire and commitment they value.

Still 87 is 87. It might start some productive conversations.  

However, because of the long odds, I wouldn't support altering his education plans unless he shows sustained passion for getting back into the game and he has found a realistic opportunity to play at an academically suitable school. 

Best wishes,

joes87 posted:

 

Question:

What would one do in this situation? Recruiting is over for his class. School starts in a couple of weeks and he is already registered for class. In my son’s case, he still does not want to play. But if he decided he did, what do you do at this point?

I would support him if he decided he wanted to play, but I would leave all the details to him if he wanted to walk-on or transfer.   If he asked for my help, I would help him.

Good luck.

joes87 posted:

I believe the NCAA clock starts ticking once you register as a full time student.  Again, this is all hypothetical, but he would now have 5 years to complete 4 years of eligibility.

D2 and D3 count 10 full-time semesters for eligibility, which gives the student athlete a little more control.