Insight on what Our college goal should be

baseballdadintraining:

I would start talking with your son about what he wants from college. What does he want to study, what kind of a school does he want to attend, what part of the country would he like to attend school, does he want to attend a big school or a small school, what can the family afford and what kind of expectations do you as parents have of him.

None of these deal with what I think you want which is "where can he play ball." But the reality is baseball is only a small part of the college experience.

Your son is a sophomore; now is the time that he needs to be introduced to what it means to be a college student. Your job as a parent is to "prime the pump." Take him to as many colleges as you can, take the tour, talk to students on campus, help him learn what it means to be a college student.

As he defines what he wants from his college experience then and only then will you be able to help him with the real question of where can he play. Help him learn and you will have a happy college student rather than a baseball player that is potentially at the wrong school.

Good Luck!

quote:

But the reality is baseball is only a small part of the college experience.

for most but not all

baseballdadintraining,

I agree with ILVBB....you need to sit down with him to set goals....both academic and athletic. From those goals you develop a way to get there. I have three boys. One is playing in college, and my middle son is also a sophomore in high school. I've learned that it is best to listen to them because it is their "rodeo". My two oldest sons are very, very different in so many ways. My wife and I made suggestions, but it has been their decision on the path and how to get there.

With that said, you seem to have the baseball side of this covered. Through normal development, he will get bigger and stronger. He just needs to keep improving, and eventually getting exposure. I think it is worthwhile to get an evaluation from a travel coach or someone you know and trust....an honest evaluation of where your son is right now (baseline). Once you know what level he is at or projected to be at, then you can start contacting schools that meet that level. As you do this more and more, you will get a feel for where he may best fit (ie...mid-D1, low D1, high D3, etc...)

IMHO the academic side is just as hard as the athletic side. Your son is off to a great start with his GPA. As you begin to look at schools for both academic and athletic possibilities, you will realize there is so much research to be done. This is why it is so important for your son to have a goal in mind. If he knows what he wants, he can focus on those areas. I'm not going to lie to you, it is alot of work to do this....finding the right athletic and academic fit. My wife and I spent a lot of time researching the heck out of every school we thought was a possibility, and frankly my son had to turn down some generous offers from schools that did not offer his major. He was very adamant about his major, and has not wavered one bit from it. Your son may not be as strong about a particular major, but those kinds of things enter into the decision making.

Good luck getting started, and let me know if you have any questions. Their are a lot of people on this board that can help, and many have been there before. You will get a lot of different answers, because there are many different approaches. My advice would be to listen to every suggestion, and how they got to where they are.

bbdadintraining;

Welcome to a really informative site! You seem informed and well advised to begin doing your homework early.

Two very well constructed posts here already that I certainly agree with. Knowing what your son really wants regarding his baseball future is also vitally important.

Certainly we as parents are education advocates as is most everyone here. My wife is a School Principal. We both have advanced degrees and expect the same of our son. Actually, we view his education in two parts, his undergraduate experience and finally, the more important post graduate endeavor. Ours was fortunate enough to attend a fantastic private school and had many nice choices among colleges.

However, his primary goal out of high school was TO PLAY BASEBALL in college. Number two goal was TO PLAY BASEBALL at a warm weather school with a winning program. Number three goal was a legitimate chance to play for a program that expects post season play and has been to a World Series.

He was able to meet all those wants at a school that has his major (Business; most do) knowing that it's not Harvard but he can be more particular about the name on the building when he goes for post graduate studies.

Thus far, just finishing his Freshman campaign, he is very pleased with his decision.

Good luck to you!

quote:

Originally posted by ILVBB:
baseballdadintraining:

None of these deal with what I think you want which is "where can he play ball." But the reality is baseball is only a small part of the college experience.

Good Luck!

True, there are many "categories" to consider when selecting the right college. However, he will eat, sleep, and breath baseball once he's on campus. It will be his fulltime love, disguised as a "grind".

Here's one question I believe a lot of parents fail to ask their kids when they start the search ...

Do you understand playing college baseball will be like having a full time job along with going to class and doing homework? The NCAA twenty hour maximum does not include travel time and "optional" physical training workouts. Then, unless a kid is a jaw dropping, pro prospect the choices should be more about education than baseball.

Thank you for your replies, so I think he can play college baseball somewhere, it seems you guys feel that way, and I know he feels he can. So, I think we will play summer ball, take about 2 months off from throwing, and work on the weights and come back next year a little stronger.

Should we start contacting schools that meet our criteria after this season or after the jr season? I was reading the NCAA web page and it is not very clear to me. It seems that he can contact them, but they cannot contact him until July 1st after his jr season?

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
Here's one question I believe a lot of parents fail to ask their kids when they start the search ...

Do you understand playing college baseball will be like having a full time job along with going to class and doing homework? The NCAA twenty hour maximum does not include travel time and "optional" physical training workouts. Then, unless a kid is a jaw dropping, pro prospect the choices should be more about education than baseball.

Respectfully, I think he understands the amount of time that will be involved. He has played multiple sports in high school and maintained aa nice GPA. That is why local schools and in-state schools will be his first choices so he can have a better support system.

Being a pro prospect has not really entered our minds. We just want to know about the recruiting ins and outs, and how to locate a school that fits him and his educational goals. How to approach college programs, coaches, scouts and so on.

baseballdadintraining,

You have a Personal Message (PM - blinkinhg) at the top of your page.

Respectfully, you may think he understands the commitment of playing college baseball but you have no clue what it's really like until your son is in the thick of it. Between baseball, 5am wt lifting/work-outs, travel, missing tons of classes,taking tests on the road,studying,class time etc. It can be a grind. If they choose the right school for them then all the sacrifice will be worth the chance to continue playing a sport they love.

That's one reason this board is so helpful. If these kids know what they're signing on for a head of time and expect it to be grueling they will be just fine. That's where you as a parent can help prepare them for the challenges of playing a sport in college.

But believe it or not I'm not trying to be negative about the experience. My son absolutely loves playing college baseball and is still passionate about his college life as a junior. The key is to be mentally prepared to work harder than he ever has in his life.

Also meant to say you sound like you're on the right track and doing the right things for your son's age/grade. You 're way ahead of many parents and your son is lucky to have you helping him achieve his goal.

Good luck and keep us posted. Have fun too, those high school years go by waaaay to fast!

Ditto CaBB. The rigor can't be understood until it is experienced. I had the discussion about how demanding it would be with my son many times prior to entering college.

I think he'd tell you that there was simply no way to imagine or anticipate what it is like. His teammates say: "Baseball, school, social life - choose two."

You just have to hope they choose the right two!

quote:

Rob Kremer said.....I think he'd tell you that there was simply no way to imagine or anticipate what it is like. His teammates say: "Baseball, school, social life - choose two."

I heard the exact same thing from my son. Baseball practices and engineering study groups is his social time. He tries to find any spare time to play the guitar.

Thanks for all the help and insight. I would agree with your statements that he does not know how demanding it can be until he has to do it. I was lucky enough to play college basketball back in the day and I do know what it is like to get up at 6:00am and workout, then go to class then go to practice, then study, get to the library that night and get ready to leave the next morning, ride a bus for 6 hours to play a basketball game and then turn around and drive back that night. And get up and do it again the next day. Hopefully with this board, his high school coach, his dad, and a college coach he will be able to manage his time, and enjoy the exp.

quote:

Originally posted by baseballdadintraining:

I was reading the NCAA web page and it is not very clear to me. It seems that he can contact them, but they cannot contact him until July 1st after his jr season?

That is correct Dad. What is fun is when you just happen to catch them on the phone unexpectantly. But when he does, have a handful of good questions ready to ask!

quote:

Originally posted by baseballdadintraining:

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
Here's one question I believe a lot of parents fail to ask their kids when they start the search ...

Do you understand playing college baseball will be like having a full time job along with going to class and doing homework? The NCAA twenty hour maximum does not include travel time and "optional" physical training workouts. Then, unless a kid is a jaw dropping, pro prospect the choices should be more about education than baseball.

Respectfully, I think he understands the amount of time that will be involved. He has played multiple sports in high school and maintained aa nice GPA. That is why local schools and in-state schools will be his first choices so he can have a better support system.

Here's a comparison of my son's high school baseball requirements versus my daughter's college softball requirements.

Off season:

Son - Two hour physical or baseball workouts five days a week

Daughter - swimming 1 1/2 hours six days a week ... three hour practices six days a week ... Physical training 2 1/2 hours three days a week. Wait! That's more than the allowed NCAA 20 hours a week. Everything other than practice is optional. Try not showing up.

Season:

Son - 2 1/2 hour practice or game five days a week. Longest bus ride thirty minutes. Excused from last class of school day once or twice a week.

Daughter - Game or practice seven days a week ... Longest plane ride three hours ... Misses Friday classes every other week. Required to be in Monday classes no matter how late they arrive back at campus Sunday night/Monday morning.

It doesn't look much the same to me. The good news is you started by asking questions. There's a lot to learn.

RJM-

I see your point....my son's high school baseball/basketball schedule is in the middle of these two but honestly is leaning towards the daughters schedule... our high school baseball JV team is wrapping up a 53 game schedule that ran from March 14th to April 28th. That's 53 games in 46 days. Longest travel time 3 hours...

Baseballdad;

1. why 4 pitches? Work on two, then three and maybe four when he is in college. "location and change of speed".

2. "Play up". Pitch against players 2-3 three years older. This develops experience and knowledge and quickness.

3. What region of the country do you live?

4. "Someone is always watching your son play, walk and talk.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by Bob Williams:
Baseballdad;

1. why 4 pitches? Work on two, then three and maybe four when he is in college. "location and change of speed". We work on 4 because he can control and execute 4....fastballs, 2-4 and changes speeds, curveball, change-up and splitter. the varisty coach said he locates better than anyone in the prgram. I believe the term he used was pinpoint.

2. "Play up". Pitch against players 2-3 three years older. This develops experience and knowledge and quickness. We have played up for years, and continue to do so, on a team that PG ranked 25th in nation as 16's we will play 17's and 18's this summer.

3. What region of the country do you live? Southeast, this year's summer season, involves, trips to Memphis, Atlanta, Alabama and a few college showcase tourney's.....

4. "Someone is always watching your son play, walk and talk. His attitude is very good, His JV coach tells him that the JV team is "his" team, he leads the JV in Runs Scored, RBI, ERA, has the lowest erro total.... he is the leader, just last night he came over from first base to clam the pitcher down who was really nervous....He really just needs to put on some weight and get his velo up, he would be what I would call the type of player that a college caoch would want, good player, gets better every year, great student, good attitude, not boastful, quiet..... not cocky...

Bob

Talk with minor league pitching coaches.
What is your nearest pro team?

The "splitter" may take away velocity from the fast ball. Are you in Alabama.

Bob
<www.goodwillseries.org>

quote:

Originally posted by baseballdadintraining:
RJM-

I see your point....my son's high school baseball/basketball schedule is in the middle of these two but honestly is leaning towards the daughters schedule... our high school baseball JV team is wrapping up a 53 game schedule that ran from March 14th to April 28th. That's 53 games in 46 days. Longest travel time 3 hours...

Are you saying there is a High School Association that allows/schedules a 53 game schedule for JV baseball? Unbelievable...

I've never heard of a high school varsity playing fifty-three games. We're limited to twenty-two regular season games. In 2010, among top ranked high school teams the most games played was forty-eight. The team made it to the state championship. Most southern teams that went to states played into the upper thirties. College is only allowed fifty-six games.

quote:

Originally posted by Prime9:

quote:

Originally posted by baseballdadintraining:
RJM-

I see your point....my son's high school baseball/basketball schedule is in the middle of these two but honestly is leaning towards the daughters schedule... our high school baseball JV team is wrapping up a 53 game schedule that ran from March 14th to April 28th. That's 53 games in 46 days. Longest travel time 3 hours...

Are you saying there is a High School Association that allows/schedules a 53 game schedule for JV baseball? Unbelievable...

Absolutley, and it can be a grind, we have had a few rainouts that were not rescheduled, but yes we can schedule as many JV games as we want to. The Varsity team is limited to a certain amount of games, and I think 2 tourney's during the year then the post season So the varisty should play somewhere between 36-42

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
I've never heard of a high school varsity playing fifty-three games. We're limited to twenty-two regular season games. In 2010, among top ranked high school teams the most games played was forty-eight. The team made it to the state championship. Most southern teams that went to states played into the upper thirties. College is only allowed fifty-six games.

Yes I thought it was a lot as well.....we did have a few rainouts that were not rescheduled, and 10 of those games were 5 inning games the other 43 were 7 inning games.

quote:

our high school baseball JV team is wrapping up a 53 game schedule that ran from March 14th to April 28th. That's 53 games in 46 days. Longest travel time 3 hours...

Wow...so they don't really practice much then, just play games...?

Just curious, do the other teams also play 50+ games too?

I would think that pitching would be pretty thin with that type of schedule. How often did your son have to throw?

baseballdadintraining,

You've heard my advice before, calm down, relax.

I also would like to know EXACTLY where JV HS allows those many games.

Do tell.

I think I should clarify the JV schedule.

2 scrimmage games
4 rained-out games
15 tourney games about 6 innings per game
18 5 inning games
16 7 inning games

55 minus the 2 scrimmage games is where I came up with the first figure. Minus the 4 rainouts is 49 games. But as far as innings played it would be about 41-42 7 inning games.

That's a lot of JV games unless they carry a huge squad and they all get to play? And then they have summer ball on top of all those games?

Talk about over-use injuries!!

quote:

Originally posted by CaBB:
Talk about over-use injuries!!

I happen to agree with the above.

We do carry 18 players on the JV squad, and sometimes a Jr. will come down to throw a game or two. It's a lot I agree with you. Yes everyone gets to play some more than others. My sons will take some time off 14-18 days before summer balls starts.