Dang is that Raphael or Donnatello? lol
You're playing it up. You live in a suburb of a major city.quote:Originally posted by AntzDad:
Not quite Mayberry, Coach May, but we have Rocky the barber and Toby the shoe guy.
.
You and this guy 20dad...
Adam James:
.
- "i am usually alone in my thinking..."
You and this guy 20dad...
Adam James:
- Born February 5, 1988, in Plano, Texas.
Son of Marilyn and Craig James.
Father is a football analyst with ESPN and ABC.
Adam has two older sisters, Jessica and Caylin, and a younger brother, Andy.
Adam enjoys hunting, fishing and being around friends.
Unlike 20dad, Adam does not like being alone for hours on end collecting his thoughts.
.
It's up to the kid. You can't make him love baseball. You can make him turn off the XBox. But you can't make him put on the glove. He has to want it. Whenever my kids hit lazy mode (and it happens once in a while) I ask them if they're reaching their goals laying on the sofa and keep on walking.quote:Originally posted by InTheGap12:
Devils advocate here... if your son would rather play xbox than practice baseball - what do you do? Let him be lazy and play xbox 10 hours a day or insist he get up off his a** and work on his game?
Coach Milburn,
I also see fewer kids trying out for HS baseball, but I don't think it really reflects a decline in the quality of the game.
What I think it does show is that the future players are sorting themselves out at an earlier age, instead of continuing to try out and get cut year after year.
First, I think that the talented players are getting so much, and so much better instruction these days that in many ways, they run the average players and maybe even the multi-sport athlete of yesteryear off the field, especially when they turn 13 and move up to the larger field.
And then there's the high school situation itself. In our area we allow 8th graders to try out for HS JV. LOTS of 8th graders show up, just about every kid who's played any kind of travel ball. But of course, only a few make it -- never seen more than 5. The next year, they're in 9th grade. Some have hung it up by then, others try out and get cut a second time. At this point, those who get cut a second straight time start to realize it's the end of the dream. Sure, they could try again as 10th graders, but a kid who plays one year of JV in 10th grade is probably not going to be a varsity starter. Probably at best a bench player. And that's IF he ever makes the varsity cut. You can lament that if you want, but many kids just come to the decision that maybe it's time they invested their time elsewhere. I see lots of kids now specializing in s****r, volleyball or lacrosse, sports my school didn't even offer back in my day. And so many times, those teams are made up of kids who once lived for baseball, but who came to realize that baseball was not going to love them back.
By the time the boys are juniors, pretty much the only ones we see even coming to tryouts are returning players from varsity and the last of the JV guys trying to move up. By senior year, it's nothing but returning players, unless you have a "new kid in town."
In short I think the phenomenon is one of the strong players driving the weaker players away and much earlier. In no way does this lead to weaker talent level on the field or to a lessening standard of play. To the contrary, to my observation, HS ball is tougher now than it has ever been. And the talent is more spread around so that you don't see one team with one highly skilled coach dominating the area year after year after year.
I also see fewer kids trying out for HS baseball, but I don't think it really reflects a decline in the quality of the game.
What I think it does show is that the future players are sorting themselves out at an earlier age, instead of continuing to try out and get cut year after year.
First, I think that the talented players are getting so much, and so much better instruction these days that in many ways, they run the average players and maybe even the multi-sport athlete of yesteryear off the field, especially when they turn 13 and move up to the larger field.
And then there's the high school situation itself. In our area we allow 8th graders to try out for HS JV. LOTS of 8th graders show up, just about every kid who's played any kind of travel ball. But of course, only a few make it -- never seen more than 5. The next year, they're in 9th grade. Some have hung it up by then, others try out and get cut a second time. At this point, those who get cut a second straight time start to realize it's the end of the dream. Sure, they could try again as 10th graders, but a kid who plays one year of JV in 10th grade is probably not going to be a varsity starter. Probably at best a bench player. And that's IF he ever makes the varsity cut. You can lament that if you want, but many kids just come to the decision that maybe it's time they invested their time elsewhere. I see lots of kids now specializing in s****r, volleyball or lacrosse, sports my school didn't even offer back in my day. And so many times, those teams are made up of kids who once lived for baseball, but who came to realize that baseball was not going to love them back.
By the time the boys are juniors, pretty much the only ones we see even coming to tryouts are returning players from varsity and the last of the JV guys trying to move up. By senior year, it's nothing but returning players, unless you have a "new kid in town."
In short I think the phenomenon is one of the strong players driving the weaker players away and much earlier. In no way does this lead to weaker talent level on the field or to a lessening standard of play. To the contrary, to my observation, HS ball is tougher now than it has ever been. And the talent is more spread around so that you don't see one team with one highly skilled coach dominating the area year after year after year.
Our HS baseball program has lost some kids to lacrosse and some to track. Our town rec league has lost a larger percentage to lacrosse also. The sport didn't even exist a few years ago in rec or HS. I know of three kids who were baseball lifers until junior year. They realized they wouldn't be starting senior year and went into track. Bottom line seems to be as simple as more options.
I don't buy the divorce effect. If a father isn't interested enough to stay involved with his child after a divorce he probably wouldn't have been too involved if he were still married and living with the kid. My brother (divorced, son lives with his mother) has a son playing 3 sports in HS and is as involved in his son's games and practices as I am with mine (married). Also the divorce rate has been at 50% or higher for many years now. This is not a new phenomenon.
I think the real barometer of declining interest in baseball would be the freshman teams. Many of these kids have been playing rec all stars and travel and feel they are as good as anyone else. Many parents have elevated opinions of their child's abilities from playing on one of the many average travel teams that have evolved in the past 5 years. By the time they are sophs and especially juniors the weeding out process is in full swing.
I don't buy the divorce effect. If a father isn't interested enough to stay involved with his child after a divorce he probably wouldn't have been too involved if he were still married and living with the kid. My brother (divorced, son lives with his mother) has a son playing 3 sports in HS and is as involved in his son's games and practices as I am with mine (married). Also the divorce rate has been at 50% or higher for many years now. This is not a new phenomenon.
I think the real barometer of declining interest in baseball would be the freshman teams. Many of these kids have been playing rec all stars and travel and feel they are as good as anyone else. Many parents have elevated opinions of their child's abilities from playing on one of the many average travel teams that have evolved in the past 5 years. By the time they are sophs and especially juniors the weeding out process is in full swing.
I'm not buying the premise here. Yes, it may be declining at a specific school in one area or another, but to make a sweeping generalization about an overall decline doesn't ring true. In our part of the world, baseball programs at the rec and travel levels continue to flourish. And I've yet to see one high school drop the sport, even among the inner-city schools where the sport isn't as strong and the resources aren't as great.
Baseball is booming on many levels, although there are always going to be spots where that's not the case, especially places where the weather isn't as conducive to playing much of the year. The sheer explosion of travel and showcase baseball is a signal that the sport has great appeal to many kids, even those still wearing Ninja turtle gloves.
Coach May, that story was priceless, and all too true from what I saw from a few high school tryouts. As for the bats, I also used to be one of those parents who told my son to stuff his bat in his bat bag when he got back to the dugout (hopefully, later rather than sooner, if you know what I mean). It drove me crazy that other kids wouldn't use their own equipment or the team equipment.
Baseball is booming on many levels, although there are always going to be spots where that's not the case, especially places where the weather isn't as conducive to playing much of the year. The sheer explosion of travel and showcase baseball is a signal that the sport has great appeal to many kids, even those still wearing Ninja turtle gloves.
Coach May, that story was priceless, and all too true from what I saw from a few high school tryouts. As for the bats, I also used to be one of those parents who told my son to stuff his bat in his bat bag when he got back to the dugout (hopefully, later rather than sooner, if you know what I mean). It drove me crazy that other kids wouldn't use their own equipment or the team equipment.
I don't think that anyone here would disagree that when we were growing up, baseball did not take nearly the time (and money) commitment that it does today. I think that this has as much to do with it as anything. Most of us played 2-3 sports. Hell, today kids are pressured into committing to one.
A lot of kids baseball experience starts becoming a big-time commitment by the time they are 10 or 11. So after 6-7 years of the ever increasing commitment and pressure, you then have to, by today's standards, really commit to baseball full-time at the same time as girls, cars, social life, etc., also become important. Suddenly there are other things in life besides baseball 24/7/365. Throw school itself, the teen years, changing from boy to man, and it's quite the ride.
I think the pressures on kids today are greater than ever, and that includes baseball. The debate about the change in baseball over the last decade or so will rage on. But there's no doubt in my mind that the change is why the numbers continue to dwindle, and like it or not, it is also why some of those lost are actually very good players, who weren't quite ready yet to make the seemingly baseball-over-all-else commitment insinuated in so many places today. And once they are gone you don't get them back.
I am afraid that the numbers will continue to dwindle and that this will, in fact, affect MLB to the point that somewhere down the road the vast majority of MLB players will be foreign. It's already occurring for many reasons, and this will help contribute to the continued rise of foreign players.
And what about the future fan base?
A lot of kids baseball experience starts becoming a big-time commitment by the time they are 10 or 11. So after 6-7 years of the ever increasing commitment and pressure, you then have to, by today's standards, really commit to baseball full-time at the same time as girls, cars, social life, etc., also become important. Suddenly there are other things in life besides baseball 24/7/365. Throw school itself, the teen years, changing from boy to man, and it's quite the ride.
I think the pressures on kids today are greater than ever, and that includes baseball. The debate about the change in baseball over the last decade or so will rage on. But there's no doubt in my mind that the change is why the numbers continue to dwindle, and like it or not, it is also why some of those lost are actually very good players, who weren't quite ready yet to make the seemingly baseball-over-all-else commitment insinuated in so many places today. And once they are gone you don't get them back.
I am afraid that the numbers will continue to dwindle and that this will, in fact, affect MLB to the point that somewhere down the road the vast majority of MLB players will be foreign. It's already occurring for many reasons, and this will help contribute to the continued rise of foreign players.
And what about the future fan base?
it's dwindling? in cooperstown they have 100 teams a week at one place, there are 2 more out there as well. showcases are full. the big tournements are doing ok, where do these kids come from?
Yes, there's Cooperstown. Been there, done that twice. Cooperstown will always be Cooperstown. But that's not really what we are talking about. The numbers are out there, and participation continues to decline. And for those of us old enough to have been involved in it longer than we care to admit, we don't need the numbers to tell us. We can see it.
And it is particularly noticable in the teen age groups, especially high school.
And it is particularly noticable in the teen age groups, especially high school.
As a D3 Head College coach replied back to me via my e-mail account ... he is quoted as follows ...
quote:What ever happened to playing because it was FUN?
Coaches... If it's fun, they will love it....if they love it, they'll play it... It may really be that simple.
Maybe baseball is declining because this generation's parents spend so much of their time with their face buried in a computer, groaning about how our kids just don't make good use of their like we did when we were kids.
wraggArm
Very interesting point. Made me stop and think. That us what I love about this site.
Very interesting point. Made me stop and think. That us what I love about this site.
quote:Originally posted by wraggArm:
Maybe baseball is declining because this generation's parents spend so much of their time with their face buried in a computer, groaning about how our kids just don't make good use of their [time] like we did when we were kids.
How 'bout that! I like it!
quote:when baseball becomes your job, fun usually takes a back seat.
As a player, I never got this point. I play baseball 5 or 6 days a week in the summer, and train 3 days minimum during the winter. Although I realize this isn't as much at the baseball powerhouses or even other college programs work, I'm looking forward to it next year during my freshman year in college.
To me, baseball is never be a job regardless of how much time you put into it. It should never be a job despite all the efforts put forth. It has never been this way to me, and I think (I hope) others would agree.
Baseball is booming outside the US, thanks to the success and growth of MLB. Maybe baseball in the US from HS down needs to take a good look at itself.
.
Have said this before and been shouted down...
While we would like to think that it is obvious that baseball is simply a better game, that great baseball will always draw fans...IMO One of the major reasons that baseball has been top of the heap for the past 100 years is that baseball has been a rite of passage for our nations youth. Baseball has not only gotten first choice of athletes, but more than that it has been a rite of passage for generations. Through broad based community youth ball programs roughly 80% of a communities youth gets a solid shot at baseball/softball and the vast majority either continue to play or at the very least even if they float away carry some sort of fondness for it forward to the next generation. While it may be argued that many walk away unhappy due to a lack of success, IMO It is pretty clear looking at many of the poorly co-ordinated parents that many had limited succes and yet community ball is still high on the list of experiences they want their kids to have. In fact, high enough that they work tirelessly supporting ballparks and snackbars creating something uniquely american and singular in the youth sports world.
IMO, The implications for the breakdown of community ball spread far beyond your local little league field, far beyond the "quality of future players at a HS or a college level...if baseball passes from being a rite of passage for every family and every american child, to simply "one of many options", the chain that has sustained the priority position of baseball as america's game is in jeopardy, irregarless of the quality of play/players at a professional level. Every sport has it's magical players, part of what seperates baseball is that it is simply part of our familiy history. Less community players means less broadbased participation and as a result less future fans, and a smaller MLB fan base. Frankly I am floored that MLB has not made this connection and an effort to enhance and support community leagues just for this purpose alone. THis is real grass roots stuff. In many inner city communities this has already come to pass, and baseball is now "out of the loop". IMO same thing has begun to happen in the suburbs as community ball moves more and more to regional and national play.
44
.
quote:Originally posted by getagoodpitchtohit:
And what about the future fan base?
Have said this before and been shouted down...
While we would like to think that it is obvious that baseball is simply a better game, that great baseball will always draw fans...IMO One of the major reasons that baseball has been top of the heap for the past 100 years is that baseball has been a rite of passage for our nations youth. Baseball has not only gotten first choice of athletes, but more than that it has been a rite of passage for generations. Through broad based community youth ball programs roughly 80% of a communities youth gets a solid shot at baseball/softball and the vast majority either continue to play or at the very least even if they float away carry some sort of fondness for it forward to the next generation. While it may be argued that many walk away unhappy due to a lack of success, IMO It is pretty clear looking at many of the poorly co-ordinated parents that many had limited succes and yet community ball is still high on the list of experiences they want their kids to have. In fact, high enough that they work tirelessly supporting ballparks and snackbars creating something uniquely american and singular in the youth sports world.
IMO, The implications for the breakdown of community ball spread far beyond your local little league field, far beyond the "quality of future players at a HS or a college level...if baseball passes from being a rite of passage for every family and every american child, to simply "one of many options", the chain that has sustained the priority position of baseball as america's game is in jeopardy, irregarless of the quality of play/players at a professional level. Every sport has it's magical players, part of what seperates baseball is that it is simply part of our familiy history. Less community players means less broadbased participation and as a result less future fans, and a smaller MLB fan base. Frankly I am floored that MLB has not made this connection and an effort to enhance and support community leagues just for this purpose alone. THis is real grass roots stuff. In many inner city communities this has already come to pass, and baseball is now "out of the loop". IMO same thing has begun to happen in the suburbs as community ball moves more and more to regional and national play.
44.
We talk about "sandlot baseball" like we used to know it---sadly though it cannot happen for varied reasons--no empty lots to play in, no available school fields for kid as you need permission, insurance and a fee in most cases
I doubt the kids of today would even know how to chose up sides much less what a "do over" is
I doubt the kids of today would even know how to chose up sides much less what a "do over" is
lol, TRhit, we called it a take-over.
I live outside of Philadelphia. The Phillies drew 3.6 million fans this year. Many games were sold out.
When the defending World Champions went to Florida to play the Marlins or Rays, the stadiums were empty. ??? To me, Florida is king of all baseball. The first time I flew in there, I was amazed at what I saw before landing- baseball fields everywhere, as far as I could see. Why do the two Florida MLB teams have such attendance problems?
http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance
I live outside of Philadelphia. The Phillies drew 3.6 million fans this year. Many games were sold out.
When the defending World Champions went to Florida to play the Marlins or Rays, the stadiums were empty. ??? To me, Florida is king of all baseball. The first time I flew in there, I was amazed at what I saw before landing- baseball fields everywhere, as far as I could see. Why do the two Florida MLB teams have such attendance problems?
http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance
Make it fun! I always love that statement when I hear it. If we made it fun way more kids would want to play. Is it fun to spend a hour in the cage going from drill to drill working on your swing? For some it is. For others it is not. Is it fun to work your core until you feel like your going to throw up? Is is fun to block baseballs off your body , forearms , biceps and then catch three bull pens? Is it fun to do what it takes to make you a better player? To the players that love the game and want to work to be the best they can be , yes that is fun. Not at the time they are doing it. But when they finish and the see the results of their hard work. Is it fun for the ones that just want to have fun? No.
Is it fun to get up and go to work everyday? Is it fun to have to sacrifice to earn some rewards? You see everyone wants a paycheck. But everyone is not willing to put in the work to actually earn that paycheck. Is it fun to get that paycheck? Is is fun to earn that paycheck? I think of baseball just like a bank account. When your working to get better , everytime you invest in your game you are putting money in your baseball bank account. The goal is to one day make a baseball withdrawal. Others want to make a withdrawal without every makeing a deposit in their account. It just doesnt work that way. Alot of kids are having fun playing the game until they get to the point where it takes some work to continue to play the game. Now its not any fun anymore.
Make it fun! Hey guess what. It is fun to those that love the game and want to actually invest in something. Its not going to be fun if you are looking for a pay day without ever going to work. When a player wants to get better and understands they have to work to get better they are having fun by working at the game.
As a hs coach your job is to teach them the game to the best of your ability. Your job is to prepare them for the next level. Your job is to push them , challenge them, help them become the best player they can possibly be. This in turn will help your team be the best it can be. I am not going to coddle kids in an attempt to make it fun for those not willing to work. I am going to do everything in my power to give those that want it and are willing to work for it the best opportunity to be the best they can be. For them that is fun.
If baseball is on the decline then it is on the decline because there are less kids out there actually willing to work for something. The college coaches I know want players that not only have talent but also have a strong work ethic in the game. Guys that enjoy working to get better. Having fun means different things to different people. Some kids are having fun at the same time other kids are miserable doing the exact same thing. Some kids can play left field and be absolutely bored to death the entire game unless a ball is actually hit to them. While another kid is having a blast regardless if he gets a single ball hit to him. He is reading every pitch , running scenarios through his mind on every pitch on every situation. Backing up bases , moving on every pitch. Totally into the game. One is having fun the other wants to have fun.
Is it fun to get up and go to work everyday? Is it fun to have to sacrifice to earn some rewards? You see everyone wants a paycheck. But everyone is not willing to put in the work to actually earn that paycheck. Is it fun to get that paycheck? Is is fun to earn that paycheck? I think of baseball just like a bank account. When your working to get better , everytime you invest in your game you are putting money in your baseball bank account. The goal is to one day make a baseball withdrawal. Others want to make a withdrawal without every makeing a deposit in their account. It just doesnt work that way. Alot of kids are having fun playing the game until they get to the point where it takes some work to continue to play the game. Now its not any fun anymore.
Make it fun! Hey guess what. It is fun to those that love the game and want to actually invest in something. Its not going to be fun if you are looking for a pay day without ever going to work. When a player wants to get better and understands they have to work to get better they are having fun by working at the game.
As a hs coach your job is to teach them the game to the best of your ability. Your job is to prepare them for the next level. Your job is to push them , challenge them, help them become the best player they can possibly be. This in turn will help your team be the best it can be. I am not going to coddle kids in an attempt to make it fun for those not willing to work. I am going to do everything in my power to give those that want it and are willing to work for it the best opportunity to be the best they can be. For them that is fun.
If baseball is on the decline then it is on the decline because there are less kids out there actually willing to work for something. The college coaches I know want players that not only have talent but also have a strong work ethic in the game. Guys that enjoy working to get better. Having fun means different things to different people. Some kids are having fun at the same time other kids are miserable doing the exact same thing. Some kids can play left field and be absolutely bored to death the entire game unless a ball is actually hit to them. While another kid is having a blast regardless if he gets a single ball hit to him. He is reading every pitch , running scenarios through his mind on every pitch on every situation. Backing up bases , moving on every pitch. Totally into the game. One is having fun the other wants to have fun.