Is it only hair?!

No it is not only hair, it is the first impression!

Why allow something like a hair style possibly affect his recruitment. Stay clean cut and ready for business. Many coaches will be turned off. Why invite that?

If there is a chance of misinterpretation, why do it?

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On the other hand if he's gonna' sport a mohawk for attention he best get with it!





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quote:

Originally posted by 2013 Parent:
2013 always wears his hair VERY short. Has seen many independent league and other players with mohawks and would like one.

He has showcases and travel tournaments beginning in the next couple weeks, including a couple statewide invitationals.

At any other time our approach would be "it's only hair" but now we are second guessing if this would make him stand out in a not-so-good way.

Anyone?

I can't believe you really are asking this question.

There are college coaches out there that absolutely will make assumptions about your son that are not likely to be favorable.

Does he wanna eliminate those schools without even knowing which ones they are?

Use some common sense here.

To be clear, it was never anything like the photo above - it would have been 1/4 on top and buzzed on the sides.

But point taken. Thanks for those who responded politely.

I don't think it's a big deal, but that's me. Especially if the hair is short? Who cares. I just don't get why peeps have to be tightazzes over silly things but that's me. I can see if one's attire raised a safety issue on the playing field but to dismiss potential talent over a stinking haircut is a bit much. My son played 2 varsity sports in HS, wore an earring and sported a beard (which he always keeps trimmed), kept his hair short and occasionally cut it with a fade on the sides but it didn't keep him from the starting lineup and varsity captain in hos other sport as well as captain on the American Legion baseball team. He went and graduated college with honors so if somebody is scouting players, maybe part of that first impression should be to evaluate the talent and the attitude. They just might miss out on a good one.

Actually, that sounds more like a Marine cut to me.

quote:

Originally posted by 55mom:
Actually, that sounds more like a Marine cut to me.

I was thinking the same thing and if that were so, I definitely wouldn't have a bad first impression. It's a very neat haircut.

He certainly won't be the only baseball player with that cut. If that's the "real" him, let him be himself I suppose. That's hardly the worst thing he could be doing. Just make sure son is "the kid with the mohawk hustling around everywhere" and not something else.

quote:

Originally posted by 55mom:
Actually, that sounds more like a Marine cut to me.

Not if the "top" is a 3" wide strip.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy03:

quote:

Originally posted by 55mom:
Actually, that sounds more like a Marine cut to me.

Not if the "top" is a 3" wide strip.

no mention of a 3 inch strip, but high and tight...

quote:

Originally posted by 55mom:

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy03:

quote:

Originally posted by 55mom:
Actually, that sounds more like a Marine cut to me.

Not if the "top" is a 3" wide strip.

no mention of a 3 inch strip, but high and tight...

No, but in the OP we are told that the player has seen a lot of Mohawks and wants one. Players know the difference. If the kids wants a Mohawk, it will not be a Marine cut.

quote:

Originally posted by zombywoof:
…I just don't get why peeps have to be tightazzes over silly things but that's me. I can see if one's attire raised a safety issue on the playing field but to dismiss potential talent over a stinking haircut is a bit much. ..

Its much the same thing as dismissing a player because he’s short of stature, and is akin to dismissing players because of the color of their skin. If coaches and scouts really do dismiss players for purely aesthetic reasons before they’ve even seen them play, its pretty small-minded, and no doubt has cost them the services of some pretty good players over the years.

I doubt if any coach these days would care about the haircut if I'm picturing it correctly.

Stats,

Guess I don't see this the same way as someone being short or especially, related to the color of their skin.

While personally that haircut wouldn't bother me, someone with hair hanging down to their knees would. Unless the kid with hair down to his knees was the very best player on the field.

Dennis Rodman look alikes, need to be able to rebound like Dennis Rodman.

quote:

Originally Stats4Gnats:

Its much the same thing as dismissing a player because he’s short of stature, and is akin to dismissing players because of the color of their skin. If coaches and scouts really do dismiss players for purely aesthetic reasons before they’ve even seen them play, its pretty small-minded, and no doubt has cost them the services of some pretty good players over the years.

Height and skin color are not controllable. Haircuts are.

I've never met a coach that I know of that would care about a haircut. If the kid can play, the kid can play. Many college coaches have aesthetic policies as well (mine had one pertaining to facial hair). If your son sets foot on campus and the coach says cut your hair, that's a different story. But I don't think it would really matter in the grand scope of the recruiting world.

The more talented the player the less the other issues matter. If your kid is as talented as Bryce Harper war paint up his face. But if you have to ask the question you already know the answer. Why take chances?

Vance Worley has more of a mohawk than a marine cut. I think his type of mohawk on a high school player wouldn't raise too many recruiter eyebrows.

And if I knew how copy and paste a picture of him I would!

I would tend to agree with most others here. In the big scheme of things a haircut/style is not a big issue.
That said, he will have his whole life to express his individuality. However right now he should be focused on opening doors, not potentially closing them.

If he can throw 90 on the gun he can wear pigtails.
If he can't, just keep the short hair and play your best son.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
I doubt if any coach these days would care about the haircut if I'm picturing it correctly.

Don’t say ANY. MANY would be a better word because thankfully many of the old prejudices have been let go of by most intelligent people.

quote:

Guess I don't see this the same way as someone being short or especially, related to the color of their skin.

I’m glad and never thought you did. But you don’t represent ALL coaches anymore than I represent all scorers.

quote:

While personally that haircut wouldn't bother me, someone with hair hanging down to their knees would. Unless the kid with hair down to his knees was the very best player on the field.

Dennis Rodman look alikes, need to be able to rebound like Dennis Rodman.

Why have different standards for different players? Either you believe in what your standards are or you don’t. What better way to lose the respect and confidence of your players than to have different sets of standards?

In the end, it sounds as though you still have some deep rooted biases.

“Alright, Vaughn. They tell us you're a pitcher; you're sure not much of a dresser. We wear caps and sleeves at this level, son! Understood?”

quote:

Originally posted by Stats4Gnats:

Don’t say ANY. MANY would be a better word because thankfully many of the old prejudices have been let go of by most intelligent people.

I believe the word prejudice, and others like racism are overly used, therefore diminishing the true meanings.
From the time we open our eyes in the morning we start making assessments of what is going on in the world around us.

If you have ever been in a position to interview and hire people, there are all sorts of things you use to make an evaluation about a person you know little to nothing about. The way they dress, groom themselves, speak, etc. So if that person comes across in a manner that raises red flags, you use that to help evaluate whether or not you want them as part of your organization/team. That is especially true when making a first impression as you will only get one chance to make it.

quote:

Originally posted by Stats4Gnats:
Why have different standards for different players? Either you believe in what your standards are or you don’t. What better way to lose the respect and confidence of your players than to have different sets of standards?

The fact of the matter is that a Dennis Rodman type of person would be more trouble than he was worth if not for the exceptional skill he possessed. I don't believe too many teams would want the problems and drama of a Rodman type if they were just average NBA caliber players who ride the bench most of the time.
Sometimes having even one guy who is "out there" can cause enough internal strife on a team to adversely affect it. So if you are going to take on a wild card like that, the benefits must outweigh the negative baggage.

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"I believe the word prejudice, and others like racism are overly used, therefore diminishing the true meanings."

So very true. A harmful and crippling trend. Political correctness must be corrected.

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quote:

Why have different standards for different players?

It's an equation of assets versus liabilities. Excessive talent is a heavy asset. It can outweigh quirky behavior. On the flip side quirky behavior combined with marginal talent isn't worth dealing with. In any aspect of life big producers can usually get away with being prima donnas or quirky.

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I like quirky. I consider it an asset if it's good. Otherwise it's a liability.

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No reverse mohawks please.

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His problem? He's a fence sitting nitpicker! But very focused.



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won't he be wearing a hat?

quote:

Originally posted by Vector:
I believe the word prejudice, and others like racism are overly used, therefore diminishing the true meanings.
From the time we open our eyes in the morning we start making assessments of what is going on in the world around us.

If you have ever been in a position to interview and hire people, there are all sorts of things you use to make an evaluation about a person you know little to nothing about. The way they dress, groom themselves, speak, etc. So if that person comes across in a manner that raises red flags, you use that to help evaluate whether or not you want them as part of your organization/team. That is especially true when making a first impression as you will only get one chance to make it.

You may believe whatever you want, but prejudice and bias comes in many forms and have many meanings. Because the meaning you’ve chosen seems diminished, it doesn’t mean the same is true in every case for everyone.

2013 Parent,

My two cents....Ask your son what school(s) he is most interested in. Have your son go to their website or attend a game to see how their players wear their hair.

If it looks like this, he may have some work to do.







njbb - these guys ARE wearing hats!

Self-expression is overrated. Tell the kid to draw attention to himself by the way he plays the game.

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"Because the meaning you’ve chosen seems diminished, it doesn’t mean the same is true in every case for everyone."

Words have definitions that are widely and commonly accepted, recorded, and documented. When a particular word is then used in a manner other than how it has been defined then its definition is being stretched and it becomes diminished.

We can accept, by use, any newly coined definition or we can reject it. Sometimes it requires a whole new word to accomplish a conveyance of thought or opinion. Words that are strong, crisp, and bold, in my opinion, should not be stretched beyond their accepted definition.

On the other hand, I have no problem with new words being created. I may choose not to use some of them, but I realize our language is evolving and changes are necessary and inevitable. If these changes are used as a weapon to corral us and limit our freedom then I will resist every time.

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Lets remember the recruiting is a two way street. The player is also recruiting schools. If he is talented enough to be recruited by one school than he is likely talented enough to go to a number of schools. You should be evaluating them as much as they evaluate you. Who is the coach how does he wear his hair and dress, did he graduate is he married and have kids or is he divorced three times with five kids by five mothers does he graduate his players does he act like Bobby Knight or John Wooden. dont go anywhere you cannot be yourself to a degree. You will not be happy. If you want to be a supuer freak maybe Barnuym abnd bailey has a team.

"Moderation is the key". Those are the words of a father of a high school friend of mine. The kid did nothing in moderation and got himself in trouble more than once because of his extreme behavior. Still does I think.

Most would agree that an extreme haircut could cause a recruiter to think twice or ask questions. Again, I don't think a moderate mohawk that couldn't even be noticed under a hat is a big deal and most likely wouldn't bother most college coaches.

Every generation has the cool thing that doesn't stand the test of time. You are what you appear, has stood the test of time.


The popularity of skin tattooing skyrocketed among the Gen-X crowd during the 1990s, leaving an entire generation decorated with ink. Yesterday’s punk rockers and culture warriors are now today’s professionals. The result is that the amount of tattoo removal procedures performed each year is projected to grow tremendously. A whopping 25% of adults under 50 are tattooed indicating that a vast market for tattoo removal services exists. Each procedure takes about 30 seconds to complete, and physicians normally charge between $150 and $300. A treatment package ranges from 6-12 procedures on average, spaced out 4-6 weeks, is usually required to effectively eliminate all traces of the tattoo from the patient’s skin. This means that each tattoo removed guarantees nearly $2,000 in cash income.

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Now tat's some serious cash!



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The "athlete's mohawk" (sides buzzed, 'hawk also very close-cut) seems commonplace these days. Especially amongst the football and wresting crowds. That said, I wouldn't let my boy wear one to a school visit or showcase. I'd rather let his hustle, grades, big smile, and dirty uniform do the talking.

quote:

Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
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"Because the meaning you’ve chosen seems diminished, it doesn’t mean the same is true in every case for everyone."

Words have definitions that are widely and commonly accepted, recorded, and documented. When a particular word is then used in a manner other than how it has been defined then its definition is being stretched and it becomes diminished.

We can accept, by use, any newly coined definition or we can reject it. Sometimes it requires a whole new word to accomplish a conveyance of thought or opinion. Words that are strong, crisp, and bold, in my opinion, should not be stretched beyond their accepted definition.

On the other hand, I have no problem with new words being created. I may choose not to use some of them, but I realize our language is evolving and changes are necessary and inevitable. If these changes are used as a weapon to corral us and limit our freedom then I will resist every time.

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The way Stats used the word "prejudice" is entirely accurate and in accordance with its definition--in fact, the example Vector gave is the very definition of prejudice.

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Again, we disagree. I wasn't commenting on the word prejudice or how it was used.

We are all prejudiced to some degree or the other. There is no way to avoid it.

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