Is it time to move on?

TinCan, I don't know any of the particulars with your son, but I always ask parents this question. Was he a starter on the Varsity in High School as a Freshman? If he was, were they as good as the College team he is now on?

Most Freshmen at D1 schools do not start. They work hard and try and work their way into the lineup a little. As a Soph, you hope to be a bigger part of the mix and get important playing time. As a Junior, you should be starting if you are a good player.

The progression is very much like in High School, except the competition for a starting spot is much tougher.All schools sign new players every year and competition is always keen.

The decision to move to a different school belongs to your son and you, but every school has competition for jobs and if you go where there is no competition, then you would be going to an inferior program.

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TinCan..

Agreee with BB Scout.

1. Communicate. Ask the coaching staff for a frank assessment. Often you don't know the other side of the story. Ask. Could be position changes involved. Could be other players leaving. Could be a player improvement that needs to be made. Only one way to find out the truth. Ask. communicate.

2. You can research the next school all you want but you'll know less about the real story at the next school than you might at the first.

3. Beyond baseball where does the player stand with the school? Academically? Socially? That may be just, or more, important than just the baseball.

4. As you've learned the competition at every School is intense, get used to it, work hard, harder. Athletic life can be much different at the same school for a sophomore, than it was for a freshman.

44
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bbscout is right on in my opinion. Like he says, few college freshmen are major contributors during their freshman year. It’s a progression thing and your son has to have confidence in his ability. He has to have that confidence that he will fit into the mix as a soph and be a starter as a junior as bbscout says. If he lacks confidence in his ability or his coaches, maybe he should consider a transfer. I've seen players move on and do well with the move and I've seen players stay and do equally as well. I’ve seen players stay where hindsight has proven they should have moved. It's a gamble any way you go. I suggest your son keep the lines of communications open with the coaching staff and get as much information about where he fits into their plans. He needs to reach a comfort level no matter what he chooses. I know it's too late at this point but I'd be curious to know what the coaching staff said during the recruitment of your son that has left him disappointed before his first season has ended. Was he led to believe he would be a starter as a freshman or a major player? Also, what do you think would create a better fit at a different school?
Fungo
PS I see this is your first post. From one Tennessean to another, welcome to the HSBBW.

I also would like to welcome you to the HSBBW.

I don't have the Tennessee credentials of Fungo, but I do have a son attending Christian Brothers University in Memphis and playing ball for Coach Phil Goodwin.

In regards to your question I think the three most excellent sages that answered ahead of me have pretty much said it all. It doesn't cost a dime to ask questions and if done with the proper intentions you should receive the information that you are seeking.

I can just imagine that the coach knows of your son's anxiety, he knows that your son and his family are most likely searching for answers, but that you may not know how best to go about finding those answers.

Let's face it, your son's situation is somewhat commonplace and the coach knows that. As they say, it is what it is and the coach likely will tell you what the is is!

Tin Can:

The thing about your post that concerns me the most is your statement that "the school is looking to sign a JUCO player for next year." How sure are you about that statement and is the school looking for a middle-infielder from the JUCO? As my 2007 high school grad want to play middle infield. in my research of various school's websites I tried to look at past rosters to see if the school had a "habit" of picking up JUCO players for the middle infield position. There is one very successful DII in FL that picks up middle infielders from a JUCO every two years. If your son's school does that a lot and those are the guys that start, that might tell you something.

The best advice has already been given and I only repeat it for emphasis. Communicate with the coaches and find out what their plans are for your son. Good luck with a very tough decision.

TW344

Better yet have your son talk to the coaches and discuss his anticipated role for the coming season(s).

quote:

Originally posted by bbscout:
TinCan, I don't know any of the particulars with your son, but I always ask parents this question. Was he a starter on the Varsity in High School as a Freshman? If he was, were they as good as the College team he is now on?

Most Freshmen at D1 schools do not start. They work hard and try and work their way into the lineup a little. As a Soph, you hope to be a bigger part of the mix and get important playing time. As a Junior, you should be starting if you are a good player.

The progression is very much like in High School, except the competition for a starting spot is much tougher.All schools sign new players every year and competition is always keen.

The decision to move to a different school belongs to your son and you, but every school has competition for jobs and if you go where there is no competition, then you would be going to an inferior program.

bbscout,
I always enjoy your posts, but this is the best one yet. JMO. Great advice and very true.

I think most parents of college freshman players will tell you that regardless of where one goes to school, most freshman do not play on a regular basis. It's very hard sometimes seeing this and frustrating for us, as most of our sons were the HS stars.

As son tells me, most players after their first year know their role, or what their future role will be.
All schools bring in transfers, depending on needs. Doesn't mean the transfer will get the job, he has to prove himself too, just like everyone else. Besides, many players come into play certan positions and take on different ones.

The good coach makes it his business to speak to his players after the season, about how they did and where the are going. If this doesn't take place, have your son speak with him before he leaves.
No matter how hard you study the rosters and think son might fit in (on the team), it rarely turns out that way as their are many factors that go into who comes in and who doesn't. Maybe they are losing too many senior players and need maturity, maybe they might lose some to the draft. One never knows.

Best of luck.

One year ago, I would not have understood what bbscout has said in this thread. His, is the absolute best advice I have seen to the young college player.

When my son called me this spring and said he was left off the roster, I could hear his voice cracking and the quiver in his words. It broke my heart. I took a deep breath and told him "Look, the best players will play." I refused to hear excuses nor would I hear of anyone feeling sorry for themselves. From there, some luck came his way where a roster spot opened and he proceeded to get more playing opportunities as time went by. It is a process. Hard work, keep the lips sealed, produce when called upon, and maybe, just maybe good things will happen. Either way, when you stick to it, you will be a better player for it.

As far as transfer players from JUCO, that is a fact of life at many D1's.

Thanks all,

Some wise words of advise...especially since I was rather vague, that was on purpose, I am sure you understand.

Couple of answers to questions: He is a great student and is doing very well academically and socially.

Playing time was implied...but honestly he has struggled in some areas that he is usually very good. His frustration is that he feels that if he could get on the field more he could work through his weaknesses, and he is not getting much feedback from staff. The Juco thing is troubling especially with no staff feedback.

He knows he needs to get better to play more and is willing to work hard...that is a good thing.

I tell him to keep things in perspective, he's 19 and a college player....enjoy it.

God Bless and protect our troops!!

BBscout, WOW

Wish I could find more. An eye opener..

Tincan,
Your son feels like many, he is not alone.

Is your son going away to play ball this summer? Many that don't get a chance to play much as freshman get PLENTY of playing time in the summer, gives them confidance and innings (pitchers)or at bats needed that they didn't get in during the year.
This is something he needs to discuss with coach.

Excellent posts in this thread!

Bbscout's post is a classic - I was nodding my head as I read each point. I think we should move this to the Golden Threads forum when it has run its course. Someone remind me later?

So many very good points in all the posts above, and we have seen all of this happen in my son's first two years of college, even at a D3.

No matter how much research you do, things change in the 4+ years a player is at a college. Faces change, expectations change, competition for playing time changes. We have seen all of this happen in the first two years. Head coach who looks like he will be there forever suddenly leaves. New coach brings in JUCO transfers. Some transfer-in players are successful, some are not.

For a team that wants to win and improve (and isn't that the team most of our sons want to play on?), every year, every player has to compete for a position. Not just against new freshmen, but also upperclassmen who transfer in, or last year's backups who worked really hard and got better. I'm sure there are situations where a transfer out makes sense. But in most cases, the player's best response is probably to strive to improve every year, just as his coach is trying to improve the team every year.

It's difficult, sometimes frustrating, and even heartbreaking. (Many college parents will know I'm talking about how the parents feel!)

TinCan, though you first asked the question, I think you have also given a lot of good answers in your last post - at least they match my two years of observing:

"Playing time was implied...but honestly he has struggled in some areas that he is usually very good." Ditto!

"His frustration is that he feels that if he could get on the field more he could work through his weaknesses, and he is not getting much feedback from staff." Yup!

"He knows he needs to get better to play more and is willing to work hard...that is a good thing." Same here!

"I tell him to keep things in perspective, he's 19 and a college player....enjoy it." Excellent advice!

TinCan,

Everyone has a slightly - or not so slightly - different story.

Some good - some not so good - and some just plain terrible.

Take heart and tell your son to keep his chin up if he loves the game.

My son was a recruited scholly middle infielder.
He never even got a chance to have limited playing time.
The first day on campus - the coach told him he would be redshirted. His reaction wasnt frustration - it was pure anger.

He dealt with it - used the time wisely - went to the summer collegiate league and did real well.

Despite my advice to run from the place as fast as he could - he went back the 2nd year. The coach who recruited him quit during the summer.
So - Another season of nothing.
5 at bats and treated like a broken down mule.

So - he left and fortunately - another scholly - but away from the limelight. All wood bat D2 collegiate league.

Did real well again. Ready for the summer. And on it goes.

It can be a long hard journey for some - but if you love the game - you find a way and keep hitting the **** out of the ball - catching it - and running like a wild dog.

And proving all the "experts" dead wrong. LOL

Tell your son to keep the chin way way up - and kick some ***.

That is my perspective.

quote:

Tell your son to keep the chin way way up - and kick some ***.