JUCO or Gap Year?

I would say this is a very personal decision, both from a physical as well as an emotional standpoint.  Assuming a kid has the drive, a gap year as outlined above should be beneficial.  Conversely, if a kid needs a little more structure, then I could see where the JUCO route could pay dividends.  Some of the academic issues above (improving test scores, tackling a few classes) likewise could be very beneficial.  Perhaps I would summarize that I would not view a gap year as a negative assuming a kid has significant internal motivation/drive and there is appreciable upside on the college front as a result of recovery/improvement physically and a possible bump in test scores.  The assumption (from a coach's viewpoint) might be that taking a gap year will simply result in too much down time and, without knowing the kid's internal workings, coach might assume skills diminishing during that time.  Cannot blame a coach for not assuming everything works out perfect during that time.

At this stage, I would have to vote JUCO for my kid based on his internal workings (although he is a young 2017) so no real embarrassment to think a 17/18 yo might not thrive during a gap year.  

Sorry, I don't have any experience with your situation, but maybe I can help you think through it. I think there are a few important factors in your son's case.

What would be the end goal of the gap year? DI scholarship? Qualify for a higher academic college than currently? Four years of DI eligibility? True freshman experience on a traditional college campus after gap year?

If none of those things are extremely important to him, then JUCO would probably be a much easier path. Creating a gap year like Branson Baseball described would require quite an effort and commitment. Excellent plan, but not easy to execute. If he goes to a JUCO where he is good enough to play, he's going to play a ton of baseball, have access to workout facilities, earn credits toward a degree, etc.

You live in the northeast, correct? Probably not much opportunity for him to play year round in your area.

Belated thanks to 2017LHP and MidAtlanticDad for your thoughtful responses. I have not been on the site, dealing with several family issues.  

We still have not made a decision. I think my son is still hoping for some kind of miracle to happen.  His coach has put him in touch with a couple of JUCO coaches. I think this will probably be the final answer:  

<MidAtlanticDad> "Excellent plan, but not easy to execute. If he goes to a JUCO where he is good enough to play, he's going to play a ton of baseball, have access to workout facilities, earn credits toward a degree, etc."

He just needs to accept this and move forward. 

Couldn't you find a school for the gap year that has baseball?  

2016 has a school mate that plays basketball - he's an excellent player who playing wise could go to a ton of D3 schools right away (I'm not sure if there are small D1 schools interested, his parents only tell me the D3 ones).  His parents are dead set against him going directly to college for academic reasons so he's doing a gap year - and it seems like basketball is 100% part of the plan at that gap year school.  There must be schools that could provide the same opportunity for baseball, no?   They aren't doing it for athletic purposes at all - he's still looking at all the same D3 schools as he's looking at this year for when he finishes the gap year.  

Wanted to point out one aspect I am not sure I covered - sort of hit me after reading MK's post.  It might be that you have to decide between the gap year experience versus a more immediate return to baseball.  If the gap year has tremendous benefit in your mind - and your son's - then pursue that course and figure out how to make baseball work afterwards.  If the gap year was originally pursued as an avenue to higher level baseball, then perhaps the gap year should be abandoned in favor of the JUCO route, focusing on a return to baseball.

Regardless, would love to get an update once the decision is made and what issues helped make the final decision.  Good luck to you and your son.

The gap year was only to be able to pursue opportunities for baseball. We were all set on the gap year plan, so he only applied to colleges at my insistence, just in case he did decide to enroll for the fall and try to walk on a team. By that time the deadlines had passed for most of the schools he was interested in.  He was accepted to all the schools, but the rosters were set for next year. He refuses to enroll without being on a roster. 

He has been contacted by two schools that have a PG year with baseball programs, but I am unwilling to spend 28,000+ for him to do so.  

He had mentioned a month ago that he enjoys his conversations with a JUCO coach he has been talking to and how they "clicked".  The more I think about it, it's a no brainer at this point. It is certainly not want he wanted, not what I had envisioned, but his injury was a game changer. Like I said, he has not fully accepted that this is his reality now, but he is getting there. He is calling the Coach today to set up a visit. 

Thanks for your good wishes

JAM3 posted:

He had mentioned a month ago that he enjoys his conversations with a JUCO coach he has been talking to and how they "clicked".  The more I think about it, it's a no brainer at this point. It is certainly not want he wanted, not what I had envisioned, but his injury was a game changer. Like I said, he has not fully accepted that this is his reality now, but he is getting there. He is calling the Coach today to set up a visit. 

He may want to ask the JuCo coach how he feels about 1 year guys. Some don't mind guys moving on to D1 after a year because it helps in their overall recruiting efforts. Others might want a 2 year commitment. Please keep us posted.

JAM3, your son may be an excellent student and might have already done this, but I just want to remind you to make sure he's registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center and has submitted all of his academic info to the Center so he can be certified as a Qualifier.   If he's not certified as a Qualifier, he'll have to satisfy additional requirements at the JUCO (more than he'll have to meet otherwise) to be eligible when he moves on to a Division I or II program.