Junior College vs. PG

If I am understanding correctly are you saying that you would consider keeping your son back because of emotional immaturity?

or are you saying he is more emotionally mature than players his age?

There are PG programs with good baseball programs. Several are in the northeast. The purpose would be if by the end of junior year summer ball you feel an extra year of summer showcasing would make a significant difference in his college prospects. Sophomore year is too early to consider the situation.

I am a little confused. I would think the reason for PG'ing would be for physical maturity and you're stating his teammates and his emotional maturity as the issue. It's not about his teammates. It's about your son.

I'm not sure what you mean by "play his grade." High school varsity is up to four grades. Are you saying he's good for his grade age or good for varsity?

By summer after soph year and playing varsity he should be playing up as far as he can in summer ball instead of playing his age if he has aspirations of going to the next level.

It is expensive but I'd suggest you look into IMG academies for a postgraduate year if it still makes sense when the time comes as long as you can afford the cost.

He could start taking a part time load at a JC or at a University of Miami extension while he's at IMG without using up a year of eligibility.

Obviously there's no need to make a decision about that until you see what his situation is relative to college ball during his senior year.

I will say that my son has made significant improvements between being a 17 yo Sept born HS senior and being an 18 yo RS freshman. He probably would be even further ahead if he had gone the IMG route and would have his full eligibility left but we'd be a lot poorer. As usual, if the goal is to "buy" a scholarship it seldom pays financially. Surprisingly, the players can be better off academically in the long run doing the PG year and taking a part time load than getting on the RS track academically.

There are good JC programs with good academics, but once you start full time at the JC you're fully into the college eligibility process and it is not a 5th year of HS.

quote:

It is expensive but I'd suggest you look into IMG academies for a postgraduate year if it still makes sense when the time comes as long as you can afford the cost.

A friend looked at IMG for his son. For tennis it was over 50K a year.

Roughly the same for baseball and the college courses are a separate cost.

To clarify

He is somewhat immature emotionally. Physically and skill-wise we is very advanced. An additional year would help him with the mental side of the game.

the comment about teammates, he listens to the "garbage talk" of his teammates too much. In travel ball he played as a team, everyone got along. time and maturity will help him learn to disregard this and understand the motive of what is being said.

Grade: he is more advanced physically and talent wise than most players in his grade, the 10th grade. Not kids as much as three years older than him on the Varsity team in which he plays. Agree it is good to play against better kids he just does not stand out the way he can as when playing agaist boys his age.

Now that your son is playing varsity you need to start thinking 17/18U not his age group or grade. Going back to play against 16U players in the summer would be playing down. He's going to advance because he can compete against all high school age players.

Overall I'd say you're worrying about it too soon. Give him at least another year to mature and develop before you consider looking at a postgraduate year.

To me this is a simple case of Daddy "overthinking"

The boy is a nice physical size and apparently has talent if he is on the varsity squad

Let the boy do his thing--let him play against the best competition that he can---in the end all will be fine---as for the masturity aspect he will gain the maturity playing with the older guys---if he has the talent to help the team he will be totally accepted

Thanks for the input guys,

Not really overthinking...I prefer to think of it as just being prepared with options....if an opportunity arises.

He is not a part of this discussion. Afterall, he is barely 15 and I want him to stay that way as long as possible.

Thanks again for the insight and advice.

A team mate of my sons, now a Jr., spent his Sophomore year of High School at IMG in Bradenton. He came back a changed player and a changed athlete. Major improvements in all areas of the game. Big $ though.

Bludevil,

Please do your best to ignore TR. He is so inappropriate on so many levels and so many ways. It takes time and thought to throw out the barbs he does on a daily basis. You would figure it would be easier to be nice to people on this site, but since he is an uptight older guy he gets a pass around here for whatever reason. He usually doesnt bring anything to the conversation except his horrible attitude. So take whatever he says with a grain of salt. So let me appologize to you for his behavior. I know it gets old and is very stale.

As far as your question, my advise would be to sit tight and see what the next year and a half bring. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Bludevil,
Sometimes TRhit's comments should be ignored, or can be a little too "plain-spoken".

But his advice in this thread is spot on. Read it carefully.


Hey D1,
I can easily understand that you may have an axe to grind with TRhit. But surely you can find a better thread to complain in than this one. Your advice is the same as his!

D1

I really do not know what your problem is other than you cannot get box seats and have to sit in the bleachers.

Not even sure what your background is from the little info your profile has. I would be careful what you say sir as it makes your mind seem awful small


UPTIGHT--there is not a looser goosier person in the world than me--amazing how you can make assumptions without even knowing me---I do nto make public judgements regarding you even though I have one in my mind

3FG

Thanx but I don't you or anyone else to stand up for me

This site is for info and opinions, at least that is how it began, and that is what I dispense. Those that don't agree with my advice are welcome to do so--it is their right -- as for my opinions you all can do with them as you wish--I don't always agree with everyones opinions either but that is what this site is all about--debate and give and take of opinions--the posters with intelligence will decipher the good from the bad

Thanks guys, I appreciate it all.

TR, I looked at your blog, your a big Elliot Avent fan I see. He is right nearby for me.

Nice to hear a good story about him. In this area he does not have such a good following, In fact, I know several of his former players and a Dad that played pro ball that frankly that can not stand him.

Cheers.

bluedevil

Coach Avent is more a friend than anything---he brought my son to New Mexico State back in the mid 90's when he was Head Coach there and we have been friends ever since

Everyone has people who don't like them, trust me on that, but I can only go by how he has treated my son and how he treats me--nothing else matters

3FG,

You are absolutely right, my advice was exactly the same as TR's except I didn't have the same tone or putdown as him.
See this is what I mean, it took time to think about a putdown and being sarcastic when he could have just said "let the kid play it out and see what happens."

This is why I and others here couldn't care less what he has to say. There are good people on this site that give great advise on a daily basis and don't have nearly the venom that comes from this poor pathtic soul on a daily basis. Ex. Coach May has great advice and never puts anyone down. You can just tell, this guy has class and you would be proud to know him or say he was a friend. TR, not-so-much............

There is another site I go to that allows it's users t put other members on "ignore", so their post don't show up on your computer screen. If any of the moderators would like to know the site and maybe work that into this one let me know. I would like to be first to put TR on ignore so I dont have to see any idiotic, sacrastic remarks anymore.

See, that is the one thing TR thrives on, people getting uptight about his posts. If people can put him on ignore many people won't even see the venomous dribble that he spews. It would definitely help the site. Out of everything that is not good on this site, and there isn't much, TR is definitely right up there.

D1

Little minds say trivial things---you continue on your way with your thinking and I will go mine but I assure you I like my path much better---too much soft soap in the world today--parents and kids need to be told the truth--not pap and be fed with a spoon


Myself and perhaps many others could care less what you think of me because at the end of the say your drivel is inconsequential to my well being


Footnote:

D1= what makes you the official TRHIT hater and leader--there are others ahead of you---as I said to one poster not everyone likes everyone and I don't expect people to --I am not here to win a popularity contest--I just want to offer advice and opinion from my experiences---readers can do what they want with it-- I don't ask anyone to print out what I say and hang it on the refrigerator to read every time someone passes by

I think that you take the virtual world too darn serious

This is getting a little rediculous. D1 and 3, after reading your post on TR, I went back and read his post and didn't see anything wrong with it. I thought his advice was sound. I have no idea what you are talking about with your put down of TR on this thread.

Blue, I happen to agree with TR and some of the others on here. It's still a little early to be worrying about it. The next two years could make a huge difference with your son's maturity level. Sounds like he has the size and ability to do well.

My son played varsity as a freshman. Was he dominant? Sometimes, but not always. That's OK. I personally don't think it is a good thing to be dominant all the time. The kids need to learn what it is like to have to struggle and work hard to be the best. As they progress through their baseball lives, they will struggle at some point. Whether it be an underclassman playing varsity, playing college ball or moving up to the pros. The better he learns how to deal with adversity now, the better off he will be when he gets to that spot where he does struggle. It really is all part of the maturing process.

I also agree with playing up during summer ball. My son plays on a 16 yr. old travel team, but they play almost exclusively 17 and 18 year old teams. The kids need to be challenged and have to work to get better. The best way to do that is to play the best competition they can.

It's not bad to be looking at options, but, like I said, two years from now, it could be a completely different story with your son and his maturity level. Good luck to you guys.

Funny that you use the word little. Just like midgets make me giggle, so does your way of thinking.
You say you just want to offer advise? Does venom need to come from your lips every time you speak?

You are right about one thing, you definitely know "little", about many things.

I will continue to pray for you.

D1

It would help if you noted who you were posting to but I will assume you are directing your inaneness at me

I do not think I define venom the way you do

As for prayers they are always welcome if the reason is correct--I do not think your reasons are--I would save them for when I am ill or dying--thank you

Are there any other PG prgrams on east coast other than IMG? There are a bunch for basketball but don't know of many for baseball.