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16 replies

Lots of scheduling dillemas...

NJPitcher06NJPitcher06100+ posts
OK...I have a packed summer ahead of me, and I don't know how to schedule it. My first problem though is regarding high school. Any help on what to attend would be appreciated...

My family and I made plans to visit family in Florida over April vacation way back in December. In all liklihood I'll be on JV, and I will either miss 3 or 4 games depending on when I get back, and that's never a good thing. How would you as a coach feel about this situation?

OK, now for the tough stuff...

I was invited to a fairly prestigious 11 day summer program (you can't even apply without an invitation, this is based on PSAT scores and its officially sponsored by over 300 senators, representatives and ambassadors). This happens from june 21-july 1, and supposedly I'm in the AAU state tournament with my AAU team during that week. To tell you the truth I feel more connected to my Legion/School team than I do with my AAU team, I just dont want to miss a good chance to showcase my ability. I've already turned down other summer programs: Stanford, Penn, Brown, Columbia- these were right in the heart of summer baseball. This one however doesn't interfere with Legion hardly at all...

Finally, yes, I attend summer camp for 3 weeks in July/August. While this has never been a problem before (I have always missed 2 or 3 days to finish baseball, and I've even come home to pitch in an unexpected tournament championship that was 150 miles away, drive down, pitch, drive back), the AAU nationals are right in the middle of camp and my team is expected to get an invitation or play (somehow, I'm not too sure how we get a seed). Again, I don't want to miss a good chance to showcase my ability, but I remember some people saying that while it was a good experience, there were few to no scouts.

Altogether, I feel like I'm missing a lot of baseball (and if I haven't mentioned it before, Legion is big in our high school), however I play year round (practice with my fall team during the winter), so the occasional break is nice. Any help is appreciated, and please don't chastize me for debating over camp vs. baseball, some of us have relationships and great friends gained through camp...Thanks again.

NJ Pitch
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TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
This is for all you young guys 9 frosh and sophomores ,especially in the Northeast:

The HS spring break is normally when HS baseball really kicks off in the NE. Not being around can hurt your playing time-- The HS Class schedule comes out the previous year so there is no excuse for scheduling trips during the break--in fact many NE HS programs use that break to go south and play in warm weather

As for the summer-- no matter what program you play in you certainly should know ahead of time what you are doing or you and your folks are not looking ahead.

At your young age the academic stuff is critical, more critical than the baseball, at least in my opinion. If you have the opportunity for academic advancement as a frosh or soph take it--you have time to catch up with the baseball--if you are JV player the scouts are looking at you yet anyway.

Get the firm foundation academically if you have the offer to do so-- the other will fall in place.

Just some thoughts from an old man !!!

TRhit
NJPitcher06NJPitcher06100+ posts
Thanks.

I found out from my head guidance counselor that summer programs have little to no weight in a college application, so I'm leaning towards sticking with my summer team, although that is still a little iffy. Also, states are June 11-13, so I wouldn't miss them anyway if i went to the summer program. Also, we dont go to Nationals unless we win states, so theres doubtfully any conflict with camp. Overall, this is working out.

TRHit- I'm contacting/have contacted my coaches to find out the schedule. With regard to spring vacation, I did not get my schedule until Feb, 2 months after our plans were made. If I'm on JV I'm going to go on vacation, if varsity I won't. Thanks for all your advice guys.

NJ Pitch
N NYdad500+ posts
A scheduling dilemma in April would be nice! Son is in his frosh year attending out of town H.S. and things were going great... he's pretty much slated for JV as a number 1 or 2 starter. Well varsity coach contacts us to say he would also like to take our son with his varsity team to Arizona during spring break for an 8 game exhibition schedule. Well son decides to decline the offer as he seems to feel going away for a week with the varsity group that being the only frosh the older guys will pal around and party together leaving him alone for the week. I made every effort to ease his mind even offering to go along if it made him more comfortable but unfortunately to no avail. I don't know what to think at this stage and was wondering if others have had a similar experience.

"On two legs, Mickey Mantle would have been the greatest ballplayer who ever lived." - Nellie Fox
N NYdad500+ posts
BB50,

"Sounds like you want to go more than your son. Let your son decide what HE wants to do"

I felt going would have been a great experience and offered to go only if it would have made him more comfortable, not because I wanted to go as I had no intention of going. Furthermore, He did decide what HE wanted to do and that was not go which brought me to my question of whether others have had similar situation as I was a little concerned whether refusing to go would send the wrong message and perhaps work against him down the road or need not worry the coach will understand. Being this is my first experiene with H.S. ball as a parent was not sure how to read this, thats all.

"On two legs, Mickey Mantle would have been the greatest ballplayer who ever lived." - Nellie Fox
B baseballmom
CLD
That would be my question, too...
I would advise my son that going would be an opportunity to grow. I would imagine that upperclassmen would test him a little, but would more than likely talk him under their wing.
Declining an invitation from the Coach might indeed send the wrong message... (immature?disinterested? lacking confidence? shy? afraid?)
Maybe Coach is considering moving him up to Varsity, & wants to see how he'd handle the pressure?
N NYdad500+ posts
BaseballMom,

Thanks for your comments.

I would like to think that being only a frosh the coach would understand but did wonder if his decision would have a negative affect. Perhaps the coach is considering varsity possibilities as you mention since it was the varsity coach that recruited him to the h.s.. Fairly certain the boys would take him under their wing as they seem like a good bunch and tried to assure him of this. Do believe son's decision is more of a social thing as maturity and interest level can vary greatly with the few years difference at this age. Much to our surprise, son tells us this evening that he's now going. He said the coach called him into his office today to discuss (couple of seniors were also in his office!) and coach said he was holding a ticket open for him so he told coach he would go. However, I can tell in speaking with him he is still is not 100 pct sure about this as he asked if I would come and there are a dozen or so other parents making the trip.

"On two legs, Mickey Mantle would have been the greatest ballplayer who ever lived." - Nellie Fox
SDBBSDBB500+ posts
NSLC.... My son also got an invitation to spend lots of $$$$$ He even got a priority code to avoid postal delays... Wink

But he has also recieved a ton of other letters since his PSAT.... But all seem to want us to spend $$$$ in some form or another.

How "up and up" is this program???? It really seems to me as a very SLICK sales job.


Then, NJPitcher06 --- How many years have you played baseball...? How many years have you looked at what your HS does over spring break?

In my part of the country, the BIG HS tournaments are during spring break.... And you PLAN VACATIONS in a very limited time... the week or two after Nationals in August or a couple weeks in December.... Otherwise... if you are serious about baseball then it is a priority the rest of the time... and a LOT of coaches... will judge your dedication by attendance.

Summertime, you have to decide where your priorities lie.... and make tough decisions.
NJPitcher06NJPitcher06100+ posts
That's exactly what my guidance counselor said. I got a 219 on the PSATs, and she said that if I stay consistent with that then the colleges won't even bother looking at the extra-curricular summer programs; she also said they wouldn't look at them if I had gotten a 119. Anyways, thanks for the advice. Tryouts started today, and man does it feel great. The mile run in the 48 degree rain though...thats harsh, and my time slipped a little. Anyways though, baseball is great, even if it's indoors for now :-D.

NJ Pitch

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