Looking over my 2012's summer schedule for varsity baseball and basketball and seeing lots of conflict. Is it just me or are the coaches almost requiring a two or three sport athlete to commit to one sport?
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quote:Looking over my 2012's summer schedule for varsity baseball and basketball and seeing lots of conflict. Is it just me or are the coaches almost requiring a two or three sport athlete to commit to one sport?
You may want to look past the coaches.. AKA the administration, the school board, etc.
I was told the other day that the school administration thinks "basketball needs to be a 12-month sport."
It's sad. I absolutely will NOT support a single-sport athlete to play 12 months out of the year. It's an injury waiting to happen.
I for one dislike single sport athletes in high school. IMO, it's better for kids to experience different coaching/teaching styles and a different group of players. The problem with my idea is that today's high schools are so large (many are between 2500 & 4000 students) that it's very difficult for kids to make their high school teams and contribute if they don't put all of their energy into one sport. Back when most high schools had between 250 & 750 students the best athletes could play 3 sports and contribute at an early age. I am not sure that more that five kids could do that today in the super large high schools. My son was a two sport athlete (football & baseball) at a school with 900 students. The following was his daily schedule during the Summer:
Monday-Friday
6:00am wake up
7:00am-9:30am football strength & conditioning
10:00am eat breakfast
12:30pm take a nap
2:30pm Lunch
3:30pm-5:00pm BP
6:00pm-11:00pm Summer League DH or practice
11:30pm Eat Dinner, Shower, Go to bed
It was very difficult for him to play 2 sports, I don't know how he could have every participated in 3 sports it were at a high level.
Monday-Friday
6:00am wake up
7:00am-9:30am football strength & conditioning
10:00am eat breakfast
12:30pm take a nap
2:30pm Lunch
3:30pm-5:00pm BP
6:00pm-11:00pm Summer League DH or practice
11:30pm Eat Dinner, Shower, Go to bed
It was very difficult for him to play 2 sports, I don't know how he could have every participated in 3 sports it were at a high level.
I agree that most sports offer the "opportunity" to play year around. It is the more confident athlete that can firmly explain to his coaches that he would like to play multiple sports and must budget his time. Patiot Son is slated to be the PG on varsity basketball next year as a soph. Our school is about 1500 students. Even tho he is good enough to earn that position, his future seems to be baseball. As I see the situation, he loves playing BB plus the conditioning can not be beat especially for a pitcher.
I think there is a much greater chance for injury with FB. My older son gained too much muscle mass for FB before his senior year that he never fully recovered his flexablity for baseball until we took him to PT. His velocity was down 3 to 4 mph and developed bicept tendonitis due to a tight postior capsul of the throwing shoulder. It takes a VERY dedicated stretching program to build strength and flexability. Most FB coaches don't consider the impact of loss of shoulder and arm flexability of a pitcher playing DE.
I think that as long as the student athlete can keep their grades in the agreed acceptable range and are having fun playing whatever sport, let them. Some coaches will take participation in another sport as a lack of dedication to their sport, I say shame on them. It helps when coaches are involved in multiple sports. It gives them a better perspective on the well rounded athlete.
I think there is a much greater chance for injury with FB. My older son gained too much muscle mass for FB before his senior year that he never fully recovered his flexablity for baseball until we took him to PT. His velocity was down 3 to 4 mph and developed bicept tendonitis due to a tight postior capsul of the throwing shoulder. It takes a VERY dedicated stretching program to build strength and flexability. Most FB coaches don't consider the impact of loss of shoulder and arm flexability of a pitcher playing DE.
I think that as long as the student athlete can keep their grades in the agreed acceptable range and are having fun playing whatever sport, let them. Some coaches will take participation in another sport as a lack of dedication to their sport, I say shame on them. It helps when coaches are involved in multiple sports. It gives them a better perspective on the well rounded athlete.
My son is still a 3 sport athlete. In fact he made 1st team all conference football and baseball and 2nd team all conference basketball. It can still be done but it is hard. He finished football and started varsity basketball the next night. He finished basketball and started baseball the next week. He finished baseball and had spring football the next two weeks then he starts spring/summer basketball this week. He has had to tell his basketball and football coaches that he will not be there for most of the summer since baseball is his thing. He is going to try to do a football camp since he is being recruited by one school for baseball and football. But we hold our breath that there are no injuries that prevent him from doing baseball. Especially the past two weeks for spring football. Our coaches encourage it. In fact we have four players that started football, basketball, and baseball this year on varsity. They made 3rd round playoffs in football and sub-state in basketball. Lost a tough game in baseball to be eliminated first round.
How many sports a kid plays may depend on the size of the high school. Some smaller schools need all their athletes out for a sport every season. My son attends a large classification school. After being the starting point guard on the freshman team the varsity coach cut him saying by already playing two varsity sports he didn't have time to give to basketball. He never made an offseason workout or played summer basketball. Had he been 6'6" the coach might have wanted him as a backup forward. No one on the varsity or JV basketball team plays a second sport.
Not playing basketball was the best thing that could have happened to him. He trained for baseball all winter leading up to baseball season. The winter of soph year he put on twenty-five pounds rather than losing weight playing basketball.
Not playing basketball was the best thing that could have happened to him. He trained for baseball all winter leading up to baseball season. The winter of soph year he put on twenty-five pounds rather than losing weight playing basketball.
Good luck on the multi sport. All sports are year round. Work outs are year round. All the coaches say play all of the sports then they take it out on you when you miss their workouts.
It is impossible at a large school.
It is impossible at a large school.
I agree with RJM that school size is an important factor on the 3-sport issue.
This topic comes up periodically on this site. My concern with the 1-sport vs. 3-sports is that the 1-sport is justified as a basis to get better for college or the chance to play college as if the high school experience is less meaningful. Unless you go to the rare college that gets a crowd for baseball, there is probably no bigger memory-maker than playing football or basketball for your high school team.
This topic comes up periodically on this site. My concern with the 1-sport vs. 3-sports is that the 1-sport is justified as a basis to get better for college or the chance to play college as if the high school experience is less meaningful. Unless you go to the rare college that gets a crowd for baseball, there is probably no bigger memory-maker than playing football or basketball for your high school team.
Athletic Awards night was this past Thursday. There were over 200 2 sport athletes. I do not remeber the number of 3 sport. This is always anounced at the Spring awards night and the athletes ae recognized for the accomplishment.
The highlite was that ALL Spring Varsity sports, 11 in total, had a GPA over 3.0. The same was true in the Fall. Baseball was second with a GPA of 3.53. The Varsity Baseball coach, head of the Science Department, was celebrating this as much as much as anythnig on the night.
The highlite was that ALL Spring Varsity sports, 11 in total, had a GPA over 3.0. The same was true in the Fall. Baseball was second with a GPA of 3.53. The Varsity Baseball coach, head of the Science Department, was celebrating this as much as much as anythnig on the night.
I think it is great to be a multi sport high school. It builds commraderie, gives you lasting friendships, and lets you enjoy your high school caree. However I feel that there comes a time, that when you are serious about baseball, and can see it possibly as a career, that you have to make the choice to simply focus on just that. I played Varsity Football, Ice Hockey, and Baseball in High School. When I realized I had a chance to posibly play at the Next level, I quit Football, and Ice Hockey my senior year to focus simply on Baseball.
The other day, I had an interesting conversation with a dad from my son's former high school. His son is currently a senior and about to graduate.
Two years ago, when my son was a senior, his team was ranked as high as 5th in the country, and the starters were mostly baseball-only players. At the end of the year, 5 seniors committed to higher-end college programs: 2 to D1's, 2 to top-quality JUCO's (1 of those just signed with a D1 for next year), and 1 to a solid NAIA program. The guys who played football also were typically back-ups and hung up the cleats after high school.
This year, the high school team, which has ALWAYS been a powerhouse, was out in the first round of the playoffs. The dad of the current senior -- himself a former D1 baseball player -- shared that from his perspective, much of the problem was that the great majority of the starters were football players who also happened to play baseball, his son included. He commented that in his mind, those who played 2 or more sports were simply "jacks of all trades and masters of none." His son is the only senior headed off to play college ball (of any kind), and it's to a lower-level D3 program.
Just some food for thought.
Two years ago, when my son was a senior, his team was ranked as high as 5th in the country, and the starters were mostly baseball-only players. At the end of the year, 5 seniors committed to higher-end college programs: 2 to D1's, 2 to top-quality JUCO's (1 of those just signed with a D1 for next year), and 1 to a solid NAIA program. The guys who played football also were typically back-ups and hung up the cleats after high school.
This year, the high school team, which has ALWAYS been a powerhouse, was out in the first round of the playoffs. The dad of the current senior -- himself a former D1 baseball player -- shared that from his perspective, much of the problem was that the great majority of the starters were football players who also happened to play baseball, his son included. He commented that in his mind, those who played 2 or more sports were simply "jacks of all trades and masters of none." His son is the only senior headed off to play college ball (of any kind), and it's to a lower-level D3 program.
Just some food for thought.
My son just completed his freshman year of HS and has been playing football, baseball and basketball since sixth grade. It has been tough for him to juggle the sports and sometimes the conflicts do upset the other, out of season coaches. He has equal potential as far as playing in college in both football and baseball. He severely sprained his ankle in the second to last freshman basketball game. After a couple weeks he was back almost 100% and began baseball practice. Also, the summer AAU basketball workouts and tryouts began as well. Baseball would have taken priority but he would have played some basketball games/tournies as he has the last several summers. He tweaked the ankle a couple times (once at basketball once at baseball) and began to wear a tie up ankle brace. The night before he was to be the JV opening day starting pitcher he was playing basketball and came down on a kids foot, the ankle started to give, the brace suppored it and his 220 lb force went up to the next joint, his knee, and tore his ACL and meniscus!!! No high school baseball. No summer St. Louis Pirates baseball, no AAU summer basketball, no Varsity football this fall...I've always encouraged and supported the basketball as it kept him in shape and active all winter, even though he has absoultely no chance of playing in college. However, in retrospect, I know think that this a mistake. This was a terrible injury that is going to take a ton of work to recover from and he may never be the same. The mental aspect is almost as bad as the physical aspect. He's now damaged goods and may have dimiminished his chances of playing either football or baseball in college. I hope not but it is just the facts of the matter. I know that this could have happened in a lot of different ways other than sports but I know think that if you have a kid that has the potential to play a sport or sports in college that you should concentrate on that and minimize your chances of injury in the others, especially if they have no chance of playing beyond high school in the other sport. It's just too much of a risk to thier careers. Up until eight weeks ago I didn't feel this way. However my sons injury has changed my thinking...I wouldn't wish this injury on anyone.
I have had two sons and a stepson go thru HS and play baseball in college
The first born played football and baseball early on in HS until he broke a rib that pierced his lung in a football game--no more football
My second son played baseball, basketball and s o c c e r in HS at various times----he was annointed starting point guard on the baskeball team as a junior but gave up hoops that year for baseball intensification--senior year he went back to hoops to stay in shape and be with the guys--didn't ask for his starting spot--was happy to work oput and be part of the team--in the fall of his senior year the s o c c e r team need a goalie so he took the spot and led them to the playoffs
My step son played only baseball in HS as that was what he wanted and he was a pitcher--my other two guys were position players
My third son played HS baseball up until his junior year and simply stopped when he didn''t enjoy it anymore ---he is now a grade school teacher in Florida a member of SwordfishFishng team in Florida. His picture is on the front page of the his sponsoring boat companies website so I guess you could say he made the right decision
Actually all of them made the right decisions for themselves and did it on their own--As a parent I allowed them to make their own decisions just as my dad did with me
Just a few things from my experience
The first born played football and baseball early on in HS until he broke a rib that pierced his lung in a football game--no more football
My second son played baseball, basketball and s o c c e r in HS at various times----he was annointed starting point guard on the baskeball team as a junior but gave up hoops that year for baseball intensification--senior year he went back to hoops to stay in shape and be with the guys--didn't ask for his starting spot--was happy to work oput and be part of the team--in the fall of his senior year the s o c c e r team need a goalie so he took the spot and led them to the playoffs
My step son played only baseball in HS as that was what he wanted and he was a pitcher--my other two guys were position players
My third son played HS baseball up until his junior year and simply stopped when he didn''t enjoy it anymore ---he is now a grade school teacher in Florida a member of SwordfishFishng team in Florida. His picture is on the front page of the his sponsoring boat companies website so I guess you could say he made the right decision
Actually all of them made the right decisions for themselves and did it on their own--As a parent I allowed them to make their own decisions just as my dad did with me
Just a few things from my experience
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
Actually all of them made the right decisions for themselves and did it on their own--As a parent I allowed them to make their own decisions just as my dad did with me
This is the philosophy with which I raised my children as well. I added one thing, though, once they made a decision, which they did each year, they owned that decision and had to see it through. Decisions to quit were not allowed unitl the last out, last down, last buzzer of the season.
Plenty of athletically talented high school kids become college prospects in multiple sports.quote:those who played 2 or more sports were simply "jacks of all trades and masters of none."
How a player looks at sports varies from one player to the next. Some are consumed by and dedicated to a single sport and the next likes to play a variety of sports while another may not want to participate at all. In my opinion it's a non-issue UNLESS they are not allowed by someone (coach or parent) to participate in another sport. I think athletes are encouraged (sometimes forced) by their parents to put a great deal of effort into a single sport (let's use baseball). Parents place them on travel teams, purchase private lessons, take them to showcases, camps etc. THEN the parent complains there isn't enough time for their son to be a multi-sport athlete ..... they complain the game of baseball and the baseball coaches have become too demanding. Kids aren't the best at time management. Parents need to understand their kids desires and help them design an approach to sports that will help them realize their goals. For instance my son wanted to play high level baseball. I explained he would have to sacrifice some things in order to do that. Swimming, school functions, basketball, vacations etc would all be affected by the rigors of select baseball and the training associated with that. He agreed and went the baseball route. Then during his junior year he was approached by the football coach to play football. He agreed. He had to "whittle" away some baseball events he would have been involved in (PG events in Jupiter and private lessons) in order to play football but he will tell you today that doing so was very rewarding. There are 24 hours in a day. How you son uses those hours allocated to sports should be up to him. Help him work up a plan.
Fungo
Fungo