My son did not make his high school freshman team.

Hitting is king and can always be improved upon.

(unless you are a pitcher)

Sorry to hear of your son's disappointment. But welcome aboard, and hopefully you will find some answers or ideas.

I'll guess he's fourteen. He still has time to grow and develop physically and baseball-wise. He should go to the coach and ask what he needs to do to improve. If he can handle the humility he could offer to be a team equipment manager if he's allowed to work out some with the team.

Well I'm sorry that your first post has to be such a down one but we can take it and get to work.

Tell him it stinks royally that he didn't make the team but it's not the end of the world. It's the end if he lets it be the end. The coach doesn't think he's good enough in several areas. Hopefully the coach met with him (I hate posting lists and telling the kids if they want to meet to set up an appointment - if you're going to cut someone be a man and look them in the eye and tell them why you're cutting them) and told him what he needs to work on. If the coach didn't tell him what he needs to improve in then he does need to go back and meet with the coach. Find out where he's deficient and then get to work.

Take this opportunity to teach your son that even if the coach is wrong that bad things happen to good people and how you handle / react to them determines how successful you are in life. He's facing adversity right now and it can either beat him or he can beat it. Life is a competition and you got to fight. If he truly wants to play baseball then he will get to work and get better. The ones who blame the coach or say there's some sort of favortism are acting as victims. The problem with victims is they never realize they have a choice in the matter to fix the problem or at least strive to fix the problem. If he thinks he's a victim then he's probably done playing really competitive baseball because he will never fix the things he needs to improve. But if he sees that he has to improve then he has a chance to move along in the game. Nothing is guaranteed in life or sports except that if you want a chance then you have to work for it.

You may want to look into a private coach and do some things like that to improve the skills. Even if he never makes it he will one day look back and be content with the effort and be a better person because of it. You want to help your son then don't sugarcoat it or throw blame around - be realistic with him that even if he works his butt off he still may not make it but if it's something he wants then he needs to make it happen.

Good luck

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Yes indeed lorin rozatti...welcome aboard the HSBBW.

You and your son have received excellent advice so far. In addition, I would have your son look around here on the HSBBW. There is a wealth of information that will help him in his quest to continue forward in baseball.

Please keep us posted. Thanks.



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lorin....sorry to hear about your son. I hate making cuts. It is the worst day of the year for me because I know how hard it is on some of the kids who really love playing baseball.

A good (true) story for you: about 9 years ago we had a fairly short, slightly pudgy Freshman. He wasn't terrible, but not very athletic and just kind of average. He was the last cut we made; right on the bubble. He came out again as a sophomore and got cut again; just barely.

He asked if he could still play with our summer team and I told him we'd love to have him. Over that year and into his junior year, he continued to work. He also continued to grow. By the time he was a junior in the spring, he was taller and more athletic and had made himself stronger. He made the varsity team as a backup catcher to a future D1 scholarship catcher. He was our starting catcher the next year and did very well.

I promoted him to a local D3 college, and he ended up being the starting catcher there for 3 years. He ended up being a .300 career hitter and a team leader.

The point is, he didn't let getting cut slow him down from his dream to play high school baseball. But he also didn't just sit around and then try out the next year. He worked out and worked on his baseball until he got better than his competition. If your coach values keeping hardworking players, he has a shot.... Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by TCB1:
lorin....sorry to hear about your son. I hate making cuts. It is the worst day of the year for me because I know how hard it is on some of the kids who really love playing baseball.

A good (true) story for you: about 9 years ago we had a fairly short, slightly pudgy Freshman. He wasn't terrible, but not very athletic and just kind of average. He was the last cut we made; right on the bubble. He came out again as a sophomore and got cut again; just barely.

He asked if he could still play with our summer team and I told him we'd love to have him. Over that year and into his junior year, he continued to work. He also continued to grow. By the time he was a junior in the spring, he was taller and more athletic and had made himself stronger. He made the varsity team as a backup catcher to a future D1 scholarship catcher. He was our starting catcher the next year and did very well.

I promoted him to a local D3 college, and he ended up being the starting catcher there for 3 years. He ended up being a .300 career hitter and a team leader.

The point is, he didn't let getting cut slow him down from his dream to play high school baseball. But he also didn't just sit around and then try out the next year. He worked out and worked on his baseball until he got better than his competition. If your coach values keeping hardworking players, he has a shot.... Good luck!

Very nice post!

lorin rozatti - welcome to the hsbbweb!

I felt my son was essentially cut from his college team when he was initially redshirted as a freshmen. He was very emotional about it but the last thing I wanted him to do was feel sorry for himself. I challenged him to get better. Rather than feeling sorry and depressed, he doubled down and worked at his game which has served him well to this day.

Encourage your son. Tell him not to let pride get in his way from building himself back up. Perhaps see the coach and find out what he can do to improve and then do it. See if he can assist with the team so he can still be part in some small way. Most importantly, encourage him to work harder than every other guy out there. Do it with a smile and a vision.

Let him know that perhaps the greatest athlete of all time was cut from his high school team - Michael Jordan.

For inspriation, please have him watch the movie Rudy. A young man with a vision simply cannot be stopped. Encourage him and please do not let him wallow in self pity. He has the ability to do something about this. Now encourage him to get busy and do it.

Again, welcome to the hsbbweb!

quote:

I felt my son was essentially cut from his college team when he was initially redshirted as a freshmen. He was very emotional about it but the last thing I wanted him to do was feel sorry for himself. I challenged him to get better. Rather than feeling sorry and depressed, he doubled down and worked at his game which has served him well to this day.

CD is being modest. His son ended up starring on a ranked team. Then he was drafted. He's in the minors now. Show your son his story.

RJM - I certainly was not looking for any compliments in this thread but that was an awfully nice thing to say. All the best to your son and family in the future!

take heart. my son did not make varsity the first two years in h.s. He worked hard although he knew he was a varsity player. ended up getting a scholarship before playing one varsity game. tell him to use it as motivation. dont quit!!

Have your son listen to Steve Springers "Quality at Bats". I love the story of his high school and college experience.

Lorin - this is just a temporary setback for your son, although you and he may feel like it's the end of the world. Son's HS coach was cut from his JV team twice - made up his mind that he would work his butt off and prove everyone wrong. He was right: drafted 5 times (before draft rules were changed), four times in the first round. Ended up pitching in big leagues for 8 years and eventually had his high school field named after him. Bottom line: work hard and stay focused on your goals.

I know what you and your son are going through all too well. My son was cut from his freshman team a few years ago even though he knew and I knew he was a much better player than many of the players that made the team. Its hard because at that age all kids define themselves as something, for your son like mine, it is probably a baseball player. When someone takes that away from them they feel rejected by the world they defined themselves by. As parents we want to fix it ASAP. I looked at the situation a few years back where my son had the chance to define himself not just as a baseball player but a competitor, a person who perseveres, and an opportunity to truly understand that hard work will pay off. My son did make the team the following year and was recruited by several colleges and recently committed to a school that he loves.

Here are some suggestions to get it going:
*Have your son, not you, meet with the coach that cut him. Have your son ask what where he needs to improve to make the team the next year. It shows that he cares and he will find out why he was cut.

*Get your son playing as soon as possible through lessons, summer team practice..... The sooner he feels as if he is doing something positive to work for the goal of next year the sooner he will turn the disapoinment and the helpless feeling of being cut into some sort of control of the situation.

I truly hope for your son that he could start to realize that the situation he is in might not be the end of baseball for him but just the begining. Good Luck and tell your son to have a great summer season.

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Well said shortnquick. Thanks for sharing your experience and your words of encouragement.




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I played college basketball with a player that was cut from his high school team as a sr. so he went out for an American Legion type team.........and got cut from that team......

So he walked on at a D3 school and worked to get better and played for years of D3 ball......

We parted ways he was older than I ........and one day I'm watching the Cubs play the Expos and the announcer says it looks like the Expos are going to their bullpen and don't you know it, this guy is playing in the Majors !

What I learned from this guy and I try to teach my sons, is if you want it ...really want it......never ever quit......no matter what anyone coach says.

I have another friend who had a son and he wanted to pitch in high school. The high school coach told him that he needed to try another position, the coach felt that he would not make a pitcher.... Well the boy wanted to pitch so he left for a much smaller private school and played high school ball. Then he went to a JUCO for two years, then he went to a mid-level D1 school for 2 years, last year he was drafted in the 5th round.....

the stories go on and on.....just don't let him quit he's too young.

now that all appropriate welcomes, condolences and great suggestions and motivations have been provided...
is it just me or did it strike anyone else as odd that a HS team would make cuts this early for a freshman team?
Because these young players have the most room for growth and development and the focus should be more on development, one would think a freshman squad would wait longer for any cuts, particularly with football just ending, winter sports in full swing (surely some of these players are still potentials/ unknowns) and a player that is already playing extra club ball.
Lorin, I don't want to take the focus away from where it should be - on the excellent advice you've been given here (as one poster said, don't be the victim)... just thought that part was odd. Must be one stacked HS program... or ?????

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
I'll guess he's fourteen. He still has time to grow and develop physically and baseball-wise. He should go to the coach and ask what he needs to do to improve. If he can handle the humility he could offer to be a team equipment manager if he's allowed to work out some with the team.

Just anecdotal support...I was cut from my high school so$$er team as a ninth grader...I was crushed, but I went back to the coach and asked if he needed a manager...he said sure. First day of practice I get the water coolers filled and out to the field, pump up all the balls, etc...I'm standing there watching and the coached asked what I was doing just standing there, why wasn't I over working out with the goalkeepers...from that day on, I worked out every day AFTER I got my work done...I even got to play in a varsity game that all of the 9th graders got to go in (blowout)...and made a breakaway save after just one minute in the game.

Move four years later, my senior year. I'm the starter. I gave up two goals in 16 games, I had one loss...unfortunately it was in the upperstate finals where we lost 1-0. I still filled the water buckets and put air in the balls every day before practice.

I went on to play in college, and although I didn't actually play a whole lot, I've got a NCAA Division I National Championship ring that I still wear 26 years later.

He can't let it get him down...if he has the desire, he will do what it takes to get on the field. Never know, this could be the thing gives him the push to excel.

If you live in SoCal I would check into ABD for spring ball. There's quite a few that hold a measure of contempt for the program. This should not disuade you from checking out the opportunity.

Although the boy played 4 yrs on the varsity, in hindsight his time would have been better spent with ABD.

lorin R, happened to two of my son's best friends. One transferred to a smaller private school and now is playing D1 for AirForce in the Mountain West. The other stayed, tried out the following year made it. Stuck with it, swallowed the pride of playing JV his junior year. Was a varsity starter his senior year, won the CIF Championship and is now at a high profile JC in the mid-west doing quite well.

Dont give up!

cabbagedad, happens all the time at this time of year... not unusual.

Dswann, I am a HUGE fan of the ABD program. Absolutely fantastic people there. The Spring ABCL League has really helped a lot of players.

quote:

Let him know that perhaps the greatest athlete of all time was cut from his high school team - Michael Jordan.

Jordan wasn't cut from his HS team. He was moved down to JV. He may have been cut from varsity, but was still on the team and assumably, cuuld've been called up any time. Big difference than getting cut from the program.

As for not making the HS freshman team, if he wants to play HS ball, he still has a couple more years to improve. Typically, if they get cut freshman year, that's usually it. However, when my son played, there was one player who got cut freshman and sophomore year, made JV his junior year and made varsity his senior year. So it can happen if he's determined enough to get better and not letting getting cut discourage him from trying out next year.

Good advice here, but let me add that you may want to give him some time to grieve. He might need a few days, a few weeks, or possibly even a couple of months. The first time in your life that something or someone you love rejects you, it's brutal.

Lorin, everything happens for a reason. Be a great supportive parent and he will be fine. Our son was cut from his college team, transferred to a JUCO and is doing great. He will be transferring to a university next year. It takes work, but it can be done.

I would suggest signing him up with the best hitting coach in your area. He should be swinging every day on his own. Secondly, I would sign him up for the ABD spring league, I have heard good things about it.

If this is what he really wants to do, he can do it. I have seen similar situations like your sons in the past and with hard work and determination their abilities blossom. Good luck and let us know on his progress.

Lefty...
Keep swingin it...

Lorin ...

I'm going to loan you a phrase I found a couple of nights ago. I was down. My son had two serious injuries. He missed his senior year of s0ccer. He was told he won't be able to play his senior year of baseball. He missed the entire college recruiting season following his junior year.

For some reason I was compelled to watch the short version of Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture" talk that was on Oprah. Here's what I took away from it ....

"The brick walls in our way are there for a reason. They are not there to keep us out. They are there to give us a way to show how much we want it."

Before I could tell my son he came down for breakfast wearing an old, worn tee shirt of mine. It was like a devine intervention he was wearing it given what I was about to tell him. I can't throw out the old faded shirt because of what says ....

"You don't lose when you get knocked down. You lose when you choose not to get up."

I asked my son about the shirt. He said as far as he's concerned until someone tells him opening day he can't play he's planning on playing.

Ask you son how he plans to deal with the brick walls and getting knocked down.

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RJM, excellent story!!!

I want to thank each one of you for your responses to my son's recent experience. This is exactly why I began the thread, it's painful and yet there's so many of you that have encouraging words.

My son got up the day after being cut to play ball with his travel ball organization. He was told by many J.V. players and new freshman players he should have been on the team, he felt worse however but, it was gestures by his peers that meant well. He cannot bring himself to speak to the coach who cut him yet--I do think he needs time to reassess; and many of you are so right. . .this is that fork in the road, you find ways to improve or you sit out.

I do my best to let him heal & hopes he will be even more determined. You all would love this kid if you knew him, once ran flat footed at age 7 has become the fastest baserunner in the local area! Every coach that knows him tells me how much they appreciate him because his head is always in the game! Thanks again for all of your helpful, heartwarming responses--it reminds me of the bigger picture in life when the going gets bleak.

One last thing. His brother, age 12 came home the day his older brother was cut, at 3pm went straight to bed he was so depressed. He woke up at 10 and the first thing he said was, "Mom, if Luke puts in 130% in every game like he does for all these years and can't make a freshman team--how am I, who plays at 75% make a team?" Love all this learning in life!

Lorin some great suggestions here for your son. Does California do there tryouts for baseball in the fall? Thx

Lorin,

2013 Son's tale:

We live in a small beach town. My son came up since tee ball with about 5 other kids. My son was the best player, or second best depending on who you ask, of all of them, every year. Led little league in hitting, runs, sb, bb, etc. Starting shortstop all the way up for the most part. (I know its only little league, just giving a reference point). I coached all the way up, but prior to JV I stepped aside as I felt others could do a better job based on my limited knowledge.In the fall, my son attended conditioning for four months. Come January he was cut, and all other former little league teammates made JV. Son was crushed! "I'm quitting, I'm going to throw all my baseball stuff away", etc. As with your son, all his friends thought he should be on team. Son wanted nothing to do with baseball. I gave him the pep talk, etc, and nothing. I was completely crushed as well. Then, i convinced him to play Juniors (LL) across town and get away from everyone and meet some new kids. After much debate, last year he went back out for JV and made it. This season he is expected to start Varsity as a soph, and is more into baseball than ever. He is hitting tryouts, showcases and is very excited about the future.

If your son wants to continue to play, he can. Don't give up. You never know what the future holds. Good luck!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by 2bagger:
Lorin some great suggestions here for your son. Does California do there tryouts for baseball in the fall? Thx

2bagger,

Many of the California schools conduct two separate tryouts. The first at the end of Fall, beginning of Winter. And the second is conducted after the winter sports season. There are usually quite a few kids that come out each year for tryouts, and this gives the coaches a better chance to analyze the kids without 60-80 players on the field at the same time. Basketball, Wrestling, and S****r players are afforded the same opportunity in February when their season is completed.

Lorin,

I'm truly sorry to hear about your son. If you're in Southern California, I would take the advice of SDlefty and contact ABD regarding their spring program. Your son sounds like a hard worker. When the dust settles, have Junior approach the coach and find out what he needs to work on? Once he receives the advice, have him go out and work his rear off to prove that he belongs out on the field with his HS buddies. Best of luck to him!

If your school is like most, the quality of play on those freshman teams is pretty poor. He'll get more out of working with ABD than with the school. In fact, it's pretty common for kids performance to deteriorate from freshman ball. And, freshman ball doesn't dictate JV and Varsity. He can still work his way back into the mix if he wants too and chooses this as one of those "brickwalls" RJM mentions in his post above.

Thx bsbl was not familiar with cali schools so it suprised me thanks for the info.

We went through a similar situation last year. First thing I told my son after he got cut was to take some time and think about what he wanted to do. He could not worry about playing HS BB and just play summer/travel ball. He could dedicate himself to making the team the following year. Or even hang up his cleats. It was his decision, and his decision only. I would support whatever he decided. He thought about it for a day and decided he was going to make the team the next year. The focus over the last 9 months has been on playing time (mostly over the summer), focusing a lot on getting better at what he does best (hitting), and getting stronger. We'll see next February if this strategy pays off. Good luck to your son whatever he decides.

I'll throw in a story as well. At 11 my son played on a fall travel team. This was his first travel team he played on. After the fall season, the coaches asked if we were coming to the spring tryouts. We said we probably would. He kind of freaked out and told us we had to come, implying that he definetely wanted son on the team. Well, we went, tried out and did not make it. My son was devastated. Tears welled up in his eyes. He's not a big talker, so he didn't say much, but you could tell his whole world fell apart. Wound up going back to rec that spring.

Fast forward to his freshman year in HS. He made the Varsity team as a pitcher. Largest classification in the state. One game we played our cross town rivals at their place. They were a top 10 in the state program. My son threw a 71 pitch complete game against them. We lost 1-0, but it was quite a performance. The best thing about it was that coach who cut him as well as the assistant and a number of kids and parents from that team were there. It was pretty cool having them see what they cut a few years back.

Hopefully your son will not give up on his passion. One setback does not mean total failure. He needs to understand that if he wants it, it can be his. Hang in there and good luck.