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Have one son going to college to play ball. Understand the whole commitment to baseball, select teams etc. Have a second son that most likely will attend Southlake Carroll when he is older. He is 13 now. He plays on a double A team and is an average athlete. As most of you know, average athletes really don't cut it at SC. He doesn't have the drive that the oldest one has and that may show up, you never know. He wants to play baseball and considers it his top sport. He is not really getting some of the fundamentals that he probably should be getting. Do any of you have any recommendations of a team or coach that can teach some of the fundamentals but not be hard core baseball at a triple A level. He is on a team now, but just do not believe he is getting what he is going to need to play ball in high school. He may not be able to play at the high school level, but as someone who knows a little about ball, just afraid he is not being taught some fundamental moves in the field. If he decides he wants too and doesn't have the basics then it won't happen for sure.
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Baseballmom,

I don't know about SC, but most HS I know of try to keep freshman and JV rosters maxed out. Meaning they don't cut kids unless rosters sizes are unmanagable.

What kind of numbers does SC have trying out for freshman and JV teams?

As for good instruction, are you talking about mechanics of hitting, fielding, or pitching?

Or are you refering to the way to play the game properly?

If it's mechanics, private lessons with a reputable instructor can be beneficial. If finances are a concern, be specific with instructor and what is to be accomplished. At 13, basics can still be taught with a refresher course or two.

If your refering to learning the way the game is to be played on the field, take him to a college game and suggest he watches some MLB games. I still get a kick out of Tom Grieve explaining why things are done a certain way in todays game. Watching can be a valuable tool.

The bottom line, if your son really wants it bad enough, something as simple as throwing a ball against the wall everyday can help. I'm not suggesting this is a fix for mechanics, but in my opinion..........

A kid that knows he's worked harder than anyone he plays with will have the confidence to succeed sooner or later. This is true for any level and anything in life.....in my opinion.

It doesn't matter what he does, just as long as the kid realizes he's working as hard as he can.

If your son can email, I'd be more than happy to communicate with him and lay out a plan.
Last edited by Ken Guthrie
Just to answer the question as to the number of players in the SC baseball program...

The Dragons have a total of 5 high school teams:
Two 9th Grade teams (15 players per team)
Two JV teams (15 players per team)
One Varsity team (Approx 20 players)

As the name implies, the 9th grade teams are comprised of 9th graders only, while the JV teams are primarily Sophs & Jrs with 1 Freshman.

Approximately 40 kids tried out for the 9th grade teams and they did have to cut about 10.
My computer has been down, so late on answering this

Ken Gutherie, in answer to your question, mainly fielding and batting. As we all know, it really is about batting, but you have to make the plays also in the field and for this age, it just seems that the team is not doing that.

He is a sports addict (watching Red Sox Rangers,Braves-no Yankees), so it is not really the game being played properly.

He does not have an email and I am trying to keep him off the computer as much as possible, anyway, he would not see himself in what I have described to you. I just know as I have an older son and see what it takes.

I think that the reality of it all is: He is going to have to step up to the plate and put more effort in and want to do this. I cannot want this for him and he may not be playing sports in high school.

I appreciate everyone's input on this. It is nice to have someone interject information into your issues.
I think there are lots of young guys and gals out there (10 to 15 --or maybe 25-- years old) who want things and simply don't appreciate the reality, which is this: they can have all the things they want if they're willing to put the work in. If they work hard and smart (John Wooden's "Industriousness") their dreams can come true! I know parents are trying to explain this to their children every day. It can be useful to get these daily lessons reinforced from an outside "expert." I'm available, as are many other sources.



Nominate a great achiever for the mental skills weekly or monthly Mental Skills MVP at Coach Traub's MVP Award

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