Out of state options

To be honest, from what you describe it seems like your son HAS decided on whether to keep playing and the answer is pretty much no. He's almost done with high school, sick of his team, burned out on Legion and not motivated to do the off season work required to even think about next levels — if he doesn't have the inherent love of playing that gets him past those obstacles, he may well be ready to be done. And that's okay.

In my experience, kids find (or reveal) themselves in the college search. My daughter danced for 14 years. I set up college visits at schools with dance teams where she could have danced. As we started the search process, she explained she was done with dance after high school. It took some adjustment, but she's now a senior in college and loves her life as a different person with time and energy to explore new interests.

Maybe put the time and energy into exploring his college options for next fall. Maybe put on the list schools with healthy club baseball and then he would have that option if he wants it, but he may not. It could be you have raised a great baseball fan, rather than a player??

That's a tough adjustment for parents, but my guess is, your son will be fine.

Are you thinking that he would play baseball in the lower 48 next summer after graduating from high school, and also take a gap year where he would decide whether or not baseball is part of his college decision?

I agree with IOWAMOM.   The player has to be motivated, not mom or dad. 

Honestly, getting an opportunity yo play college ball is very competitive and demanding and often expensive.  At his height and weight, I would definitely encourage him to use his time and effort searching college options.

There won't really be opportunities to play Travel Ball next summer for a 2019.   The last real opportunity for Travel Ball for a 2019 is this coming Fall season.

Because he doesn't turn 18 until July 2019, he could play 17U next summer. It will be hard to get an immediate opportunity out of it, but not impossible. It would (of course) depend on his skill level.

Iowamom23 posted:

To be honest, from what you describe it seems like your son HAS decided on whether to keep playing and the answer is pretty much no. He's almost done with high school, sick of his team, burned out on Legion and not motivated to do the off season work required to even think about next levels — if he doesn't have the inherent love of playing that gets him past those obstacles, he may well be ready to be done. And that's okay.

In my experience, kids find (or reveal) themselves in the college search. My daughter danced for 14 years. I set up college visits at schools with dance teams where she could have danced. As we started the search process, she explained she was done with dance after high school. It took some adjustment, but she's now a senior in college and loves her life as a different person with time and energy to explore new interests.

Maybe put the time and energy into exploring his college options for next fall. Maybe put on the list schools with healthy club baseball and then he would have that option if he wants it, but he may not. It could be you have raised a great baseball fan, rather than a player??

That's a tough adjustment for parents, but my guess is, your son will be fine.

The thing is that he does still seem motivated. When I asked if he was going to play HS ball there was no hesitation to his "yes." The team is more competitive locally (although not statewide) and the coach actually coaches. We would not pursue going out of state unless he was motivated to do so, and I feel that having something that he wants to do beyond our short HS season would potentially  give him that motivation. Looking back now, I think his frustration with Legion ball, and that being his only option, are part of why he didn't work last winter to stay more in shape. Right now I'm gathering info so that he and I can have a serious talk about the future. I don't want to present this as an option to him if it's completely impossible. But if I say, "How about playing ball somewhere else next summer?" and his response is a solid no, we'll be done. I am a college advisor and also have 2 older children, one who danced and one who swims, so I know that there has to be internal motivation and buy-in for this to work. I just feel like right now he sees no options other than Legion and that's what is sucking the love of playing the game out of him.

AKMom posted:

Iowamom23 posted:

To be honest, from what you describe it seems like your son HAS decided on whether to keep playing and the answer is pretty much no. He's almost done with high school, sick of his team, burned out on Legion and not motivated to do the off season work required to even think about next levels — if he doesn't have the inherent love of playing that gets him past those obstacles, he may well be ready to be done. And that's okay.

In my experience, kids find (or reveal) themselves in the college search. My daughter danced for 14 years. I set up college visits at schools with dance teams where she could have danced. As we started the search process, she explained she was done with dance after high school. It took some adjustment, but she's now a senior in college and loves her life as a different person with time and energy to explore new interests.

Maybe put the time and energy into exploring his college options for next fall. Maybe put on the list schools with healthy club baseball and then he would have that option if he wants it, but he may not. It could be you have raised a great baseball fan, rather than a player??

That's a tough adjustment for parents, but my guess is, your son will be fine.

The thing is that he does still seem motivated. When I asked if he was going to play HS ball there was no hesitation to his "yes." The team is more competitive locally (although not statewide) and the coach actually coaches. We would not pursue going out of state unless he was motivated to do so, and I feel that having something that he wants to do beyond our short HS season would potentially  give him that motivation. Looking back now, I think his frustration with Legion ball, and that being his only option, are part of why he didn't work last winter to stay more in shape. Right now I'm gathering info so that he and I can have a serious talk about the future. I don't want to present this as an option to him if it's completely impossible. But if I say, "How about playing ball somewhere else next summer?" and his response is a solid no, we'll be done. I am a college advisor and also have 2 older children, one who danced and one who swims, so I know that there has to be internal motivation and buy-in for this to work. I just feel like right now he sees no options other than Legion and that's what is sucking the love of playing the game out of him.

Sending you a PM.

I believe the only option this late in the process is put in the work, go to a JuCo and try to walk on. Another option is an adult league. But you don’t make life decisions around playing in an adult league. 

AKMOM, try e-mailing Brad Palacios at PalacTailor@aol.com

I think he could fit your needs. He told me has or would let any of his 18U players stay at his house that need a team. His team is out of Grand Blanc, Michigan.