Parents and Coaches What Would You Do?

nhmonty,
He needs to contact Bakich and discuss pros and cons.

Hope that this helps.

Call the coach and let him know what's going on. What the coach says is what you do. If he says don't play then don't play. If I'm not mistaken if you go against him he can take away your son's scholarship and he is basically back on the market.

If he says no see if your son can be part of the festivities without practicing or playing. A buddy of mine that I graduated HS with signed to play football at a D1 school and they wouldn't let him participate in a game similar to what you are talking about. He was still able to be a part of the team and what went on but he never practiced or played at all.

While I understand your son wanting to play in this game and how important it is let me say it's not worth what he's about to experience with college baseball. Chances are he wouldn't get hurt but why take the chance? An education at a good school, chance to play ACC baseball, create 4 years of memories that will last a lifetime and contacts that will help him out later on in life when job hunting are far more important than playing this one game.

But ask the coach and see what he says first.

Congratulations!

I agree ask Coach Bakich, as you know he is a nice guy.

But one question is, will he be in football condition in August and will he be ready to compete for a postition day one in the fall even at Maryland?

I remember the day of the 2007 MLB draft. My son was drafted that day and was also scheduled to start a Madison Mallards Northwoods League game in front of 6000 home town fans and friends on his last night with the team. The Yankee scouts were in the stands and my son asked if it was ok for him to pitch that night. Their response was.......

quote:

Your call but don't forget how easy this dream can end

He was due to throw a full pen anyway and his reply was "You can never forget those who got you there to begin with".

nhmonty- All decisions have potential consequences. Make sure Jr looks at his options, bounces the idea off those affected, weigh the facts, and justifies to himself the importance of the situation and his decision.

Good luck.

btw- the kid threw 6 innings of 1 hit ball, striking out 9, and left town with a great taste in his mouth.

If it were my son and I had any input (and I would) there is no way he would play. There is too much at risk. The honor was in the selection. Let another kid share the honor playing in the game without putting so much on the line. Players can and do get seriously hurt in these games. Even a minor injury could exact a major price for his freshman year. It is simply not worth it.

I am not sure why this is a decision for anyone but parents and sons. I am not sure why the college coach needs to be contacted. I won't explain other than to recognize all that can happen in college and it is a one year commitment.
Is there a risk? Of course. But he took those same risks for 4 years of high school.
He will take some every time he throws a baseball.
Let him live life to the fullest and explore every opportunity he has.
My guess is he will make the decision that he thinks is best, for him, for the present and the future.
I recognize the risks in football. Ours also played 4 years of football and everything went well until one throw warming up for an inning in 2005. I know the risks in baseball. They are not so obvious in baseball, but they exist.

I agree with infielddad .... this is between the parents and the son. My son played a whole season of high school football after he had signed an NLI. He also flew on airplanes, drove a car and went to the mall ..... all of which could be harmful to his career as a colligate and pro player. In my opinion the college coach does not control the player's destiny. The player controls his own destiny --- AND in a sense, the college coach's destiny.
Fungo
PS: my son suffered multiple concussions (from baseball)

Normally, I would tend to strongly agree with infielddad and Fungo. In this case, however, my view is different.

My two oldest sons each played four years of high school football at running back and linebacker. They got hit a lot. And because their teams were very good, they went deep into the playoffs each year -- meaning that chances of injury were elevated. My oldest, who played college baseball, obviously played after he signed his NLI.

The difference here is that it is so close to the start of college baseball and the opportunity is at hand to be won or lost. If injured, the boy has no time for recovery. At a minimum, his ability to earn playing time as a freshman could be seriously compromised because he might not be physically ready to perform, thus my view that the risk simply is not worth it for the reward of one last chance at gridiron glory.

Where I do agree is in whether to contact the coach. I would not do it because my thinking would never get that far.

Nonetheless, this is a very interesting debate and I am sure a situation where the emotions run strong both ways. Many, many players would -- and do -- participate in the all star game without giving it a second thought. And a few of them regret it for a lifetime.

IMO, it sounds like the selection and invitation to play is the biggest honor. I understand what he'll miss if he does not attend, but it sounds like his future is not on the football field.

Tough, tough decision. GED10DaD

monty, my son was invited to play in a charity all star game in June. He's looking forward to it. So am I.

A few things here

Yes the final decision is the families but nh came on here asking for opinions---and he is getting those

One thing nobody is looking at--the young man will not be in football shape--he will have played a spring baseball season and presumably have been playing summer baseball-- s few weeks subsequent to this All Star game he will be at college and trust me unofficial practices will begin almost immediately--the boy had better be in great baseball shape because the uppperclassmen are going to run his butt off

Another thing--this game is noted a being set for early August--how many of the football players headed off to college are still going to be around ?

Lots of thing to ponder here bed side what has noted in above posts

If I am the boy with a new coach taking over the helm at his college, such as is happening, I do not play the football game --I want to land on campus in the best baseball shape I can be so as to impress the new coaching staff--I want to win a starting slot right out of the box

I would ask the college coach. Chances are he's going to say no or suggest against playing. In that case I would participate without playing.

Totally agree with jemaz and TrHit on this one.

One other thing about calling the coach - why plant the seed in his mind that your son is not 100% committed to his program? A coach is looking for winning players who put the team above all else imho. Playing in the football game is a personal decision rather than a team decision imho. He shouldn't need the coach to make that decision for him.

CD


great point about planting a seed of doubt in terms of committment

I didn't recommended he play the football game ----- I said the decision shouldn't be up to his future coach to make.

Great point by TRHit....about probably not being in the best football shape. That is huge. There are going to be so many things going on (or about to happen) in this young man's life 1) getting ready to compete for a baeball position at an ACC school 2)adjusting to college baseball program and time committments 3) adjusting to college life and academics. Why expend the additional bandwidth and risk injury in a ceremonial game? I would advise my son to attend but not play. Baseball is his committed future not football.

Fungo you are correct, there are some who did not give opinions on whether he should or not play.

Although I agree that this is between parent and child, I also beleive that the coach should be contacted. Out of respect for the opportunity given, that's what I would advise son to do.

Life is about risks that you take, but it is also about the rewards that come from that risk. One has to decide if the reward is worth the risk.

When you sign a contract (NLI) are there not obligations you assume with that signing?

But then I am old school Italian where a handshake still is binding in my world!!!

quote:

Originally posted by nhmonty:
the kids who have played in the game say its something they will never forget. Besides the game they visit the young burn victims (visiting these young kids is a life changing experience as noted by former participants). They also do other charity events.

Send him. He'll learn more about courage, hard work and dedication in those ten days, than he'll learn in four years at college.

I want to thank all of you for your great advice. Son has called coach and he is waiting for a return call.

This past season I held my breath for 10 football games. At home games it was worse, as part of the chain gang I saw and heard the hits. He played both ways and lead his team in tackles as free safety (98) that tells you how bad our defense was. When the final second ticked off on his Thanksgiving day game it was a huge relief, a season of bumps and bruises and but no major injuries.

I can tell you before he started this past football season he called his college coach to discuss play vs. no play. The coach wanted him to play - said he loves football players. This situation may be different now.

As far as baseball shape goes he should be ok, right after high school season he goes to travel ball. They play the majority of their schedule before he would have to go to football camp including two weeks of tournaments in Georgia). My guess he would miss about 8/10 games but would play another two plus weeks after the football game.

He is very dedicated to his workouts so I think he will be ok going into football camp other than the hitting - hard to prepare for that. For example he does his baseball work before or after his basketball practice other than on game days.

Before reading all your post I didn't want him to play, probably still don't. I am hoping the coach says he rather him not play. I just don't want him to wake up one day and say I wished I played in the Shrine game.

It would suck if he got hurt and it hindered the start of his baseball career. Baring a major injury he would have to work to overcome this adversity but that would pale in comparision to what these kids have to deal with. To be a small part of something that would help these young kids lives become better I think would be special even though it carries risk.

Sorry for the word diarrhea just dumping my torn feelings.

Final Verdict

Son talked with Coach Bakich today - he said play, loves football players. Told him he would regret it the rest of his life if he doesn't play.

Another nail biting Saturday is on the horizon.

Thanks to all for your help.

quote:

Originally posted by nhmonty:
Final Verdict

Son talked with Coach Bakich today - he said play, loves football players. Told him he would regret it the rest of his life if he doesn't play.

Another nail biting Saturday is on the horizon.

Thanks to all for your help.

I am glad he made the decision to speak to the coach. Let's face it, he wasn't going to say no under any circumstances, but this way, if something should happen, he's got the bases covered!

Good luck to Michael! Let us know how it goes when the big day finally gets here! GED10DaD

My son had the same issue last summer. A similar late August charity all star game, been going on for more than 50 years. (My father played in the second one in 1948.)

It was an honor to be selected. He declined. Bakich is a wonderful guy, and I think my son's coaches would have had the same response had we asked them.