I am from Virginia and during the winter it is too cold to play in a league outside...I was wondering, do most players in florida play year round? And if so, when is the off season to rest or maybe work out.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
jjflash,
Yes, there is year round baseball, summer ball, fall ball, spring ball. Off season could be considered summer or fall (some call it winter ball), but seems to me there is no off season anymore. Our summer ball is, IMO, the most competitive baseball, comprised of the best players in their HS class and usually by invitation. Many do not play in the fall, use that as workout time, but that is up to the individual. Many that play year round spend little time in the work out room. Whatever the choice, it is a constant cycle. There is a short period of time in December, January, Febuary when workouts begin for HS.
Many pitchers give the arm a rest after the summer, or if on a program will throw once in a while so the velocity doesn't go down too much or they will take up another position.
Yes, there is year round baseball, summer ball, fall ball, spring ball. Off season could be considered summer or fall (some call it winter ball), but seems to me there is no off season anymore. Our summer ball is, IMO, the most competitive baseball, comprised of the best players in their HS class and usually by invitation. Many do not play in the fall, use that as workout time, but that is up to the individual. Many that play year round spend little time in the work out room. Whatever the choice, it is a constant cycle. There is a short period of time in December, January, Febuary when workouts begin for HS.
Many pitchers give the arm a rest after the summer, or if on a program will throw once in a while so the velocity doesn't go down too much or they will take up another position.
I agree with TPMOM, in fla. there really isn't an off-season. I would also add that even with a good High School district----it doesn't compare to the level of ball played in summer. We are very fortunate to live in an area allowing year round play. I believe it benefits the players tremendously.
Having growin up and played all my baseball in NYS and then moving to Tallahassee and coaching at Florida High for a few years I would agree that the year round play is very helpful in player development - but that I think there are a lot of pitchers who are overused and never reach their potential because of all the pitches they threw. Now there are obvioulsy dozens of great pitchers from Fla who grew up healthy - no question - so it goes both ways.
I suppose you can argue that year round players have less chance of injury than a northern kid because they do not take 6 months off and then get hurt in the 50 degree weather! Who knows!
But all players need to cycle periods of rest into their sport, with time spent building strength, followed by a maintenance program during the seasons. You can't be ON all the time - I suggest you check out the stength and conditioning forum since Bob has a major college baseball strength coach monitoring the section.
I suppose you can argue that year round players have less chance of injury than a northern kid because they do not take 6 months off and then get hurt in the 50 degree weather! Who knows!
But all players need to cycle periods of rest into their sport, with time spent building strength, followed by a maintenance program during the seasons. You can't be ON all the time - I suggest you check out the stength and conditioning forum since Bob has a major college baseball strength coach monitoring the section.
Good points advisor! Pitchers expecially need to be careful when year round baseball occurs.
Good idea to become a position player when the rest of the country has their off season.
Good idea to become a position player when the rest of the country has their off season.
The average player that plays for the Renegades plays from January to May in high school ball, May to July in summer ball, and August through October in fall ball.
I stress for them to shut it down for November and December. That is their time to rest (maybe hit the weights) and prepare for the next season. we stop play in October because of the early signing period.
I believe players need to play fall ball and summer ball. In the fall it is important to get that last minute exposure. For instance, how can a quality player miss the Perfect Game tournament in Jupiter in October?
In the summer players are either getting ready for college or looking for exposure to get ready for college. Either way they need to play competitive summer ball to improve - not in a weak league, but a top league.
I stress for them to shut it down for November and December. That is their time to rest (maybe hit the weights) and prepare for the next season. we stop play in October because of the early signing period.
I believe players need to play fall ball and summer ball. In the fall it is important to get that last minute exposure. For instance, how can a quality player miss the Perfect Game tournament in Jupiter in October?
In the summer players are either getting ready for college or looking for exposure to get ready for college. Either way they need to play competitive summer ball to improve - not in a weak league, but a top league.
Bob - what you say reminds me of something The Bayside Yankees coach, Marc Cusetta told me..."If you are a Div. I or Pro caliber player, there is nothing to gain by plaing football (or other Fall sport) in your senior year othen than to say you played your senior year. The senior Fall is way too important a time in baseball recruiting to miss."
My question, and there is no agenda - if kids are playing in programs like yours all summer - why must they go to Jupiter in October...I can see why the pros want to see you there, they scout gus 45 times who they draft in the 37th round
...but what about colleges, do they have to see you there? Or is it a few players they are unsure of and want a last look against great comp?
My question, and there is no agenda - if kids are playing in programs like yours all summer - why must they go to Jupiter in October...I can see why the pros want to see you there, they scout gus 45 times who they draft in the 37th round
...but what about colleges, do they have to see you there? Or is it a few players they are unsure of and want a last look against great comp?
In principle I agree with Cusetta. However, I just don't believe that a coach should tell a player not to play another sport.
We do have football players on our fall team that do football Monday to Friday night and baseball on the weekends, They try and also hit and throw a couple of times during the week.
My feeling is that who am I to tell someone not to follow their dreams and win a football title. I have explained to players the chances of playing college football verses baseball and let them make their own decisions.
As for Perfect Game in Jupiter. The event gets coaches that may not have seen these players all fall or are looking to one last look before they offer a scholarship. This is a benefit for they played - not a negative. Why wouldn't they want to be seen as many times as possible?
We do have football players on our fall team that do football Monday to Friday night and baseball on the weekends, They try and also hit and throw a couple of times during the week.
My feeling is that who am I to tell someone not to follow their dreams and win a football title. I have explained to players the chances of playing college football verses baseball and let them make their own decisions.
As for Perfect Game in Jupiter. The event gets coaches that may not have seen these players all fall or are looking to one last look before they offer a scholarship. This is a benefit for they played - not a negative. Why wouldn't they want to be seen as many times as possible?
I agree with Bob, I think in Florida we are held to a different standard of sorts. The fall is the most important time for a player to be seen by a college coach, true the pro scout will see him in the high school season. I have had many players sign college scholarships and the coach has never asked about high school baseball, by the way I am also a High School coach. Our players play from late August till end of October with maybe one event in November.
Start back with High School in Jan till first of May then start summer baseball till end of July. And we will have a football player or two on the weekends playing in fall. Is this to much baseball, well the National Junior Olympic team was recently selected, 9 of the 18 selected were from the State of Florida.
Michael Burton
Pres/CEO
Daytona Beach Baseball
www.DAYTONABEACHBASEBALL/.com
Start back with High School in Jan till first of May then start summer baseball till end of July. And we will have a football player or two on the weekends playing in fall. Is this to much baseball, well the National Junior Olympic team was recently selected, 9 of the 18 selected were from the State of Florida.
Michael Burton
Pres/CEO
Daytona Beach Baseball
www.DAYTONABEACHBASEBALL/.com