Possible Coach Issues?

Ok so you're wanting to pack your son up and leave based on something you've heard about this coach?  Does that really sound rational?

First you need to understand recruiting and this is probably the best place to come for that.  I highly suggest you roam around in the recruiting forum for more information.  Simply put - the high school season will not negatively affect his chances IF he's playing on a good summer (fall - if he's not playing other sports) team.  The summer and fall is when he will get the most exposure but make sure the team is credible and not out for money.  Look at who / where they will be playing to help make that decision.  Make sure your son is attending showcases and camps of the schools he's interested in.  This guarantees he's being seen by the people he wants to be seen by.

Seconed - relax because his high school career will be over before you know it.  Let him (and most importantly yourself) enjoy what's going on because the time flies by.  Would you rather spend the next four years enjoying the journey or worrying about trying to find a shortcut or better way that you miss out on something special?

Third - as a freshman it's too early to worry about exposure because he needs to earn playing time first on his team.  If he's good then the playing time will take care of itself and then if you're doing the right things then the exposure will take care of itself.

Fourth - spend the first two years working on skills, knowledge, being coachable and how to be a good team mate before worrying about exposure.  These are things that will help determine where or if he plays anywhere else.  Work on them to be the best he can be so there is no doubt that he would make a valuable addition to a college program.

Hope this helps and welcome to the site.

Thank you,   It wasn't so much that I was ready to get up and take him from school, it was just a general thought for later down the road.

I enjoy the game & watching my son play, I've even Coached myself, so I know his skill and level. I just needed input if anyone has ever faced someone as I had mentioned.

Thanks!

MomA sent you a PM

Agree with Coach2709 …. A couple of other things to consider:

1.  Don’t believe everything you hear about your HS school coach – the rumor mill tends to propagate/exaggerate only negative things that come from families whose players are typically “on the bubble” in terms of skills and ability.  That may sound harsh, but unfortunately can be the reality.  In my experience, the players/families that struggle with the “politics of HS baseball” is because they are the least informed, get incorrect information and guidance from the wrong resources and work “against” the system rather than with it.  I realize it “appears" to be easier to work around or avoid a difficult situation or reality than it is to work through it, but oftentimes the harder path is the right path.  Always question everything you hear and learn and make sure to verify/validate that information directly from the appropriate source … not third and fourth-hand.

2.  High School baseball is not the end-all, be-all.  Put it into the right perspective, its another opportunity to play, develop and have fun and is no more or less a “recruiting” opportunity than any other baseball opportunity.  In my opinion, Summer ball (American Legion, Travel/Select, Showcases, and College Prospect Camps) offer MORE recruiting opportunities because college recruiting activities increase significantly after the HS school season (which overlaps with the college baseball season) is over.

3.  Your son is a freshman … remember that, despite how good you think he is and unless he is a “man-child” that is 6’2+ and 190lbs+ at 14 or 15 years old, he is not likely to play Varsity until at least his Sophomore year and more likely his Junior year.  Don’t think that he has to be a 4-year Varsity starter to be considered D1 material.

4.  I encourage your son (and you) to enlist the help of Varsity coach and keep him in the loop regarding your son’s goals to play collegiate ball.  Some HS coaches are better at this than others … but bring him into the discussion.

5.  Don’t try to understand what the coach is “thinking” in regards to how he coaches the team.  You’re not there with the players nor are you paying attention to all the players as much as he is.  I find it comical when parents question their player’s playing time, playing opportunities and positions … particularly when the parents have the advantage of hindsight.  Why is my little “Johnnie” not given a chance to play??  Frankie committed 3 errors at 2B, and struck out 3 times in the last game?!?  So many things go into playing opportunities – work ethic, attitude, hustle, aggressiveness and also size, strength, and speed, and usually what is seen in practices (…. which most parents DON’T get to see and observe).  Unless you can say with absolute certainty that your son exceeds in all those categories … don’t immediately assume that some grand injustice or unfair punitive action is occurring against your son.  He (your son) needs to always be proactively talking to his coach to address specific situations/issues with his game and identify areas that need to be improved.

Hope this helps …. Good luck!

mom,

Has your son talked to the coach?  We heard all the horror stories and the best advice we were given was "Have no expecations for high school baseball".  That truly means the good and the bad.  My son set down his freshman year and made some goals.  The first goal is "Make Varsity as a Soph". Guess what, he got called up for 1 game that year and didn't play and didn't see varsity again until this year as a junior. He had to readjust his goal to "Start on Varsity as Junior".  He was told he would not pitch and would be a backup position player.  Due to injuries he is now a starter on the bump and was moved to another position in the field he has never played before.  Guess what, he loves it!! Team is now headed to playoffs.  Coaches told him they trust him because he plays top flight summer ball and he busts his butt in the weight room, cages, running drills, fielding drills, and cleaning the field.  This was done when he didn't think they were watching; but they were. Remember that!!  THey are ALWAYS WATCHING!! 

I asked if he talked to you coach because that is a key.  We heard how the coach doesn't help players and had no involvement.  My son went to his head coach and told him he wanted to play college ball and asked for what level he thought he should pursue.  Coach and him sat down this weekend and started a game plan for recruiting this summer.  Coach called me and we are gonna all 3 meet to implement the plan.  Coach said he was first player in 2 years ask for his help and he is excited to do it.

You are gonna get frustrated with freshman ball and then again with jv ball.  Enjoy it for what it is.  What else does your son do?  Is his life all about baseball?  My son started a business and has found other hobbies while in high school.  ENJOY the time with your son. Cheer him when he needs cheering, love him when he needs loved up, counsel him when he needs counseling; but more important cherish the time with him. 

Don't get hung up on high school baseball.  If your son wants to play college baseball - what happens in HS will mean very little.  In my son's experience I haven't run across a single coach that wants to know what his HS stats are.  It is all about travel ball - and being exposed to college coaches - playing higher level ball.  No offense to anyone - but most high school baseball is not considered high level baseball.

There are two kids from our high school that didn't play varsity until they were juniors.  One is now a weekend starter for a D1 top 5 team. The other is playing A-ball at the pro-level. 

Your son needs to be his own advocate - and speak to the coach himself.  Nothing annoys a coach more than when a parent comes to them and they haven't even spoken to the kid yet.

MomA - Some good advice so far.  My view is to begin building a relationship with your son's coach.  No, not 'sucking up,' but introduce yourself.  Volunteer for something.  Talk to him like he was your neighbor and find out for yourself what kind of person he is.

Some of the things you wrote that you "heard" in your first post on this thread are things I've "heard" about our younger son's HS coach over the years.  Funny thing is, nothing could be farther from the truth and there's over about 100 college ballplayers from his program to prove it.  Still, some parents say these things.  Kind of silly...it turns out...and no one...and I mean NO ONE was more helpful to our younger son than him.

Figure this stuff out for yourself without preconceptions.  You owe it to your son and to yourself.

Good luck! 

Get on a good showcase team. College coaches come out to watch  them every week during summer ball. Play high school for fun....

MomA,

I like the advice you've received thus far.  I was skeptical of my son's varsity coach during his freshman year of HS as well.  I had heard negative and positive comments, but I chose to allow my son to determine what type of person he is. It was more important that my son have a good relationship with the coach. I can happily say that I got to know his coach over the three years he spent on varsity, and I consider him a friend today.

Yes on the summer team.  On the HS advice, maybe...but not necessarily.

Where we live (Northern CA), college coaches regularly come out to watch HS games and absolutely talk to HS coaches.  Depending on who the HS coach is, he may be VERY important to the player's evaluation and recruitment (or not).