Released Now what......

From a rules point of view, as long as your son has adequate grades, he can transfer to a D2, D3, NAIA, or JUCO and be eligible to play next year. For D1, if he wasn't recruited to the D2 and hasn't received any athletic aid, he may be eligible immediately. Otherwise, he would need to wait a year.

That's the rules. Here's some advice: your son should try to objectively assess his situation. If he has been released from the team (as opposed to no scholarship, but a roster spot is still available) then he should look at the roster size and the strength of his present school. Assuming the roster has 30-35 players, and recognizing that only about 20 of the roster get any playing time, then the implication is clear: the coach's perception is that he is not close to being able to play at that school. Therefore, if he decides to transfer with the intent to play baseball, he needs to find a school which is noticeably less strong than his present one.

Since he hasn't played this spring, it will be difficult for other coaches to assess his present ability, so he is likely to be walking on wherever he goes. It may seem counterintuitive, but he should consider asking his present coaches for recommendations of schools where he will succeed at baseball. They've seen him more recently than anyone else.

3FingeredGlove,

I'll bet almost no players would think of doing this while they are absorbing the surprising news of being released, but it makes so much sense when you think about it:

"It may seem counterintuitive, but he should consider asking his present coaches for recommendations of schools where he will succeed at baseball. They've seen him more recently than anyone else."



Julie

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That's awful, but not unusall...

While it is hard not to be angered, shocked, and hurt...I'd go with this as well...your best option at this point (not the only option however) is the current caoching staff...have seen numerous cases where coaches take some responsibiity for what has happened and will use their contacts to help place a player that they perceive as no longer fitting into their program.

I would also agree that one needs to be very aware of choosing level...and the safe path is to go some where where he is pretty well assured that he will play and contribute...however, the reality is that in the end that is as much about the subjectve view of the coach (opinion) as it is the objective view (talent). Again we are looking at fit, with the caoches perception of that player being a big part of the mix.

I'd also go back to those schools/caoches that your son had contcat with in the initial recruiting, I'd talk to his travel coaches, I'd talk to the coach at the school he is at now.

If you go the JC route, it may also be possible to attend the same 4 year as he is currently at and a local JC simultaneously (if there is one)...and play ball at the JC...so as to minimize the dislocation academcically, geographically and socially. Same school, same town, same education...different team.

Good luck.

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nm, not important any longer.

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carolinamom...

Having felt your pain...and planning to respond this am...now I'm wondering what changed and hoping that there was a reversal, a positive development or simply a decision to move on in a positive direction...

44
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Are we talking to just one mom about this now or two?

tnt mom? carolinamom?

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Carolinamom had another very similar story to tell...but removed her post.

44
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Sorry, I did remove my post. I decided it was too easy to find my frosh's son's school and maybe even who he is.

After moving most of his stuff home today, I really don't care. There is nothing new here and no reversal. He was told one day before exams that he would not play next year. He wasted a year for three at bats. The coach has continously lied to him, over and over. He made the travel team as "an important part of our future." He was told every lie in the book. One month ago, he was told they were not looking for any juco transfers at his position and he would split time next year. Well, they are taking one from a juco. My son beat out two older juco players this year that were seniors, they quit. The starter they are really fond of batted at stellar .217 this year, most of the year areound a buck fifty.
My son is very smart, in a band of idiots. He has missed some practices for labs, working on pre-med. He doesn't want to hang up his cleats, but I don't know what to advise him. He is an extremely good player, made all-state, all this and select team of only two at his position. We tried real hard to find the "right fit", both baseball and academics. His coach would be better off as a used-car salesman. He has lied to us for over two years.

I doubt there is anyone on here that can really help...just feel so sad that he was never given any opportunity to play. In fall and spring intra-squads, he hit .364 and no errors....Coach just doesn't like him. I would run, not walk from this program.....I think he will end up hanging the cleats up and trying to become a doctor. Still so sad that he was never given a chance. Kinda late to look elsewhere for next year. He is at a DII, but turned down DI offers. The transfer rules are not fair to kids like this.

carolinamom,

I am sorry that your son was not given a chance to prove himself on the field.

Yes, some college coaches are not as honest as we think that they should be, that is a shame.

There is no guarantee that this could not have happened at a D1 or D3.

You mentioned that your son missed practice due to his major. There are many programs where you cannot miss practice (for any reason other than exams), rather you are encouraged to change your major or you won't start, that was something very apparent where my son went to school. A college coaches job is to make sure the player remains eligible, and to be honest most couldn't care less what your major is, as long as it DOES NOT interfere with their program. Perhaps they felt that your son wasn't committed to the program as much as they would have liked, I got that feeling when we talked engineering program where son signed.

From my experience, if it were my son, I would tell him to pursue what is probably most important, that being his career choice.

Best of luck.

Thanks, TPM. I am thinking the same thing. Just hard to come to terms with it. Never given a chance, and loves the game so much. Like half of his identity just died. I am not making up how good he is and could have gone elsewhere. You are right that his future career is much more important. Just so hard to come to terms with it after ten years of the TOP players and teams in the nation. Just FYI, he has over a 3.2 in school. Yes, he could have been deemed as grades/classes more important. Isn't that what you go to college for? His school is very hard and has a ninety eight percent accepted to med or masters school. Too bad they aren't from the baseball team. Like you said, nobody is trying to do it other than my son.

Sometimes in life we just can't have it all, not everything we want fits into our plans or works the way we think it should. There are choices we have to make along the way, and when we can't, others make them for us, and sometimes we don't like it.

To be very honest, if I were a player in a program where I was on time everyday, came to every practice, worked my butt off to be a better baseball player (regardless of talent and worked hard at it), I would be very upset if the coach gave a start to someone who didn't show more of a committment even if he were a better player, that would be missing practice. As I said, for some programs, this is unacceptable, other programs it's ok, and a very good question to ask when being recruited.

Going to college is about futhering your education, if you get to play a sport, to help pay for costs that's great, but with that, it usually comes with a price, which is more or less being at the mercy of their expectations, not yours.

Carolinamom....

you have a pm.

YGD

Carolinamom sorry about your situation. It is a shame some coaches are able to lie to these young adults without any consequences. But rest assure they will get theirs may not be in baseball but other aspects of their life will suffer for their lack of honest.

Son has gotten his release and is keeping his head up. His hs coach has already scheduled two work outs @ a d2 and juco. We may have to take a step back but he told me "mom I am only 18 and have 4years of eligibility left and I still want to chase the dream". I will support him and be wiser when we make another college commitment. Thanks for all the advice and will keep you updated.

Thanks for all of the support and pm's. I will get back to you all soon when I know what is going on. My son, is still in the middle of exams and has no time to talk to me. Could this timing be any worse? Another lie, told to him last week that his baseball money was still there, he would not play, but could come back next year. Today told coach he was coming back and all of a sudden, money may not be there, he'd have to check with the A.D. Praying to get him out of there some way. Three years of baseball money adds up to a lot. tnt mom, especially, good luck to you and your son. I hope it all works out and sounds like you have a good plan.

quote:

Originally posted by carolinamom:
Thanks for all of the support and pm's. I will get back to you all soon when I know what is going on. My son, is still in the middle of exams and has no time to talk to me. Could this timing be any worse? Another lie, told to him last week that his baseball money was still there, he would not play, but could come back next year. Today told coach he was coming back and all of a sudden, money may not be there, he'd have to check with the A.D. Praying to get him out of there some way. Three years of baseball money adds up to a lot. tnt mom, especially, good luck to you and your son. I hope it all works out and sounds like you have a good plan.

I understand that you are upset, perhaps there is a misunderstanding, if the coach told him he wasn't going to play next year, that essentially meant no scholarship available.

Well, after what seemed like many weeks, my son has all of his baseball money back. Still don't think he will get any playing time. He tried to test the waters to transfer, but he just really can't go juco because of college classes and how far he is. Plus, he was given this news during spring exams, which some way he did well on. He will go back for another year and see what happens. We are looking at it as just a way to pay for college. In the summer, he is working out and trying to better his game in the hopes that he can beat others out in the fall. Still, wonder if his coach is playing a game with him or what. Like a poster said, no playing time, no money. Maybe the juco player decided not to go. TNT MOM, what has happened with you? Thanks again for all of the support.

If he got his money than that is what is important, no?
JMO, if he didn't get enough playing time during the season why isn't he playing this summer, that is the only way you get better. You can work out all you want, but nothing replaces reps for a hitter. The coach extended his commitment, now the player should do the same.
Sometimes we don't see things for what they are, but I see it as you all want your cake (scholarship to pay for college) and to eat it too (playing time because you feel he is better than anyone else), it doesn't always work that way.

TPM,

Good question and good answer. My son wanted to play this summer and went to his coach before spring season started asking about where he could play. He is too old for legion ball. He WANTED to play this summer. Well, coach told him he did not want him to play and he should take the summer off to get bigger and stronger. We probably should have tried to find a team on our own, but at the time, things looked ok on his college team and he was doing what the coach told him. Yes, I am afraid that he will be way behind on live pitching. He is def not wanting his cake and eating it too. He has been working very hard and doing what the coach told him to do. Is that out of the norm? Yes, we do need the money, but he has earned evey penny, both academic and baseball. Don't most? I resent your implication.

You indicated in pervious posts that your son was going to lose his scholarship $$$ but he was awarded it, but in your most recent post you still questioned the playing time. I would assume that the most important part was getting his money to help pay for college, as it should be for most, that was my point.

Best of luck to your son.

Thanks, TPM.

Yes, his money is back next year. However, playing time is probably not. Even if he does not grace the field, it will help us pay for a very good education at at very good school. His attitude has been so good. He told me he still hopes to play next year. He plans to work so hard this summer that he will be better this fall, and if not good enough for that coach, that he has done all he can. He is doing his best for baseball, but grades come first. These are skills that will last him a lifetime, trying your best after adversity. I am very proud of him and his attitude. Sorry if I came down on you. This has been very tough, from one of the two top players in our state at his position, to this situation. He loves the game so much, I can't imagine him without it and still don't think he has gotten his fair chance at this college.