We don't have middle school baseball here per se. We do have what we call 13u and 14u feeder teams. Our HS coach picked the coaches (I am an assistant on the 14u team) where my step-son plays. Yes the competition is top level and not all players on the team are as good as other travel ball teams but there are some perks.
1. Players begin to build chemistry with future HS teammates
2. The HS coach has let us use the facilities (mostly during the winter i.e. cages)
3. The players were able to participate in winter conditioning with HS team.
4. HS coach has given us his play book (i.e. relays, bunt coverage, 1st & 3rd coverage, terminology)
5. Played 2 games on HS field (HS coach was in attendance)
After talking to a few of the HS coaches, they they have given me some pointers to pass on to the players as they will be trying out for the team next year. They have said that many players have that "deer in the headlights look" when they start talking about some of the plays when they get to HS ball.
You're lucky to have this exposure to the varsity coach.
Around these parts, the JR high doesn't necessarily feed the same high school. For example, 2/3 of the students at my son's JR high went to his HS, 1/3 went to another. Some JR high's get split 3 or 4 ways. We also have open enrollment (kid can apply to go to another school, if they have room, they'll usually take him).
High school coaches allowed on the JR high campus once per year, after the season, to introduce the summer program and invite the boys out. No other interaction allowed. Only if his own son/daughter is playing can he be on campus. The worry is coaches will recruit players to his school.
Some cities allow the feeder teams, but they can't show / demonstrate any association with the HS. The HS coach can't go anywhere near a club game unless his own kid is playing. Sometimes the JV or assistant will coach.
We had a 14U club team that just happened to be named the Hawks, just happened to only have freshmen from my son's HS team, but we had to apply like every other club team to reserve the school field and pay the same fee. They only let us use the freshman field. None of the 'real' coaches had anything to do with it, couldn't watch it, etc. They didn't even want to hear how we did (which was pretty good).
Around these parts, the JR high doesn't necessarily feed the same high school. For example, 2/3 of the students at my son's JR high went to his HS, 1/3 went to another. Some JR high's get split 3 or 4 ways. We also have open enrollment (kid can apply to go to another school, if they have room, they'll usually take him).
High school coaches allowed on the JR high campus once per year, after the season, to introduce the summer program and invite the boys out. No other interaction allowed. Only if his own son/daughter is playing can he be on campus. The worry is coaches will recruit players to his school.
Some cities allow the feeder teams, but they can't show / demonstrate any association with the HS. The HS coach can't go anywhere near a club game unless his own kid is playing. Sometimes the JV or assistant will coach.
We had a 14U club team that just happened to be named the Hawks, just happened to only have freshmen from my son's HS team, but we had to apply like every other club team to reserve the school field and pay the same fee. They only let us use the freshman field. None of the 'real' coaches had anything to do with it, couldn't watch it, etc. They didn't even want to hear how we did (which was pretty good).