Sense of Urgency ????

quote:

what has happened to the sense of urgency that we used to see

Interesting post TR. Sometimes I think we speak out of both sides of our mouths. On other posts, 2012s are starting to receive verbals. Seems a little too urgent in that respect.

gamefan

I do not see that as urgency

To me being on time and getting prepared is the sense of urgency

My Boys are working their butts off getting ready for the next season. Younger son Long Tossed today and older son took grounders and hit. Plenty of urgency here! Looking for a home for my 2010 and anticipating the draft for my JUCO sophomore.

I wonder if there is as much urgency put into balancing checkbooks, learning English, learning people skills, you know things you will need in the real world, as much as there is put into baseball.

Disclaimer: not directed at anyone

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
Yes I know I come from another era, perhaps two back from the present, but what has happened to the sense of urgency that we used to see---parents do not have it--kids do not have it-- when we get there we get there--when it happen it happens---

Hmmmmmm. I'll have to get back to you on that a bit later.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
Yes I know I come from another era, perhaps two back from the present, but what has happened to the sense of urgency that we used to see---parents do not have it--kids do not have it-- when we get there we get there--when it happen it happens---

My wife sees the same thing--she now works in the academic field after years in the corporate field---she at time comes home muttering to herself because it has changed so much

Where are we headed?--this used to be a great country but I am not so sure anymore

I am not talking politics here-- I am talking the general mind set of our people and I see it in the sports field at all levels

Maybe in Manchester CT. The competition is intense for sports, schools, everything, in CA. Your 4.0 gpa and 30 ACT means nothing. 6.7 60, power to all fields get in line, what else do you got, that seperates you from the masses. My dad was employed for the same Co. for 35 years, retired with a pension. Most kids of the X and Y generations will have 5-7 different careers,(not jobs) in their lifetime.

Maybe what your seeing is a kid trying to catch his breath.

quote:

Disclaimer: not directed at anyone

My son is home from college.There are 4 college D1 players from his HS home rt. now. Everyday of their break they have thrown together, Pitchers hit grounders,my son hits and goes to gym. About 4 hours a day on break.They are all good students and committed to what they are doing.They all come from homes where a good work ethic is demonstrated by their parents.

Almost every one of them was close to at least a 3.0,one at Cal,one at St Marys,UC Davis, and USC.They have a sense of urgency.

Maybe that's not urgency, but ambition and drive.

The only constant in life, is change.

My son went out to the HS field to play long toss and throw a pen a few days ago. There were a total of 5 players there working out including his catcher. Every one of them was a college player. No HS kids. The HS kids do show up also and one of them stuck around and caught a pen for him a few days earlier but it is surprising how many more college guys and pro guys are out there working hard during the break. I don't know what if anything this has to do with the original topic but I thought it tied into fanofgame's post. Perhaps the difference is simply that the college kids are given a workout program to do over the winter break.

21 degrees today with 30 mph winds and the boy was outside throwing. Urgency, I don't know, dedication you betcha, it's only three months till HS tryouts. He was also early to wrestling practice, as he always is, never late. Urgency is taught at home, like others have mentioned. It kills me when players just saunter in after practice has already begun and think nothing of it.
"If your on time your 15 minutes late"

I believe TR is talking about a societal issue not a hsbaseballweb issue. The posters on this site have son's who are serious about baseball and are serious about helping them. This site would not be a random sampling of society. Go outside the baseball box and it might be. For example some baseball players don't have an academic sense of urgency. But, disciplined athletes are often disciplined in other areas.

I think you would be hard pressed to find a kid without a sense of urgency playing college baseball. I dont think he would be around for very long. I think what TR is talking about is our society in general. The people that are successful are the ones who have a sense of urgency to seize the opportunities that are out there. But then again some see success differently.

Has anyone else noticed that kids are in no rush to get their licenses?

Here is the problem with this thread. TR is discussing students and we are discussing baseball players. We all know that this is 2 different worlds. We all have players that if they performed in the class like they did on the field they would be D1 bound. He, IMO, is speaking of the students his wife teaches. These are the students that do not do their work or come in late every day and then ask for extra credit. Both sides are right in this thread. These types of kids have no urgency but every player we encounter that plays or wants to play college ball does have a sense of urgency.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit: To me being on time and getting prepared is the sense of urgency

I agree with the sentiment expressed, but not the characterization. People who display these characteristics are responsible and considerate, but not urgent.

Nice Avatar!!!

quote:

Originally posted by dbg_fan:
I agree with the sentiment expressed, but not the characterization. People who display these characteristics are responsible and considerate, but not urgent.

Something tells me that's not your real pic. I don't know if it's the hair, ears or nose. I just don't see that being you!

I don't think the topic is really about the kids related to the posters of this site. In all honesty all of your kids are the exception to the rule. You see your kids do the homework, put in the effort and do the things needed to succeed. The people your kids hang out with are probably the same so all of you see a small sample of the "American teen". Please don't think this is a slam because I mean it as a compliment. Your kids are this way because of the great job you have done as parents. I'm willing to be your kids are the ones I would love to teach and coach.

To me the biggest problem is the school system. The government (No Child Left Behind) has said "we are going to get EVERY kid ready to go to college. That means we are going to stress math and science and EVERY kid will succeed." Well that's destined to fail because you have these unrealistic expectations placed on schools they have to reach or they get have the state come in take over. I hate to say this but honestly there are failures in this world and no matter what you do they are going to fail. So for schools to try and reach them they lower standards or finaggle the numbers to make it look better.

I can go on about this but not sure anybody wants to listen to me rant and rave about our educational system but it's seriously flawed. And that translates over into the real world.

quote:

Originally posted by coach2709:
I don't think the topic is really about the kids related to the posters of this site...

(snip)

To me the biggest problem is the school system. The government (No Child Left Behind) has said "we are going to get EVERY kid ready to go to college. That means we are going to stress math and science and EVERY kid will succeed." Well that's destined to fail because you have these unrealistic expectations placed on schools they have to reach or they get have the state come in take over. I hate to say this but honestly there are failures in this world and no matter what you do they are going to fail. So for schools to try and reach them they lower standards or finaggle the numbers to make it look better.

I can go on about this but not sure anybody wants to listen to me rant and rave about our educational system but it's seriously flawed. And that translates over into the real world.

Let's look at the origninal post, shall we?

"I am not talking politics here-- I am talking the general mind set of our people and I see it in the sports field at all levels"

I don't think we need to attack the school system again to get to the point.

TRhit is addressing, in his words, the lack of "a sense of urgency." This could be translated to a lack of hustle on and off the field, a lack of understanding that that things need to done and done now, a lack of desire, a lack willingness to do what it takes to get from here to there.

I refer to it as people acting with seemingly a lack of purpose, and I agree that it has grown over the past 30 years or so.

This is not an educational system issue. It is a societal issue and involves everyone who has a postion to influence our young people...parents, teachers, coaches, politicians, everyone. But I believe it starts in the home even before kids are school age, and involves the teaching of self-discipline and the acknowledgement that we are all responsible for the consequences of our actions, or inaction.

Am I warm, TRhit?

quote:

This is not an educational system issue. It is a societal issue and involves everyone who has a postion to influence our young people...parents, teachers, coaches, politicians, everyone. But I believe it starts in the home even before kids are school age, and involves the teaching of self-discipline and the acknowledgement that we are all responsible for the consequences of our actions, or inaction.

It boils down to, someone has to educate, and someone has to be educated. No matter how it is spun, the parents, teachers, coaches, politicians, everyone has a roll. While I agree 100% it starts under your own roof, there are checkpoints and motivators along the way. But, if the starting point (home) fails, then more than likely the others won't have much luck either and that's probably where the failure of "sense of urgency" begins. 2 cents worth!

JImmy

Yes you are getting warm

Coach May---even with kids playing travel ball there are those who don't seem to care as much as others and it is the same with the parents---too many take things for granted

Yes there are the kids who care--we had a boy come to play with us in our final tournament--he had not played with us previously---the first game arrived and he was nowhere to be seen 40 minutes before game time---my phone rings and it is this young man apologizing to me because they had a flat on the highway and didn't know what time he woiuld arrive---he had a sense of urgency--he took the time to call--others would have just shown up when they could get there with no call or notice

Other kids habitually show up late with all sort of excuses--drives my coaching staff nuts--

I feel that our society has gotten too laid back and we are losing touch with the real world

Sounds to me it's more along the lines of "Lack of Responsibility".

I agree with TR! I see this attitude with many players today it seems they think everything is going to be handed to them with no effort!I know that many players are dedicated and work hard but there are those that just don't put forth the proper effort.I guess those will be the ones that fall behind!

Parents can do a lot to instill the sense of urgency, granted its not easy, but that what we get (don't) paid for

55Mom
"Has anyone else noticed that kids are in no rush to get their licenses?"

Your post caught my Eye...some friends and I were recently talking about the number of kid that do not get their Licenses as soon as they can. Many 17 year old kids that have not even got their learner permits yet.


We were talking about the great feeling of not having to pick our kids up from football or baseball practice all the time now that they have their license. Another fringe benefit of not having to take and pick them up...you stay away from the group of parents that like to show up a few minutes early to pick up and "discuss" the ins and outs of what is happening on the team, some times referred to as the "office of the miserable"

I know every Kid when I grew up could not wait to get their licenses now it seems like many of them wait...

Not sure if this is the sense of urgency TR was posting about but your post did catch my eye.

Mom and Dad-

Maybe it's what part of the country you're from or what state, but I find just the opposite. Being from Texas, I see more and more kids driving at a younger age and trying to be the first in line for a seat in Drivers Ed class. Again, it could be location, heck it just might be in my county, but I do see a rush to get the permit to drive.

I'd say there have always been hard workers with a sense of urgency and there have always been slackers with none throughout the ages. I'm not too big on the good-old-days school of thought. Those days weren't always as good as we remember them. Every generation thinks this new group of youngsters doesn't have what it takes and that they're too soft and pampered. In some cases, that's true, but much of that is due to technological advances that kids have access to. I see the opposite, to be honest. My kids take far harder classes than I did in school and were pushed much more by the school system. Many kids today are driven to reach their goals, whether they're chasing an Ivy League-type education or a D1 athletic scholarship. JMO.

My response would best be characterized from "No Country For Old Men"...Tommy Lee Jones (sheriff) quote...

"But I think once you quit hearing "sir" and "ma'am," the rest is soon to foller."

quote:

Originally posted by catfish342:
I'd say there have always been hard workers with a sense of urgency and there have always been slackers with none throughout the ages. I'm not too big on the good-old-days school of thought. Those days weren't always as good as we remember them. Every generation thinks this new group of youngsters doesn't have what it takes and that they're too soft and pampered. In some cases, that's true, but much of that is due to technological advances that kids have access to. I see the opposite, to be honest. My kids take far harder classes than I did in school and were pushed much more by the school system. Many kids today are driven to reach their goals, whether they're chasing an Ivy League-type education or a D1 athletic scholarship. JMO.

As I've said in other posts, I think we tend to see a lot of things through rose-colored glasses.
If I think objectively about when I was growing up, some were hard working, some were slackers, and the majority were somewhere in between.
I still see that today.
Also, I think that the hard workers tended to associate more with the hard workers, so that probably taints some people's views.

More then likely the 2 previous era's before yours thought the same thing thing about your era...

Most of the time you have to make it important to them. Here is a link of a team here in Texas clearing the field after BP.....someone gave them a sense of urgency.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g5SKgPaXY4

Chill out, dude. Peace and love, man.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g5SKgPaXY4


Wow! That is a high school program? Our high school team would smoke them clearing off the field. I am pretty sure it only takes about 15 seconds to roll off the pitching screen.

To be fair, it is a really small school that doesn't do very well.

I think allot of it comes from parents coddeling kids more these days...always telling them they are great, everyone is a winner, that they deserve everything, talking to them instead of spanking. I see allot of these kids enter the workforce with a sense of entitlement, instead of working hard to achieve something and being rewarded for it. The same goes for sports.

quote:

Originally posted by 55mom:
Has anyone else noticed that kids are in no rush to get their licenses?

Yes! Now, that's weird...I got mine the day I could, my 15 year old went 6 weeks before even asking about going to get his, and wasn't sure he really wanted to then.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
JImmy

Yes you are getting warm

Coach May---even with kids playing travel ball there are those who don't seem to care as much as others and it is the same with the parents---too many take things for granted

Yes there are the kids who care--we had a boy come to play with us in our final tournament--he had not played with us previously---the first game arrived and he was nowhere to be seen 40 minutes before game time---my phone rings and it is this young man apologizing to me because they had a flat on the highway and didn't know what time he woiuld arrive---he had a sense of urgency--he took the time to call--others would have just shown up when they could get there with no call or notice

Other kids habitually show up late with all sort of excuses--drives my coaching staff nuts--

I feel that our society has gotten too laid back and we are losing touch with the real world

Why should a kid have any sense of urgency towards something he doesn't know to be important?

With the game moving towards a self promotion of skills, the responsibility to honor your team with promptness and commitment has been lost.

There is always another team, another showcase, another event next weekend if you disappoint those this weekend.

They just don't run 5 miles to and from practice uphill both ways in the snow, then drag tractor trailers to build leg strength the way we used to.

Back when I played a lot of kids were lost to drug use. Some parents didn't blow off one travel team for another simply because the options weren't there.

People are people and they really haven't changed much at all, other than the kids in general are better trained and more prepared these days.

quote:

Originally posted by CADad:


People are people and they really haven't changed much at all, other than the kids in general are better trained and more prepared these days.

I think demographics have a lot to do with perceived problems as well.

I can remember moving to Texas from Southern California after my freshman year of HS.

The change and culture was drastic for a teenager.

I kept hearing things like "yes sir, no mam".

Kids dressed different. Button up shirts with creased jeans and dress shoes over sneakers.

And there was harsh punishments for my mistakes versus what I was used to out west.

It's to be said for more rural places as well.

I know the "urgency" problem isn't as prominent in our farmland states. The way of life is just different. Necessities depend on "urgency" which trickles down onto things that are not a necessity.

I remember back when I was young and my grandfather would rail on about how bad the modern players were, how soft they were, how spoiled they were. That was way back in the 50s!

The thing I've always noticed is that the world changes, but people are the same. Some of the most dedicated, hardest working, most talented, kids I've ever met are playing now. Some of the laziest, non caring, and stupid kids I've ever known would include me and my friends from the old days.