Showing up at college the summer before freshman year

What you're describing is precisely what my son did the summer prior to his Freshman year; and, since then, it's become an increasingly popular choice. I want to say that something like 6 to 8 of this year's recruited players went to summer school at his university.

It gives them the sort of head start you mentioned in the classroom, and they have the opportunity to begin using the university's facilities to train. (I'm pretty certain that none of the coaches can be involved; but, support personnel like the strength coordinator can.)

Another benefit is that it prevents them from wearing themselves out playing summer baseball before beginning Fall baseball. They need to be rested and in as good a shape as they can going into Fall baseball.

Evidently, it has no relationship to the draft. This year, a high profile recruit for both football and baseball at UNC attended summer school and began working out with the football team; only to make a quick exit on August 16th to begin his professional baseball career (...$2,750,000 richer!)

Athletic grants also don't come into play; as they're paid at the beginning of the Fall semester.

Best of luck to your son!

The disadvantage of not playing baseball all summer long at the highest possible level for a position player is that he's missed an opportunity to improve his game AND to be ready to compete for a roster spot in the fall. i.e. every other postion player your son will compete with is playing this summer.

Actually, the kids we know that attended summer school did it in order to be best prepared. As prepster said, they are using the facilities at the school with advice from the strength coordinator. A large number of the incoming freshman were there, so they held there own voluntary practices, thus bonding and honing their skills. I know a few attended WWBA 18u prior to summer session, as summer schedule is abbreviated. They only took 2 classes, so they got adjusted to the classes while having plenty of time to be baseball ready. I think this is becoming more common.

quote:

Originally posted by CollegeParentNoMore:
The disadvantage of not playing baseball all summer long at the highest possible level for a position player is that he's missed an opportunity to improve his game AND to be ready to compete for a roster spot in the fall. i.e. every other postion player your son will compete with is playing this summer.

I don't agree with that, eveyone prepares in different ways. As stated, most freshman don't play major roles at first anyway.

My son (pitcher) played summer before he entered college, I found it to be a waste , he could have benefited from the money spent taking a few summer classes and conditioning.

I think that it is becoming more common and coaches have no problem with it.

quote:

I don't agree with that, eveyone prepares in different ways. As stated, most freshman don't play major roles at first anyway

It is true most freshman have no role however a freshman position player not ready to compete faces the possiblity of getting cut or redshirted.

It is a very common practice at UVA, UNC and Florida (among others)

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
I don't agree with that, eveyone prepares in different ways. As stated, most freshman don't play major roles at first anyway.

My son (pitcher) played summer before he entered college, I found it to be a waste , he could have benefited from the money spent taking a few summer classes and conditioning.

I think that it is becoming more common and coaches have no problem with it.

Concur. This is especially true for pitchers. One college coach told us he basically assumes all incoming freshman pitchers have been overthrown, so he wants to get them on campus, off the mound, and in the conditioning program as quickly as possible.

This is an extreme version of what you guys are talking about. Going to college a year early.

That is a good read by Kendall Rogers

Some of the schools that recruited my son said the pre-freshman summer on campus experience was strongly encouraged by the school and in some cases paid for by the school. I believe that the best opinion to rely on in any given situation is that of your own head coach!

Thanks for all the feedback.

I didn't realize attending early was such a common practice. My son is a pitcher, so throwing a bunch of innings all summer versus learning the campus and earning 3-6 credits or maybe getting a lab class out of the way (if he chooses engineering) seemed like an easy trade.

The fact that the facilities might be available for training is a big plus.

We will definitely discuss as a family and then with the head coach, but until this thread I didn't realize there was anything to talk about. Thanks again!

Here is a fairly recent short article about new recruits going to summer school.


http://www.virginiasports.com/...800&ATCLID=205216040

I didn't realize either that so many incoming freshmen do this. Fortunately, my son has been able to earn some college credits while going to high school and will acutally have 10 classes completed before he enters his freshmen year (and all should transfer) When talking with the coaches of the college that he will attend, I never once heard them say that they were concerned about overuse in the summer before entering college (he is a pitcher). Fortunately, his summer team is one that really limits overuse.

quote:

Originally posted by cb12:
When talking with the coaches of the college that he will attend, I never once heard them say that they were concerned about overuse in the summer before entering college (he is a pitcher). Fortunately, his summer team is one that really limits overuse.

The coach I mentioned above was specifically talking about overuse from the high school season.