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Son cut from JV, now what?

Nitric_AcidNitric_Acid100+ posts
I'm at a loss here. Son has been working his tail off. Hours on the field when no one was around. He's been outside all winter. Any day above freezing, we were outside working on his game. He outhit everyone on his summer team. Those kids made the JV, son is cut. Son is 6'2", 180 lbs. Hitting/pitching instructor said he should pay college ball somewhere. JV coach who cut him said he could play in college. But he cut him?! I don't get it. Could son have had a terrible tryout? Sure, could have been terrible, but coaches all told him he was doing well; a lot better than last year. Why tell a kid who stinks that he could play in college? He can play in college, but not on a HS JV team? Son was the only kid cut from last year's freshman team.

Son doesn't want to quit. Says he's going to work harder to get better. I don't know. Hard to make varsity with a week long tryout if the coaches don't see you play on JV. It seems that if making varsity was hard, making in without playing JV is going to be near impossible.
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KrakatoaKrakatoa1,000+ posts
Nitric, I feel you. Some things just don't make sense. However, nowadays, a lot of the action to 'see and be seen in' is summer/travel ball. Don't give up. If your son is good (and it sounds like people think he is), there's always a place. I know it must be a true heartache for him not to play with his buddies on his own school team....but there's forward progress to be made with travel ball and there's always next year. I would also have your son really try to get a straight answer from the JV coach on what went wrong (diplomatically and earnestly and with a theme of 'so I can help this team next season').

I hope this helps....
coach2709coach270910,000+ posts
Nitric I don't know what to tell you because I have no idea what happend. I have read your posts on here and definately think you are not the blowhard parent who blames others. I can see where you are confused based on the ones who know who say your son should be a college player yet gets cut. That doesn't make sense at all.

Krak is right - have your son do a sit down with the coaches and see what he needs to improve on - fielding, hitting, throwing, running, attitude, confidence, whatever - and get a clue why they cut him and work on it.

Play summer ball and keep at it. I love the fact your son said this .....

quote:
Son doesn't want to quit. Says he's going to work harder to get better.


The vast majority of times today's kids will quit when faced with adversity because it's easier. It's easier to quit, place blame, or find excuses for why they failed.

Whatever you did to instill this desire and attitude in your son I commend you because unfortunately it's rare today.

Best of luck to your son.
Nitric_AcidNitric_Acid100+ posts
Coach cut down to 12 and is pulling 2 kids up from the freshman team. Son was the only returner from freshman team cut. Didn't have to cut him, but I guess the coach wanted to make a point. Didn't like his throwing. Velocity fine, "too wild", although JV coach said the same thing to another kid he cut. My son said that the other kid was throwing great the whole time.

Son is good, not great. Needs to become great to avoid being at the mercy of the coach. Could be a lot better in the field, but can hit.
S switchitter100+ posts
Coach may be trying to give him encouragement by telling him he could play in college. The key word is "could". He probably has plenty of work to do on his game (overall).... throwing sounds like the major weakness but other things are obviously problematic as well. However, I will say, throwing in baseball is the essence of a mandatory fundemental in baseball. Does he look awkward when he throws? If he is wild with his throws, that is a MAJOR setback and something he really needs to work on in the off-season. I know of several kids that have VERY awkward throwing mechanics. They made the freshman team because so many were kept but they didn't change in the off-season and still had those "very awkward mechanics" and eventually it will catch up with a kid and stick out like a sore-thumb such as on JV or Varsity. The cream rises to the top but it's a hard swim to the surface as you move up the High School ladder to the ultimate goal of Varisty.
Last edited by switchitter
Nitric_AcidNitric_Acid100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by switchitter:
Coach may be trying to give him encouragement by telling him he could play in college. The key word is "could". He probably has plenty of work to do on his game (overall).... throwing sounds like the major weakness but other things are obviously problematic as well. However, I will say, throwing in baseball is the essence of a mandatory fundemental in baseball. Does he look awkward when he throws? If he is wild with his throws, that is a MAJOR setback and something he really needs to work on in the off-season. I know of several kids that have VERY awkward throwing mechanics. They made the freshman team because so many were kept but they didn't change in the off-season and still had those "very awkward mechanics" and eventually it will catch up with a kid and stick out like a sore-thumb such as on JV or Varsity. The cream rises to the top but it's a hard swim to the surface as you move up the High School ladder to the ultimate goal of Varisty.


He worked with a pitching coach on his mechanics this winter. We were out throwing any day it was above freezing. He looked a lot better. Coaches said it was a huge improvement from last year. Accuracy is way up. Velocity is up. But occasionally he will throw a bad ball. His throwing works for an outfielder, which is where he normally plays, but not for an infielder, and that also hurt him.
BumBum1,000+ posts
Nitric, what are his tools?

I agree he could make a comeback if he finds a solid Summer program and continues to work on his game. Please remember, though, that the #1 tool in baseball is his arm strength. Spend this next year focusing on long-toss and arm strength, and find a qualified instructor to help him with any mechanical deficiencies. Good luck.
Last edited by Bum
P powertoallfields1,000+ posts
I would say to take him to some College camps or showcases to get multiple unbiased evaluations. Remember, Pitching and Hitting instruction is a BUSINESS and in all business there are folks that don't always tell the WHOLE truth. Sometimes, they tell you what will keep bringing you and your money back. It doesn't sound like the Coaches want to help players develop, that is sad. If a kid is giving his best effort and is COACHABLE he should not be cut!
C coachbwww100+ posts
Try out for a in town rival HS, and beat the = edited = out of the old school!

On the other hand, you need to address the throwing problems, this is the fundamental thing. The best time to correct a bad-looking throw is at 9-10 yr old or under, too bad you you let him throw like that for years, How could you tolerate those ugly throw as a parent? Either you or the LL coach didn't do the job. This is sad, sad, sad!
Last edited by shortstopmom
shortstopmomshortstopmom1,000+ posts
I dont see Nitric_Acid looking to blame anyone.

Not really sure why you are coachwww,..unless you are just being sarcastic.

I see a dad looking for answers as to what to do next for his son.
Quote:
quote:
Son doesn't want to quit. Says he's going to work harder to get better


Trying out for a rival highschool team next year, means transferring and with that comes elgibility regulations & stipulations.
Not to mention, a complete upheaval of the athletes highschool life as he knows it.
And what happens if he doesnt make THAT rival HS team?
Then what?
Perhaps finding a way to work on his game/skills this season and this summer, ( before next year's highschool tryouts ), might lead him towards future success.

I sure hope so. I'm rooting for the kid!
Last edited by shortstopmom
P powertoallfields1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
Being a hard worker and being coachable DOES NOT in itself assure a player of a spot on any team---the player also needs to have talent and then there is also the numbers factor regarding how many players on the roster




I agree with that to an extent. If there is NO chance of a player getting better, then go ahead and cut them, but let them know why. I don't think the number thing is in play here however since he says the Coach was cutting it down to 12. Not a very big JV roster, IMO. Lots of chances to lose players in High School, grades, injuries, attitude, discipinary problems, etc., etc..
C coachbwww100+ posts
SSmom: From NA's original post, you read between the lines, you can sense that he is trying to blame the JV coach. This is what I hate the most, "blame others for your own failure!". If that was my son, I would keep his mouth shut and practice him untill he got a perfect looking throw. I don't see a kid could not play in a HS JV would find any good travel team to play for.
Last edited by coachbwww
shortstopmomshortstopmom1,000+ posts
quote:
SSmom: From NA's original post, you read between the lines, you can sense that he is trying to blame the JV coach.


Coachwww:
Hmmm, we must be have a difference of interpretation here.
I didnt take his post that way at all.
I took it as a dad trying to sort out the pieces, trying to figure out what went wrong, how to fix it, and looking for a plan for the future.

He titled his thread:
quote:
Son cut from JV, now what?
Last edited by shortstopmom
C coachbwww100+ posts
SSmom: That's why you need read between the lines. Too many coaches this, coaches that, not mentioning how bad his son's throw is? how wild? What technical part need to be improved? We got a lot of coaches here, instead of complaining why ask these coaches how to correct his throwing mechanic?

quote:
Originally posted by Nitric_Acid:
....He out hit everyone on his summer team. Those kids made the JV, son is cut. JV coach who cut him said ...... But he cut him?! I don't get it.... but coaches all told him he was doing well..... Why tell a kid who stinks that he could play in college? .....He can play in college, but not on a HS JV team? .... Son was the only kid cut from last year's freshman team. ....

.....if the coaches don't see you play on JV......
Nitric_AcidNitric_Acid100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by coachbwww:
Try out for a in town rival HS, and beat the = edited = out of the old school!

On the other hand, you need to address the throwing problems, this is the fundamental thing. The best time to correct a bad-looking throw is at 9-10 yr old or under, too bad you you let him throw like that for years, How could you tolerate those ugly throw as a parent? Either you or the LL coach didn't do the job. This is sad, sad, sad!


You're right. I didn't get it done. I was busy trying to get my career going so my 4 kids would have a roof over their heads and food to eat. I didn't know how to teach him correctly, having been taught incorrectly, myself. I didn't know anything about travel baseball. By the time I did, he was already 15 and it was nearly impossible to find a team with an opening. I didn't know baseball would become so important to him. I thought he would be like a lot of other kids, play for a few years and done. But he wasn't like that. He worked hard and went from ****** to pretty good. When I couldn't teach him anymore, I got him professional instruction. Now that I have a great job, I can afford such things, but 6-7 years ago there was no way.

My daughters are 7 and I am working on their throwing mechanics now so they don't have the same issues that their brother had to deal with.
M Metropop10+ posts
I heard that a kid named Michael Jordan got cut from his high school team as a sophomore. Word on the street is that he didn't let it end his dream of playing high school basketball.

Regardless of reason you son didn't make it this year he still has an opportunity to either "HOLD UP or FOLD UP". How you as a father decides to help him deal with this adversity is truly a chance to really build some character.
Nitric_AcidNitric_Acid100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
Am I reading this right?

The young man did not make the freshman team last year?

The young man did not make the JV this year?

I do not know about you but that tells me something about the young mans talent


No, he made the freshman team last year. Certainly expected to make JV this year and start due to all the work he put in last summer and winter.
P powertoallfields1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
powertoallfields


How can you say the numbers don't factor in here---the roster is only 12 players---that eliminates of on the fringe kids




So are you saying his state only allows 12 players on the roster? I thought the Coach was deciding to only keep 12 on the roster. That's a pretty tough rule to put on a JV Coach, if that is the case. IMO, it's a dumb decision if the Coach did it to himself and to the Varsity Coach.
TRhitTRhit10,000+ posts
powertoallfields

I am not saying anything !!!!

His post said the roster number was 12 ---I never said what the state calls for--- I wish you would read more slowly and carefully before you want to attack me---I could care less if it is a state rule or coaches choice---it is what it is---actually when you think of it 12 is great number --it will keep all the parents happy regarding playing time---personally I think he should have 15 but then who am I to tell a coach how to set up his roster

By the way, you are entitled to your opinion but to call it a dumb decision by the JV coach is not right

Actually in my experience I have found that good coaches can make things work regardless of roster size, schedules weather etc---the good coaches deal with what they are dealt


Have you ever coached at the HS player level?
Last edited by TRhit
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
He can play in college, but not on a HS JV team?
The coach's may have meant with his physical attributes there's potential to play in college. He has size going for him. But does he have the talent at the moment? Is the varsity loaded, holding back JV players? And in turn keeping players with potential off the JV team?

At our high school some good basketball players who made the freshman team will not make JV next year. The JV team was loaded this year and only six will be moving up next year.
S switchitter100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
powertoallfields

I am not saying anything !!!!

His post said the roster number was 12 ---I never said what the state calls for--- I wish you would read more slowly and carefully before you want to attack me---I could care less if it is a state rule or coaches choice---it is what it is---actually when you think of it 12 is great number --it will keep all the parents happy regarding playing time---personally I think he should have 15 but then who am I to tell a coach how to set up his roster

By the way, you are entitled to your opinion but to call it a dumb decision by the JV coach is not right

Actually in my experience I have found that good coaches can make things work regardless of roster size, schedules weather etc---the good coaches deal with what they are dealt


Have you ever coached at the HS player level?


true and also keep in mind that if a JV coach has 12 players, they usually have the option of pulling some kids up from freshman from time to time so that roster count could fluxuate during the year. Also it is more rare but if an upperclassmen pitcher is struggling up on Varsity, they can move him down to JV to pitch to get his confidence back or give him some playing time. JV is the "middle-man".
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
actually when you think of it 12 is great number --it will keep all the parents happy regarding playing time---personally I think he should have 15
Chances are 13, 14 and 15 will never make varsity. If they can change their chances that much it's more likely in personal workouts and a summer team than sitting on the end of a bench.
P powertoallfields1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by TRhit:
powertoallfields

I am not saying anything !!!!

His post said the roster number was 12 ---I never said what the state calls for--- I wish you would read more slowly and carefully before you want to attack me---I could care less if it is a state rule or coaches choice---it is what it is---actually when you think of it 12 is great number --it will keep all the parents happy regarding playing time---personally I think he should have 15 but then who am I to tell a coach how to set up his roster

By the way, you are entitled to your opinion but to call it a dumb decision by the JV coach is not right

Actually in my experience I have found that good coaches can make things work regardless of roster size, schedules weather etc---the good coaches deal with what they are dealt


Have you ever coached at the HS player level?




Good lord TR, I wasn't attacking you. I just asked if you knew that it was a state rule. I saw what the poster said about the 12 person roster. I agree that 15 is better, 20 would be even better if some were playing Freshman too. I think it's dumb to limit a JV roster to 12 kids, but hey, it's just my opinion, like you say, he's the one in charge and spending his time out there. Heck, maybe the Varsity Coach mandated his roster size, I don't know.
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