Summer Ball

I can't wait to see how this topic develops -- guys are scrambling for alias screen names, even as we speak. This has not been a problem at Plano East.

We met the HS coach prior to my son entering HS. Never was a problem for my son.
In fact, Coach welcomed the "level" of play. A few of the HS players have since moved beyond "pony" to select teams & have become even more valuable to the HS team.

A HS coach cannot "require" anything outside the school year.

PM's are fine if there is concern over posts being viewed by your HS coach. Personally, I don't have any idea how our program will work as the coach is in his first year...it may not be an issue.

Non-school specific discussions would be fine as well.

Current coach is fine with select and doesn't do a summer or fall team.

Coach at old HS did a summer team (don't know about fall) and was applying pressure. But that stopped short of making players leave select for the summer team. That coach was new. Will be interesting to hear if the pressure increases or decreases next summer.

Have had friends with sons who were told to participate in the summer HS team as a first priority or else.

I know at Keller there isn't a problem, but word on the street that Marcus and Lewisville coaches want......er...require thier kids to play with the summer HS team.

T Bird Dad this is a very interesting topic and probably will set a record for responses. We have not experienced any challenges with HS coaches regarding our team. However, I believe the key is communications between the players and their HS school coach. I believe most HS coaches want players with select teams in the summer to improve on their development. If they are playing with the HS team it’s usually coached by a dad since the coach cannot be involved if there are more than a certain number of players from the same high school. I would think that most HS coaches would want their players coached by baseball people as opposed to dads. Now don't jump on me dads because some of you are excellent baseball people and you are not the ones addressed in the statement. Also, regarding the top players like Monk, Walden, Edwards, Tolleson, Kershaw, Claiborne, etc. I really don't think the coach is going to attempt and dictate where they play summer ball.

indugu,

That is the type of relationship I hope for. It would be ideal that he play for the school team whenever he can, but priority would be placed on the select team. Generally, the roster size of the summer HS team is large enough to accomodate that type of relationship.

From the conversations I have had with other frosh parents, most of their kids have played on local AAA style teams and won't have this problem, but the few that want to play select should be able to do so and maintain the school ball relationship.

Indugu -- I know of a few conflicts with your players and their high school -- but I'm going to observe here.

TBD -- be careful about having your son on multiple rosters. Many high schools play LoneStar or BBI and there are post-season eligibility issues to consider.

Texas Education Agency tells me the school year is from Aug to May. UIL governs athletics.
A coach may attempt to intimidate...er..."encourage".... but that would really be pretty "short-sighted", don't you think?

Where's oldbat-never? Her son is in that school district.

Our high school has a "summer team" that many of our kids play on. Others choose to play on the select circuit. Most of the kids that play on the select circuit will also play from time to time with the summer high school team depending on schedule, who can make it, who can pitch, etc.

Our coaches don't seem to really have a preference; at least they haven't tried to push players in either direction. They just want them to play somewhere. It is mostly a parental and/or player preference.

I think indugu accurately depicts the situation between HS summer teams and select teams 99% of the time. HS coaches just want their players to play - that is why the summer teams are set up.

Believe it or not alot of HS kids have to WORK during the summer and cannot afford or have the time for select baseball. These local summer teams are the only way these kids can play baseball during the summer. In case no one has noticed select ball is not for those short on funds or time.

T-Bird Dad I would advise you to relax - I bet by the time summer rolls around your son playing on a select team will not be an issue.

quote:

Originally posted by indugu:
Also, regarding the top players like Monk, Walden, Edwards, Tolleson, Kershaw, Claiborne, etc. I really don't think the coach is going to attempt and dictate where they play summer ball.

I agree with you here, but they are the minority, not the regualr every day player. While thier HS coaches know better than to mess with thier top flight player, it's the guy working hard to get better that usually benifits the most from playing Summer Select, in my opinion.

Select ball CAUSES me to be short on funds and time.

quote:

Originally posted by Panther Dad:
Select ball CAUSES me to be short on funds and time.

Amen

Baseballmom,
Last year we had 100% participation on our HS summer team (could be because of the success of our HS season, new coach,parents cash flow, who knows). Our HS team, which played in the Lonestar League, Burkburnett tourney and other tourneys, also had just a few players that played on select teams as pickup or roster players.

Won't know the numbers for this summer till we get there. Right now, this month, it seems the focus for select teams is getting rosters ready for summer the focus for HS teams/coaches is getting their players ready for spring and my focus is getting through this week..so as to summer 06?????????????............(is that P.I. enough)............

quote:

T-Bird Dad I would advise you to relax - I bet by the time summer rolls around your son playing on a select team will not be an issue.

crawdad, am relaxed, just looking to learn from the experiences of others...I guess it's the old Boy Scout in me..."be prepared".

As I recall, several of the Marcus players were on various select teams, a few were drafted...& several are at some great D-1's. They've had a tremendous amount of talent the last couple of years!

Thanks for "waking me up", obn!!

PD...so true!

T-bird Dad,
Looking back at this thread what I can say to you is:

1. Every situation is different based on school size, program, coach and player's ability.

2. What is right for a Freshman player i.e. summer ball might/usually is different than what is right for a Junior/Senior player.

3. What one school asks/requests/suggests to a player/team is what is right/wrong for their school and that can vary from 1A-5A, so you should only focus on what your school needs/wants because in the end you can't change that unless you move schools.

4. Listen to your son and see what he wants to do and then see if it compliments what is being offered/requested/suggested. Make your decision based on what is the best fit for your son then proceed with confidence because in the end if your player becomes a better player, comes out of the summer with confidence/good experience then everyone benefits PLAYER/TEAM/COACH/FAMILY.

And lastily,,,,,what some parents tell you they are doing isn't always the case, I know of parents that will say they are true blue to one thing i.e. school team (playing the game so to speak) and then they are out playing on multiple teams, so be careful. Do what is right for your son, based on his talent/needs/age.

For us, this summer I will be listening to my son (who is a Jr.)and by listening we took the first step last weekend and it was a good step.

ob-n,

Thanks, sound advice. He wants and has been asked to play on a select team he tried out for recently, but he hasn't had freshman tryouts yet. We will proceed with his desires and hope there is no issue.

T-Bird Dad,
I wish I could tell you it gets easier every year, and right now is the WORST TIME OF THE YEAR, you can just feel the anxiety, the pressure, the sense of unknowing, I feel your pain.....when I was a parent of a Freshman I thought just get me through this year, this tryout, will dot all the i's and cross the t's and then take a breath next year.

Well,,,,,,,,,,,here it is heading into the Jr. year and same nervous, same feeling of being on pins and needles, such is the nature of 5A baseball when talent is in abundance.......just be true to your son and know that there is baseball available in 2 arena's HS and Select and that both offer different things.....and for those that don't make the HS team, don't give up, esp. if you were cut because of numbers, get on the best select team you can find and keep playing, tryout again or just know that if you continue playing at a higher and higher level of select ball that you can continue in the game and there might be game for you post HS...........

I know you are awaiting the posting of the list, it is the first time there is "no other team" like we have had in the select community. And then you have to juggle the fact that right now the focus at HS is on that team and in the select community they are also putting together rosters, it just seems overwhelming.

If select is an option then go to the tryouts and get that figured out because if you wait till the HS season is underway or over it is usually too late to get on a select team for the summer so don't hold out too long.

Then enter HS, hopefully make the team, play 100% for your HS team and then when Summer comes you will know how it will all work out and it will........

AND MOST OF ALL GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR SON!!!!!!!!!!!!! Try and put it on the backshelf during the holidays and enjoy the spirit of the season.

quote:

Originally posted by Panther Dad:
Indugu -- I know of a few conflicts with your players and their high school -- but I'm going to observe here.

TBD -- be careful about having your son on multiple rosters. Many high schools play LoneStar or BBI and there are post-season eligibility issues to consider.

PD you are correct with your statement. We have this come up last summer and we had to make sure that our player played his first league game with his select team as opposed to his high school team which was a member of the Lone Star. Also, each league has to permit playing on two teams. Whichever team he plays that first league game with he is bound to that team as far as AABC post season play.

quote:

Originally posted by KellerDad:

quote:

Originally posted by indugu:
Also, regarding the top players like Monk, Walden, Edwards, Tolleson, Kershaw, Claiborne, etc. I really don't think the coach is going to attempt and dictate where they play summer ball.

I agree with you here, but they are the minority, not the regualr every day player. While thier HS coaches know better than to mess with thier top flight player, it's the guy working hard to get better that usually benifits the most from playing Summer Select, in my opinion.

Keller dad I agree with your statements. I believe most of the organizations know which coaches may present a challenge and try to work it out to benefit all involved.

indugu,

Good info. for people to know and remember about playing on Select team first game of league season to remain eligible for AABC...need to put that on my "pass it on list"...
thanks.

To all: thanks again...this has been very beneficial. While we are not new to select, we are to HS ball and this has been informative.

To ob-n: thanks for the positive note. It is an anxious time for his mother and me, but T-Bird kid is not the least bit worried (he is a lefty and has never worried about anything in his life-including whether his hat is straight on his head or not). He is confident, so my crooked hat is off to him.

This has been so helpful, I think I will send Julie a donation.

Yes, everybody don't forget to read this thread.

Important one!!


http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6616002781/m/3531090141

Take the opportunity to send Julie a thank you and a donation. It's the only way to assure this site stays alive. And since we (meaning us here in Texas) have the most active local board, it would be only fitting if we lead the way in donations.

T-Bird Dad:
I too am a mom of a Lefty and there is some comfort in that, if they can throw the ball,,,,,,,,,,but at our HS my son is looking at playing with 6 quality Junior/Senior lefty baseball players. So much for the 15% of the population being lefty not at our school........know our coach is loving it and scratching his head at the same time, where do you put all these lefty's????????????????

KD: Good post on supporting HSBB, it is an amazing site and I have sent my $$ money in as a show of support...

quote:

I too am a mom of a Lefty and there is some comfort in that, if they can throw the ball,,,,,,,,,,but at our HS my son is looking at playing with 6 Junior/Senior lefty baseball players. So much for the 15% of the population being lefty not at our school........know our coach is loving it and scratching his head at the same time, where do you put all these lefty's????????????????

ob-n: We had a coach when T-Bird son was 11 years old tell us that baseball lefthandedness is the great irony...a real plus on the mound and a pretty good plus at the plate...a real minus in the field (OF or 1st Base).

Fortunately he runs well so OF has been an option for him and there are three of those positions. He has worked hard at hitting so he really forces his coaches to put him somewhere in the field. So far, so good...

Does yours where his hat straight?...mine thinks he does, but I think his brain is crooked.

No down the middle with the hat, because he is only a lefy when he throws, everything else is righty............so he is crooked in the brain as well.

quote:

guys are scrambling for alias screen names, even as we speak.

Thats Classic!!

We are new to the HS baseball as well. My son has been playing select for many years. My freshman son will be trying out for the Highschool team. He as already agreed to play with a select team for the summer. I just found out that the HS coach prefers players play on the high school summer team as a priority. I hope we didn't agree to something we will not hold up. I will take the advice to wait and find out more. I will continue to watch and learn from this website. Look forward to reading more as we get closer to try-outs.

Westlake, sounds like your kid maybe going to the same school at the original poster.

Westlake Dad, you have a PM.

Westlake, it can go either way. IMHO, your son will probably be okay if he stands his ground. Especially this year, when he explains his prior commitment.

But there is the occasional coach who will hold a grudge, even if he cuts off his nose to spite his face.

If it comes to that, your son will have to set his priorities.

Good luck.

T-Bird Dad you have a PM

Dang, seems to be more NW parents here than I thought

skysthelimit--back at you.

KD--we are infiltrating everywhere.

Keller coaches did express some concern about pitching for more than one team. It can create pitch count problems that the kids tend to ignore and sometimes intentionally cover up. Other than that, they encourage everyone to play against the best competition available because they know that isn’t what the off season high school team is going to face. Schedule conflicts are expected.

quote:

Originally posted by T-Bird Dad:

We had a coach when T-Bird son was 11 years old tell us that baseball lefthandedness is the great irony...a real plus on the mound and a pretty good plus at the plate...a real minus in the field (OF or 1st Base).

Fortunately he runs well so OF has been an option for him and there are three of those positions. He has worked hard at hitting so he really forces his coaches to put him somewhere in the field. So far, so good...

It’s a good thing T-Bird son’s OF attention span has improved since he was 9. 1st base was the place for him back then.

I sure have enjoyed watching these kids grow up.

Line Drive, you have a PM.

Thanks for the advice. My son is a freshman at Westlake High School in Austin, TX and we live in Westlake Hills. I forget there is another "Westlake" in this great State. Does NE1 know when the UIL approved date is for try-outs? I was just told they expect about 40 kids to try out and maybe half will make the team. Right now we are not focusing too much on Summer ball. We are getting him ready so he has the best chance to make the high school team.