Thank you Bob, for the HSBBWeb!

Julie,
No pats as requested.

You're just too cool (is that acceptable).

http://www.hsbaseballweb.com/reality.htm

This was the first thing that I read when I found this site. I did a search on recruiting and here was the HSBBW. Then I lurked, then I read a post by a poster that had a reference to my son's HS tournament. I emailed that poster rather than join because I felt some intimidation. Who was I? Just a confused baseball lovin' mom who was trying to figure out the recruiting game for my son. I consider myself very fortunate to have found this place that has had a direct impact on where he ended up in school, friendships made, and some lessons learned. It's one of the greatest places on the web - from the front page to the board. Thank you again Bob for your hard work, dedication, compassion, and for allowing Julie to continue this baseball home.

Julie - no pats, but thank you.

All of Bob's articles were helpful to this family...but I think the one on "No Early Signing...What To Do Next"....benefited us the most. I don't want to be repetitive, but this site is the best that's out there...on what to do to help your son to the next level of baseball.....the best. It's also good for a laugh from time to time (thanks to Moose and the gang), but mostly when we were going through the recruiting process....it was great to log on and get good advice, and also see other posters going through the same things we were.....

Thanks to Bob.....and, yes.....Julie too....

I especially liked the article Bob wrote "When the bedroom is empty"

I guess I liked this small article because it touched on an event that happens to all parents and each parent has to have mixed emotions when they look at their son’s room and it’s….EMPTY! At that point in time I think we all realize our son’s life and our lives have changed and will never be the same again. These are private moments but somehow Bob could share that moment in a manner that helped every other parent and player understand what was about to happen.
Thanks

One of my favorites....

"I offer a few suggestions:


Make sure that this is HIS dream and not YOURS. Dads (or moms) reliving their glory days, or failures, create nightmares for their children. A sober dose of reality is needed here. You need to examine whether you are trying to build your own ego or help your child succeed in HIS DREAM. Get this matter in proper perspective.

Have a professional (professional scout / college coach) evaluate and give you an HONEST opinion of your son's talent. Don't let someone who looks to make a dollar off you give you his opinion, but one who truly knows what coaches and scouts are looking for. And, don't be thinned skinned about it! Leave your ego and pride at home. By doing so it may help you save several thousands of dollars and spare your child some misery.

Set realistic goals for your child. Don't put him in a situation where he is destined to fail. Your ego trip might affect his entire life and mental health. A little maturity and common sense on your part could save him a lifetime of misery. Know what he is capable of and encourage him to seek to be the best he can be at that level. Having a fun and successful career at a small time school is far greater an experience, than living a life of failures and disappointments, while looking for the big pie in the sky that will never come.

Develop a plan to help him succeed at the level he is capable of playing. There is little use in the small time player (a player who will not play at the D1/Major D2/Professional level) wasting thousands of dollars at major showcases and scouting combines to produce national exposure. A wiser decision would be to send him to local college camps, local showcases designed to provide local exposure and free local professional tryouts.

Do your homework. Know what is needed and be well educated in the process. This website is an excellent starting place and Bob is to be commended for his hard work to help parents find the information they need to become educated enough to make the decisions that must be made in your child's future. Don't take the task lightly expecting someone else to do it for you (HS coach / guidance counselor / or Bubba. To do so could mean disaster and future heartache. Take control of the situation like a responsible parent.

Investigate. Investigate every showcase, recruiter, school, coach and program that shows interest in your son. Help him make the right decisions based on FACT and not fiction. Remember the woods are full of ticks and leeches wanting to suck the life out of you. "Buyer beware!" Before sending your son to a showcase ask a few college coaches if they will be in attendance and what they think of the organization. Before considering a school spend some time speaking to former players and parents about the coach, the program and their experiences while there. It could save you some of that hard earned cash and a lot of trauma.

Research. Know the recruiting rules. Many of these "Fly-By-Night" organizations are walking a tight-rope with NCAA recruiting rules. They can easily be considered an "agent", thus disqualifying your child. The scum want your money, not your respect! The person who promises to make tapes of your son, develop a profile, take them to the coach or scout, recommend your son to them as a qualified player, while taking money from you as payment for his services has become his agent. BEWARE, there are "vermin" amongst the crowd of folks watching your son play. They are looking for a one time score (taking your money) and then could care less what happens to you or your child.

Take a long-term approach to your decision making. Always look at what is best for your child's future. A scout once told me, "Be careful you might get what you are wishing for!" His point being that your dream may not be in your ultimate best interest. The mature individual is the one who knows what he/she wants down the road and not just a passing fancy. Believe it or not, there have been quite a few individuals who passed up a major league careers because it wasn't the type of lifestyle they wanted for their family or themselves. Many drop out of the minor leagues every year, not because they couldn't make it as a player, but because the lifestyle of the professional ball player is a rough road. Know what your child wants, but more importantly what is best for them. Be a mind of reason and sensibility to them amidst a world of glamour and insanity.

Help your son prioritize his life. What are the things that are truly important to him and to your family? Would you rather him win a World Series ring or have his name be written in Heaven? Would you rather him win a College World Series or be the Father Of The Year? I'm am constantly reminded of the fact that most successful people have an abiding sense of the truly important things in life. Take the opportunity to teach him to live to the important, rather than the urgent. Baseball careers ALWAYS end, but life goes on into eternity.

A few of my thoughts for your consideration. As always, In My Humble Opinion. Consider them for what they are worth.

Greg Legg
The Bama Bomber"

I added the italics.

Since I didn't discover this site till after our son was in college, we were not able to benefit from the recruiting advice. However, I have found a great deal of support, advice, and information that helped us deal with the challenges of college ball, the draft, and minor league life.

This site has also given me the opportunity to meet several HSBBWebsters through the years, some of whom I now consider very good friends, some who have even shared "pieces" of my son's life by sending me pictures and memorabilia from his life on the professional road.

It is also wonderful to know that we can always find somebody from HSBBW who would be more than happy to help our sons if they were anywhere near our sons while away from home. Short of some specialty support groups for illnesses and diseases, there is NO other site on the internet like this where we are all brought together because of the love of the game.

FO,
Thanks for the post from Bama. Puts a lot of things in perspective.

Intent notwithstanding, Julie, you deserve a lot more than a pat on the back. Bob gave us a place to be. He was the flame; you are the keeper of that flame.

To steal the heart of a movie phrase: Sometimes, you banter. Sometimes, you fight. Sometimes, you have to remember what you're bantering and fighting about.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to my instruction manuel, "How to throw a better knockdown pitch."

I have one problem with what Former said about scouts giving you an honest "opinion". My son would not be were he is today if he listened to those experts.
I also find it hard to believe that kids work as hard as they do and give up as much as they do to play this great game to fulfill a parents dream. I know what mine would have told me a long time ago.
This is a great site and I am sure appreciated by the vast majority of posters.

Bobblehead,

Although I would like to take credit for that great article that is posted elsewhere on this site, I want to make it clear that I did not write it.

I think if a young ball player and his parents had only a copy of Greg Legg's article and the the timeline that their journey through high school baseball, college baseball, and transition into professional baseball would work itself out.

And then more specifically to your point Bobblehead, the point of the article about obtaing scouts professional opinions was to obtain an honest or fair opinion of your son's abilities including "second"opinions", if you will.

A parents resposbility is to evaluate those opinions, Bobblehead, and it seems that your journey has worked out well.

quote:

also find it hard to believe that kids work as hard as they do and give up as much as they do to play this great game to fulfill a parents dream.

Bobblehead, I have observed this many, many times and know that we underestimate and misinterpret our children's desire to please us, as parents, far too much.............

That post was great ! I appreciate that some peoples kids at a younger age may have kids that want to please their parents. At 18/19 they are young adults. I am sure that the advise is given in good intention but for most parents on here have ball players that are self driven and these young men would fight us if we tried to reduce,alter or in any way interfer with their 1st love "Baseball". I always get a little testy when I personally get accused of living vicariously through my son. My son as many sons of parents on here have given up female relationships, parties etc just to play baseball.
When my son told me where he wanted to go and asked me to look into their programs I was thrilled and it was labour of love. Wnen he got the offers and NLIs I asked him several times if this was really what he wanted to do. He could have gone to a Canadian University for $5,000 CDN and most if not all paid for by academic scholarship. I like most people don't want our kids to go through rejection. But when you think about it he faces rejection every time he walks out to the mound. He has had coaches who have rejected him since 10 yrs old and he kept going back for more. There were moments in time when if he listened to me he might not be playing ball today. As a parent I see my duty is to support him and provide him with balance.
I would also like to point out that evauations are historical in value and if the guy who got drafted 94th overall last june was evaluated 2 years ago you would not believe he would ever get drafted.
I do believe their are people who see their sons through rose coloured glasses. God Bless them all. I try not to judge them. Their are too many trying to do that already.
I come from just around Toronto and it has a very sofisticated baseball setup. I am sure that most of you and especialy the Banba , PG organizations are familiar with the Ontario Blue Jays, Team Ontario Inc and so on. These are very strong ball clubs that play against the top US teams and D1 Juccos ,Instructional teams in florida. These teams are full of top ball players who are living their own dreams.