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17 replies

The College Ball Grind and Performance Enhancers

J JT1,000+ posts
For the first time in my life as a baseball fan and baseball dad...I get it...I understand 100% the allure of these nasty things and why the pros talk about the use of PED's for "recovery."

My son plays D3 ball...with a shorter schedule...but many of the same pressures as the D1 guys. That being said, weather plays a role in messing with schedules and he just finished a grind of 7 high-stakes games in 6 days, with the final 6 over 4 days...and he is SPENT and his legs are "gone" in his words (and he is a player in tip-top shape who makes his living with his wheels). I noticed this particularly the final 2 days of the grind, when many of the players had their averages drop 20-30 points...and were mostly hitting with their arms with no leg drive. I really felt for them all, as this was a team hitting .358 going into those last two days.

It makes worry even more about what the what the D1 guys are going through with their compressed schedule of 56 games and the extra mid-week games...and really makes me appreciate what the pro guys go through on a daily basis; however, the pro guys...it is their JOB and they have the added bonus of extra time to lift weights and try to maintain.

What really makes me worry is that these college guys...all trying to be better for their teams...and maybe be better to chase their dreams...is what these young men will do to maintain or even improve performance. Can it be done with a little extra work on their own (such as getting up at 6 AM and hitting the weight room)...but as we've discussed...free time is not in big supply for the college guys.

Please players...and parents of players...do not take short-cuts. Learn what works for you. Take the extra time to rest, when needed. College ball IS a grind. Take care of your bodies...on and off the field...but do it the RIGHT WAY.
********************************************** Baseball players don't make excuses...they make adjustments.
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KrakatoaKrakatoa1,000+ posts
And by all means, stay on top of your classwork!! At the DIII level, there is generally no 'grade-aid' from the profs, and that can make it even more brutal. JT, I hear ya. The solid DIII and top academic DI programs are surely the grindiest in terms of overall stress to both mind and body.

Good luck to your son moving down the backstretch!
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
JT,
Good post.
By the end of each season mine was physically and mentally exhausted and he didn't even play every day.

I am not sure what "grade aid" is but besides a grueling schedule (5 games usually per week), he worked really hard in the classroom. Granted he had the opportunity to seek out help when needed, but he was never given a break on anything. As soon as a game finished he headed straight home to study or to a required work group, travel weeknights he was home late and began school work around midnight if necessary. That's why I have always spoken up about a D1 program not being for everyone, it's a grind and you have to be able to handle everything given to you on your plate.

An important conditioning program and diet with proper intake pre season and during season is essential for team success.

Good luck down the stretch.
Infield08Infield081,000+ posts
quote:
'Grade-aid' simply refers to some profs greasing the wheels for athletes at some schools.


The other day, I was talking with the dad of a player at my son's high school. The dad was a very talented D1 s****r player who flunked out of college his freshman year. Another school -- which at that time had the top D1 s****r program in the country -- recruited him and told him that his job was to put people in the stands. Every week, he would tell the head coach what tests he had coming up. The next day, the coach would tell give him papers with the answers for all upcoming tests. The player/dad graduated with a degree in marketing and went to work for a large corporation. He told me it took him a full 4-5 years to figure out what the heck he was doing at work.
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
The next day, the coach would tell give him papers with the answers for all upcoming tests. The player/dad graduated with a degree in marketing and went to work for a large corporation. He told me it took him a full 4-5 years to figure out what the heck he was doing at work.
That's odd. I don't remember getting that much out of college majoring in business economics that helped me in the corporate world. The corporation I went to work for trained me to death. Maybe it was more the kid wasn't very bright than having the grade train greased in college. When I worked for large corporations I wondered how many people really knew what they were doing.
Last edited by RJM
observer44observer441,000+ posts
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JT...

Nice post...Been watching for a couple years now...It is a grind...most high schoolers have no concept...

RE DI schedule...I appreciate the concern, but not to worry about us, I have been informed in no uncertain terms that the northern schools have been doing this squashed schedule for years, they are fine... and the south and west guys are a bunch of cry babies.

So...those arm issues? Those tired legs? Those falling academic scores? Well..let me tell you, it's about time! As I am told, all in the pursuit of fairness and academic excellence. Seeing these results, I for one am very happy that they are lopping another week off the schedule next year. Most DI players have WAY too much time on their hands now. This certainly will give them the shortened time frames, frantic travel schedule, frazzled brains, worn bodies and lack of sleep they need to keep up those all important APR's!

Cool 44
.
Last edited by observer44
Infield08Infield081,000+ posts
quote:
Seeing these results, I for one am very happy that they are lopping another week off the schedule next year. Most DI players have WAY too much time on their hands now. This certainly will give them the shortened time frames, frantic travel schedule, frazzled brains, worn bodies and lack of sleep they need to keep up those all important APR's!


I can hardly wait for my son's phone calls home next year ...
Bob SandersBob Sanders10+ posts
D-1 schedules are tough no matter what part of the country you play in. And coaches are concerned about grades to keep their APR's up. I would hate to think that our son wouldn't be able to put 2 sentences together after graduation. not that coaches concern's about grades are the same as us parents. It does make their programs look better when parents are helping their student-athlete make a decision on where to go. As far as performance enhancers go---they are dangerous and should not be tolerated by any coach.
If their starters are being over used that is the coaches fault. They do have back up players that can give these guys a break. These players go straight from their college schedules to summer ball where they play everyday for 2 1/2 months. This is where the performance enhancers are messed with without random testing being utilized. Parents keep a watchful eye on your kid---having an edge on that next guy can be real tempting to a young player. Their summer with a wood bat in their hands has become very important to coaches.
LL Louisiana Lightning10+ posts
Regarding the "college grind", I witnessed it first hand this weekend on a trip to New York to visit my sophomore daughter and to see her play in a spring volleyball tournament with her Columbia University team. We arrived Friday afternoon and left Monday afternoon. Between classes, engineering problem sets, sorority and other social obligations, a summer internship interview, and a 6 match volleyball tournament at Hofstra University, I got to be with her all of about 3 hours one evening for dinner. The team alternates lifting weights and practice every morning at 6:00 a.m. There is no grade inflation at Columbia in the engineering department and no "grade aide" for athletics at all, no matter the sport. Fortunately, she loves the game of volleyball and is willing to make the sacrifice.

My son will be attending Birmingham Southern in the Fall and I can only hope he will have the same dedication and drive and is skilled enough as a ball player to make a significant contribution to the baseball team.
CPLZCPLZ1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by observer44:
.
JT...

Nice post...Been watching for a couple years now...It is a grind...most high schoolers have no concept...

RE DI schedule...I appreciate the concern, but not to worry about us, I have been informed in no uncertain terms that the northern schools have been doing this squashed schedule for years, they are fine... and the south and west guys are a bunch of cry babies.

So...those arm issues? Those tired legs? Those falling academic scores? Well..let me tell you, it's about time! As I am told, all in the pursuit of fairness and academic excellence. Seeing these results, I for one am very happy that they are lopping another week off the schedule next year. Most DI players have WAY too much time on their hands now. This certainly will give them the shortened time frames, frantic travel schedule, frazzled brains, worn bodies and lack of sleep they need to keep up those all important APR's!

Cool 44
.


Hey,
Who took the can? There's worms everywhere! Wink

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