Just some observations on making the jump into HS Ball...
Having failed to make the summer HS squad, my son, who just turned 14 this past May 2, accepted the invitation of the coach and started working out with the team twice a week. The coach felt that he was still growing into his body and not athletic enough to play at the varsity level. (He's 6-2" 165 and still growing with size 12 cleats)
Along with that, he also requested to be moved from the 14U to the 16U "travel" team his "non school" coach runs. 2 tournaments in, it is obvious that the game speeds up not only offesnively but defensively as well. He was playing third and a number of hard grounders whizzed by him at what seemed like 100 miles an hour. Fortunmately his bat isnt as slow as his feet and he made great contact against 60-18 year old pitchers the past two weekends. Lesson learned? Start working more on the ladders, lunges, sprints, etc. etc. etc.
As it is he practices 4 days per week in organized training with the HS team and the Travel Team, incl. Strength and conditioning every day. The other three days he is starting to do the drills, soft toss, etc. on his own.
I guess my point is that you can never be too prepared when the time comes. We thought he was probably ready, but Once into HS you are competing essentially against young men who throw harder, run faster, and hit harder than you have ever seen before.
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