The JUCO Experience

My son attended a JUCO for one year. I have probably learned more about JUCO's through other's experiences though than his own.

First, some JUCO's do provide more of a college experience. The first JUCO son signed with and was going to attend had on campus housing and very much of a college atmosphere with events, etc. However, he ultimately ended up attending one that is similar to what you speak of. It absolutely did not have the same college "feel" that a college/university of four years could offer.

Also, remember that the CA JUCO's do not belong to the NJCAA as most of the other JUCOs in the nation do. So, they don't have to follow or abide by those rules.

One of the advantages of JUCOs is the cost. You can have your student go for nothing or practically nothing. For many of us, that's a huge perk! Also, JUCOs give a player an opportunity to decide where they'd like to play, to mature physically, mentally, and academically.

That being said, if they stay two years at a JUCO, they're left with two years at a four year school to mesh with players that have already been there. They become the new kid on the block again - sometimes hard, sometimes not... but something to consider.

When looking at JUCOs, you want to look at several things in regards to recruiting there and in the future. What kind of relationships does that coach have with scouts and other coaches? Is he going to play kids that are sent to him by these relationships regardless of whoever else he has? Or does he put the best players on the field? When his kids sign with other four year schools, are they actually contributing there or does it appear to be an exchange of players thing? For example, JUCO coach makes sure he has spots for kids this 4 yr coach needs to send to him in exchange that he'll take a JUCO player that doesn't have many options. The JUCO player is "signed", but not recruited. Or does the JUCO coach have relationships with schools and his players go on to flourish in the new environments? Check out the roster at the JUCOs - if they're carrying 40 kids... what does that mean for your son in a two year program?

There's much to consider with JUCOs. Lots of advantages, but also much more "homework" to do IMO.

As always, lafmom offers great advice.

This question caught my eye:

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Question for those of you who have (or know of) a player who has taken this route: do you feel they 'missed out' on the 'college experience'?

Not sure exactly what there is to miss out on College baseball players basically do two things - their school work and baseball. By definition, baseball causes kids to miss out on some of the college experience imho. The plus side is baseball however. My son loves it to his core and practicing and/or playing every day is what he loves to do.

The split 80 game schedule sounds like a great opportunity to develop btw. Is this Fresno City College?

I have to agree with both Laf and CD on this one (as I often do ).

Playing serious college baseball, at any level, is to go on the "road less traveled." Because of their year-round baseball responsibilities (including intense summers playing in collegiate leagues) and keeping up with academics, there's little time left over for the "typical" college experiences. However, the experiences they DO have are fulfilling and life-changing.

Both my baseball-playing sons went the JUCO route, and I will concur that the experience is a little different from the 4-year school. My youngest went on to a 4-year school after the JUCO, but lived and "played" with just baseball players. As Laf pointed out, there were issues with credits transferring and issues with blending with players who had been at the school from their freshman year. However, he overcame all those issues and was happy -- and he managed to graduate at the end of his 4th year.

My other son was drafted out of JUCO, played 3 seasons in the pro's, then got injured. He returned to school full time to finish his degree, but since he was older and was also working practically full time, he did not participate in "college life" at all at that point.

Do either of my sons regret the way they did things? Not at all! And to continue the poetic paraphrase (sorry, I'm an old English teacher...), they took the road less traveled -- and that has made all the difference!

This sounds like CSM - Have a good friend whose son took JUCO route. He is nothing but happy. Good coaching, tough schedule, great development - but school is an afterthought and not particularly challenging. His JUCO is a commuter school, as most are in Ca. There is not much social life but for the baseball team. Oh yeah, and times have changed Dad - no more panty raids - and where would a baseball player find time for intramural sports? You will not get the 4 year experience, but if your son has talent, you will set him up for a possibility to transfer to a good 4 year program in a few years (but see warning of lafmom). This is great for a kid not mature enough for college now. Don't assume it will be "easier to make team, as there is tremendous talent in JUCO ball in Ca.

P.S.: Didn't they just change the JUCO "40 game fall" to a 10-12 game schedule by Ca. rule? I would be concerned if the coach gave you the wrong info...

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Krak...

Older has now been 2 years at DI, younger has been 1 year now at a California JC….Have the perspective of both…..

While it was plan B….After a year I can safely say that JC has been a godsend for younger….his baseball, his academics, and his emotional maturity...While every choice has it’s challenges, I can recommend this route highly…sounds like a great option for your son…

I’ll hit the points one at a time…

CSM: The school that you’re looking at has a great reputation. They place players, they develop players. Older has played with/against some of their products at DI. They compete every year for a state title. They play a very competitive schedule. Might talk to Justbaseball I think he knows them pretty well.

Baseball: Points above are well taken…Unless a player is very highly recruited he can often go in strong, but get buried at a 4 year program. California JC is a great opportunity to play high level ball, get playing time, and develop your game. The competition at the better CA JC’s is plenty tough. The coaching can be top flight. Ours has made tremendous strides. It is possible to go in unwanted by the 4 years and come out a top recruit or a draft pick. CAVEAT: the CA JC rules have changed this year. Check with the coach, but I believe that the number of fall games has been cut dramatically. The players will get just as much play but there will be a great more intersquad than in years past.

BE VERY AWARE: Players can also get buried at the better JC’s. While high level JC ball may outwardly appear to be an “easy in”, the better CA JC’s can have 100 players show up in the fall ready to compete for spots! The bay area is baseball rabid right now. And Lafmom is right on it….Make absolutely sure that yours is well thought of by the coach going in and in the plans/mix. The nightmare would be to have him come all the way to CA…and get cut. Remember CA JC’s offer no baseball $, and no contract. There are no guarantees. No written commitments. Also CA JC’s are doing more “redshirting”. I can give you a picture of that on a pm.

Academics: Sounds as if you have done your research. With some research and attention to detail most everything will transfer just fine. The state system is set up for a smooth transition from CA JC to 4 year, but you must pay attention. Catalogs clearly state if it transfers to State or UC level. CA JC offers a super opportunity to knock out some of the harder classes in a less competitive environment. As a general rule CA JC leaves them well prepared for 4 year, and often end up better academically after the JC trip than had they gone in directly. Lets them get their feet wet in a more competitive environment but does not bury them as deep in academics and athletic competition. They also get to breath more than then likely would at 4 year.

Social: Many JC’s have a strong social life and community of their own. To a great extent Cleveland dad is right, the vast majority of their lives are spent on the field, in training and in the classroom, whether they are at 4 year or 2 year. It is all consuming. Their peer group is their team. Even the kids at 4 years miss much of the college life! Be aware, a number of the California JC’s are linked to 4 year schools in co-exist in 4 year college environments. Ours went to JC, yet tasted much of the 4 year college life in a true college town. I am not sure this is true of CSM, but it is a point to consider.

Housing: By far our biggest concern, and in the end a VERY well founded concern. At 18 (ours was 17) we found that the vast majority are simply not ready to take on that much responsibility. And a large number proved it conclusively. The dorms at a 4 year school offer a sort of halfway house into adult life and the responsibilities it entails. Despite the effort of the program, we watched players around ours blow out of the baseball program, out of school and out of life. Some of them were good kids, just not ready to take on all the new challenges at once.. My advice is that if your is not living with relatives to make ABSOLUTELY sure that yours rooms with some players who have a strong desire, beyond any baseball concerns, to get an education through high grades and have the work ethic to follow though on it. The right roommate is simply critical in life without dorms. Yours may be all over the academics, but peer groups are extremely influential at this age, perhaps particularly coming in from out of the country. Having relatives around will be a BIG help. I’d really talk this out with mine before.

Transfer to 4 year: Have a friend who is a top DI bay area recruiter a couple weeks ago. He said that he really liked JC players…and not for the reason that you would expect. He says that due to their JC experience, as a general rule JC transfers are hungrier, more appreciative of the benefits of 4 year ball, and they are more keenly aware of the limited time frames involved. He loves ‘em.

To simplify…my big, and biggest, concerns would be where he stands in the program going in, and housing/roomates.

Hope this helps. Be happy to respond or help in any way. May play against each other next year, hopefully in the CA state JC finals!

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Thank you all for the thoughts/info. It has helped inform me, and I know it will help others with this route as an option.

Mine has five solid-sounding options right now, with this as the only JUCO. I certainly don't want to write it off simply because we hadn't 'thought' of JUCOs before, and wanted to get as much info as possible. We're compiling a pros/cons list.....son has been a bit circumspect about his feelings over all this the past couple weeks, but I think I know where his heart is at this time....and he'll get a better feel after our visit to a particular DIII school on Monday.....but, who knows........he could be thinking something else entirely. In his own time, he'll let us know what's what......

Best of luck to your son and this huge decision. In my experience, and it may be different as my son was not freshman eligible, JC route is a good one to go. As most of the above have spoke to, your student needs to exhibit discipline in the classroom. Practice at a JC is not like D1 or DIII, ours practiced every day from August to Thanksgiving then began again after New Years. Out of season games have been limited to 12 this year, so travel will be at a minimum. Care needs to shown to class selection, specifically if you are thinking of a non-CA 4 year. While resident fees in CA are low, $20-22 a unit, non-resident fees can be high. If your son will be freshman eleigible, he can move to a 4 year after 1 year, if not he will need to acquire a AA degree. be careful about redshirting as the NCAA rules to units toward graduation are important. If JC is an option, and I like the Bay area, there are many JC's throughtout the state that play top level college baseball. My son had a great experience at his CA JC and is now in a D1.

So do the DI, II, and III programs not begin workouts in the fall?

To the best of my knowledge. D-3 do not work out as a team. They work out individually. Officially D-1 is limited to working out in small groups, 4 ea? And having full team practice for 4 weeks only until Feb. 1 this year.

At least in Minnesota, D3's do practice officially in the Fall. At my son's D3 they start with individual / small group / captain's practices as soon as school starts, then a few weeks later they begin official team practices. I believe there is a rule that they only have 30 calendar days from the first day of official practice, then the Fall season must end.

My son's team plays extensive intra-squad scrimmages, and 2 of the 3 years they have played a couple of Fall scrimmage/games against conference opponents. A few days after the 2006 Fall season ended, the travel squad was named for the start of their Spring season, so Fall competition is pretty intense.

Of course they continue conditioning all winter, but there are some limits on coach involvement and how many players can get together for off-season workouts.

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Both my son's NCAA DI and California JC teams practiced as much as they could....

The DI was heavily regulated...had lots of unofficial things going on and a small official window.

The California JC was virtually unregulated, they had the "the energizer bunny" fall practice...on and on and on...

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Hey guys, I have enjoyed reading all your comments about JUCO. My son will be going to one in South Georgia starting August 15. HOPE (Ga Lottery) scholarship pays for his school, and his baseball scholarship pays for his room and board. Most of the baseball players live in apartments just off campus.
Their fall schedule goes something like this. Workouts begin 6am -7am then classes 8-12. Lunch, next then they have practice 1:30 - 5. Dinner, After all that there is study hall from 6:30 - 8:30. They will have around 40 kids trying to make the 24 man spring roster spot. There is no cafeteria so they have to cook on their own.

He had some offers to go to some smaller 4 year schools, with the dorm, nice cafeterias, etc., but he chose the JUCO route because of his love to play baseball. The scouts have also told us that he has what they are looking for in an outfielder with size and speed and reccommended JUCO because he has also played football and does not have the year round baseball experience.

I will keep you updated as he progresses.

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The California JC was virtually unregulated, they had the "the energizer bunny" fall practice...on and on and on...

That is exactly the difference between schools in other divisions and JUCOs. JUCOs belonging to the NJCAA have no regulations or restrictions on practice time. So, in addition to their fall playing schedule, many of them practice and condition an unbelievable amount of time. It's basically up to each individual coach, so the time spent at JUCO with baseball can be tremendous.