What you can and can't control! HighSchool Ball.

Don't know if this will help, but perhaps you can relate my son's story to your son as a means of encouragement.

He was going to a huge HS with a great baseball program (e.g., regional finals for the past several years). Around 200 kids were expected to try out. If I recall properly, varsity was going to carry about 24 players, and JV about 24 (the 24 JV players to be split between two JV teams).

The odds looked rather long. It was obvious that some very good players would miss the cut, whether for politics or whatever reason. And my son was not one of the bigger kids who always seem to attract attention.

My son was absolutely determined to make the team. His solution was hard work.

The only baseball field to practice on was the HS practice field. There wasn't another field for some miles. So all summer he was on the field practicing. And pretty much every day that fall, except for weekends when he had select tourneys. As the HS coach was often working on the field, he got to know my son by sight.

And so did many of the returning varsity and JV players. He worked out with them on Friday afternoons as they all prepared for their weekend select tourneys.

Through the winter, he was on the field all but a couple of days.

He would rest his arm from pitching/throwing for some time. But he would continue taking grounders, flies, etc. from several positions. And hitting.

He was fortunate to have some of the seniors pulling for him, as he had gained their respect through his work.

His goal was to be good enough to make the team regardless of politics or any other factor.

All of the above did a few things. It helped him learn the value of a good work ethic. The players and coach saw his work ethic, which really stood out in contrast to almost all the other freshmen. {Most of the other freshmen waited until a few weeks - or less - to hit the field and get ready.} The rep's paid off in honing his skills. And he learned that preparation provides confidence.

Come tryout time, his confidence and polished mechanics really stood out.

Bottom line - only two freshmen made the top JV team. He was one of these.

And sure enough, some good players didn't make the cut. {Which is going to happen when so many kids try out.} With better preparation, I'm certain those kids would have made it.

So if your son is anywhere near the talent level needed to make the cut (which it sounds like he is), with enough hard work he can do a great deal to help his odds of making the team. Humans are involved, so there are no sure things. But he can stand out so much that it would make it difficult not to keep him.

Below is a list of tryout advice I have compiled from various sources (including this site). Most of it your son probably knows, but maybe some of it might help.

1. Be in full uniform.
2. Wear the same uni every day (mom will wash it each night, I'm sure), to make it easier for coaches to remember you.
3. Be there early & warm up, stretch, etc. extremely well. Take a jog.
4. If possible, warm up with an upperclassman friend.
5. Don't stand around cutting up with the other freshman.
6. Hustle, every where every time.
7. Help without being asked (e.g., moving a screen, ball bucket, etc.).
8. If the gun comes out during IF or OF drills, throw hard - going for speed over accuracy.
9. If you pitch just to a catcher (no batter), don't try to clip the corners (not throwing everything right down the middle, of course). Better that the nothing gets by the catcher. And keep everything low. It can be extremely effective to go upstairs to a batter, but it won't look good in a pen (to most observers).
10. Don't go nuts trying to make a play & risk throwing a ball away. E.g., you are playing second, gets late or bad feed from SS & has only 0.1% chance of getting out at first - don't make the throw or take the normal time to make a safe throw.
11. If the team runs, be at the head of the pack.
12. Be accurate in warmup throws.
13. Listen carefully & follow instructions. Ask if not clear.
14. Exude confidence (not cockiness) in how you carry yourself.
15. Don't swing at anything that is not a strike, regardless of how many pitches you have to take or who throws them.
16. If a ball gets by you, go after it like mad.
17. Don’t show any emotion, no matter what happens.

And 08Dad added two things to the list:
18. You have two ears and 1 mouth - use them in that proportion.
19. When the coach is talking, you are not... and look at him - he will notice who is paying attention.

Finally, I would recommend your son also take it easy on his arm the last few days before tryouts. I have heard of two common problems. One is that players don't get their arm in shape prior to tryouts, so they come up with sore arms during tryouts. The other is that in trying to do a lot of last minute practice before tryouts, players go into tryouts with tired arms. Either one is a problem.

Best of luck to your son.

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Texan...great post! Printed and goes into my "HSBW Hall of Fame".

BBB...Competed for the first half of my life, have coached sports professionally for the last half...have lost games where we played great, have won games where we stunk...

Have come to believe that you can greatly influence success, winning and losing, and starting positions but politics, perceptions, luck, fate, wind, parents, coaches....have to be given their due, they do play a role..

I have come to belive that you can only truely control two thigns: your own attitude and effort. If you do, you will walk away a success and a winner every time in the only place that counts...your heart.

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From my experience as a parent and as a coach......"politics" in scholastic sports is present, but in general the perception of politics is incorrect (way overblown), as what I have witnessed is that the term "politics" is a built in excuse (sometimes even before the experience, sometimes after) for failing to make the squad, earn a starting position, play the favorite position, etc.

In my home town, my son also heard negative stories about the varsity coach and the program.....I knew better, as a local college coach I had observed the program for a dozen years by then.....and I encouraged him to just play and not worry about it........and now that he is a junior in college he appreciates and repsects his HS coach, and he developed that respect by showing up to his HS practices, playing the games, and getting to know that the coach was actually pretty darn good after all!

There is some tremendous information here for you.

The most important thing you both can do is go into it with an open mind. If you preconceive there will be problems based on what you have heard you will experience that old self fulfulling prophesy at work.

My son was terrified one year about the teacher he would have, based on what all the other kids said about her. After the first day in her class he told me he couldn't understand why the other kids hated her. She turned out to be one of his all time favorite teachers.

We all color our own experiences with our attitude. Wipe out the belief there will probably be problems for now. If and when it becomes a problem, then use the advise given above.

My son also goes to a huge high school with a great baseball program. His freshman year he also played football, meaning he wasn't in baseball class all fall.

As soon as football was over, he just turned it up a few notches. He worked hard in baseball class every day, worked out a couple of times a week at night and took hitting and pitching lessons all winter.

When it came time for them to pick the teams, he made the JV "A" team as a freshman.

Which is just the same response as Texan gave....the only thing I would add to his great post, is tell your son to be a leader...even as a Freshman. I think it helps to show that you aren't intimidated by the older kids.

I agree with Grateful, as usual. Politics are present, and there are more instances than there should be of parents who run programs for THEIR kid at the expense of everyone else. However, many times politics are used as the excuse for a kid simply not being good enough..."Coach didn't like me, so he cut me" or "I was better than that kid, but the coach's kid was friends with him, so he made the team". I hear it a lot at summer league games...very seldom is a player sitting the bench because he isn't good enough...he's ALWAYS getting screwed! ha ha
Fact is, I don't know too many coaches who enjoy losing...if I did, I'd put them on our schedule as soon as possible and do my best to accommodate them! The best players rarely sit the bench - fringe players may have an issue, but the true studs are going to find a way in the lineup most of the time, regardless of any political perceptions that people have.
Tell your kid to "make himself needed", to play there's no tomorrow, and to prove to everyone that he is an integral part of the team's success...and I think he'll find all the playing time he needs. Coach Knight

Thanks Guys.

We spoke and I did inform him that he has a full year to prepare. On another note, he will play PONY and he is ready to dominate. He wants to make a statement in this league and the way he is preparing , I think he will.

Grades are huge. I was cut from the freshman team when I was in 7th grade because I was failing one class and had 2 other classes under 75. Are district polocy is that if your failing, or have 2 or more grades under 70, you have to attend this homework session thing and if your failing 2 classes you can't play. So are school has a time where you have to come in the morning and sometimes the afternoon to do work, so you can get a pass to play. And at the try out the coach said no doubt I was good enough to make it but he didn't want to put a kid on who might not even be able to play cause of grades.

This is what's so good about hsbaseball....these posts are great....thanks guys....

and rhbaseball, thanks for sharing your experience in 7th grade, and consequences with poor grades....know you must be doing better now...good grades need to be every players priority.

Think politices are more prevelant in youth ball, less in high school, and minimal in college. It just makes sense that a coach wants a winning team......and will pick players with the talent, attitudes, and work ethics to reach that goal.....doesn't it?

DADDYBALL really is a way of excluding unwanted players. Some would call it politics. What it really is is part of the system of baseball and other sports where chosing sides goes on from the time we are little.

How do you overcome perceived DADDYBALL? By being so good at your skills that the coach wouldn't make up his lineup without "chosing" you on his side.

This goes on everywhere and it is always bypassed with the work that is outlined by Texan for all players. In fact my son did exactly the same thing you speak of Texan about working out at the HS field and being there when the varsity was working out.

Another key is being willing to put in the overtime to be helpful to the coaches in maintenance of fields and equipment. Pitchers take ownership of the bullpen and mounds. Infielders take ownership of the infield and foul line maintenance, etc.

Certainly one thing that can't be controlled is the constant and consistent charge of favoritism and politics. Do politics happen? Sure they do but not at the extent many think. I would suggest that few coaches involve themselves with politics with regards to who makes the team. Even fewer would allow those politics to jeapordize their careers via poor won-loss records or evident favoritism demonstrated by allowing a lesser talented player to play over a better player. Naturally, the view of a parent is skewed with regards to their child. Mine often walks on water. However, others don't see her in that light. The truth is somewhere in between.

I used to think that you couldn't control who the coach is. However, I've changed my opinion about that now. Get enough disgruntled parents together who's children are riding the bench and then factor in that one or two of them are "powers in the community" and you can get rid of a coach. Some talented coaches will simply resign and go where their talents are appreciated more. Others, will fight the good fight and lose despite won-loss records and all of the good that they have done for a community.

What you can concentrate on (control):

• Tell your kid you love them whether they are a star on any given sports team or not.
• Love them for who they are and not what they do.
• Don't let your pride as a parent cloud what positives are happening for a team.
• Let your kid talk about the game on their terms and not yours.
• Find the lesson in life from your childs sports activities. Support the postitive, recognize the negative and dwell on how your child can improve their life from these lessons.
• Don't ever compare you child to another. It hurts the team's chemistry while also leading to resentments.
• Stop telling your child how great, tough, rough, super you were as an athlete when you know you are only making your child feel worse about their talents.
• Finally, give your child a chance to be successful by making sure that they have good equipment and opportunities to improve their skills.

I don't know much but I hope this gives some insights. EVERYTHING POSTED HERE IS JMHO!

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25...



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parents who run programs for THEIR kid at the expense of everyone else. However,[/quote]

should not happen at the High school level.

The accusation of politics never ends!

I was very active in the booster club, and we had a great deal of say-so OUTSIDE of the fence.

I became very good friends with the HS coach, still visit with him once a week or so, but I can only imagine what his response would be if I ever tried to interfere with anything going on inside the fence.

Both of my sons graduated from HS already. Both of my sons made 1st team all conference thier Sophomore, Junior and Senior years. But I still have parents who tell me the only reason my sons got to play as sophomores is becuase of my activity in the booster club.

A very special thanks to everyone on this site.

Thanks for the replies!

quote:

But I still have parents who tell me the only reason my sons got to play as sophomores is becuase of my activity in the booster club.

Big WI

Does that surprise you?

CoachB25:

Great post...just wish I could live up to the items on your list...can't say that I adhere to all of them all of the time. 'Support the positive' is a keystone with all four of our children both on and off the field. The support must be genuine, otherwise it is not credible.

quote:

Mine often walks on water. However, others don't see her in that light. The truth is somewhere in between.

Our children are in the same boat...or, in this case, perhaps beside the boat...the truth indeed is somewehere in between...its called 'wading'!

Really some great post here! AParent says that the “bad” prophesy is self fulfilling…I agree. I never talked to my son about politics or batting slumps. Neither exists.
Coach B25 sends a great message. Great post! Keep baseball in perspective.

Like Big WI I was very active in the booster club in high school. Not as an officer but as a worker. For every hour another parent spent I would spend 10. I was criticized for my “over involvement” but everyone knew my involvement had nothing to do with my son’s baseball success in high school. Had my son been a starter and an average player I’m sure the claim of preferential treatment would have arisen. But if it had, I would be more than happy to give my rake and shovel to the parent of the less talented player with the encouraging words of “Go for it!”
Fungo

BigWI:

The booster club needs good volunteers and the team needs good players...it appears that your family fulfilled both functions.

Will is correct in asking whether you were surprised by some of the other parents reaction to your sons' playing as sophomores and you volunteering your time and effort with the booster club.

The 'proof is in the pudding'...did your boys contribute more than others could, even as sophomores?...did you contribute positively as a member of the booster club? My guess would be the answer is yes to both of those questions which would neutralize the concern of those other parents. They will probably never be persuaded...yet the truth stands.

GotWood4sale, Will,

Surprised? No! Disgusted? Yes!

Apparently all the opposing coaches in the conference were so impressed with what I did for our HS's booster club that they voted both my sons 1st team all conference.

BigWI:

quote:

Apparently all the opposing coaches in the conference were so impressed with what I did for our HS's booster club that they voted both my sons 1st team all conference.

Yes...I've talked with many parents of your sons' teammates and that is exactly what was going on. No doubt about it!

Was going through some things and came across Some information that I like to share my players, parents and read to myself every once in awhile...A Poem...

When you reach your goal in the world or sports and you've worked the big game that day, just go to the mirror and look at yourself and see what the man has to say.

For it isn't your family or friends or the coaches whose Judgement upon you must pass. The fellow whose verdict doubts in your life is the one staring at you from the glass.

You may be lucky and draw the big game, thinking you are a wonderful guy; but the man in the glass says you're only a bum, if you can't look him straight in the eye.

He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest, for he's with you clear to the end; and you have passed your most dangerous, difficult test, if the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool all of the world down the pathway of years, and get pats on the back as you pass; but your only reward will be remorse and regret, if you've cheated the man in the glass.

Tell players and parents, This life is a test. It is only a test. Had it been an actual life, you would have received further instructions on where to go and what to do!

This is why I do what I do...I love baseball.

My college coach, Hank Burbridge (a legend with over 1000 college wins) always told us that he would only ask two things of us as players because they were the only 2 things that we could control. I pass this mantra on to my players every spring, and I'll bet my guys could recite it:

1- Give 100%, 100% of the time
2- Guarantee what you can guarantee

**He stuck to his word: all he asked was that we give all we had, and that we did whatever was in our power to do for the sake of the team.

Coach Knight