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14 replies

What's a good # for HS teams?

D DevilDogMember
Hi all,

Been checking this site out for awhile now and finally decided to join in. I'd like to thank all for the great HS baseball info...what a great source!

FYI son is a soph at a very large h.s. (about 3,000 grades 9-12). His goal has been to play baseball as far as his skills will take him since early elementary school. As a "tough" evaluator of talent, I do feel he has what it takes (both athletically and academically) to play at a competitive college level. He is quietly determined and hard-working. At this point, he has turned all his attention to this one sport and has played/trained nearly year-round (about 4-6 weeks off Nov-Dec) the past two years. He attended a college camp and local showcase last fall doing very well as one of the youngest, and plans to do a top SE and NE showcase between this summer and his senior year. I think we're doing about all "we" can do to help him attain his goal and stay within our financial constraints.

To get to my question, "final" cuts were made yesterday for V and JV teams. Not nearly the # cut as was expected by players, leaving over 20 for each team. I am not concerned about playing time for my son, as I am certain he will see plenty of time as a starter (JV or V remains a question yet). Of course, such a large school always fields good teams...but most that would be stars at mid-smaller schools will not see V time until Jr. and/or Sr. years. Son thinks he has a good shot at being called up this season as a soph. for his bat, but not at his primary position (already taken by D1 signed Sr.). Time will tell and I'm almost certain h.s. program size is taken into consideration by colleges when looking at V playing time. I wouldn't think this would be a negative for him. (At least hope not!)

So do any of you coaches out there, or even other parents, feel that 20+ players on a squad is too many to reasonably deal with? Though I feel the coaches will be playing to win and field the best players most of the time, I almost think it is mean-spirited to keep some of these players only to sit the bench or have false hopes of getting their chance. And would this not also fuel the fires in the stands (parents)...making for more for the coaches to deal with if son is not playing? Or am I wrong and many other programs keep these large numbers? What is your ideal?
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hokieonehokieone5,000+ posts
My view of 20 players is that at any point in time, you have 11 sets of unhappy parents. I don't coach high school, but in my years as a Little League president and coach, we always kept roster sizes under the Williamsport dictates. High School ball is different, it's not an "everybody plays" situation, and 11-12 is clearly too few, but 20? Wow....
M micdsguy1,000+ posts
Our teams carry about 20 on varsity. Others carry more. Need plenty of arms for tourneys. Or those rain make-up days at the end.

One small school in our area last year had 14 players: two got injured, a couple ran into grade problems, then a few got caught drinking or something like that. They didn't have enough to play post-season.

One other thing: the more parents, the more donors to the team.
D DevilDogMember
Wow...suprised at the fast response. Most seem to go along with how I feel. Was thinking 17-18 would be max (including 5-7 arms each level). Again, keep in mind even the Sr. D1 signee did not play V until last year as a Jr. Had to wait his turn. In fact, don't recall anyone in this district being pulled up to V in years except one or two pitchers here and there...not position players. Two soph. pitchers this year may see some time, after seeing some JV last year. And you could always pull up some JV pitchers as needed towards the end of season. Just seems like a big headache to lots of folks. Micdsguy...I think you have a point with the "more donors". Then again it obviously costs more to support these numbers, and many questionable players' parents might not be too quick to open up their checkbooks!
M micdsguy1,000+ posts
The costs are about the same whether the team has 12 or 22 on it, I'd think. Maybe a HS coach could comment on that.

Some boarderline parents might be MORE willing to make bribes (I mean donations) to the team. Again that's something I don't have experience with.

We get some money from alums too. Hard to know the truth. Coach probably wants it to appear that just about every parent gives beyond the minimum.
H Halfmoonslider100+ posts
Below are the plate appearances of our 2004 Varsity state qualifier. Not alot of substituting and can't remember any parent controversies. 17 on the roster and the players with single digit appearances were pitchers or defensive players who were DH'd for.
None of the Juniors with single digit appearances will start at a position again this year and all are still playing. Coach is a very good communicator. He tells them exactly how it is and gives them a choice...no hard feelings. We have 20 juniors and seniors out for baseball this year.

131 Junior CF
127 Junior LF
117 Soph SS/P
118 Junior RF
115 Senior DH/P
116 Junior 1B
106 Junior C
106 Soph 2B
100 Senior 3B
21 Senior PH
8 Junior P
8 Junior 3b
6 Junior C
2 Junior IF/P
2 Junior 2B
2 Junior 3b
1 Senior P
Last edited by Halfmoonslider
D DevilDogMember
Me again,

Think I forgot to mention there's also a frosh team here, which is another 20+ players. Son said about 70 or so tried out for JV/V and another 70 or so just freshman. So many cuts were made...about 80 players. I am definitely of the mindset that this is HS and only the best should expect playing time. Seems like most of the same parents will be doing the sideline complaining again this year. I think if this did reach the coaches ears, they would have been cut this year. Some of the "brown-nosers" are the worst behind their backs. I think all-in-all the coaching staff does an excellent job with such a large school trying to include as many as possible. As far as I've seen the best are usually on the field representing the school, and I don't foresee any reason for change this year.
cvstingcvsting1,000+ posts
You are right, that's a very large high school. Too large in my opinion. Any thing over 1500-1800 9-12 is too many kids under one roof.

I would imagine there are some very good players that do not get a chance to play, which is not the way it's suppose to be.

We are struggling with exploding growth in our County and the powers to be wanted to add on to our high school (we have one) and make it a mega 3,000 student high school.

Parents have formed a opposition group and have made a good case against it and it now looks like a second 1500 school will be built.

CV
M micdsguy1,000+ posts
I've heard that some huge suburban Chicago HSs have three freshman teams, the lowest level of which has a no cut policy.

It's nice to let all the kids try a year of baseball if the school has the facilities and coaches. (most don't!)

Ya just never know when some 5'6" freshman pitcher is going to grow another 8 inches and add 20 mph to his 65 mph top speed.

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