When to notify coaches of health issues during recruiting

Skidog - my heart just breaks reading your post

My feeling is you tell the coaches immediately up front. I believe there is life after this one and also believe there are coaches out there who will value what your son has to offer. I believe not only does your son offer athletics ability but he can also offer an intangible that could possibly put one lucky team over the top.

God Bless your son and your family.

Another tidbit...

My avatar picture in my bio is that of a young man who also died of a terminal lung disease (cystic fibrosis). The young man has passed on but I try to keep his memory alive for all that I believe he stood for. I can post some wonderful ariticles on the young man if you would like.

There really are no secrets in life anymore; wouldn't you rather control the information that a coach receives rather than him getting bad information second hand?

Thank you, ClevelandDad.
If you want to share those articles, that would be great. CF is what my son is dealing with.


Yes we do want the coach to get the info from us but my son wants to be know as an athlete first and patient second not the other way around

quote:

Originally posted by Skidog:
Thank you, ClevelandDad.
If you want to share those articles, that would be great. CF is what my son is dealing with.

Skidog - I was wrong about the CF but here are the stories nonetheless. God bless.

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/08125/878966-85.stm

http://www.post-gazette.com/mu...edia/?videoid=100726

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08232/905451-49.stm

I too am heartbroken hearing about your son. May God bless him and your family in the coming years.

I know very little about CF, but agree that a coach should be informed about his condition, and what type of impact it might have on his ability to compete. On the positive side, I would think that having player who has a disease like CF, and wants to compete and participate at the college level would bring a high degree of motivation and bonding to others in a program. That said, there are so many variables here, such as how impacted will his performance be, will he even want it known that he has CF, to offer much meaningful advice. Many here have lots of experience on baseball related things, but few, if any, have much experience with what you and your son are facing. So I would think that you should be prepared to discuss, in detail, with a potential coach all of these issues up front as this will make it much easier for your boy should he be accepted into a program. Best of luck to you and your son.

Skidog, welcome to HSBBW! I think I can speak for the others on here by saying we do hope that you stick around and let us know how your son's spring goes, and the recruiting process along the way.

The things we can learn from you and your son are unmentionable.

With that being said, I for one think that some of the area College coaches may already know about your son. Don't be surprised. However, I would be sure to let them know upfront and early during the recruiting process.

May God's richs and blessings be bountiful for your family this Christmas.

Thanks for the post and for sharing.I wish the best for your son during this recruiting time.I understand completely in him not wanting ti be the patient but just one of the guys.

I would be honest, the schedule as you know is grueling, and he may need to miss some of the more intense running and such with CF.I am a RN and have worked with many CF pediatric patients.

God Bless and Merry Christmas.

Thanks for the welcome everybody.

I understand we should be upfront. Just dont know how upfront. We will be attending a couple three showcases/camps/workouts early in 2010. Do we say anything? He would prefer to keep this quiet as much as possible. His high school coaches and trainers know but I would guess some of his teammates dont know.

With my first son we visited several campuses in the fall of his senior year. We may plan to start that process a little earlier this time around. If there is interest by both parties is that when we reveal his condition? Do we say something on our personal visits to the colleges once that starts? Do we wait til offers are being considered?

Just looking for some thoughts.

Skidog, welcome to the board. My heart goes out to your son and I look forward to hearing more about his success.

These are difficult questions to give a proper answer that IMO only a college coach can answer.

I would seek out a college coach through your current high school coach or travel coach that you can have a conversation with and get their opinion. Perhaps someone close by as they will find out about your son anyway (both athletically and medically.)

I would bet that most coaches will be open and honest with you and want to help as much as they can in giving advice.

Skiidog,
I got nothing to go on here. When that happens to me, the only thing I trust is my gut. I try to think it through, but since it's untraveled territory, that's all hypothesis and not really very clear...so here's what I fall back on...how am I going to feel about my actions if???

In this case, the if would be, if I withheld this information from a coach. The answer for me, would be that it wouldn't be wise, I should be forthcoming...of course your question is when...well, I think the answer is, the moment it becomes relevant to the coach. It's obviously not relevant if he pats Junior on the head and says, "we'll be in touch, kid". However, the moment he tells you that he is recruiting your son, then it's relevant.

I don't have to tell you it's a tough spot, but I think if you look at it in terms of, "personal conduct", things become much clearer. It's a good lesson for everyone, if they get to see things done, how they should be done. The learning never ends, does it?

Best of luck to you and your son.

skidog,

I have experience with this and sent you a pm.

Welcome to the HSBBW.

I agree with CPLZ, as soon as things become a bit serious, then the truth should be told. Let them see he can play, and let that be the determining factor, not his medical history. You would be surprised how many players get chances to play with physical limitations. In the meantime, I do beleive your son should go on living his life as he has and follow his dreams and desires.

I see you are from MO. That means you are either a KC or a Cards fan? Are you close to Springfield.

Best of luck, I have a good feeling everything will work out for your player, he sounds determined, keep in touch.

our hearts go out to you and your family skidog...we will all hope for the best. i have a question about injuries/health situations of lesser magnitude. what would you tell a coach who is recruiting your son about, for example, a broken bone in the foot, a broken clavicle or, say, a broken finger...injuries doctors say will heal with no adverse effects?

TPM, Im a Cards fan. Born and raised in the STL area.

skidog,
You have a pm.

CD--read this post and those articles, went upstairs and gave both of my kids a hug with tears in my eyes. They looked at me like I was from another planet, but sometimes you lose sight of just how lucky and blessed you are. That family sounds like a special bunch, and my thoughts go out to them and my prayers to their son. Kudos to you for helping to keep a special kid alive in hearts everywhere.

quote:

Originally posted by HighCheese:
CD--read this post and those articles, went upstairs and gave both of my kids a hug with tears in my eyes. They looked at me like I was from another planet, but sometimes you lose sight of just how lucky and blessed you are. That family sounds like a special bunch, and my thoughts go out to them and my prayers to their son. Kudos to you for helping to keep a special kid alive in hearts everywhere.

HighCheese - thank you. I think the young man's story speaks for itself. All of us on this site talk about overcoming adversity in one form or another but sometimes it is ok to step back and try and understand what it really means.

I recommend saying it upfront but also suggest having your coach write a letter about it that you an give coaches or suggest they talk to your present coach. Some will back down but others will appreciate the honesty and be willing to make concessions.
My son has physical problem, deaf in left ear, that does not affect the baseball side other than he some times can't hear people hollering on that side. But we have told most in recruiting process. HOnesty is always best.
As has been said on here before, there are no secrets today.