Why play in college ?

Just a couple that come to mind immediately (in no particular order):

camraderie of team mates (fraternity)
school pride
self-pride
sense of achievement
future job contacts
maintaining physical condition
travel opportunities
resume' building
good times
prestige of playing college athletics
girls LOVE a guy in uniform!

College ball brings many intangibles ... luvbb has identified some of the best. I would add ... learning life lessons in time management and multi-tasking ...

My son said it well..."It's what makes school fun"!

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Not going to make a lot of friends here but gotta' say this....

If you look at the %'s of players beyond college baseball who either make it to the show, and/or make a reasonable living at it in the minors or with draft signing bonus $, then the reasons given in the last few posts are the ONLY logical reason to play college ball for almost everyone.

And one more reason..."Chicks dig homeruns"

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Impressing upon friends and family
FUN!!!

Under that same logic - if you are facing long odds of playing in the pros - why play High School baseball? Odds of a scholarship to college are extremely long, chances of making the pros even longer.

The answer - and I know you said "not because you love the game" but it has to be about the love of the game and all that surrounds it - with the joy of being on a team, the chance to see how good you really are, the sense of accomplishment when you break through to the next level. High school to college transition is just more of the same - but harder

Fundementally in addition to the items listed previously, it is about determining how good you really are - and attempting to stretch to your maximum

Besides - many players grow and change well into their college years - yes it is a long shot - but why assume that baseball will be over after college before you even play college ball.

If the only reason people pursused something they enjoy was to reach the very pinnacle of whatever that thing is, you'd never see people out running or cycling or taking photographs or sketching in the park or entering pies at the fair or anything else.

If I'm not going to be Frank Lloyd Wright or I.M. Pei, does that mean I should not enroll with the thousands of other college students who have decided to study architecture?

Come on, Bob. Lighten up!! Go to college, play ball (I know you're a good enough), and LIVE LIFE!!

I am completely flummuxed by a ball player who asks "why keep playing?".

If you don't know why or feel why....then don't.

Dear Bob15,

Second thoughts? Good, just don't wait for the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th .... umpteen thought!

I have life long memories of college baseball,
as a teenager, a player, a fan, an adult, a parent.....(other).

Some of those decisions were life altering events.

The more significance events are the relationships obtained from the paths chosen on the roads traveled.

The choices you make as a teenager may sometimes become life altering events.

Babe once said (paraphrase): Stop playing the game when the baselines are uphill!

Satchel said (paraphrase): Don't look back, someone may be gaining on you!

Interesting enough, just last week I took advantage of an opportunity to chat with a life-long friend (who pitched eight years in Triple A) about some of those decisions he made:
I have been thinking about his response all weekend that being "He was too busy to think about what may be!"

Bottom Line: Good luck in your choices. Keep us informed.

cheers
Bear

Very strange question

I know about 300 kids that would do anything short of selling their souls to play college baseball that won't get that chance. Being given the ability to play baseball at such a high level is a real gift, and if you have to ask why you should continue playing, you probably shouldn't. People do what they do beause they love it, and that should be reason enough.

Good luck in whatever decision you decide

spinedoc - I happen to agree with you.

IMHO, there are six tools in baseball - the 5 measurable ones which include throwing, fielding, running, hitting and hitting for power, and an invisible one called HEART or desire. It seems to even ask a question like that you may be lacking the most important tool of all.

luvbb, nice post. May I add Networking - some of the contacts you make will someday be very benefical. I know that I was terrible in college and only played one year. Despit that, I made so many contacts with people that remember that year and I've been able to use that to help my high school team in so many ways. JMHO!

Why play college ball?

When you reach your late 20's or early 30's and you find yourself with the following questions in your mind and on your heart:

"would haves"
"could haves"
"should haves"

These types of questions aren't always a good feeling.

Entering your late 20's and 30's and saying

I DID IT and it worked out great or even I DID IT and it just didn't work out is much easier in your mind and on your heart.

If you have the ability and the DESIRE then I would always suggest trying it and then seeing how it plays out.

Every little boy wants to be a pro jock some day. College ball at any level, even D-3 without a scholarship, is pro ball, for better or for worse. The college game doesn't exist so 18-year olds can have fun. It's mostly about money by that stage.

...it's a lot of fun.

hey bob15,
why do you suppose colleges field lacross & field-hockey teams??
why are the slow-pitch sofball fields packed every night of the season??

people love sports, love to compete, and have a blast doing it

BUT, it's not for everyone - keep after it, you'll find something else you like


B25/LvBB, regarding networking & contacts
last yr while tailgating with Mid-town Atlanta in the skyline, I was told that my son was doing a "temendous job" with prospective employers
a little suprised,
I said "I didn't even know he was interviewing" - - - the response - - neither did your son,
but everytime he meets someone or represents his school on or off the field -
someone IS evaluating him

I almost have to agree with micdsguy on a few of his statements. There are many,many boys out there, who are thinking of professional ball beyond college. And there are quite a few coaches out there that think that as well.

At many schools college ball is a business and run like a business, not all smiles and giggles. There are many who decide that they don't want to participate in college ball because of the fact it has become big business. So I think the question has some validity. In sons school, it's a big business, with lots of pressures that go along with it. It's not for everyone.
I don't have an answer to your question. You need to gather the facts and come to your own conclusions, whether it would be right or wrong for you.

Thank you for all the responses. Trust me this is not a matter of love for the game, or hard work. I have worked very hard to get to where I am at. Its a matter of thinking further down the road that is this the time to hang up the cleats and become serious about school or continue to play. Im about 80%/20% in favor of playing. These are just some thoughts that I have been having.

bob - here's something to think about

you haven't proven you can play in college yet -
just that you can get recruited

also your view seems to be that a serious effort can't be given to both baseball & school

ya may want to rethink that