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Work 1 year after high school and then go to college?

S spectator10+ posts
It's been a family tradition to work full time for 1 year after high school and then attend college at age 19. This gives an 18 year old boy time to see the real world and grow up a bit before taking off for college. The idea is that he will take college a bit more seriously and understand how important a college degree really is after trying to make a living in the real world. Also, this will give him some time to figure things out while actually making some money (albeit not much) instead of "trying to find himself" in college as a young kid just out of high school and wasting his time and my money. Then when he actually goes to college he should have a better idea of what subjects he should major in college and be more focused since he is a year older and wiser. Anyway, that's how I was brought up and it worked for me many years ago (it was my experience that most freshmen in college don't have a clue). After having stated all this, however, I'm wondering if this same approach would have any negative effects on my son if we decided that he should go that route too. He also happens to be a very good high school baseball player and some colleges have been showing interest in him. Would a college baseball coach be willing to wait 1 year, or, will he just go after someone else and forget about him? That is, would my son be off the college baseball radar screen, or, could he still be considered a prospect 1 year later? Also, my son would continue to play baseball during the 1 year working period with either a legion team or an adult rec team so he won't get rusty - in fact he may even get bigger and better. My son is a right handed pitcher with an 85mph fb and is a rising senior in high school next year. Just wondering what might be the consequences, negative or positive, if he did this. It would be like a self imposed red shirt season with a 1 year coop work program. This is a very serious subject in my family and I would appreciate any constructive feedback. Thanks.....
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WalesWales1,000+ posts
I too was in a very same situation, this past year.

If you are a good enough player then most coahces will keep in contact with you and then go from there once they see your son during the summer which your son must play otherwise he will deffinatley get rusty. or during a camp or workout. When it gets closer to the recruiting stage for the year that your son would be attending school there, if they are still interested then you really have nothing to worry about, but remember that ther is always someone better out there. It is hard to say really what most coaches will do, like the recruiting process is a never ending process they are always looking for players to fill the needs of their team. Personally I say go with the school now otherwise it might be too late come next fall, and then there goes your sons chance of playing at a school that he likes. As far as being worried about 'finding himself and wasting your money'-most freshman classes are indeed very general and regardless of what your major is won't be a waste of your money.

The difference from my situation to yours is that I took basically the first semester off and worked to get money for school, and then transfered in, in January of '05 and played this spring with my team.

I hope this helps, I must run now and there is still somethings I've left out, so hopefully i will have the time to get back to you in the near future
C Cntrfieldsmom100+ posts
Spectator,
My feedback is that it seems a risky move. Not just for baseball reasons. A lot can happen in one year, you never know. I've seen some kids work a year and for a multitude of reasons, not end up going the second year.

Most of my sons classmates didn't know what they wanted as a major, I think that's normal. The freshman year is all generals anyway.

You state he won't make all that much money anyway, and that doesn't seem to be a big issue.

He'll still be "trying to find himself" at 19 instead of 18. Wink

It generally takes 5 years these days for a college athlete to finish a degree, in your senerio it will be 6.

How will he feel about staying behind a year when his peers are heading off.....does that even matter?

If he's getting interest for ball now, it will be hard to watch others fill his potential roster spot. Will he fall off the radar, possibly.

Last of all...what does HE want to do?
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
Spectator,
I have a degree in education, credits towards my masters in marketing, have attended real estate school, worked for a large company in customer service for many years, now working part time in my families construction business and still have no clue as to what I want to do when I grow up. Eek
Going to college at 18,19 for the first year is learning to be on your own, making adult decisions and learning how to manage your time, etc. There are not too many out there who really know what they want to major in. And nowadays it is very difficult to get a degree in just 4 years, NCAA allows 5 years of player eligibilty, if a redshirt year is given.
However, do know that most HS players have a lot to learn at the college level, if the coach feels he is not ready he has the opportunity to declare him a redshirted player and get him ready for the next year. They want to get the player bigger and better on their campus. Your son would be further behind from his self induced red shirt year. I don't see anything positive in this situation. I am sure it can be done, has been done, but I know of no one who has. It is extremely competitive out there, besides, your son will have been out of school for a year, and have a much harder time getting adjusted to school, and a baseball routine. Coaches need to know that their recruits will be able to be academically eligible. Family traditions are important, but sometimes they become outdated and need to be changed.
You don't want him to "waste" your money,if he has an opportunity to have part of his education paid for, why pass up that opportunity? He can take out his own school loan for teh balance to be paid back after he graduates. Will give him more of an incentive to do well in school.
By the way, is this something you want or he wants?
JMO.
A amom500+ posts
Spectator- Two things occur to me right away.

First, will playing on a legion team offer him enough opportunity to stay in shape, baseball wise? My son just finished his freshman year- I can tell you a lot of hours went into baseball! You might only have one practice a week, or maybe even no practices, just show up for games if you are not on a structured team. This seems to be a disadvantage.

Secondly, there is only short window of time for a college student to really blend in with his peers. He may find himself too "old " for dorm life, etc if he delays it past a year. I know that happens when kids go straight to the pros, but it sounds like you are talking about a jopb here that he won't want to keep for a long time.

Good luck whatever you decide. Smile

TPM- love it! (don't know what you want to be when you grow up Big Grin)
C carolina10+ posts
Spectator - What a great idea. I wish I had thought of it before I sent a 17 year old off to play D-1 baseball 8 hours from home. He is going to be in his 3rd year in the fall. He won't have junior status until January ( this is normal for ballplayers). He is now 19 and the age of many of the incoming freshmen. I wish he had waited a year before he went off the college. I'm not sure if he would have gotten a scholarship if he had sat out right after high school, but he certainly would have gained some maturity. I don't know what your ultimate goal is for you son, but I would definitely consider waiting a year. If you are really good, a coach will find you.
G GrabSomePine100+ posts
I was searching for options for my RHP '09 son and came across this 2005 thread. The year off plan is generally discouraged here (I counted one positive vote only), but I wonder if that opinion might change given: (1) the year off after senior year (so called gap year) appears to have grown in popularity for student population in general (not baseball specific) and (2) my son was injured and missed most of his junior season so he lost the opportunity to have colleges look at him last year (including Summer). He appears to be healthy now. Under those circumstances, any new or updated thoughts on taking the year off after senior season and having colleges take a look at him this year with an eye towards enrolling in the Fall of 2010. Any thoughts or comments will be appreciated, thanks.
CoachB25CoachB25Honorary "Old TImer"
Years ago, I was the first person in my family to qualify to go to college. I had an academic scholarship. We were very poor. My Mom and Dad, while very proud of me, noted that they could not afford to support me at college. I was also on the baseball team. I didn't have much talent but I was hard nosed and could compete. I had to go to work working the midnight shift, play ball and be a student. Often, I fell asleep at the wheel driving between games, work and school. I probably slept 2-3 hours a night. Naturally, one can realize that I ran into major problems when the team was on the road. I had every disease known to man which happened to occur at the times of those road trips. Wink It should be obvious that I couldn't do it.

If your son has some abilities, PLEASE reconsider the year off. I really don't know how good I might have been. I was soooo tired. I really don't know what my academic future would have been. Instead, I quit after one year of ball. I worked for the next 10 years during the midnight shift to get my degree. I've always been involved with baseball. I'm betting your son will have so many advantages if you allow it. JMHO!
ILVBBILVBB1,000+ posts
quote:
Would a college baseball coach be willing to wait 1 year, or, will he just go after someone else and forget about him? That is, would my son be off the college baseball radar screen, or, could he still be considered a prospect 1 year later?


If a coach wants you, HE WANTS YOU! However, that being said, most baseball coaches that I have dealt with have a hard time planning beyond the current horizon.

However, it is not uncommon for many a freshman to either sit or be read shirted. If that is the case, I don't see why it would hurt if your son took a year off to "grow, mature, learn and earn."

There is many a freshman that is 19 and has either been held back or started school a year late. Using that same thought process latter in life makes plenty of sense to me. However, from a baseball prospective, you may need to talk to more that a few coaches that will want a kid a year after his intended class starts.

Good Luck!

Personally, I wish this was the norm, boys need a year to "grow-up" and so they know the real purpose of going to college.
Infield08Infield081,000+ posts
Another thing to consider is that if a student quits school to work for a year, most likely he will not have access to health care and dental benefits provided by his parent's employer. Usually, benefits are extended only to those taking 12 credit hours or more each semester. There aren't too many jobs out there for 18-year-olds that offer great medical and dental insurance coverage.
H Homerun041,000+ posts
I also think if the coach wants you he wants you. If he is not willing to pull the trigger now (possibly after senior season for your son), then why would he pull the trigger after not playing for a year.

One possible route is to make sure he qualifies through the NCAA Eligibility center (needs to anyway just in case some school wants him next year) so he can qualify to transfer into a DI or DII without having to have his AA, but if you fully believe can transfer after one year, is to attend a JC work out with the team in the fall while grey shirting (taking less that 12 units) and work on getting the attention of 4 yr school and with grey shirting the clock does not start for the 5 years to play 4 years.

Good Luck, enjoy the ride.
F 3FingeredGlove1,000+ posts
Here's a related thread from less than a month ago, in which 08Dad anticipated your question.

Generally players are allowed 4 seasons of competition, and taking a year off may consume one season of the player's eligibility. The rules among the three NCAA Divisions vary in this respect. In 08Dad's thread, the issues associated with eligibility for D2 schools are discussed. It appears to me that D2 rules are the strictest of the 3 divisions, but I believe that working out with a JC could trigger a loss of one season of competition. I haven't looked as carefully at D1 or D3 rules.

If you are considering grayshirting as a way to increase your son's perceived ability, I think he's going to need to find a way to play and get seen. Some of those ways will trigger a loss of one season. I think that there may some other approaches, including enrolling at a JC, which may make more sense, but they depend on the division of NCAA he may want to play in.

Or are you thinking of grayshirting as also a way to gain maturity? In other words, would you consider approaches like attending JC full-time, and hopefully playing, or are you really thinking only of actually staying out of the classroom for a whole year?
Last edited by 3FingeredGlove
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
Originally posted by Infield08:
Another thing to consider is that if a student quits school to work for a year, most likely he will not have access to health care and dental benefits provided by his parent's employer. Usually, benefits are extended only to those taking 12 credit hours or more each semester. There aren't too many jobs out there for 18-year-olds that offer great medical and dental insurance coverage.
A healthy 18 year old male can get good health insurance for about $120 a month in our state.
Last edited by RJM
O Orlando1,000+ posts
Infield & RJM, there are a number of states (I know Florida is one of them) where the parents' health benefits can be used as long as the child is dependent upon them for at least half of their upkeep until the child is 25, school or no school.

Insurance companies don't exactly advertise this; our Benefits Coordinator wasn't aware either. A lawyer friend told me about it. I did a search just in case our insurance company was going to fight me on it, but the proof was unnecessary ---- as I knew the law and asked, they accepted it. But they sure as heck won't volunteer the info.

Just an FYI for anyone who might need it.
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
there are a number of states (I know Florida is one of them) where the parents' health benefits can be used as long as the child is dependent upon them for at least half of their upkeep until the child is 25, school or no school.
Some states (ours) require a post high school child to be a full time college student to be included on the family's plan. But, the focus of the thread is the effect on the kid's game, not insurance.
Last edited by RJM
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
I feel the same way about the gap year that I did in 2005. Big Grin

Players are committing earlier and earlier, competition is tough, why take a year off to "mature"? You'd have to work out everyday and play all spring to keep your head above water.

If you're worried that your sons aren't mature enough, trust me, they grow up real fast, especially if you release the cord a bit and let them mature. They also have coaches to kick butt when they aren't taking care of business. They learn real fast. It might be popular among those who do not play sports, but not among those that need to compete. That's why JUCO baseball programs are so popular.

If your son has sustained an injury late in his senior year, that is the only reason I would seriously consider.
W wvmtner100+ posts
LAball

That's why MLB has a scholarship plan. The clubs are gambling that they will not have to pay it becuase a lot of players never use the money.

I have heard up to 2/3 of the players do not use their money. Don't know how accurate that is but I bet it's at least 50%

Personally, I set out two years of school after high school because I was lazy and didn't have the grades. It was the best thing for me because I realized that I did not want to do hard labor the rest of my life. I worked my behind off and got in shape to make the team.


I changed my major twice when I started school becuase I had no idea what I wanted to do. I think for some kids, it could be a good idea for them to see the real world for a year. Being hungry and poor was good motivation for me.
Last edited by wvmtner

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