You Never Know Who's Watching (A Reprise)

I preached this to my son and used the the original HSBW message to reinforce my point. 

 

On a side note... When my son played in his last HS game (a season ending All-Star game), he went up to one of the umpires and thanked him for officiating games over the past few years.  The umpire told him, "I will be following you in college over the next couple of years. Good Luck!"  It turns out that the umpire is also a scout.

 

So, the lesson is, you never know who is watching!  It may also be the ump.

 

 

 

Another great and related story!

 

Apologies to those of you who have seen this message and related story from me in the past. It occurs to me every once in awhile that our membership gains new scholastic players and their families all the time; and, I happen to think this is one of those messages that bears repeating.

No doubt, it should be repeated once a month. I used to sneak up and hide watching players at practice.  You find out a lot when they think no one is watching.

Baseball is a small world sometimes.

 

In the rec league my son played in until he was 12 we had an older gentleman who was a frequent plate umpire.  He had really poor hearing and would tell the coaches all the time - if you guys start barking, I'm turning my hearing aids off. (and he did so a few times)

 

His strike zone was always a little random on the low outside corner because he wasn't able to crouch very well.  He used to drive the other coaches nuts, but I thought he was great.  Sure his zone was off at times, but at least he was consistent for both teams. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and took the time to work with new umpires who were just getting started. My son was a catcher at the time, and they developed a pretty good working relationship.

 

Fast forward a few years and we run in to the umpire at a PG tournament.  We spoke for a few minutes and then he says, "Hey, have you met my son? Here he comes now."

 

Of course we had met his son.  He was my son's coach for the summer - and his high school's varsity HC.  I was thanking the baseball gods that I had never been a reason the hearing aids had to be shut off.

PGStaff, your comment about sneaking and hiding brings up another pertinent story (probably also a reprise here).

 

My son's travel team practices were notoriously demanding; requiring the players' constant focus and attention. One day, he and others were expecting then-UNC Assistant Coach, Chad Holbrook, to come watch some of their practice.

 

That night at dinner, my son had this disappointed look on his face. Coach Holbrook had stopped by, but had cut his visit quite short.

 

Fast forward a couple of years. Now at UNC, my son and I were chatting with Coach Holbrook after a game one evening; and the subject of that short practice visit came up.

 

Coach Holbrook got this sly grin on his face when Robert recalled his and the other players' disappointment. He said, "Robert, I didn't leave. You guys were practicing so hard that I thought you were putting on a show for my benefit. I drove around to the other side of the school, parked the car, and watched a lot more of it peering around the corner of the school building. I discovered that I'd been watching a regular practice, and it gave me an opportunity to see some of you in a pretty intense environment."

 

We all got a good laugh out of it...along with some insight into the length that some recruiters will go to get a representative read on players.

 

PGStaff, evidently, you weren't alone out there!

Really great stories PG and Prepster!  I'll add another one.

 

Our older son was very focused on Stanford from early on...he had been going to their games for a long time.  We never had any inclination they were watching through his junior year.

 

Fast forward to official visit after Junior summer when it was obvious they had watched..to find out that they had been there all along.  In the corner of the outfield...from the hill up from the field...via a scout friend they knew.  Oh, they were there a number of times going back about a year before we realized it.  HS and summer ball.

 

Yup, you just never know.

 

 

Daughter was playing in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in an exposure tournament.  She and her teammates were told that college coaches see everything.  Daughter was playing catch with her teammate and an over throw happened.  She ran after the ball and ran back.  She excused herself to a person standing near where the ball ended up.  She ran back, played catch with a purpose and threw long.  That person was a college coach who walked over to watch her play only to find another coach that was recruiting my daughter from her conference.  Both ended up 3 years later making offers to her.  The coach that was not recruiting her was impressed with her manners, running back to play catch and how she played catch.  Yes, they are watching. 

My high school coach has talked about it before...

 

They were playing a team one year who had a pitcher being heavily scouted. Several professional scouts there one day to watch this one pitcher. After infield, they came asking for his shortstop's name because of how he took pre-game infield.

A little twist on all of this.  Several years ago I was doing a in house visit with a player and his parents.  Nicest family on earth. Polite, friendly, humble, said all the right things. I left with a very good impression.

 

Someone brought up to me that this player was bad news. Always complaining, hard to deal with, selfish, full of excuses, etc.  I thought, this can't be the same kid.

 

About a month later I was at one of his games.  I knew the people at the site and sat hidden away in the corner of the press box.  I was the only scout at this game and outside my contacts no one knew I was there. 

 

As luck would have it the kids parents sat right below me in front of the open press box. I could hear every word they were saying, but they couldn't see me.  The first thing I noticed was the kid kept looking up at his parents.  Then I listened to mom and dad talking to others sitting near them.  Without getting into any long winded details, I left after a couple innings. Made out a report and never saw the kid again.

 

Guess my point is, it's not only the player that people are watching.  And if the player has some talent, the more likely his parents become an object of attention. TIFWIW

This is a very important part of the whole entire process in recruiting, scouting, it should be repeated here year after year after year. How a player acts in a game, in practice, off the field,  in the dugout/locker room, parental involvement, can be the deal breaker.

 

I am pretty sure that Sully watched son for a long time, and if he wasn't there I know he had others (scouts or coaches) watching. He told me that how he interacted with his teammates was also observed closely. 

 

The story that Prepster related is spot on.  I tell parents all of the time, coaches talk among themselves, always remember that and pass that onto your player.

 

Keep in mind that if you are doing your homework on potential programs interested in your son, they are doing the same on your player and maybe you as well.

 

who is SULLY?

 

TR;

First name is VINNE.

 

BOB

Kevin O'Sullivan was the pitching coach at Clemson when TPM's son was recruited. "Sully," as he's known to many, put together some of the finest staffs in college baseball while there; a significant factor, no doubt, in his subsequent hiring as Head Coach at the University of Florida.

 

...and "TIFWIW" from PGStaff. It's worth a lot!

Thanks Prepster.

Everyone and anyone in college baseball (and beyond) knows who Sully is.

Well, I guess I know where TRHit and I stand.

Green Light,

You and anyone else could do a search here and it would  let you know who Sully is but FWIW, TR knew who I was talking about.

 

Great reprise thread Prepster.  I love all the stories.  I hope Robert is enjoying VT.  We dropped our middle son off last week.  He is loving VT, and we plan to go to a few football & baseball games this year.  We're having to adjust to wearing maroon and orange on the weekends.  ;-)

 

I'm going to twist this around a little bit more as PGStaff did.   I'd like to suggest parents and recruits can also go into "stealth mode" by watching practices and games for schools they are interested in.   There is a lot you can learn by watching coaches, listening to coaches, and seeing how the players respond to the coaches. 

 

My job requires me to travel.  I've dropped in on more than a couple dozen college practices over the years when my oldest son was being recruited.  I dropped in on one school in New England that was extremely interested in my son. My son was extremely interested in them.   An OV was already planned with this school, and I wanted to see things for what they really are.  I rolled down the window and just watched & listened from the parking lot for about an hour.  It turns out the head coach is a chronic "yeller".  There certainly are times to yell, but this was a constant barage.  I know my son.  The best way to reach him is logic and reasoning.  If my son hears chronic yelling, he will tune it out possibly for all 4 years! ;-)  I left with some serious doubts about the team chemistry and the coaches style relative to my son.  I kept my observations & opinions to myself until we sat down to discuss his overall situation. 

Thru-out my Son's JH & HS yrs of baseball we were often told that you never know who is watching.  I have to tell this story to prove that point to all HS athletes that this is so true! 

 

My Son is a 6', LHP, he was playing at a 6A School his Jr & Sr yr.  He is a soft throwing lefty I guess you could say with topping out then at 84 mph.  He is a Pitcher with great control and knows how to deliver.  He  can throw many different pitches with great consistency and can totally blow your mind with his knuckleball.  His Jr. yr the Varsity Coach made a decision that left us and many others in total disbelief.  The Coach decided to put his much younger (LHP) Son on the Varsity Team and put my Son on the JV Team.  Needless to say his Father and I were quite upset but, chose not to bring our Son down but, to just continue to support him.  Our Son knew that he had to continue to give it his all and not give up just because of one persons decision.  I have always taught him to always believe in yourself!  Well, that Coach was fired at end of Season and a new Coach hired.  The new Coach was a total blessing and always let my Son know how much he believed in him.  It was a great year!  We knew during his Sr yr. of games that he had Colleges looking at him.  When we sat down and talked with the College Coach that he finally decided to accept the Scholarship with this is what the Coach told my Son!  The Coach told my Son that he had gone to watch his own Son play baseball.  My Son just happen to be pitching that day (this is my Sons Jr. yr playin JV baseball.  The College Coach said he was so impressed with the way that my Son was pitching, the way that he had control of that ball.  He started to ask questions to get more info on him and said that he was quite confused as to why a Pitcher, 11th grade and that good would be on a JV Team.  He told my Son that if he had of been a Senior that he would have signed him that day!  We are so proud to say that our Son signed to play College ball and we are so very proud of him for not letting someones decision take away his dream.  Believe me when I say, you never know who is watching!

Great story, Johns Mom...and welcome to the High School Baseball Web!

 

That's a pretty ironic twist that it was the JV decision that put the college coach on to your son.

 

You and your husband are to be commended for focusing on supporting your son through his Junior year. So glad it worked out!

Yes indeed the coaching community is very small.  My son went to a prospect camp last fall at a well known SC school.  He wasn't quite what they were looking for....BUT...unbeknownst to us - coach from that school called his buddy that coached at another school.  Fast forward a few months - he is committed to play at the buddy's school... 

Moral to this story...

 

What you do when you think no one is watching can be extremely beneficial or harmful. After all, that will be the real you!

I have commented on this topic many times. The "You never know who's watching" topic that is. I have always maintained it shouldn't matter. It shouldn't matter one bit. So if someone is watching you do it this way? And if no one is watching you do it that way? And if your not sure act like someone might be?

 

How about this simple logic. It shouldn't matter, period. This is how it is done. Period. You play the game as hard as you can. You work at the game as hard as you can. You are a great team mate all the time regardless of the situation. You do the right thing period. You do it the right way period. Not because someone is watching. Not because no one is watching. Not because someone could be watching. Not because you never know who is watching.

 

Players need to be taught that character is character. That doing it the right way means you simply do it the right way. There is no other way. It is not compromised. It has nothing to do with anyone else. It has nothing to do with impressing anyone or sending the right message to anyone. Its about you. Living up to your standards and what you know is right.

 

Character is not revealed when everyone is watching. Its revealed when you KNOW no one is watching. Its doing the right thing and doing it the right way because YOU know its the right thing to do. And regardless of who might be or might not be watching thats the way its done. If you approach baseball and life this way then you don't have to worry about it.

 

I tell players the person you have to make sure is happy with you is you. And if you have character and hold yourself to the proper standards you won't have to worry about this stuff. You will simply be who you are and that will be just fine.

I was hoping that we'd get a "reprise" out of you on this topic.

 

There is a "right answer" on this topic. It's in the post above this one.

 

Many thanks, Coach May..and the rest of you who have contributed here. For a number of related reasons, I think this topic is a pretty important one.

Coach May, you never fail to enlighten us with your wisdom. Once again, you got it dead on!


       

Coach May: I've printed your post and will share it with my high school son. You are exactly right. Thank you.

Fantastic thread Prepster!  Great post Coach May!

 

Funny how many current players still don't understand eyes are on them ALL OF THE TIME. Even online.  Yet they continue to post every detail of their life on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/etc.  Story after story has surfaced of coaches keeping distance from kids that are publicizing to the world that they are idiots!

 

Rich

www.PlayInSchool.com/bus_tour

www.twitter.com/PlayInSchool

 

Coach May, thanks for that post, will share with my son. 

 

Men of good character are those that do the right thing, for the right reason without exception.  

 

Coach May,

 

I am so happy to read your post.  

 

My daughter quit softball last year and took up volleyball.  This summer, she broke her ankle and tore some ligaments.  Because of this, she was unable to try out for her varsity team as a freshman.  They have won the last 3 state championships so they really don't need a lowly freshman hanging on the bench.  During tryouts, she was there...hobbling to shag balls and encouraging the girls trying out.  When a coach asked her why, she replied "Because it's the right thing to do".  The coach then commented "Your dad must be a coach".  My daughter nodded and thought nothing of it.  I really enjoyed hearing this from the coach when they offered her a spot on the team.

Well said Coach May...and in keeping with my long standing signature on this website:

"Character: How hard you work when no one is watching."

 

My son, thru a lot of hard work and some great coaching went on to have a fairly successful career at UVA and is now working his way up thru the Mariner's farm system. I'd like to think that I helped inspire the work ethic that has contributed greatly to the modest success he has achieved thus far, but truth is, the kid just has CHARACTER. Sometimes we, as parents, just get lucky.