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dmb350
135 Posts |
 Posted - 07/13/2011 : 08:59:33
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My son is going into 9th grade this year (man they grow up fast) anyway, he's played majors/elite travel for the last 3 seasons the last 2 in 14U. He's on a really good team and is the starting 3rd baseman, bats 4-5 spot and is the go-to pitcher when we are deep on Sundays. He will continue to play travel 15U this Fall and beyond.
Now, my question is for the Dads who've already seen the Fall HS programs and can give me some insight. Is the HS Fall baseball program worth the trouble? I have no doubt he'll make the JV team in the Spring but his 15U travel team will be doing a limited schedule in the Fall so we are open for maybe doing the Fall Program with the school but I've heard it's usually just rec-ball in HS uniforms and fund raising is the main focus. I would appreciate any insight that can be provided. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 13:40:33
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| If he can fit it in, it's not a bad way to expose yourself to the coach. I know coaches don't actually coach the team, but I'm sure they get feedback about who to look for during the spring tryouts. |
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oldmanmj
191 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 16:04:12
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| I would not waste my time. Having had 2 sons get through high school, we played one season and that was it. If you son is as good as you say, he will show at tryouts. Most Fall coaches are volunteer dads looking for brownie points with the coach and get no instruction. The level of play is at best the worst rec you could imagine. You are better off playing fall travel ball somewhere. |
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zwndad
170 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 19:04:52
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Your assessment is correct. I agree with bballman. Also, it's a great way to spend time with the kids you'll play with in the spring, if you don't already know them.
I know that "fundraising" can be a nasty word to some, but (1) we have to pay for the program (2) if your kid is good, it's not time wasted in the fall, and (3) the players build can build a lot of camaraderie spending time fundraising in the fall. There's no time for it in the spring, and the program needs the money. (Dislaimer: Yes, I am on the board of our dugout club.) |
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dmb350
135 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2011 : 22:52:52
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Wow, great responses and I appreciate the honesty. Oldmanmj, I've seen you around the board a lot and based on your normal responses I'd have to say that I'm inclined to agree with your advice. You have obviously been around high level travelball and I suspect that my assessment would be the same as yours regarding Fall HS ball. We avoided the summer program for that same reason. I guess high level travel sort of ruins the HS ball experience until the spring starts.
As far as fund raising goes, well last I checked I was going to be paying for my son to play HS ball (diamond club dues and player package) just like travelball and giving him rides to some of the games just like, yep, travelball so I'm not all to motivated to spend more time raising more money for the program.
Thanks for the input. I think we'll just stick to our Fall travel schedule and jump in on the HS fall/winter workout program until spring tryouts. |
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SluggerrrJack
3 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2011 : 19:43:11
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| You might want to find out when your fall high school games are - my son's team only played on weekdays (Mon - Thr). His fall travel teams only played weekend tournaments, so he played for both teams without any issues. The high school league was weak, but allowed him to get some work off the mound during the week. |
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oldmanmj
191 Posts |
Posted - 07/18/2011 : 23:12:37
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| So who will you pitch for if you play fall and you are asked to throw every thursday for your fall school team? You aren't ready to throw at all that weekend if you are smart. In my opinion, it is not going to get you good instruction just repetition and the very short fallball season is perfectm then shut it down. Trust me, the dads coaching fall ball aren't counting pitches, if your kid is good they will wear him out just to try and get a win. By the way, if you are not the dad coaching the team, you had better be really good because daddy ball rears its ugly head there too, coach or no coach. |
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dmb350
135 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2011 : 13:09:05
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| I'm with oldmanmj on this one. Spring HS ball only and travelball the rest of the time. My son has also stated he has no interest in playing for non-school coaches against rec-ball players. It's a waste of everyones time if your kid has any real ability and an opportunity to play Fall on a high level travel team. |
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SluggerrrJack
3 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2011 : 19:12:33
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| In my son’s case, the fall HS coach agreed to work around his travel team schedule. He would typically only pitch 3-4 innings during the week. As far as “It's a waste of everyones time if your kid has any real ability and an opportunity to play Fall on a high level travel team”, my son started on his HS varsity team for four years and only played on 17U and 18U travel teams since the age of 14 (all but one of these teams was nationally ranked by PG). My son never thought playing on any team was beneath him – in less than two weeks, he will start fall practice with his college team. |
Edited by - SluggerrrJack on 07/19/2011 20:08:37 |
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VestedInterest
3 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2011 : 07:11:20
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We play HS Fall baseball for mostly political reasons and we treat it as offseason workouts. The quality of baseball is not all that great but now that we have HS starting in February and then travel summer ball running through the end of July, its good to take it easy in the fall. If you play the fall baseball, add some professional instruction about once a week whether it be hitting or agility.
Secondly, fall "elite" travel is weaker anyway because all of the football players are gone. What difference does it make?
I agree with sluggerjack. I'm also tired of hearing people slam HS baseball. This is time for your son to part of a team where he goes to school with all of the kids and have some social mix with the baseball and take some pride in their school. |
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zwndad
170 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2011 : 13:36:37
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VestedInterest - Couldn't have said it better myself.
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oldmanmj
191 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2011 : 19:38:06
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| Guys I am just speaking from experience. All my boys played 4 years varsity baseball in 2 different states as we moved south. Not once did they participate in Summer or Fall HS baseball. Not a slam, an honest national issue. My sons never stopped associating with their HS baseball teammates. My boys played football for their schools also, 3 years varsity for both and even a year of basketball. Too many kids see HS baseball as a social event to pound their chest in the halls. I am generalizing, please don't miss understand. What value is doing something with now legitimate and viable instruction to get better and improve. Who will help him make the necessary adjustments or corrections in his swing or pitching mechanics. You are better off taking private instruction until spring, than waste your time fighting the politics. I am not bitter, my boys excelled at HS, Team MVP's, All Region, etc. If getting better and being prepared to play at the next level, this will not prepare you. |
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