| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
bmoser
1633 Posts |
 Posted - 11/17/2009 : 22:00:40
|
How many times have you found yourself claiming..."I wish I knew then what I know now?"
Some posters in the 15-18 age group have taken the time to share with us how they now look at 11U through their rear view mirror.
I found it very insightful.
|
|
|
TAZ980002
831 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2009 : 09:53:35
|
Bmoser, the title of your post in the 15-18 age group is "Does 11u matter?". In particular, you state that there is a lot of chest pounding in the 11u age group and question whether or not this age group will affect whether or not a kid plays High School ball.
If you don't mind, I'd like to weigh in. For my 11 year old son, every minute he gets to play baseball matters. I say that because he loves the game. Being on the best team isn't necessarily important to us. Having him on a team where he learns as much about the game and the fundamentals of playing the game is very important to us. We are very fortunate to have found both a winning team and one that focuses on fundamentals and learning the game from top to bottom. But then again, maybe the way our coaches teach leads to winning ?? They don't view losing as a bad thing. It is seen as an opportunity to learn. "How do we overcome what just caused us to lose?"
Playing H.S. baseball is a goal for my son. It is not a foregone conclusion, but a goal. As long as he enjoys playing the game and shows a desire to compete, I will support him in every way. If he comes to me tomorrow and tells me he is done playing baseball, I will ask only 2 questions. "Why do you want to stop playing?" and "What activity do you want to do next?". My goal is to teach him to be a person who is content with what God has given him and give his best effort to whatever he pursues. That works for sports and everything else in my opinion.
In summary, "yes", 11u matters. Will it help you make the H.S. team? It might. Depends on what you learn from it.
I also want to add that our family has been extremely fortunate to have met and received the guidance of Coach Hardigree. I tell people all the time that Coach Hardigree is 95% the reason my son is the ballplayer he is today. (I take 5% credit for driving him to and from the ballfield) If my son ever makes a H.S. team, Coach Hardigree will have been a huge part of why he did. I wish that every kid that plays ball has the opportunity to learn from someone like him. |
Edited by - TAZ980002 on 11/18/2009 11:25:39 |
 |
|
|
bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2009 : 12:04:38
|
Bandit13
Thanks for your feedback. I cannot disagree w/anything you say. I am trying to point out that keeping it all in perspective is very important for parents and coaches alike. I'm not talking about the players here, I'm talking about us.
Those of us who have not been down this road before, with older children, can learn a lot from Dads/Coaches who have been through all the things we are now experiencing.
I hope all the 11U posters will read what these 15-18U Dads/Coaches have written. Sharing best practices, group learning...whatever. I don't know of anyone who wouldn't benefit from it. I sure have.
I'm seeing a gap between how each group perceives things. I want others to be aware of this gap.
|
|
|
|
TAZ980002
831 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2009 : 14:46:31
|
| I hope they will read it too. I know I have a lot to learn about this baseball experience. It's been fun so far and I want to keep it that way. |
|
|
|
jscoda
123 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2009 : 16:04:08
|
While my son is 11......
I hope your/my son does not become injured. I hope he has fun. Makes friends and develops self confidence. Learns team sports. Is lucky enough to have a good coach or two along the way. Because that is all that matters before HS.
When he becomes 15/16 and is ready for HS ball things change....
Daddy is now part of the booster club and not a coach. Daddy can't get angry and start his own HS team.
All the hype about this team or that team guarantees nothing. Coach wants to see how fast he is......running bases, running to the ball, reacting to balls not hit to him, how fast is his release when throwing, how good is his pick off move, how fast are his hands through the strike zone? Is he calm under pressure?
I guarantee your son or mine can look like Turkey Sterns at the plate and they don't care if his batting average is above .400 or he can look like he is falling sidways on the mound as long as he is effective against hitters.
If your son is blessed with good hand eye coordination or good running speed or is just a powerful athlete then he has a good chance at age 15 or higher of playing baseball. Sorry but they do not ask about trophies or medals or where you played when you were 11. Relax and enjoy your son. He is only 11 once. |
|
|
|
bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2009 : 16:31:31
|
I could not agree with you more. That is precisely where I was coming from in bringing this up.
quote:
Originally posted by Bandit13
I hope they will read it too. I know I have a lot to learn about this baseball experience. It's been fun so far and I want to keep it that way.
|
|
|
|
coolbreeze
16 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2009 : 19:17:59
|
| well said jscoda I agree |
|
|
|
SMASH
253 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2009 : 19:43:29
|
| Here is a harsh reality. A lot of these coaches' sons @ 11u will be watching High school baseball from the bleachers. |
|
|
|
baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2009 : 22:33:10
|
| warrior: Do you not think that a lot of 11U kids that are not coaches sons will also be watching HS baseball from the bleachers. Why is so hard for us to just let these kids play ball right now without worrying about 5 years from now. The biggest obstacle these kids have most always is the adults. |
Edited by - baseballpapa on 11/20/2009 08:55:24 |
|
|
|
bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 09:41:46
|
I want to learn from the Dads who's kids are playing on the High School field. They made a lot of good decisions along the way, and I want to hear about every one of them in great detail. I know what I don't know, or you can say I'm consciously incompetent.
|
|
|
|
10 BB
264 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 13:03:49
|
My son is a freshmen and he was a stand out as a 10 year old pitcher/all around player. At age 11 I could tell that the other kids were starting to catch up with him. At 12 it was obvious that he was just another player.
The one thing that has always set him apart though is his work ethic. He is the kid that is first on the field at practice and the last to leave. He has always been the kid that when the coach said pick up the balls he hustled to do it with never a complaint. If his bat was hurting he does what it takes to get it back in shape. Any weakness he has he works on it and keeps a journal while writing in it every day on what he has done that day to improve that weakness.
He has a very strict workout program to improve his body and strength that he lives by. Every day he works some part of his body
His schooling is most important to him and as of now he has a 4.37 gpa. This is the best way for him to make it to the next level of his baseball life.
I tell you these things to hopefully show what it has taken to make it to where he is at the present and it has landed him a spot as a freshmen on the Varsity Fall Baseball Team. He has focus, tunnel vision so to speak and the coach can see that and has rewarded him accordingly |
|
|
|
justin case
57 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 14:00:53
|
| Great post 10bb, we are very proud of your son |
|
|
|
BROOKSTEAM
145 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 16:03:22
|
Wow, this is great to hear! I think you are being a bit modest though. If your boy made a metro Atl area HS Varsity team as a 9th grader he has to be far better than "just another player"
**Looking forward to hear where he gets a scholarship to play in 4 years 
quote:
Originally posted by 10 BB
My son is a freshmen and he was a stand out as a 10 year old pitcher/all around player. At age 11 I could tell that the other kids were starting to catch up with him. At 12 it was obvious that he was just another player.
The one thing that has always set him apart though is his work ethic. He is the kid that is first on the field at practice and the last to leave. He has always been the kid that when the coach said pick up the balls he hustled to do it with never a complaint. If his bat was hurting he does what it takes to get it back in shape. Any weakness he has he works on it and keeps a journal while writing in it every day on what he has done that day to improve that weakness.
He has a very strict workout program to improve his body and strength that he lives by. Every day he works some part of his body
His schooling is most important to him and as of now he has a 4.37 gpa. This is the best way for him to make it to the next level of his baseball life.
I tell you these things to hopefully show what it has taken to make it to where he is at the present and it has landed him a spot as a freshmen on the Varsity Fall Baseball Team. He has focus, tunnel vision so to speak and the coach can see that and has rewarded him accordingly
|
|
|
|
Shut Out
512 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 16:31:54
|
quote:
Originally posted by 10 BB
My son is a freshmen and he was a stand out as a 10 year old pitcher/all around player. At age 11 I could tell that the other kids were starting to catch up with him. At 12 it was obvious that he was just another player.
The one thing that has always set him apart though is his work ethic. He is the kid that is first on the field at practice and the last to leave. He has always been the kid that when the coach said pick up the balls he hustled to do it with never a complaint. If his bat was hurting he does what it takes to get it back in shape. Any weakness he has he works on it and keeps a journal while writing in it every day on what he has done that day to improve that weakness.
He has a very strict workout program to improve his body and strength that he lives by. Every day he works some part of his body
His schooling is most important to him and as of now he has a 4.37 gpa. This is the best way for him to make it to the next level of his baseball life.
I tell you these things to hopefully show what it has taken to make it to where he is at the present and it has landed him a spot as a freshmen on the Varsity Fall Baseball Team. He has focus, tunnel vision so to speak and the coach can see that and has rewarded him accordingly
He is a Freshman! I alwasys thought he looked a little old for 11U baseball. No wonder your Bay Bombers are so good. |
|
|
|
newman
21 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 16:32:15
|
quote:
Originally posted by 10 BB
My son is a freshmen and he was a stand out as a 10 year old pitcher/all around player. At age 11 I could tell that the other kids were starting to catch up with him. At 12 it was obvious that he was just another player.
The one thing that has always set him apart though is his work ethic. He is the kid that is first on the field at practice and the last to leave. He has always been the kid that when the coach said pick up the balls he hustled to do it with never a complaint. If his bat was hurting he does what it takes to get it back in shape. Any weakness he has he works on it and keeps a journal while writing in it every day on what he has done that day to improve that weakness.
He has a very strict workout program to improve his body and strength that he lives by. Every day he works some part of his body
His schooling is most important to him and as of now he has a 4.37 gpa. This is the best way for him to make it to the next level of his baseball life.
I tell you these things to hopefully show what it has taken to make it to where he is at the present and it has landed him a spot as a freshmen on the Varsity Fall Baseball Team. He has focus, tunnel vision so to speak and the coach can see that and has rewarded him accordingly
With a 4.37GPA, he needs to quit worring with baseball and look into MIT.  |
|
|
|
SMASH
253 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 19:18:49
|
Papa,
What I was referring to in my earlier post is that a lot can happen between 11u and High School. Some kids loose interest, some kids get passed by by their peers. A number of kids stop growing and developing. Some kids decide girls and friends are more important than baseball. Whatever the case, my point is that at 11 years old its too early to tell who will make the High School team. Like myself, High school coaches are impartial. No "daddy ball" allowed. The best players at that moment in time will make the team. A cardboard box full of "travel ball" trophies will not help. |
|
|
|
10 BB
264 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 21:05:12
|
quote:
Originally posted by bmoser
I want to learn from the Dads who's kids are playing on the High School field. They made a lot of good decisions along the way, and I want to hear about every one of them in great detail. I know what I don't know, or you can say I'm consciously incompetent.
I think you guys have missed the point. I'll explain, since my boy was five all he wanted was to play pro ball. Will this happen, not likely but just like walking you have to crawl first. He has always done what it takes to make his dream come true even though he's not a stud. With that in mind he is an above average player.
I have always tried to instill in him the value of his education and he has, just like baseball given it his best effort. The 4.37 gpa is because he takes honor coarses and they are weighted.
bmoser wanted to know from someone on the HS field now and Im merely trying to show everyone that your child doesn't have to hit 400% and throw 90mph. That hard work still gets noticed and desired by HS coaches.
His HS is a 5A school in Panama City. This school has turned out players like Jay Chapman, Cody Johnson and Clete Thomas. Just so you all know this is the Fall Varsity Team, come spring he will play JV and the occasional varsity game when the varsity SS pitches in the rotation.
Shut Out; just so you know I have two sons and most of the success of my youngest son (11yr old) is due to my oldest son. You know , the competition thing between brothers. |
Edited by - 10 BB on 11/20/2009 22:16:19 |
|
|
|
Baseball
111 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2009 : 08:32:12
|
Warrior-Thanks for letting us all know this information.
quote:
Originally posted by warrior[/i]
Papa,
What I was referring to in my earlier post is that a lot can happen between 11u and High School. Some kids loose interest, some kids get passed by by their peers. A number of kids stop growing and developing. Some kids decide girls and friends are more important than baseball. Whatever the case, my point is that at 11 years old its too early to tell who will make the High School team. Like myself, High school coaches are impartial. No "daddy ball" allowed. The best players at that moment in time will make the team. A cardboard box full of "travel ball" trophies will not help.
|
|
|
|
baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2009 : 09:51:54
|
I think the Brother thing would make another great topic. I know that my 11 year grandson that plays for the Bandits benefitted so much by being the younger brother of my 13 year old grandson that played for the 12U Chiefs and now the 13U 643 Cougars. The 13 year old deserves as much credit for the success of the 11 year old as anyone including me that has helped him along the way.
The 13 year old has been and I hope will always be the role model and measuring stick for the younger brother. The competition between them is fierce and can be testified to all that know them. It's gotten to the point that they drive each other now and they dig deep inside to keep up with each other. I hope they continue to push each other to be better in all that they attempt.
|
Edited by - baseballpapa on 11/21/2009 10:05:19 |
|
|
|
Doggone
2 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2009 : 17:00:57
|
quote:
Originally posted by baseballpapa
I think the Brother thing would make another great topic. I know that my 11 year grandson that plays for the Bandits benefitted so much by being the younger brother of my 13 year old grandson that played for the 12U Chiefs and now the 13U 643 Cougars. The 13 year old deserves as much credit for the success of the 11 year old as anyone including me that has helped him along the way.
The 13 year old has been and I hope will always be the role model and measuring stick for the younger brother. The competition between them is fierce and can be testified to all that know them. It's gotten to the point that they drive each other now and they dig deep inside to keep up with each other. I hope they continue to push each other to be better in all that they attempt.
Papa, I sure am glad both of these boys took after Peggy and Tim and Mitzi and not you, that's what they have going for them. |
|
|
|
baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 11/23/2009 : 22:08:03
|
| Doggone: Glad you joined us. You sound like someone that Papa has sent home from the ballpark early. I also am glad the boys seem to have taken after Peggy, Mitzi, and Tim but make no mistake that their baseball genes come from Papa. |
|
|
|
panther
38 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2009 : 09:49:25
|
| The brothers thing is a very interesting topic. Seems to me the younger one is usually better than the older one for some reason. Probably because they are a little tougher from taking the beatings (lol). They have to turn it up a notch to compete in the drive way or front yard. |
|
|
|
BBall123
395 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2009 : 18:11:08
|
| You got it Panther. Thats the truth! |
|
|
|
baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2009 : 22:29:50
|
| I played a thousand games in the front yard with Papa pitching to both Smokey and the Chainsaw. No kidding, at least 1000 regulation 6 inning games. Papa was the designated pitcher for both boys and when one was hitting the other was playing the field. Who was better I couldn't tell you as each and every game ended up in the dead heat tie. No kidding, every one was a tie. Did it have anything to do with pitcher. Figure it out for yourself. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
