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blowinsmoke
61 Posts |
 Posted - 12/10/2009 : 12:48:56
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| I have been reading some of these posts on here, I feel like my son is a pretty good player,but would never get on here and just promote how good ,bad or how good his team is , how much does people want to hear this. I feel like a lot of parents are living their childhood baseball days now through their kids and must have not got to play as a kid. When you say a kid is best in the nation that is saying alot and to find out that his dad is saying this is a little much for me. Who is out there scouting 10u across the country? You can be proud but come on ,best in the Nation. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2009 : 15:44:10
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quote:
Originally posted by blowinsmoke
I have been reading some of these posts on here, I feel like my son is a pretty good player,but would never get on here and just promote how good ,bad or how good his team is , how much does people want to hear this. I feel like a lot of parents are living their childhood baseball days now through their kids and must have not got to play as a kid. When you say a kid is best in the nation that is saying alot and to find out that his dad is saying this is a little much for me. Who is out there scouting 10u across the country? You can be proud but come on ,best in the Nation.
AMEN to that blowinsmoke! The kids are 11 years old. Chances are good many of these kids will not be playing ball by High School. An even higher chance they will never make the HS Varsity team. Be humble and hope your kid is still playing baseball in 4 years. A lot of things can change. |
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rynoboots
9 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2009 : 19:48:46
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| i could not agree more with you two guys........ i love watching my son play baseball and have fun with his friends. don't get me wrong, i love to win as much as anybody. that being said, i will not sacrifice his childhood to make him a robot like i have seen others do. |
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longhorn1
63 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2009 : 22:35:46
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Rest assured - I went as far as my ability and dedication (or lack there of) would take me. Youth baseball is not a place to try and garner the attention and glory that eluded you in your past people! None of this validates who we are / were as athletes. Hopefully, just as dads sharing in some great times with our kids. Great post blower of smoke |
Edited by - longhorn1 on 12/11/2009 09:01:47 |
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Scott0923
49 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2009 : 11:13:55
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So is what's being said is that conceptually athletics and academic work ethics are different. I don't think so. I agree that one can go too far (yelling, belittling, etc). I never hear parents saying that other parents are "reading too much" to their kids, or that parents are making their kids dedicate too much time to their studies, etc... Doctors encourage parents to begin reading to their kids while in the womb, continue the habit when born and while they're growing...then have them read 20 min daily to continue developing good reading comprehension and skills. This also applies to learning another language, musical instrument, the list goes on...
I believe that if a parent involves their child in a sport and that the child is developed and nurtured continually while growing up, "that sport" will just be a part of the child's being thus adjustments will come easier.
"Zone of Proximal Development" applies just as much to athletics as to academics. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2009 : 11:37:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Scott0923
So is what's being said is that conceptually athletics and academic work ethics are different. I don't think so. I agree that one can go too far (yelling, belittling, etc). I never hear parents saying that other parents are "reading too much" to their kids, or that parents are making their kids dedicate too much time to their studies, etc... Doctors encourage parents to begin reading to their kids while in the womb, continue the habit when born and while they're growing...then have them read 20 min daily to continue developing good reading comprehension and skills. This also applies to learning another language, musical instrument, the list goes on...
I believe that if a parent involves their child in a sport and that the child is developed and nurtured continually while growing up, "that sport" will just be a part of the child's being thus adjustments will come easier.
"Zone of Proximal Development" applies just as much to athletics as to academics.
I don't think we're talking about dedicating time to baseball. We're talking about bragging and chest thumping about our kid or team at the age of 11. My son has been around some form of baseball since he was 1 month old. I used to play tournament softball and still play in a league. He has been coming to my stuff since a very young age and I think that has a lot to do with his interest in baseball. I agree with what you say about that. I don't think my son is the second coming. He is a sophmore. Still has a long way to go to see what happens next.
In fact, the older he gets and the more we are exposed to some of the best players around the country, the more we both learn that there are many, many exceptional players out there. Although he may seem to be a pretty good player around here, the competition gets very, very stiff as you get to some of the national tournaments and showcases. No time for chest thumping. He needs to continue to work hard, harder than the next guy to stay at the level he is and to get to the next level. He also needs to work hard to stay in the shape he needs to be in to stay healthy. I think once you get to a certain velocity pitching, there is so much stress placed on your arm you need to be in peak physical condition and mechanically sound to stay healthy.
Anyway, my point is, at 16, my son still has a long way to go to get to the next level and be at the "top of the heap" so to speak. At 11, there is just no way to know and no use in pounding the chest yet. You can be proud of your son (I am very proud of mine), but keep in mind, it may not last forever. Humility is a good thing. Keep things in perspective. |
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bulldogbaseball100
59 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2009 : 13:29:48
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| Great posts and Amen. I am just as proud of my daughter when she plays in a church league basketball game as I am of my son when he plays in a world series final. This blog site is interesting, entertaining and often useful. There are definitely some "chest-thumpers" living vicarious fantasies in line with over the top kids pageant moms - they are not hard to identify; however, the majority of the bloggers on this site contribute value, insight and respect...delivering example that will hopefully have eventual trickle down effect on the "if you ain't first, you're last" crowd. Shake and Bake Baby - Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! |
Edited by - bulldogbaseball100 on 12/11/2009 14:51:50 |
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2009 : 15:40:23
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Papa has been through this very post on boasting as it was brought up on the national level on another site. I think at the end of the day and it was pointed out by many that there is a fine line between boasting or chest thumping as some of you are calling it and being proud of the kids especially your own.
I have raised by hand when called out for bragging on my team. I try to never brag on specific kids as I do not feel that this is the place for that. If you guys are referring to 10BB then I must defend him even it he is wrong. There can't be too much wrong with a man that is a single Dad rasing two growing boys. With the peer presssure and nonsense going on in today's world I hope that I get to meet more men like him that is proud of his son's and their hard work in trying to get better. I would rather know this man that takes time to drive his kids to practice and be there the entire practice and makes every single game than to know another that drops his kid off and asks Coach to bring him home when he gets finished and asks what the score was a week later. I agree that most of these kids being mentioned today, mine and yours included have only a slim chance of getting to College playing this game and even slimmer in getting further but I will never and I said never join you in finding delight that they won't make it or do anything ever to discourage them by "thumping my chest and telling them that they don't have a chance."
I hope sometimes that the kids don't read some of this stuff but if your's ain't reading then at least get him to read this. No matter how much these hateful adults tell you that you don't have a chance, You don't listen to them and listen to Papa on this one. You all have a equal chance to fulfill your dream and although you all will not make it, Papa promises you that it will be one of the best rides you ever took and that along the way you will meet friends that will be your friend forever. Finding one good friend along the way is worth any and all risks that you take.
I tried not to get out of line on this one so it would get posted so I could ask all of the guys to think positive and to always encourage instead of discourage these children.
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10 BB
264 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2009 : 17:08:52
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I guess I have been accused of being a "CHEST THUMPER" when I was defending another team by saying that my son was "one of the top catchers in the nation" when one tried to discredit this other teams worth. If thats chest thumping then I guess Im guilty.
I love my boys and I love the game of baseball. My son will and does go the extra mile to make friends with kids he competes with and against. I surely think he makes every effort to be the best he can. If you guys don't like me cause Im proud of him and am willing to BRAGG, BOAST or CHEST THUMP then you don't like success or when it's reached by someone who deserves it like a kid. I bragg on all the kids, it's not just limited to my own.
One of the best feelings as a kid was hearing my old man bragg on me for one of my very few accomplishments. I will never forget that feeling and I want my kids to feel that. To know that I think enough of what they have worked so hard at that I will bragg to somebody else.
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2009 : 17:21:27
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I'm not saying anyone can't make it. By all means, keep the dream alive. I'm saying, as parents, we should stay humble and keep things in perspective. Keep fostering in the kids that anyone can make it. Just have fun, it is only a game. Matters not where they stand now, but what they learn now and how they develop as the years go on. Mold them into better people and baseball players and hope for the best. Hopefully every one of our kids will be baseball studs when they reach HS, we just don't know. So, as parents, don't get wrapped up in how "elite" our kids are. Just continue to foster their love of baseball and life and provide them with the tools to be the best as they grow and mature.
Believe me, I was very bad about talking with people about good my kid is. I have had to work very hard to keep that in check. I let my own kid know how good he does and let the kids on his team know when they do good. I just need to keep it in check when talking to others. |
Edited by - bballman on 12/11/2009 20:55:43 |
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2009 : 17:36:59
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| 10BB: Don't worry too much about the chest thumping thing. There are a lot worse you could be accused of. Back in the day I used to fill in for Johnny Weismuller better known as Tarzan and did a little chest thumping of my own. In fact I still have the same little side kick as back then except now instead of Cheetah we call him Coach Troy. |
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dirtdawgs
58 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2009 : 17:49:47
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It has always amazed me how people in our society always want to tear down everything that is successful. Coaches and players spend a large amount of time and energy to try to build the best team they can. They are not praised because they worked and practiced harder than everyone else, but are ridiculed by those that didn't give the same kind of effort. As hard as it is to believe some parents and kids would rather be at the ballpark than most any other place on earth. Some have the desire to be the very best at what ever they decide to do. These same values tend to make them much more successful later in life. The same jealousy doesn't seem to apply to the kid that practices the piano every day or goes to every ballet recital.
As far as bragging goes it seems to me it is again a case of those that have put in the most effort and work being proud of thier accomplishments. Sports is a competition and in most competitions we strive to be the very best. There is a reason World Series are played to find out who is the best. Yes we play for the joy of competeing but we also try to be the very best. Most of the so called bragging are people that are proud of the accomplishments thier kids team have made. These threads are designed to get folks talking and chest thumping is a thing men do. Every fantasy football league has a tab for just "trash talking". It is part of the culture of sports and is fun if done with dignity.
Finally on the subject of where these kids will be playing 5 to 10 years from now. I'm so tired of hearing from the people that don't want to invest thier time and money like we do. The standard line is "Most of these kids wont even make thier high school teams". Let me pose this question... Do you think the kid that plays 10 rec games a year has a better chance to play baseball longer or the kid that loves the game and plays and practices much harder? Baseball more than any other game is a game of repetition. I'm sure Tiger Woods dad was plenty ridiculed for the number of hours his son stayed on the range. I can hear it now "That kid won"t even make his high school team". He practiced the hardest and became the best. (No jokes about what he's the best at) I dont know what percentage will play high school or beyond, but I do know the kids playing travel ball and working hard will easily out number the kids that are'nt practicing as much.
The Chain DirtDawgs were by far the best team in the south Georgia last year. (oops i'm bragging) We started because I got tired of listening to the rec departments complaining that my rec team practiced to much. (funny we were 31-1 over two years) I found a group of kids that loved baseball and familys that enjoyed traveling and hanging out together on weekends. We played over a 100 games last year and are still playing because thier is no other place we would rather be than the ballfield.
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sward
369 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2009 : 22:25:34
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Always keep things in perspective:
These numbers are not exact, but pretty close.
Youth Baseball: just under 3 million participants
High School Baseball '09 season: approx 475,000 participants. At least half of these will not play varsity baseball.
College Baseball (All levels, 2007): 45,000 participants. Over half NOT getting any athletic $$.
MLB (40 man roster): approx 1,200 participants
So here are your son's chances....
1:6 participate in HS baseball (9th-12th grades total).
1:12 will play HS Varsity.
1:5 HS Varsity players will play college baseball. 40% being at the JuCo level. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2009 : 23:16:32
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Dirtdawgs, let me point out a couple of things. 1st of all, my son is a sophmore in high school. He was one of three starting pitchers for the varsity high school team last year as a freshman. We're talking AAAAA region 6, arguably the toughest region in the state. He threw 4 complete games, two against the two teams who played in the state championship game and he beat one of them. If you think I am jealous of the 11 year old baseball scene, you better think twice.
2nd, my son played probably 100 games a year for 4 years prior to HS. I was at every game and every practice as the pitching coach. Never missed one. This past summer, he played around 50 games after the HS season. I was at every one of them and at every practice. That is not including the hundreds, if not thousands of times we have gone out together to throw, hit or go to lessons together. We still go out 3 times a week to throw together, do bullpens (yes I still catch him), and throw to him for BP. I am not a parent who drops my kid off and has someone else take him home.
I am a parent of an older kid trying to put things in perspective for the parents and coaches of the younger kids. Sounds like some don't agree with me or don't want to hear it. Believe me, I have been there and done that. I am not jealous, I don't want to tear anything down. Take what I say however you want, but don't accuse me of being jealous or not being involved in my son's life or baseball development.
Someone suggested we tell who we are. My name is, and always has been in my profile. My son plays for Centennial HS and plays for the Georgia Hurricanes 16u team in the summer. If you are interested, here is a link to his Perfect Game Showcase Profile. http://perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=251674. I could tell you more about all I have done and all my son has done, but I think I have said enough. I think I will leave this topic alone as well. Good luck to all of you and your sons and your teams. Hope one of you takes home the elite trophy. |
Edited by - bballman on 12/12/2009 10:33:43 |
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2009 : 09:11:35
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dirtdawgs: When you get up to the Atlanta area you look Papa up as I can tell by your post that you are my kind of man. That was a great post meant to encourage and inspire and that it what it will do.
I would like for my Chainsaw that plays for the Bandits to meet these Chain Dirt Dawgs and their Coach.
Good Luck to you. |
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2009 : 09:19:57
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| bballman: I think you are right in pointing out that there is line that we should not cross in the boasting and that we all should practice a little humility no matter how good we are at something. The Bandits also follow your guideline of having fun. Have you watched them at the baseball field. They are filled with life and always searching for that "fun" thing to do. It's obvious that these kids love baseball right now but who knows the future. I think that most of these kids have the tools that if developed properly will give them an edge if they choose to carry this baseball endeavor farther and I think that is what our job as people that love them is and that is to make sure that they are properly prepared for the bumps in the road they will face as they get older. If they make it I say hurrah and if they don't I say great effort but either way baseball gives them something that will prepare them for anything that do choose to do in their lives. |
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TAZ980002
831 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2009 : 09:52:01
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| Dirtdawgs, you guys have got to make it up to ATL this year for some tournaments. Let us know what we can do to help make that happen. Maybe we can get budfrog to put on a big tournament in Macon or somewhere in between Savannah and ATL. |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2009 : 10:38:37
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I'd call it the Radar Trap Open, and get the GA Hwy Patrol to sponsor it :)
quote:
Originally posted by Bandit13
Dirtdawgs, you guys have got to make it up to ATL this year for some tournaments. Let us know what we can do to help make that happen. Maybe we can get budfrog to put on a big tournament in Macon or somewhere in between Savannah and ATL.
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TAZ980002
831 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2009 : 10:54:28
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quote:
Originally posted by bballman
Dirtdawgs, let me point out a couple of things. 1st of all, my son is a sophmore in high school. He was one of three starting pitchers for the varsity high school team last year as a freshman. We're talking AAAAA region 6, arguably the toughest region in the state. He threw 4 complete games, two against the two teams who played in the state championship game and he beat one of them. If you think I am jealous of the 11 year old baseball scene, you better think twice.
2nd, my son played probably 100 games a year for 4 years prior to HS. I was at every game and every practice as the pitching coach. Never missed one. This past summer, he played around 50 games after the HS season. I was at every one of them and at every practice. That is not including the hundreds, if not thousands of times we have gone out together to throw, hit or go to lessons together. We still go out 3 times a week to throw together, do bullpens (yes I still catch him), and throw to him for BP. I am not a parent who drops my kid off and has someone else take him home.
I am a parent of an older kid trying to put things in perspective for the parents and coaches of the younger kids. Sounds like some don't agree with me or don't want to hear it. Believe me, I have been there and done that. I am not jealous, I don't want to tear anything down. Take what I say however you want, but don't accuse me of being jealous or not being involved in my son's life or baseball development.
Someone suggested we tell who we are. My name is, and always has been in my profile. My son plays for Centennial HS and plays for the Georgia Hurricanes 16u team in the summer. If you are interested, here is a link to his Perfect Game Showcase Profile. http://perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=251674. I could tell you more about all I have done and all my son has done, but I think I have said enough. I think I will leave this topic alone as well. Good luck to all of you and your sons and your teams. Hope one of you takes home the elite trophy.
Did I miss something? I didn't see anyone directing anything at bballman. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2009 : 13:37:29
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| Maybe I'm wrong and dirtdawgs wasn't directing his comments to me. If that is the case, my post was a little overboard. He did not mention me directly, but I kind of assumed it was at least partly directed towards me. If I'm wrong dirtdawgs, let me know. Sorry for the outburst either way guys. |
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2009 : 21:53:30
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bballman: I don't think anything has been directed at you. It is now and has always been ok for us to not feel the same way about all things. There will always be a difference of opinion especially in baseball. Some build on pitching, Some build on hitting, and some build on defense and speed. All are good but none are the same.
I'm glad you mentioned your son and his accomplishments as I did not realize until you mentioned it how good he was. In your first posts you mentioned that there might not be a place for the chest thumping and boasting and I feel you still feel that way. My point is only this: I still wouldn't know anything about where you are with your son or how you got there if you had not mentioned it here. But since you did share I can see that your son could help my grandson's navigate their way through these baseball wars. I feel like I could tell you a lot about 9U, 10U, 11U, and 12U as I have been there and experienced that playing field but after 12U I know absoulutely nothing and think you sharing your experience at the next level would be very helpful to all of the younger players.
Getting these kids ready for the next level is like walking through a minefield with many things that could explode and set them back. Since you have been through this minefield you know where a lot of the mines are hidden and can be a big help to the younger kids and their parents on what to avoid.
I think that this is the purpose of this forum and that it to help one another and make sure that these kids have the opportunity to be the best that they be. Whether they happen to make it or not should be the least of our concern.
Good luck to you and your sons and I hope that they continue to make the next step. It gives me chill bumps to think that someday my grandsons could accomplish something similiar to what your son's have. This very feeling is what keeps the game of baseball alive and growing. |
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dirtdawgs
58 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 14:07:44
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bballman-- My previous post wasn't directed at you in anyway. I was responding to the topic not anyone persons view. I know the numbers that sward quoted but they only futher prove my point. If only 1 in 6 kids playing baseball now will play high school ball it stands to reason that only the most dedicated and talented kids make that cut. People like to talk about how kids loose interest and get burned out. The reasons i've seen kids loose interest more than burnout are
1. Failure... Baseball is a very hard game where you fail more than you succeed. It's not fun to strikeout every at bat. A large percentage of the kids that don't continue to play are also cut and are not given a choice.
2. Coaching... Many coaches forget that the game is suppose to be fun. I recently had a major team break up over this issue. My parents who thought thier kids were so great wanted me to run a military style team. I refused because I believe fun is the most important aspect to stopping burnout. Our kids enjoy going to the hotel pool together as much as they love playing baseball. Evey practice after doing our work I always make time for some type of game and competition. You take the fun out of a kids game and it's no longer a kids game.
3. Girls...Don't think I need to explain this one. I tell all my players don't even think about getting serios with a girl until you"re finished playing baseball.
I can tell you this much we played as much baseball as anyone in the country last year. When our practice is over it's always a fight to get the kids to get off the field. When they spend the night with each other they always play some kind of ball. I've made the game fun and people love doing whats fun.
The kids that get the most reps and have the most fun will be that 1-12 that make thier college teams. Thier will always be the story of the kid that didn't pick up a bat until high school and was a natural phenom, but the majority of kids tha play at the next level will be the ones that spent the most time on the field when they were young, learning to love the greatest gameon earth. |
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dirtdawgs
58 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 14:31:17
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baseballpapa and bandit13
Would love to meet you guys this upcoming season. We actually did come to Atlanta several times last year. Super N.I.T and Wood bat were two of the big tournaments I targeted. We got rained on in both of those, but it was still fun. We also played in theDirectors Cup and States. The Chain DirtDawgs played mostly USSSA last season because we set a goal for winning the points title. Little did I know that we wouldn't even get a handshake for that accomplishment. We are still proud of the fact that we finished with more points than any team in any age group.
We are not the same class team that we were a year ago. We were on the verge of competeing with anyone before a nasty parent breakup. This years team has only 4 returning players and 5 AA kids that I'm working hard on becoming DirtDawg players. They have done much better than I could have hoped for this fall and are getting better. I doubt we will get to elite status this year to play with you big boys but will have a ton of fun trying. If you guys go to Kissimme over the Christmas break look us up. Love talking with other people that are as passionate about the game as I am. |
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BROOKSTEAM
145 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2009 : 21:02:23
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Gosh do I love the game of baseball! What my son has done at 11 has far exceeded anything I ever did at any sport. He plays basketball and soccer and a couple of seasons of Lacrosse, but the diff was we did not practice those other games. He just went to his team practice and team game.
Baseball is different to both of us. It is part of who we are and we both work very hard to make him better. I told him he only has to quit when he wants to, not on anyone elses schedule. But no matter how far he gets it is part of who we are and I love his work ethic and his youthful hope and dream. And when his playing time comes to an end we will both smile and head to the nearest ball park to watch as fans...what a great game. |
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