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NewDad
4 Posts |
 Posted - 01/20/2013 : 10:22:42
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Hello Yall , first time caller long time listener
Son is a player of some talents but wants no to do with his school team this spring per several others are dropping out
We know of some choices but being in early years of high school havnt heard much of where to go what to do
Early thought was to find a home schoolers team -- are they around and where find?
NE Atlanta reside but have car will travel
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nastycurve
244 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2013 : 00:12:32
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My thoughts would be to play with the school team just because its there and to represent the school and play on the best travel team you can find. Look for one that will play showcase tournaments so that your son can get all the exposure possible.
The best talent is going to be seen in travel sports so put your time and efforts there, but I would still play school ball. I wouldnt take too seriously a kid who couldn't or didn't play for his school. |
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Card6
152 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2013 : 13:17:57
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| My son feels the same way because it is so bad. We plan to do only travel. |
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allaboutbaseball
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2013 : 20:23:30
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I cannot speak for the elite level players and the decisions they must make. I can only speak for my son who is a freshman in high school. He quit playing travel ball after Cooperstown, and began to focus on swimming. Truth is that he is a much better swimmer than baseball player :).
After watching him swim with high school friends; making new friends; watching them root each other on at high school swim meets, I cannot imagine any player not wanting to play for his high school! Are not most of the best players playing for their high school? So if you did not play for your high school team, is there decent competition between February and early May? Doesn't the elite travel schedule begin after the high school season is over?
I just cannot imagine getting the same thrill/enjoyment of playing for a random team versus what the high school teams can offer. And I am not talking about coaching, advancing skills etc. Truth is - most of these boys will not be playing past high school, and VERY VERY few of them will be playing past college. |
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BaseballMom6
233 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2013 : 10:53:46
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| There are homeschool travel programs out there, but many practice and play during the day, and most are religious based. That may or may not work for you. Good Luck. |
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2013 : 11:06:16
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| I feel so very lucky that my Grandson's will be playing for a high school baseball team that is coached by a man that I consider to be one of the best around and assisted a community Coach that eats and sleeps baseball. You all know how much Papa love's travel baseball but there is something special about playing for your school that really makes it fun for me to watch. I can't wait for the high school and middle school seasons to start. |
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nastycurve
244 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2013 : 12:20:45
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I agree Papa, we have two great coaches over here and most of my travel team plays for the high school. Even though the competition at the high school level isnt as highly consistent as travel, its still a blast to play and theres something to be said for the competition amongst friends and sometimes (travel)teammates who are on other school teams.
Jon, I agree that you can gain a large amount of self exposure through college camps, showcases and direct contact with coaches, and that alone can get you scholarshipped or drafted. My point is that high level travel tournaments for 15 and up dont really start until mid May or so, so the majority of baseball that is played is high school ball for the first 5 months of the year. Im just saying somebody who is going to play lesser competition in garbage tourneys or leagues yet complain about the quality of their school team is slightly confused. It reminds me of when kids say they are really good at basketball yet dont play for the school, they play for the church or rec league team. |
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klhmlh
42 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2013 : 12:34:12
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| Southern Prospects started three spring teams for High School ages in 2012 and East Cobb has one team this year. Not all High School coaches or High School programs are made the same. My son is a current Junior and has played for his High School team for the last two years. He has also been playing on highly completive showcase teams. He loves playing baseball but this has been a challenging year. 10 or more of the guys he played with in 9th and 10th grade have decided not to play with the High School this since year and most of that is because of the Coach. Besides loving baseball the only reason he would continue to play for his High School is his friends on the team. I do not expect the High School team to be very successful. I also don’t think it matters where the kids play spring ball. If they are good enough and have good grades the colleges will offer. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2013 : 14:57:26
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quote:
Originally posted by jongamefan
for kids who dont want to deal with a disfunctional high school team or just who dont make there team.
They know about the drama many high school coaches cause for the players and families.
May be true, but you better have a better excuse than "my high school team stinks" or "I didn't like the coach" or "there is too much politics". If I were the college coach, I would wonder what this kid would do if they didn't like the coaching staff for some reason. Or what if the team had a bad year? Will this kid just bail on us, like he did in HS? What if he doesn't get much play time to start? Will he be a whiner and complainer that there are politics involved?
I'm sure college coaches have heard their share of stories about dysfunctional HS programs. The question is, are you a hard worker who makes no excuses and knows how to deal with adversity, or are you the kind of person that is going to run away to go find greener pastures because things are tough? Or are you going to be a cancer on the team, complaining all the time because things aren't going your way?
There is a lot to think about here people before you just bail on your HS team. |
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11UFAN
149 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2013 : 13:28:19
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| Dont overlook the benefits of your kid playing with older kids in highschool. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2013 : 10:56:46
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I always get a kick out of these threads. Making and playing for the HS team WAS my son's goal. For the early age travel teams, the coaches stated that their job was to help prep your player for HS.
Now that he's attained that goal, we're going to enjoy it and not worry about whether or not it could be better, where the school is ranked in the county/state/country/world and if the coaches at the HS should be his primary source of development (they're not).
He is investigating college ball, but understands that if he plays in college it will be at a small school. He's trying to figure out if that's a direction he wants to go.
Meanwhile we are going to enjoy the experience that he worked toward for 4 years. |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2013 : 12:40:12
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This question is like the discussion by fans about firing an NFL coach, or trading away their QB. The discussion needs to start with "is there someone better that is a lock to secure?".
If not, then go with what's best. Don't fire someone if you don't already have a better option available. Likewise, don't skip your high school team unless there is a better option already available.
Sounds to me like you're asking the questions to determine if there are better options. If you find one, go for it and if you have to explain yourself in the future, you already have your reason. "The program we chose during the high school season offered better options for my son and family than the high school". No need to air dirty laundry or get caught up in innuendo. Keep it simple.
If you don't find a better option, then stick with the high school team, however disappointing it may be. There's something to be learned in losing, so do overlook the value. Similarly, playing for difficult coaches is great preparation for working for difficult bosses, etc., in the future. Get the reps and teach your son how to have a winning attitude, even when faced with adversity.
Best of luck |
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AUBB
73 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2013 : 13:00:50
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AllStar.....I agree completely. We do send our children to a religious school, and my son's goal of playing for his school extends morally and ethically past "Elite status". We are using the travel program to prepare him. If he makes the team, with a 20 game schedule, he may also play on a travel team too.
The memorable experience of representing his school, having fun and being on a team made up of his peers is the true goal here. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2013 : 15:07:22
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quote:
Originally posted by RobDa
my impression with the college recruiters and coaches is that if you are qualified in skills and grades they really dont care where or if you played high school .
that being said it is reasonable for them to know why you didnt play school . Given verified examples of dysfunction ,abuse , better alternativs elsewhere , whatever , I can't believe they don't move on past the subject and recruit the player based on his summer and fall performance .
The college coaches are professionals rather than a teacher who is a baseball fan and needs to make some extra money , the high schools inability to keep the players on board is not their problem .
The coaches might not care where or if you played for your high school team. However, they do care about attitude and work ethic. As in_the_know said, if you have a reasonable explaination, then you will probably be OK. Don't forget, a lot may depend on how much of a stud you are. If you are a top draft prospect, the recruiters will overlook a lot. If you are just one of the guys trying to get looked at, there are a TON of variables that will be looked at.
We were at a showcase tournament one summer. One of our players struck out and on the way back to the dugout, threw his helmet on the ground. The college coach that was there watching said "that kid will never be on this team with that attitude". Now, if that kid was Bryce Harper, it would probably be overlooked. For the other 99.9% of our kids out there, it is make or break.
I'm not saying if you don't play for your HS, you can't play college ball. I'm just saying that your reasons for not playing HS ball may be a reflection of your character, and may have a big impact on a college coach as to whether he wants you on his team or not.
RobDa, you are right. The college coaches are professionals. That also means that they are not babysitters and don't want kids that are going to be a problem on their team. They want kids that are going to be self sufficient, hard workers with a good attitude. It makes their job much easier to manage. They will not have a lot of patience for someone who makes excuses or complains about the teams record or their play time. They will expect you to get out there and perform and earn a spot on the field. If you don't perform, you don't play. Don't play long enough, you won't be on the team very long.
I've mentioned before that my son is a freshman at a very competitive DII school. There are 9 kids that were on the roster last year that are not on the roster this year. The kids that are not there this year are kids that 1. didn't perform, 2. had attitude problems, 3. became academically ineligible or a combination of the first 2. I'm sure coaches don't want to have to cut kids, so they are going to be looking for kids that they think will make it through all 4 years.
So, bottom line is no, you don't HAVE to play for your local HS team to play at the next level. BUT, if you don't, I think you better have a pretty valid reason for not doing it - unless you're Bryce Harper. JMHO. |
Edited by - bballman on 01/24/2013 15:11:17 |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2013 : 15:58:10
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1st of all, I'm not saying that you HAVE to play for your HS team. I'm saying that the reasons that you have for not playing may be a reflection on you by a college coach. Good or bad depending on your reason.
With that being said, maybe we're looking at this from different perspectives. I never looked at HS ball for my son as a way to get instruction and development. I looked at it as playing with his friends, representing his school and having fun. He - and most of the other players on his HS team - knew more about baseball than his coach. At least that's what they told me. However, he would NEVER have even considered not playing for the HS team. Even though the coach was not the best coach in the world and the team was average at best, he loved playing HS ball. He continued developing on his summer team. That is the team we did everything with in terms of recruiting. It was never about what can the HS team teach him and what can he get out of it. It was about playing for his school, with his friends and playing against a number of his summer teammates on opposing HSs. It was all about having fun and he loved it.
Hope that makes sense. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2013 : 21:28:20
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It would be interesting to take the Top Ten D-1 teams' rosters and see how many of their players didn't play for their High Schools.
I know the alternatives are out there and they may even grow and thrive, so I might be surprised by the number. But I doubt it. |
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LilBigTown
115 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2013 : 07:57:22
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| AGREE!!! Very WEll Said BBALL MAN. Its not always about top 10 D1 rosters and teams its about young men becoming men. |
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Peanutsr
171 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2013 : 08:53:00
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| Interesting that when you watch the MLB draft every year that when they list the young men's names, they always list their high school ( or college ) after their name. Never see a players name followed by the name of their travel team. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2013 : 19:47:30
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quote:
Originally posted by LilBigTown
AGREE!!! Very WEll Said BBALL MAN. Its not always about top 10 D1 rosters and teams its about young men becoming men.
Sorry if I was unclear. I agree with bballman and you.
Some of the folks denigrating HS Baseball, or at least baseball at their High Schools, are hoping for their kids to play at the next level. My point was that, for better or worse, the step to the next level probably includes High School ball.
I've said 1000 times that my son's goal was to play for his High School. He's achieved that. He's investigating the next level, but if he does it, it will be at a small school and I'm not sure he wants to go to a small school. So if this is the level at which his baseball career ends, he's achieved his goal. |
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kehndog
88 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2013 : 10:59:00
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Just wanted to support the great points made by bballman in this thread. College coaches mostly want to recruit 100% studs into their programs, but there are lots of players in the D1 through D3 ranks who needed to rely on something other than their "studmanship" to get college offers. After the stud factor, college coaches look for well rounded, baseball committed, passion-for-the-game players. If a crappy HS school coaches squelches a player's desire to play, that will be noticed as non-committed and non-passionate.
Have a quick look at the GA Dugout Club's PREVIEW magazine that comes out each Winter. Compare the players named to their First Team, Second Team, or Players To Watch status in all 6 classifications against the listing of Commitments to NCAA and NJCAA programs on Perfect Game's website. 100% are playing HS ball, and I'm sure there's a fair share of players with HS coaches who aren't that great. Every player needs to craft and tell their own story about their experiences in baseball as they progress to the next level. I recommend they use every aspect, including having to play for a sub-standard coach or program somewhere along the line, as the motivating story that shows their commitment to and passion for the game. |
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aj94
182 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2013 : 17:31:08
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I read some where else about someone looking to do a spring travel option for those not playing on their HS team.
The email is springtravel2013@gmail.com |
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Card6
152 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2013 : 19:41:30
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[quote]Originally posted by aj94
I read some where else about someone looking to do a spring travel option for those not playing on their HS team.
The email is springtravel2013@gmail.com
Think this is great. We have friends that their child didnt make the AAAAA HS baseball team.
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springtravel2013
3 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2013 : 07:53:24
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Yes I am seeing if their is any interest in doing a spring "travel" team to play in the month of March and April in order to have a option other than a few games of rec ball at and at a cost similiar to playing HS ball.
This would be light travel schedule (nothing like summmer ball, just like a fall ball part 2 to get you ready for the summer) with some local double headers and 2-3 weekend travel tournaments to Florida where they hold HS age tournaments year round. The goal would be at least 20 or so games for the spring.
We would have no field obviously so we would have to hold occasional practices out of a indoor facility and play road games.
If I can get up 10 or more serious players I would be down to do it, would also need some coaching help.
If you are not playing HS ball for whatever reason (grades, politics, choice) and have HS level baseball skills then send an email to springtravel2013@gmail.com
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dogatbat
45 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2013 : 05:55:06
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| Springtravel2013, I have sent you an email re this team and still have not received a response. Is this option still open or do you have a full team. Where are you located out of? |
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90mph
26 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2013 : 07:43:08
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| Ditto, we have sent the emails. But people do get busy. Spring travel, sounds like fun. Still thinking of doing this? |
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Topic |
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Spring Baseball Choices ?
