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BaseKnock
29 Posts |
 Posted - 06/07/2013 : 14:41:51
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The past 4 years of my life have largely been consumed with my middle sons baseball career. We pretty much have two seasons at our house, baseball and hunting. Rec leagues, competitive leagues, travel teams, and middle school baseball, he's plays all of them with the goal of making the high school team and playing with his classmates. Hardly a day goes by he isn't working on his hitting or some part of his game. His level of dedication and love is impressive and is the reason my wife and I make sacrifices for him to play as much as he does.
This week the high school he will attend held tryouts. It's a 6A school with a lot of incoming talent and limited roster spots. He's an 8th grader but the program welcomes 8th graders and takes some every year into their program. Even though he's going into 8th grade he has played most of his career with the kids going into their freshman year. For those kids it is a make or break tryout. I've never known a kid that didn't make the freshman team to come back and make JV or varsity. It just doesn't happen in this program.
I know almost every kid that tried out. They've played with or against us for years and we know the kids strengths, weaknesses, ability, and attitudes. With limited slots it's a known fact good players won't make the cut. Kid's that have have talent and worked hard for years get dropped. Most will give baseball up entirely when they can't play for school recognition alongside their friends. It's tough.
Yesterday the coaches posted the team. For some players and parents there was a huge sense of relief and feeling of accomplishment - they made it, all those hours of training and weekends on the road paid off. For others, it was a crushing blow, simply devastating to have invested so much to be told "you aren't good enough to play here."
We had a game last night. Our team has players who both made it and didn't make it. Difficult situation but everybody tried to be upbeat and encourage the ones who came up short. You could read the faces on the parents whose kid did not make it. They hurt for their kids.
My son has another year to make the team. Another year of work and baseball and me wondering, "Will he make the cut?" I hope a year from now I can share his joy and tell him his work and dedication paid off, that setting a goal and sacrificing to get there builds character, that the biggest rewards in life are ones you work for. Those are the lessons I want for him. But yesterday clearly showed the other side, disappointment and tears for falling short. That's a lesson we all deal with at some time and it too is important. Working hard yet failing and and accepting it gracefully, not letting it douse one's spirit. Yes that is important and has value, but I just don't want my kid to go through it. Funny how a game for fun can be so hard. I really feel for the ones that came up short.
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Card6
152 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2013 : 16:10:25
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| Great post...reality hits hard. Several coaches coach at the lower ages so their sons will get on a team. But when schools starts Coach has to let his son stand on his merits. Coaches/parents see their kid as all world. In reality they have little chance making a AAA team. We have been on both sides. My son will do well to start a few games his junior year. Thankful we many options in this State. |
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jmac83
46 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2013 : 17:09:27
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| At the end of the day, though, it doesn't seem to me like he didn't make it; he just didn't get an opportunity to play up an age group (and with a different school, for that matter), correct? Hard for me to interpret that as being cut in any fashion. |
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BaseballMom6
233 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2013 : 21:03:31
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| jmac83 - I think the disappointment is for those incoming freshman that did not make the team, not his own son who has another year. I am not looking forward to the process when my son goes through that in another year. It seems a bit early to be selecting a high school team that won't play until next spring. Is that normal? |
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BaseKnock
29 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2013 : 22:02:54
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BaseballMom6 has it correct. My son has another year, the kids he's always played with do not. This was the make or break week for them. My son's situation is a tad different than most. He's an April birthday kid who is perpetually one if not the youngest on his teams. However among his classmates he is one of the older ones having repeated a grade. With that said based on what happened we take nothing for granted. I feel for the kids that just missed making the roster. It's a tough situation.
FYI, these were the Summer tryouts. Eighteen spots were earned. They will hold a final tryout in November. Basically the roster is set. The November tryout is typically for kids that transfer in or maybe fill a specific role, and of course strong pitching. Perhaps two spots left. At this point you don't want to be on the outside looking in....
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ifly1989
771 Posts |
Posted - 06/10/2013 : 15:21:34
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| I would offer one other way to look at this. My son was also "Cut" from a large High School program. Through hard work and determination and a great travel ball organization he is playing College baseball today. It can be Done!!! |
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TheNatural
37 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2013 : 10:12:05
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| I agree with Ifly989, if someone loves playing the game they should continue to play the game, I know many people that were just ok high school players that got better as they got older and played college baseball. I believe if a kid works hard enough he can still make a varsity team as an 11th grader or senior, it's hard but not impossible. I am curious though because where we live, most of the Major travel baseball teams are way better than the JV teams. I bet 90% of major travel players make their JV teams as 9th graders? I may be off? What level travel team were most of these kids playing on? And who holds a baseball tryout for high school in the summer? |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2013 : 14:45:09
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quote:
Originally posted by TheNatural
And who holds a baseball tryout for high school in the summer?
I'm guessing Parkview. I know they hold tryouts for their Varsity, JV and 9th grade team for the summer. They require their players to play for the summer team. And, yes I know it's not legal, but it is the way it is over there. They have any number of ways to get around this. |
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christheump
351 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2013 : 15:22:07
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| I just want to make sure I am reading this correctly, you are bummed because an 8th grader didnt make varsity for an AAAAAA school??? Or did I read this incorrectly? |
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christheump
351 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2013 : 15:50:05
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quote:
Originally posted by bballman
quote:
Originally posted by TheNatural
And who holds a baseball tryout for high school in the summer?
I'm guessing Parkview. I know they hold tryouts for their Varsity, JV and 9th grade team for the summer. They require their players to play for the summer team. And, yes I know it's not legal, but it is the way it is over there. They have any number of ways to get around this.
There are a lot of powerhouse schools that do the same thing... Loganville is pretty much the same way. |
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TheNatural
37 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2013 : 07:23:37
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| I don't think they are saying they are bummed an 8th grader didn't make varsity, I think they are saying they are bummed some 9th graders didn't make their JV team. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2013 : 09:39:19
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quote:
Originally posted by BaseKnock
I've never known a kid that didn't make the freshman team to come back and make JV or varsity. It just doesn't happen in this program.
I think he's actually talking about the freshman team. |
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christheump
351 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2013 : 10:10:48
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| Gotcha.... |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2013 : 15:45:23
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quote:
Originally posted by bballman
quote:
Originally posted by TheNatural
And who holds a baseball tryout for high school in the summer?
I'm guessing Parkview. I know they hold tryouts for their Varsity, JV and 9th grade team for the summer. They require their players to play for the summer team. And, yes I know it's not legal, but it is the way it is over there. They have any number of ways to get around this.
That's one path to a State Championship.... |
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BaseKnock
29 Posts |
Posted - 06/13/2013 : 17:57:40
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We're in Alabama not Georgia. Tryouts are twice a year, summer and fall. Most of the team is picked at the summer tryout. Very few roster spots are given in the fall, maybe one or two. After the school season ends and before school starts, i.e. summer baseball, the entire team can play together, but the coach only gets seven dates to work with them. Between start of school and the start of the the regular baseball season the kids can play baseball but a team cannot have more than 5 players that play for the same school. More than you probably wanted to know but that is how our state keeps the school teams from playing together and being coached by the school coach year round.
I guess I'll reiterate my original point. I saw some good upcoming 9th graders not get selected for the freshman team. These are kids who love the game and played at the AA and AAA level. I bet those kids are still reeling from the coaches decision and trying to figure out where or if they will play. My son has another year (he's going in 8th grade) and after seeing the hurt one can't help but think about the possible outcomes. There was more than one kid selected/not selected that left me wondering what the coach looks for, and I've been watching this group for many years.
Some of these kids will hopefully find their way to a travel team and continue to develop, but the reality is most of them want to play with friends on their school team and be recognized. When that option is gone I suspect most will be out of the sport by next year. Too many other competing activities.
I just hate to see it come to an end for a lot of these kids and hope my son has several more years, at least. Some are late bloomers and others passed over for reasons I don't know. What I do know is I enjoyed being around them over the years and will miss those who leave the sport.
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beachbums
2 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2013 : 10:33:05
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| Don't know if it's an option for you in ALabama, but alot of players here in Georgi just switch to a smaller high school. We live in a county with about 9 different high schools, all either AAA or 4A. Alot of movement of athletes between the schools. Not saying I necessarily agree, but our state has made it pretty easy for athletes to move based on all of the school or choice laws and so many different academic academy type programs being offered at high schools now and approval of out of district students. Just a thought... |
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aj94
182 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2013 : 11:04:48
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I would not sweat not making a HS team, generally there are several players that make the team based on politics no skill set so there are good players that dont get a spot.
My son never played a year of HS ball just straight travel and will be playing D1 college baseball. A lot of the home schooler's also do this and play D1 or in some cases get drafted. |
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BaseKnock
29 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2013 : 13:35:38
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quote:
Originally posted by beachbums
Don't know if it's an option for you in ALabama, but alot of players here in Georgi just switch to a smaller high school. We live in a county with about 9 different high schools, all either AAA or 4A. Alot of movement of athletes between the schools. Not saying I necessarily agree, but our state has made it pretty easy for athletes to move based on all of the school or choice laws and so many different academic academy type programs being offered at high schools now and approval of out of district students. Just a thought...
Our state makes it virtually impossible to transfer schools and be eligible for sports. Unless you make a bonified move there are very few exceptions. If you transfer from a public to a private school (vice-versa) you lose a year of eligibility. If you want to go to a public school not in the zone where you live you are out of luck unless you can get a waiver and those are hard to come by. |
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OzoneWarrior
39 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2013 : 14:00:04
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I am on the Staff at The Way Sports (www.theozonesi.com) but I am first and foremost a mom . As I read your post I could so relate to your heart. It is so very painful to watch our children go through disappoint , pain, and what seems like rejection. Having been involved in Baseball for now 25 plus years I can tell you not only has God used the game to build character in my sons but in me as well.
As parents we are given so many opportunities to use this sport as life lessons for our sons. Controll the controllables, failure isn't fatal, (stepping stones or stumbling blocks) no blame or excuses, take responsibility, meeting reality head on, reap what you sow and on are just a few principles we are charged with to instill in our children no matter what they do. It is knowing that it is not our mission to keep suffering from them (we can't anyway) but to teach them to suffer well. As our sons grow up there is little we can do in that area. I do believe we can help them understand the power of their thoughts though. After all we live out what we think. Anyway again I know what you are feeling. You can email me directly at daniseowings@gmail.com. |
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Rejection Is Tough
