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patent pending
66 Posts |
 Posted - 01/27/2015 : 11:36:02
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| Tired of the public school head coach. There's a lot of private schools out there that play GHSA. I would like to see the # 1 private play the # 1 public. The # 1 private last year Im sure would give anybody a run for there money. If you can pay 12-26 k a year. You can cut down on the #s at tryouts for sure. |
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dad4kids
109 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2015 : 13:23:43
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| Coach woulda put me in, we would've been state champions. No doubt. |
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DecaturDad
619 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2015 : 14:18:42
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quote:
Originally posted by patent pending
Tired of the public school head coach. There's a lot of private schools out there that play GHSA. I would like to see the # 1 private play the # 1 public. The # 1 private last year Im sure would give anybody a run for there money. If you can pay 12-26 k a year. You can cut down on the #s at tryouts for sure.
Why would you think that a private school has a "better" coach then a public school? My son played for a private school last year and will play for a public school this year. He loved his coach last year, and baseball was not at all the reason we changed schools. What I see now at a larger public school is more resources for sports: larger weight room with a trainer who focuses on baseball, larger community support, playing at a higher level (Played AAA last year. Will play AAAAAA this year.) and I am sure there are many more.
At both schools, there were more kids at try outs then there were spots. Some of the kids who get cut may be great players. What I told my son when he first attended try outs last year was that the coach gets paid to win games. if he thinks you can help him win, you will play.
As a dad, I have heard parents tell me both the good things and the bad things about each of these coaches. Since we did not pick either school based on the baseball program, I don't put much into what I hear. The HS season is not that long.
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2015 : 15:15:22
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quote:
Originally posted by DecaturDad
quote:
Originally posted by patent pending
Tired of the public school head coach. There's a lot of private schools out there that play GHSA. I would like to see the # 1 private play the # 1 public. The # 1 private last year Im sure would give anybody a run for there money. If you can pay 12-26 k a year. You can cut down on the #s at tryouts for sure.
Why would you think that a private school has a "better" coach then a public school? My son played for a private school last year and will play for a public school this year. He loved his coach last year, and baseball was not at all the reason we changed schools. What I see now at a larger public school is more resources for sports: larger weight room with a trainer who focuses on baseball, larger community support, playing at a higher level (Played AAA last year. Will play AAAAAA this year.) and I am sure there are many more.
At both schools, there were more kids at try outs then there were spots. Some of the kids who get cut may be great players. What I told my son when he first attended try outs last year was that the coach gets paid to win games. if he thinks you can help him win, you will play.
As a dad, I have heard parents tell me both the good things and the bad things about each of these coaches. Since we did not pick either school based on the baseball program, I don't put much into what I hear. The HS season is not that long.
If you can/will pay $12-$25 K/yr for HS, you can eliminate a lot of competition for your player. |
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patent pending
66 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2015 : 16:04:42
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| Decatur dad. I never said the coaches were better. Although at the top private schools in GHSA the over all baseball staff I think are much more knowledgeable and baseball experienced than public. I mean the school I spoke about above was founded by former MLB stars. Lots of ex pros kids also attend private. These schools have top notch weight rooms, trainers and fields. You should know some of these schools are also located on the southside. Private allows you to cut down on the # s. The parents were complaining on this board about the sheer # of players at tryouts. My sons private school has 5 teams and a rapidly growing baseball program. He's also a senior whos played varsity and started 4 years. If your sons not getting a fair shake these private schools I feel will give him a fair look. That's all I was saying and forget about the money too. If he's good I promise they'll make it work. Im also not promoting any 1 school. There's excellent private schools with great programs all over Atl. We also play public and there emphasis on baseball across the board don't compare. Don't worry cause my son regrets us not sending him to public all the time. Just not nearly as many girls for him to chase. |
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DecaturDad
619 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2015 : 18:53:27
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Sorry Patent pending, When you mentioned "tired of the public school head coach", I assumed you were saying the coaching was better.
I think it depends on the school and the kid. My son has been fortunate so far to have great coaching at two different high schools. Though I do miss the turf field from the private school :-(
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NF1974
62 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2015 : 16:29:45
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This post is from the father of a travel ball player who still loves the game and did not make his HS team. My son played travel ball for a lot of years out of ECB and other places. he played at the Major level and was usually the 3rd or 4th best player on the team. He made the JV squad and played just okay. He did not give them any reason to jump up and down and honestly he did not show them enough at Highschool tryouts to make the team. The Highschool tryouts were 1 week long and not conducive to seeing what the kids could really do. I know this sounds like sour grapes but it is not. All of the kids had to perform under the same circumstances so it was fair-correct? What they never saw was the kind of player he is when he has a lot of reps etc.. so this was not there fault but just the reality of his Cobb county highschool. As parents, we were not particularly involved other than the regular fundraising activities. What i do know is that a few of the kids that made the team were on there because their parents ran the concessions, were in charge of the fundraising, etc.. Being involved and playing politics are defintely a part of the process at this particular school. Again, let me say that my son did not do enough to stand out.There was a kid that they cut that was a 5 tool player and a legitimate D1 prospect and they cut him primarily because he had gotten into a little trouble off the field and had a run in with the AD.I know for a fact that this was why he was cut. So, I cannot conclude that they carried the best 22 players from an athletic standpoint.
I always told my son that his education was the most important part of the process. he was quite devastated when he did not make the HS team his junior year. He improved a lot and tried out again his senior year,( resilence) and did not make it.
He is now playing for a D3 team in Virginia and concentrating on his education. He still loves the game. For all you parents out there that have sons that want to play at the next level, do not get discouraged. I think it would have been a great thing for him to play for his Highschool but it is sooo competitive and there are other factors at work in addition to talent. |
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Critical Mass
277 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2015 : 18:07:04
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+1 & ^5
quote:
Originally posted by AllStar
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Originally posted by bballguy
This is when Daddy Ball comes to an end!
And Donor Ball starts!
Or Board Member Ball!
Or Coach's Pet Ball!
There will always be an off-the-field reason little Jonny isn't batting lead off and playing short. Won't have anything to do with the fact that he can't hit a curve ball.
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nastycurve
244 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2015 : 11:12:06
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A question I have is does daddy ball ever affect a good kid? It seems to usually affect a fringe player who may or may not be good enough to play either way... And for the parents who would do "anything" for their kid, why dont they just join the booster club or do a little fund raising? My guess is that they would realize that even if they were to do it, Little Johnny still cant cut it, and they would be forced to face reality.
I guess its easier to sit around and complain vs actually doing something for most. |
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CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2015 : 16:24:12
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quote:
Originally posted by nastycurve
A question I have is does daddy ball ever affect a good kid? It seems to usually affect a fringe player who may or may not be good enough to play either way... And for the parents who would do "anything" for their kid, why dont they just join the booster club or do a little fund raising? My guess is that they would realize that even if they were to do it, Little Johnny still cant cut it, and they would be forced to face reality.
I guess its easier to sit around and complain vs actually doing something for most.
I think "daddy ball" has many facets and what some people think is Daddy ball could actually be the coaches strategy.
For example, coach decided not to play Johnny (the "best" kid) at SS. Johnny is on the bench, and instead coach has played the assistant coaches kid...the crowd starts whispering about "daddy ball"...but what the coach hasn't explained (BECAUSE HE IS THE COACH!!!)is that he needs Johnny to be loose and fresh because if little Timmy gets in trouble on the mound Johnny is the only other kid coach feels can pitch to this team effectively and doesn't want Johnny tired from playing the demanding SS position.
From the uneducated non-coach observer it sure looks like Johnny has been benched in favor of the assistant coaches kid "DADDY BALL", but in reality the coach did what he thought was best for the team and it had nothing to do with daddy ball and everything to do with thinking like a coach.
Bottom line...during the season you either shut up or take your kid off the team. During the Summer you evaluate how you felt your son was used during the previous season...if you don't like it YOU MOVE! The parents/the players/the peanut gallery have no idea what strategy the coach is trying to use....maybe it is daddy ball, maybe it's just strategy. |
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hshuler
1074 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2015 : 17:30:43
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Definition of daddy ball - Coach's kid getting preferential treatment because he's coach's kid.
It's why there are 17 million travel teams. "My kids didn't make the team so I'll start my own."
Bottom line is (for the most part) if your kid is good enough he'll play. If not, he won't and that's okay. Are some coaches jerks and sometimes don't like some kids for whatever reason...yes, and it's unfortunate. But most coaches need to win to stay employed and will do what he thinks they need to do to win.
I wonder how many kids really love the game like their parents say they do...because my kid likes it but he doesn't love it...and it's perfectly okay by me.
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Edited by - hshuler on 01/30/2015 17:39:38 |
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excoach12
159 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2015 : 18:11:20
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My kid did very well at tryouts for his arge AAAAAA school. Made first cuts, varsity had 24/25 kids and JV had another 23. About 8 kids got cut from Varisty and sent to JV and coach cut 8 freshman to make room. My kid was one of them. Stinks. Every coach who has worked with my kid is floored he did not make it. Several of the JV kids were stunned and found him at school today and said they could not believe other kids made the team over him. That was very touching. What meant more was when varsity kids found him and said they could not believe it also. What a great group of kids to tell a Freshman that. Hats off to a bunch of good kids.
My kid talked to the coach, thanked him for the opportunity and told him he would work hard and try again next year. Coach said he wanted him very bad but theres only so much room and he needed position players and my kid did not play those positions. What more can you do? Coach had to let 8 very good Freshman go to make room for the Sophs/Juniors/Seniors. It is what it is.
Were the 20 best players picked? Nope. But the 20 best players the coach needed for his openings were, in his opinion, and thats all that matters. I imagine it was very difficult for the coach.
So my kid will play with another travel team until his regular travel team re-assembles after HS ball and he'll continue to work hard to get better, tryout next year and see what happens. If he never makes the HS team, no biggie. He'll bust his behind for the coaches who HAVE picked him.
Not the first coach who passed on him, won't be the last. There is a string of coaches regretting their decisions after the fact. Thats baseball!
So take the rejection with dignity and use it to motivate yourself to be better.
Of course, if this school would just have a feeder team and a Freshman team things would be better all around and 20 more of the most talented ninth graders in East Cobb would be playing for their HS. Never understood why they don't.......................   |
Edited by - excoach12 on 02/02/2015 18:21:56 |
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rippit
667 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2015 : 20:20:29
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| I'll never understand age before skill. I get needing certain positions but if you hit, they'll keep you. Just learned that for ourselves. Lucky for us, it was a positive ending. Or beginning. |
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DecaturDad
619 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2015 : 20:28:20
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if this school would just have a feeder team and a Freshman team things would be better all around and 20 more of the most talented ninth graders in East Cobb would be playing for their HS. Never understood why they don't.......................
My son's high school will have a freshman team this year. But it will be completely funded by the booster club. No school funds are available. I am not sure how that works, but perhaps other schools should look into it?
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LittleDawg
91 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2015 : 20:57:38
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@excoach12 Wondering if our boys go to same school. Same experience. Made 1st cuts. Spent last week practicing and scrimmaging. Sunday roster got posted and he didn't make the cut. 8 cuts. It was a tough day for him and a lesson on life's fairness and failures. I say fairness because 2 of the spots were filled by boys who did not workout with the team these past few weeks at all so not sure how the coach had enough to evaluate. But it is what it is.
So when my son got to school, he held his head high. He told me he searched for some of the guys that did make the team because he wanted to congratulate them. They told him they were shocked he didn't make the team. One of the boys said "This team will not be the same without you". It was exactly what he needed to hear because while he's proud on the outside, I know he's hurting inside. But this will fuel him to continue to work hard with his travel team and move on.
It was a great experience that is also proving to be a good life lesson. It sucks. But I am so proud of him not only because of how hard he has worked since last August but also seeing how he is handling himself when faced with challenges. In the fog of war, it's difficult to see your child as anything but a little boy but when faced with adversity it's awesome to see that little boy become a man.
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BaseballMom6
233 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2015 : 22:02:11
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LittleDawg/ExCoach12 my son is obviously at the same school as both your boys and had the same experience. It has been especially hard on him as the JV coach had told him how much he liked what he was doing, and then to not make the cut. It is definitely a tough lesson in fairness, and I'm proud of how he has handled himself at school, but I can easily see how much this has hurt him. All we ever want as parents is to have our child be happy and for their hard work and effort to pay off. I agree that I can't understand spots being held for players who have not even tried out do to winter sports, there are 3 spots. Who knows if those players will actually make the roster when all is said and done, but it doesn't seem quite fair to cut kids that may have made it if those players had been there for the long haul.
I couldn't be prouder of how hard my son has worked through this process and the number of hours he put in training for this opportunity. He will go on and continue to play for his travel team, and I hope he continues to hold his head high. Best of luck to both your boys! |
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CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2015 : 08:53:17
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quote:
Originally posted by excoach12
Coach said he wanted him very bad but theres only so much room and he needed position players and my kid did not play those positions. What more can you do? Coach had to let 8 very good Freshman go to make room for the Sophs/Juniors/Seniors. It is what it is.
Okay I have to ask...are 9th graders really so specialized as to specific positions? I mean I understand only having so many pitcher only spots available, and even catcher spots, but I don't understand how this posters kid "didn't play those positions" that were open? My kid is in 7th grade and while his current travel ball coach has positions he likes him in it's vastly different than what he played just last year. I don't understand about 9th graders not being sort of a jack of all trades...can someone please explain. |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2015 : 09:44:10
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Kid is 6'1", 220 lbs. He's not going to play SS. Kid is 5'8", 130 lbs. He's not going to be playing 1st base. There are many reasons. It may not be that the kid couldn't play a particular position. It could be that the coach had 3 other kids that could play it better or were more suited to it.
In travel, there are an unlimited number of spots available. Don't make a team, find another one. High School is when the funnel starts getting narrower. From here on out, it gets more difficult to make the team and even more difficult to get significant play time. Some of these kids will keep working hard, improving their skills and conditioning and will try out again next year. Some will decide not to. Some kids who made the team will decide they don't like going to practice everyday and getting yelled at by the coach, and will quit. Some kids who make the team will not like sitting on the bench and will quit. Some kids will decide they like girls more, or free time more, or video games more or whatever. They will decide they don't want to make the full time commitment to baseball and will move on.
I feel bad for those of you whose son's did not make the HS team after all these years of preparing for it. If your son really wants to play, have them keep working hard and getting better. Help them get to the point where the coach cannot ignore them. If they come back next year much improved, they still have a chance. As I said, there WILL be kids who don't come back. There WILL be seniors graduating. There WILL be spots opening up. Be the kid to fill those spots.
Best of luck to all. Those who made the team as well as those who didn't. |
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offspeed4
169 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2015 : 10:47:23
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| Very well said bballman! |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2015 : 11:40:02
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quote:
Originally posted by excoach12
Of course, if this school would just have a feeder team and a Freshman team things would be better all around and 20 more of the most talented ninth graders in East Cobb would be playing for their HS. Never understood why they don't.......................
With only a couple of exceptions, Freshman baseball teams in Cobb County would not be very good. Not arguing in favor of or against just saying what I observed.
The Gwinnett schools are considerably larger, so they do it. I get why Cobb doesn't. I also realize that a couple of Cobb schools could field very good Freshman teams. |
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NF1974
62 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2015 : 12:37:15
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I agree with everything bmallman said in his post. I also feel the pain of the parents and kids that did not make their team. It is a great time to teach our kids about lifes lessons of fairness and resilence. Sometimes character building sucks and this is one of those times.
I want to reiterate that your son can pursue his desire to play the game at the next level. This is a setback and a roadblock but it does not mean that they should give up their desire to keep playing and maybe play in college. There are a lot of D-2 and 3 teams out there that are looking for players. There are a lot of showcases and exhibitions available for your son to be seen. This does not mitigate the hurt of not making the highschool team-which is a big deal. It just means that they have to keep working.
I also want to emphasize the importance of grades. If your son can make good grades and do well on the SAT/ACT then his options for playing at a good school will dramitically improve. |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2015 : 15:31:17
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quote:
Originally posted by CaCO3Girl
quote:
Originally posted by excoach12
Coach said he wanted him very bad but theres only so much room and he needed position players and my kid did not play those positions. What more can you do? Coach had to let 8 very good Freshman go to make room for the Sophs/Juniors/Seniors. It is what it is.
Okay I have to ask...are 9th graders really so specialized as to specific positions? I mean I understand only having so many pitcher only spots available, and even catcher spots, but I don't understand how this posters kid "didn't play those positions" that were open? My kid is in 7th grade and while his current travel ball coach has positions he likes him in it's vastly different than what he played just last year. I don't understand about 9th graders not being sort of a jack of all trades...can someone please explain.
Yes, absolutely. You see this really beginning at 14u travel as most all kids have hit puberty. Size, speed, instinct, etc., etc. REALLY begin to factor in. The days of shuffling around really cut down. Maybe a couple of kids can play them all, but when you get to HS, you focus in on the middle skill positions (catcher, ss, 2b, CF). You want your best in their respective skill requirements there. Then you focus on the corners. (3b, 1b, LF, RF). Of course, pitchers are their own beast and you begin to separate starters from relievers, etc. Once you get to HS, you'll see that size, speed, instinct, etc., will rule a kid out of playing certain positions.
Remember, the coach is trying to put his best hitting lineup on the field and it becomes a jigsaw puzzle to find the balance between offensive and defensive strength that he can put on the field. Just because a kid CAN play a position doesn't mean that he's the best overall puzzle piece at that position. Every kid should have a goal of having at least two and preferably three positions that they can compete to play. Even then, there may be three other kids that fill out he puzzle at those three positions better than him and he may find himself odd man out.
So a very long answer to your question. Simply put, yes, you better have a specialty position when you get to HS, have a serviceable second, and be able to rake. |
Edited by - in_the_know on 02/03/2015 15:37:45 |
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Card6
152 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2015 : 15:44:53
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Hitters rule.
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Tribe
82 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2015 : 21:56:01
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This is a tough time for a lot of families. Several years ago, my son was cut as a freshman from his high school team. I remember it like it was yesterday.
For all of you with a dejected freshman or sophomore tonight, remind him that it's the last two seasons that really matter. Get stronger, get faster, get better...study your team's deficiencies and try to present yourself as a solution next year. Everybody loves a comeback story. Despite all the stories of politics and such that you'll read here, high school coaches have to win. If you can help him win, there will be a spot for you. |
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pride coach
21 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2015 : 09:16:09
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To the parents of players that got cut or didn't make their High School team.
Here are two very important things to remember and share with your sons.
First- as a professional baseball instructor and Coach, I can tell you that there are many reasons that a coach will take one player over another and many times they have nothing to do with which player is "better." It could come down to team need, as a previous poster said. Keep at it, because the last two years are the most important ones. Most players are not even on anyone's radar until junior year anyway.
Second and most important for these boys (and parents) to remember- The odds of your High School coach being a "baseball" guy with professional experience and workable knowledge to develop are EXTREMELY slim. They are Science teachers and Math teachers and History teachers! The best baseball instructors and coaches don't have teaching certificates and are not school teachers. There may be a couple of exceptions but not many. So understand that your son is likely not being rejected by a baseball professional, he is being told "not now" by the Special Ed teacher (or whatever class they teach).
Keep at it and if your son develops into a PLAYER... it will show, I promise! Good luck to all of the players this season. |
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HS Teams
