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Collectively, A Thread To Celebrate Our Kids Athletic Accomplishments (2 Viewers)

One thing I noticed in swim with the higher level meets, like just below Olympic level.... you have some swimmers swimming for schools and then you have some swimmers swimming for clubs. I don't know how that all works out.
Seems like for swimming it would be very straightforward for recruiting. What's your time? What are your dimensions? Rack and stack. There isn't much subjectivity there. I am sure there are some technique improvement situations but it seems like times would be the most important thing.
My bad, I was not clear on this, these are not HS level meets. This is college level.... so next to a swimmer from Stanford and Texas is a swimmer from The Cyclones or whatever club.

I found this trying to get more info....

  1. College Club Swimming (CCS) Meets: These meets are organized by College Club Swimming, which unifies college club swim programs across the country. They provide a platform for college club swimmers to compete in a structured environment1.
  2. USA Swimming Meets: Some USA Swimming events allow college swimmers to compete alongside club swimmers. These meets often include a wide range of participants, from age group swimmers to collegiate athletes.
  3. Invitational Meets: Certain invitational meets are open to both college and club swimmers. These events can be hosted by universities or swim clubs and often feature a mix of competitors.
  4. Dual Meets: Occasionally, college teams might invite club teams to participate in dual meets, providing a competitive experience for both groups.
  5. Championship Meets: Larger championship meets, such as regional or national championships, may also see participation from both college and club swimmers, especially in the off-season for college swimming
 
And I can tell you as well that Colleges are more and more going to the portal and less and less to high school freshman. It's getting a lot harder for guys who are not blue chip recruits to find a 4 year program out of high school and that is running thru all of college baseball D1,2,3 and NAIA.
Yea, I posted a while ago about seeing a D1 coach talking to kids and telling them that they use to recruit like 5-6 DB's a year and now like 2-3 and then looking at the portal for the rest. He was explaining to them that they need to not only be good athletes and good at your sport but have all the other stuff that is a positive and none of the negatives off the field. Essentially, they look for reasons to eliminate you from consideration before even getting to decide if you have enough talent to offer. Good grades- check, bad attitude- you are not considered anymore.
 
And I can tell you as well that Colleges are more and more going to the portal and less and less to high school freshman. It's getting a lot harder for guys who are not blue chip recruits to find a 4 year program out of high school and that is running thru all of college baseball D1,2,3 and NAIA.
I think this is still a learning process and highly dependent upon the level and school. D1 programs this is 100% correct. There is no need to develop freshman because they can let someone else do that then bring them in as juniors to take over for the senior that just left.

As you move down in level there is some trickle with this approach but the lower level coaches D2/D3/NAIA that recruited my son all wanted to build in house and develop a culture. They didn't want to play the mercenary game of the portal but use it more of a supplement as they lost players or weren't able to recruit a particular position. That being said, they used the portal pretty extensively (15 transfer players were brought in to my son's D2 school along with 11 freshman).

It's still relatively new so each sport, coach, and school are still figuring it out. But the best thing you can do is research the school and coach and meet with as many as you can to really see what works best for you (and them). And even then it still might be a crapshoot.


ETA: The first thing your kid really needs to do is take a serious look at themselves and evaluate honestly where your skills fall on the spectrum. Also, you need to be honest with what you want out of your experience (start, be on the team, be a star, etc) Those two things are maybe the most important things to figure out before you even start your recruitment process.
 
HS sports are only important to top talent in as much as that is how they get recruited. If HS isn't the primary way recruitment happens like in the past and recruitment if focused on club organizations, the top talent will go there. Some will play both but I have heard more and more where club teams discourage or flat out ban playing for their organization AND HS. Football has a great advantage over other sports because there really isn't anything to compete with HS football for the talent and that is how you get recruited. Other sports, to varying degrees, seems to have moved away from HS sport.

From my own observance while learning swim.... it seems like swimmers do both club and HS but then actually don't really do club. I think it has something to do with practice time. Our club only sees the HS swimmers at the conference championship meet and that is it. I see some HS swimmers from other clubs here and there but for the most part, HS swimmers aren't at the ISI meets.
For many sports, the recruitment doesn't necessarily come from the high school sport. Football is one exception, but even with football the recruitment is largely coming from the various camps players attend to get noticed, then the coaches may see their film (twitter is huge for this process), and then the coaches may attend a game if they can make it part of a sweep of seeing several prospects in one trip.

For other sports like soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, etc., it is much easier for coaches to watch at the major club tournaments as you have a ton of prospects in one place at the same time.

Basketball is a bit of a hybrid still, with major viewing tournaments for both AAU and high school. I'd venture a guess based on my experience with these that unless you are a top prospect, the major high school viewing tournaments are actually a better place to be seen, especially for the majority of kids that are lower level D1 or D2/D3 level prospects.

The only sport where I've seen first hand the club discouraging/disallowing players from playing high school is soccer at the true highest level of club, outside of that, almost all of the club organizations essentially shut down their high school programs during the high school season of sport (mentioned in a previous post if is a CIF violation for a student to participate in an organized activity of the same sport, during their high school season of sport).
FWIW when I was coaching at a P5 basketball program our recruiting stuff was like 95%+ from EYBL, UA, camp/leagues and then AAU. Some services did HS film for us you can subscribe to, especially for places like the fancy private schools with powerhouse sports teams that compete with each other. Montverde for example.

EYBL is huge for basketball. One of the kids I've coached since he was in kindergarten is getting the opportunity to play for an EYBL team. He's only in 8th grade right now and is very likely going to be a very solid D1 level prospect sooner than later. I couldn't be happier for him and it was an easy choice for me to tell him and his family that he absolutely had to take that opportunity, no matter how much I would have loved him to be able to continue playing with us full time.

And like you mentioned about the powerhouse high school programs, being right smack in the middle of the trinity league here in Sothern California, see that first hand all the time. Mater Dei hosts the Nike Extravaganza every January which is a two day event that brings in quite a few eyes.

Football wise, Mater Dei and St. John Bosco play this Friday - between the two teams, there are something like 58 players that already have 1 or more FBS offers. And they are stacked like that every year.
 
And I can tell you as well that Colleges are more and more going to the portal and less and less to high school freshman. It's getting a lot harder for guys who are not blue chip recruits to find a 4 year program out of high school and that is running thru all of college baseball D1,2,3 and NAIA.
I think this is still a learning process and highly dependent upon the level and school. D1 programs this is 100% correct. There is no need to develop freshman because they can let someone else do that then bring them in as juniors to take over for the senior that just left.

As you move down in level there is some trickle with this approach but the lower level coaches D2/D3/NAIA that recruited my son all wanted to build in house and develop a culture. They didn't want to play the mercenary game of the portal but use it more of a supplement as they lost players or weren't able to recruit a particular position. That being said, they used the portal pretty extensively (15 transfer players were brought in to my son's D2 school along with 11 freshman).

It's still relatively new so each sport, coach, and school are still figuring it out. But the best thing you can do is research the school and coach and meet with as many as you can to really see what works best for you (and them). And even then it still might be a crapshoot.


ETA: The first thing your kid really needs to do is take a serious look at themselves and evaluate honestly where your skills fall on the spectrum. Also, you need to be honest with what you want out of your experience (start, be on the team, be a star, etc) Those two things are maybe the most important things to figure out before you even start your recruitment process.
Somewhat of an unrelated question for you, @Gally . Say your son really pops off his freshman year and generates a bunch of interest from the top programs in the country. Would you want your kid to move? Would he want to move? And if he did move, how is that looked upon by the kids on the previous team / future team?
 
And I can tell you as well that Colleges are more and more going to the portal and less and less to high school freshman. It's getting a lot harder for guys who are not blue chip recruits to find a 4 year program out of high school and that is running thru all of college baseball D1,2,3 and NAIA.
I think this is still a learning process and highly dependent upon the level and school. D1 programs this is 100% correct. There is no need to develop freshman because they can let someone else do that then bring them in as juniors to take over for the senior that just left.

As you move down in level there is some trickle with this approach but the lower level coaches D2/D3/NAIA that recruited my son all wanted to build in house and develop a culture. They didn't want to play the mercenary game of the portal but use it more of a supplement as they lost players or weren't able to recruit a particular position. That being said, they used the portal pretty extensively (15 transfer players were brought in to my son's D2 school along with 11 freshman).

It's still relatively new so each sport, coach, and school are still figuring it out. But the best thing you can do is research the school and coach and meet with as many as you can to really see what works best for you (and them). And even then it still might be a crapshoot.


ETA: The first thing your kid really needs to do is take a serious look at themselves and evaluate honestly where your skills fall on the spectrum. Also, you need to be honest with what you want out of your experience (start, be on the team, be a star, etc) Those two things are maybe the most important things to figure out before you even start your recruitment process.
Somewhat of an unrelated question for you, @Gally . Say your son really pops off his freshman year and generates a bunch of interest from the top programs in the country. Would you want your kid to move? Would he want to move? And if he did move, how is that looked upon by the kids on the previous team / future team?
My kid is pretty loyal so I am not sure what he would do. In addition there are a lot of "outside baseball" reasons he chose the school as well. He really likes the area the school is located. The school has a really good program for his major (business-sports management) where part of the curriculum is completing an internship. The school is partnered with the local minor league baseball team, the Olympic Training facility, the NBA team in the area and a few other major sports organizations. It's a cool part of the program.

One of the other draws for him was the school hasn't been great record wise and one of the things he is most proud of was helping turn his high school program around. They had three wins his freshman year, 7 wins his soph year, and then 24 wins in each of his junior and senior seasons winning league both years and going to the state finals his junior year. He is hoping to be part of a similar turnaround here.

As far as going D1 if he was pursued I am not sure what he would do. I tend to think unless the situation was his dream scenario (not sure what that would be) he likely would stay. He really likes the group of freshman and they get along great while talking about turning this program around. It would be tough for him to leave.

In general, I don't think many of the kids have a lot of loyalty these days so if the offers came in I am sure they would understand him leaving. It seems to be a different mentality and I think a lot of is tied to even high schools having school of choice where they can pick and choose where they play and jump year to year to the "greener" grass.
 
And I can tell you as well that Colleges are more and more going to the portal and less and less to high school freshman. It's getting a lot harder for guys who are not blue chip recruits to find a 4 year program out of high school and that is running thru all of college baseball D1,2,3 and NAIA.
I think this is still a learning process and highly dependent upon the level and school. D1 programs this is 100% correct. There is no need to develop freshman because they can let someone else do that then bring them in as juniors to take over for the senior that just left.

As you move down in level there is some trickle with this approach but the lower level coaches D2/D3/NAIA that recruited my son all wanted to build in house and develop a culture. They didn't want to play the mercenary game of the portal but use it more of a supplement as they lost players or weren't able to recruit a particular position. That being said, they used the portal pretty extensively (15 transfer players were brought in to my son's D2 school along with 11 freshman).

It's still relatively new so each sport, coach, and school are still figuring it out. But the best thing you can do is research the school and coach and meet with as many as you can to really see what works best for you (and them). And even then it still might be a crapshoot.


ETA: The first thing your kid really needs to do is take a serious look at themselves and evaluate honestly where your skills fall on the spectrum. Also, you need to be honest with what you want out of your experience (start, be on the team, be a star, etc) Those two things are maybe the most important things to figure out before you even start your recruitment process.
Somewhat of an unrelated question for you, @Gally . Say your son really pops off his freshman year and generates a bunch of interest from the top programs in the country. Would you want your kid to move? Would he want to move? And if he did move, how is that looked upon by the kids on the previous team / future team?
The school has a really good program for his major (business-sports management) where part of the curriculum is completing an internship. The school is partnered with the local minor league baseball team, the Olympic Training facility, the NBA team in the area and a few other major sports organizations. It's a cool part of the program.
Thanks for the reply. This part was super interesting to me. I've toured that Olympic facility down there and it's awesome. Sounds like a great program and a great way to get a foot in the door post college.
 
Adding to the recruiting discussion a little...

Even in my day, soccer wasn't always or even at all through HS. More than club, state/regional/national teams competitions saw a ton of college coaches and I saw a lot of players recruited that way and experienced it first hand.

Like the metrics recruiting comment about swimming above, tennis incorporates something called UTR (universal tennis rating) at all ages, which from what I understand is a major recruiting factor. Most top players don't play HS tennis and concentrate on their own game. Most of them are home schooled in top of that.

My wife's nephew rowed crew at a HS known for it. I didn't know his level, but took him to my alma mater to meet with the crew coach. The entire recruiting discussion was- what's your ERG score? A time/distance/power calculator. That was it. He needed a certain minimum score to be recruited.
 
My Junior son was recently voted by his peers a captain on his college lacrosse team. A big honor, I don't think many Juniors are elected captain in D1 lax. Was not a blue chip recruit coming in, got some run early his freshman year and hasn't left the field since. He's always been a lead-by-example guy, nobody outworks him. With communication between coaches (entirely new staff this year) and players a big part of his role it will be a great development experience for him, beyond lacrosse.
 
The entire recruiting discussion was- what's your ERG score? A time/distance/power calculator. That was it. He needed a certain minimum score to be recruited.
Sounds like being a pitcher in baseball. You don't throw 90+ then we won't look at you. I don't care if your ERA was 0.70 and you have more complete games than earned runs. If you don't throw 90+ we don't have a spot for you.
 
The entire recruiting discussion was- what's your ERG score? A time/distance/power calculator. That was it. He needed a certain minimum score to be recruited.
Sounds like being a pitcher in baseball. You don't throw 90+ then we won't look at you. I don't care if your ERA was 0.70 and you have more complete games than earned runs. If you don't throw 90+ we don't have a spot for you.
Thank god for D2 and 3 to develop late bloomers into potential D1 players and beyond.
 
My sons Fall World Series begins tonight. It’s a best of 3 series.

Both teams were drafted Monday evening by two senior captains on each team.

I am proud to say my son was the second overall player taken. A huge honor. He is a sophomore as those of you who have been following along know.

I will get a post game report tonight.
 
Adding to the recruiting discussion a little...

Even in my day, soccer wasn't always or even at all through HS. More than club, state/regional/national teams competitions saw a ton of college coaches and I saw a lot of players recruited that way and experienced it first hand.

Like the metrics recruiting comment about swimming above, tennis incorporates something called UTR (universal tennis rating) at all ages, which from what I understand is a major recruiting factor. Most top players don't play HS tennis and concentrate on their own game. Most of them are home schooled in top of that.

My wife's nephew rowed crew at a HS known for it. I didn't know his level, but took him to my alma mater to meet with the crew coach. The entire recruiting discussion was- what's your ERG score? A time/distance/power calculator. That was it. He needed a certain minimum score to be recruited.
With soccer... isn't it like college is not the goal and getting on the national team or whatever it is the big goal?
 
Adding to the recruiting discussion a little...

Even in my day, soccer wasn't always or even at all through HS. More than club, state/regional/national teams competitions saw a ton of college coaches and I saw a lot of players recruited that way and experienced it first hand.

Like the metrics recruiting comment about swimming above, tennis incorporates something called UTR (universal tennis rating) at all ages, which from what I understand is a major recruiting factor. Most top players don't play HS tennis and concentrate on their own game. Most of them are home schooled in top of that.

My wife's nephew rowed crew at a HS known for it. I didn't know his level, but took him to my alma mater to meet with the crew coach. The entire recruiting discussion was- what's your ERG score? A time/distance/power calculator. That was it. He needed a certain minimum score to be recruited.
With soccer... isn't it like college is not the goal and getting on the national team or whatever it is the big goal?
In my day college was all there was, plus metro semi pro leagues.

These days, pro soccer is a reality either here or over seas and the ultimate goal. National team at youth level is a way of getting there quicker, but not really the end goal.
 
Semi-final win, 26-0 my son had himself another game... splitting time at RB and WR and then on defense exclusively at MLB. Next Sunday, Championship game (along with our varsity team making it)

8 carries for 54 yards with 2 rushing TD's
1 reception for 25 yards with 1 TD
2 tackles, 2 assists, 1 INT
 
Super proud of my son (the one I started this thread about 5 years ago). While his playing days are over, in that time he earned an M.S. in Accounting (in 4 years) and was named grad student of the year in the process. Since graduating in May, he started at PWC while concurrently studying for his CPA exams. He's taking his last one as I am writing this (he's averaged 93 on the 3 other sections) . . . and will have finished all his exams in 4 months while working full time. We will all remember our kids game winning three pointers, clutch home runs, and hat tricks, but those days don't last long. Kids grow up too soon, and in my case, I am confident that playing sports played a key role in my kids' (plural) growth and development.
 
Super proud of my son (the one I started this thread about 5 years ago). While his playing days are over, in that time he earned an M.S. in Accounting (in 4 years) and was named grad student of the year in the process. Since graduating in May, he started at PWC while concurrently studying for his CPA exams. He's taking his last one as I am writing this (he's averaged 93 on the 3 other sections) . . . and will have finished all his exams in 4 months while working full time. We will all remember our kids game winning three pointers, clutch home runs, and hat tricks, but those days don't last long. Kids grow up too soon, and in my case, I am confident that playing sports played a key role in my kids' (plural) growth and development.
You almost saved it at the end but take it to the non-athletic thread.



(Awesome and this type of stuff is really what matters the most)
 
Super proud of my son (the one I started this thread about 5 years ago). While his playing days are over, in that time he earned an M.S. in Accounting (in 4 years) and was named grad student of the year in the process. Since graduating in May, he started at PWC while concurrently studying for his CPA exams. He's taking his last one as I am writing this (he's averaged 93 on the 3 other sections) . . . and will have finished all his exams in 4 months while working full time. We will all remember our kids game winning three pointers, clutch home runs, and hat tricks, but those days don't last long. Kids grow up too soon, and in my case, I am confident that playing sports played a key role in my kids' (plural) growth and development.
You almost saved it at the end but take it to the non-athletic thread.



(Awesome and this type of stuff is really what matters the most)
Insert laughing emoticon here.
 
Not much of an accomplishment, so much as what's next. Wife just got a call that our son was informed he doesn't have a place on his college team. Nothing more than that from him. He hung up and went to class.

I feel bad for him, but I think he got caught up in a political game. The coach who recruited him was let go a week before school started. A new Asst Coach was brought in the following week. He was a HC at a JUCO school for 12 years before joining the staff. That set off my first alarm. Son's HC then left two weeks later on a Friday night. The new Asst Coach was promptly promoted to HC by Sunday morning. Second alarm. He then brings in a couple of his coaches to round out the staff. Son is there doing everything the coaching staff asks, even getting drafted for their Season ending World Series game. He pitched well, better than some freshman who also pitched. He knew he'd be fighting for a spot on the team, and thought he showed well. He had what he thought was good feedback from the coaches following that game. Now he's told there isn't a spot for him.

Anyone had a child go through this? I'm assuming he could transfer, but I don't think he'd be able to play in the spring if he transfers to D1 or D2 school. It's possible that D3, NAIA, or JUCO is an option so he can play this Spring and not skip a year. I've been reading a few things online as I know I'll be his next call and he'll ask me his options. I just don't really know what they are. He's made a couple of good friends, but I don't see him staying there if he can't play ball. I really don't see him hanging with these guys when they travel for games and he's left in an empty dorm room all Spring.

I'd love to hear any feedback from other parents, or even former players that went through this type of thing.
 
Not much of an accomplishment, so much as what's next. Wife just got a call that our son was informed he doesn't have a place on his college team. Nothing more than that from him. He hung up and went to class.

I feel bad for him, but I think he got caught up in a political game. The coach who recruited him was let go a week before school started. A new Asst Coach was brought in the following week. He was a HC at a JUCO school for 12 years before joining the staff. That set off my first alarm. Son's HC then left two weeks later on a Friday night. The new Asst Coach was promptly promoted to HC by Sunday morning. Second alarm. He then brings in a couple of his coaches to round out the staff. Son is there doing everything the coaching staff asks, even getting drafted for their Season ending World Series game. He pitched well, better than some freshman who also pitched. He knew he'd be fighting for a spot on the team, and thought he showed well. He had what he thought was good feedback from the coaches following that game. Now he's told there isn't a spot for him.

Anyone had a child go through this? I'm assuming he could transfer, but I don't think he'd be able to play in the spring if he transfers to D1 or D2 school. It's possible that D3, NAIA, or JUCO is an option so he can play this Spring and not skip a year. I've been reading a few things online as I know I'll be his next call and he'll ask me his options. I just don't really know what they are. He's made a couple of good friends, but I don't see him staying there if he can't play ball. I really don't see him hanging with these guys when they travel for games and he's left in an empty dorm room all Spring.

I'd love to hear any feedback from other parents, or even former players that went through this type of thing.
Unfortunately I have no good insight for you, but that has to be tough. Definitely feel for your son.

The good news is that I would assume the transfer portal will make the process to find a new school/team much easier than in years past, although I'm sure it's not what he wanted or expected to be doing. Tell him to keep his head up and look at this as an opportunity. When one door closes, another opens. Getting knocked down isn't what defines us, it's how we react to it.

Best of luck to your son, and to you, Dad.
 
Anyone had a child go through this? I'm assuming he could transfer, but I don't think he'd be able to play in the spring if he transfers to D1 or D2 school. It's possible that D3, NAIA, or JUCO is an option so he can play this Spring and not skip a year. I've been reading a few things online as I know I'll be his next call and he'll ask me his options. I just don't really know what they are. He's made a couple of good friends, but I don't see him staying there if he can't play ball. I really don't see him hanging with these guys when they travel for games and he's left in an empty dorm room all Spring.
Wow, that is terrible. I would suggest going the JC route especially if D1 is his goal. It seems like most D1 programs are utilizing the portal much more than developing freshman and filling from within. By going to a JC he can get two years of playing in while getting bigger and stronger and then transfer to a D1 program having had two years of college baseball experience.

This is all based on baseball and being a D1 player as his desire. From our recruiting trips one of the coaches at a D3 school that really wanted my son gave us some great advice regarding choosing your school and what to take into consideration. First you need to decide what you want out of your baseball career. Do you want to be a starter? Do you want to be a star? Do you want to just be on the team? Then you need to do an honest evaluation of your skills and match that to your answer to those previous questions. That at least gets you started.

Next is to figure out what you want out of your college experience. Most D1 will be all business. It's no longer a game and baseball will be your first, second, and third priority. You likely won't have a chance for life outside baseball to experience college. D2 generally allows you to pick two out of the three things (baseball, school, social). D3 generally allows you to experience all three things. So next you need decide what you want out of your college experience.

The D3 coaches biggest selling point was that he wanted to develop a complete person and he was big on giving time for baseball, school and social experiences to grow and develop. He said not to misunderstand what he meant as baseball was still his priority but he allowed time for other things to give kids an all around experience. I was really happy with this coach and his sincerity. You could tell he cared about his players tremendously.

I say all that because really now it starts with your kid. What does he want? If D1 is still his goal then going the JC route is likely his best opportunity to do that. If D2/D3/NAIA is still a consideration then going to a JC is still likely his best bet right now as he will want to play this year to gear him for next year.

A complication could be if the academic part of the school was a perfect match. If that is the case then he needs to decide if baseball or academics is more important and if it's academics then he may want to just stay where he is and work hard to see if he can get another shot next year (if he really wanted to still play). This is what happened to me after my sophomore year. I had to decide if I wanted to keep playing or focus on school. I didn't have much of a chance at playing time (coach had his favorites) so after meeting with the coach I decided to hang it up and focus on school. It worked out for me.

Best of luck as this just sucks. I feel really bad but there is still time and room to adjust course and still get what he wants.
 
So sorry Peak... That absolutely sucks.

I mentioned way up thread my good buddy's kid who was signed to a top 10 d1 school for baseball as a 94mph throwing sophomore. Coaches who signed him left the next year and, he got injured as well and new coaches pulled the signing (im fuzzy on that part of it), signed to smaller d1 local school as a Sr, where they had their own coaching turnover between fall and spring season and despite featuring in the fall as a freshman, lost his spot with the new coaches. Kid went with his youth coach to a local JUCO immediately after and pitched two years there. Didn't get drafted and is trying to figure out what's next.

Sounds like lots to figure out for your son. My buddy's kid was all in on baseball.. so now that that hasn't worked out the way he hoped, he's scrambling for next steps.

I was recruited to play soccer at a bunch of top 20 d1 schools and picked the one that felt the best fit overall that also was top 10... But I recruited the lightest at. Coach didn't like me, so PT was a fight despite some early successes. I had to relook at everything, including transferring to places that had previous offers. I took a mid stream gap year and had to massively rethink my life and how soccer fit in it. Finished up at the original school with a different attitude about PT (and ended up being a starter part way through Jr and all of Sr year).
 
That sucks Peak. Sorry your boy is going through that.

It could very well be one of those things that shape him for the better in life in or outside of baseball. No great person has ever reached greatness without some challenges and hard times. I wish the best for him.
 
Floppinha played down to her age group (14u) and level (L7) in a tourney last weekend after some rough results recently. She'd been playing up (u16s, L6) for a bit.

Didn't play great, but was clearly better than everybody there, even though it was a decent group of girls (no newbies), albeit girls who looked right for the level.

She usually struggles against weaker competition, but swept it with a few 6-1 matches, including the championship match. Proud of her for figuring out how to win and win convincingly against these type of players.
 
My sons had their first swim meet Sunday. Good for both.

My little guy has been practicing the last couple of weeks. He placed:
1st 25 Breast
2nd 100 IM
3rd in 25 Fly
6th in 25 Back (he would have placed higher if he didn't keep bouncing off the ropes- lol)

My older son has had a total of two practices before this meet. I entered him in the 'open' events so I didn't have to at the meet all day (12U was morning session). He dropped time in every event so he was swimming against 13-17 year olds:
50 Fly: -1.24
50 Back: -1.86
50 Free: -0.18
200 IM: -7.86

Both of my dingbats missed events. My youngest was sitting on the bench looking at me as I motioned for him to get to the block.... he couldn't figure out what I was telling him to do. My older son lined up in the wrong lane. :sadbanana:

But it is dang amazing that my older son dropped time as he has only gone to two practices this season and hasn't really been in a pool for like 3 months. He held up well against those older boys (by far he was the youngest) and didn't look totally out of place. I am glad my little guy had some success... swim hasn't come as easily to him as it did/has for his brother and he has shown some frustration about that.
 
Met up with my son earlier this week. He had an end of Fall meeting with the new coach and he was told (as was a few other kids) that there "might" not be any room for him on the roster this Spring. The new coach came from a JUCO school and brought a lot of transfer players with him this fall. The baseball roster in July was about 30 players. After the fall practice completed, my son told me there is closer to 50 players there now. Some are injured, many are transfers. There are only 6 true freshman on the team. Sounds like there will be a cut period either before winter break, or in Jan once guys return from break. Team hasn't had a JV roster in the past, but it's possible this coach fields one. He doesn't know yet. So he's still going to practices and workouts and doing everything he can to show out during his individual workouts. Told him that's all he can do and just keep working hard, doing whatever the coach asks him to do.
 
Met up with my son earlier this week. He had an end of Fall meeting with the new coach and he was told (as was a few other kids) that there "might" not be any room for him on the roster this Spring. The new coach came from a JUCO school and brought a lot of transfer players with him this fall. The baseball roster in July was about 30 players. After the fall practice completed, my son told me there is closer to 50 players there now. Some are injured, many are transfers. There are only 6 true freshman on the team. Sounds like there will be a cut period either before winter break, or in Jan once guys return from break. Team hasn't had a JV roster in the past, but it's possible this coach fields one. He doesn't know yet. So he's still going to practices and workouts and doing everything he can to show out during his individual workouts. Told him that's all he can do and just keep working hard, doing whatever the coach asks him to do.
Seems a little short sighted to me. I mean, I can see how the coach is comfortable with those kids since they been with him but how many of them are really going to have talent level over a JUCO team? I mean, if 20 of those JUCO's are really that good to play at an upper level then that JUCO must have been kicking rear at their level of competition.... no? Sure, I would want to bring over some players but man.... I would want to know what I already have there at the program I am taking over. I am not sure I am seeing that as a good approach in most circumstances.
 
I would want to know what I already have there at the program I am taking over. I am not sure I am seeing that as a good approach in most circumstances.
This is where I'm at as well. I researched the coach and he was successful for many years at his previous place. I know he didn't recruit the freshmen, but give them a chance. Im hoping at least red shirt so you have time to see what they can offer. Son pitched well during their intersquad series. Didn't give up any HRs or walks and had a KO in his one inning. He said the coach would only let him throw offspeed stuff. So he stuck with a curve, slider, changeup combination. Batters caught on and hit him, but nothing the defense couldn't handle. Now it's just a waiting game, I guess.
 
I would want to know what I already have there at the program I am taking over. I am not sure I am seeing that as a good approach in most circumstances.
This is where I'm at as well. I researched the coach and he was successful for many years at his previous place. I know he didn't recruit the freshmen, but give them a chance. Im hoping at least red shirt so you have time to see what they can offer. Son pitched well during their intersquad series. Didn't give up any HRs or walks and had a KO in his one inning. He said the coach would only let him throw offspeed stuff. So he stuck with a curve, slider, changeup combination. Batters caught on and hit him, but nothing the defense couldn't handle. Now it's just a waiting game, I guess.
Why only off speed? I mean... this coach may have his reasons but it is hard to see through it to them and I pride myself on putting myself in other coaches shoes to figure out their why's and how's. I am shuked here though.
 
I would want to know what I already have there at the program I am taking over. I am not sure I am seeing that as a good approach in most circumstances.
This is where I'm at as well. I researched the coach and he was successful for many years at his previous place. I know he didn't recruit the freshmen, but give them a chance. Im hoping at least red shirt so you have time to see what they can offer. Son pitched well during their intersquad series. Didn't give up any HRs or walks and had a KO in his one inning. He said the coach would only let him throw offspeed stuff. So he stuck with a curve, slider, changeup combination. Batters caught on and hit him, but nothing the defense couldn't handle. Now it's just a waiting game, I guess.
Why only off speed? I mean... this coach may have his reasons but it is hard to see through it to them and I pride myself on putting myself in other coaches shoes to figure out their why's and how's. I am shuked here though.
My only thought, and this was after a few drinks with my BIL, is that the HC wanted to see if the other team could hit off speed pitching. I mean that's the only thing that makes sense. I asked my son about it, and he wasn't told anything by the coaches. However, he did say he had a few hitters at an 0-2 count and they stopped swinging and so he had to work a slider a bit more which a few hit. Just an odd strategy, unless the HC was looking for how the batters react specifically.
 
I mean, if 20 of those JUCO's are really that good to play at an upper level then that JUCO must have been kicking rear at their level of competition.... no?
The JUCO route is not necessarily done because the talent isn't D1 ready. In actuality it is probably the best route to go if you have D1 ability/potential but aren't an everyday player at the D1 level as a freshman. It gives you two years of playing and getting stronger to then transfer as a junior to a D1 to then get the play time. This is the method that many upper D1 programs are using. Letting the JUCO be their minor league so to speak. There are many JUCO teams that are much better than lower D!/D2/D3/NAIA schools for this reason.
 
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I would want to know what I already have there at the program I am taking over. I am not sure I am seeing that as a good approach in most circumstances.
This is where I'm at as well. I researched the coach and he was successful for many years at his previous place. I know he didn't recruit the freshmen, but give them a chance. Im hoping at least red shirt so you have time to see what they can offer. Son pitched well during their intersquad series. Didn't give up any HRs or walks and had a KO in his one inning. He said the coach would only let him throw offspeed stuff. So he stuck with a curve, slider, changeup combination. Batters caught on and hit him, but nothing the defense couldn't handle. Now it's just a waiting game, I guess.
Why only off speed? I mean... this coach may have his reasons but it is hard to see through it to them and I pride myself on putting myself in other coaches shoes to figure out their why's and how's. I am shuked here though.
My only thought, and this was after a few drinks with my BIL, is that the HC wanted to see if the other team could hit off speed pitching. I mean that's the only thing that makes sense. I asked my son about it, and he wasn't told anything by the coaches. However, he did say he had a few hitters at an 0-2 count and they stopped swinging and so he had to work a slider a bit more which a few hit. Just an odd strategy, unless the HC was looking for how the batters react specifically.
I could see that but if that was the case it would also lead me to think that your son isn't in the coach's plans as he is using him as a live pitching machine. Depending how ramped up he is and how many pitches he was throwing that seems like a really bad approach for pitchers unless they had built up enough and had already cycled through FB work and now was working on off speed. Without any explanation from the coach or pitching coach this is quite odd.
 
little belljr had exit meeting.

Pretty much expected - we see you playing MI not sure where yet.

She has been battling a freshman for SS but hopefully they give her a long leash. The freshman didn't look all that great during fall play days.

Wasn't guaranteed a spot to start but was told "not to worry" or something like that.

Anyway it is what it is. The new assistant did say she wanted her to be more vocal (little belljr thought she was) but who knows anymore. My kid is not the best rehasher lol

BUT i find it hard to believe someone who played in 21 of 34 games and started the last 14 at 2B and batted .375 as a freshman is going to be riding the bench to start
 
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Fall Exit meeting was a huge success.

First let me set the stage of my son and this team/program.

He came in as a freshman from a 3 time National Championship high school (7A) and arguably the best team in the country in 2022 and 2023 producing now 5 MLB draft picks out of high school in the last 4 years. So it was a huge grind for my son who was severely undersized but had such great fundamentals and most importantly the work ethic and drive to never quit on his dreams.

He had a decent amount of D2 and D3 interest during his big recruiting summer of 2022 heading into his senior year of 2023. The only D1 school who even kicked the tires were Xavier. His decision to go to a small D3 in Raleigh NC might be one of the best decisions he has made as a baseball player. He entered his school at 5'9' and 140 pounds as a freshman and found himself 7th on the depth chart in the middle infield at his very first fall practice as a freshman. By the end of the Fall he found himself 5th....and on the Developmental team where he proceeded to tear the cover off the ball and get the call up after a month into Spring 2024. He then started 4 straight games at SS on the varsity squad......and did really well. He hit the ball very hard, made a ton of plays and made a big impression.

This past summer.....he went to work. He did not play any summer ball and focused on the weight room 6 days a week and getting into the cages 3 days week on his own with some other former teammates and getting on the field in 100 degree heat with me 3 days a week to stay sharp with his glove work and conditioning. I also made it a point of emphasis to shut his arm down for 8 weeks once his season ended and ramped it up 2 weeks before he left for Fall Sophomore year.

Another point of emphasis was working in the OF. He has a 24 year old 6th year senior in front of him at SS and a 4th year senior at 2B. We talked about being able to play anywhere.

It paid off.

He had a 35 minute talk with his head coach and he was glowing about his fall. Here are the bullet points.

1. His physicality jumped off the page this fall. He came in at 5'11 and 170 pounds. All his metrics leaped. Exit velo off the bat, arm velo across the diamond. He worked at SS all Fall as well as CF and LF. But SS is where is was 85% of the time and he started at SS in 90% of their games this fall.
2. He told him his leadership for a young guy is fantastic, his teammates all love him, he loves his academics, and he especially loves his speed.
3. He will be a starter this spring and the coach said I am going to play you everywhere. I want/need you in the lineup and if either MIF is struggling with the bat you will take a job permanently there if need be. He will be playing SS, 2B, LF, CF, 3B. The coach basically said...your speed, bat and glove is needed so we can win. So be ready to be that super utility guy this season.
4. He views him as their future at SS and said he sees things going that way his Junior year if he produces at the plate like he thinks he will.

My son is thrilled. He will be an everyday guy in 2025.

Now his next mountain to climb is taking what he really wants, which is the starting SS position. He views himself as a leader and a captain and he wants it bad.

I told him....keep grinding son.....just keep grinding.
 
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Fall Exit meeting was a huge success.

First let me set the stage of my son and this team/program.

He came in as a freshman from a 3 time national Championship high school (7A) and arguably the best team in the country in 2022 and 2023 producing now 5 MLB draft picks out of high school. in the last 4 years. So it was a huge grind for my son who was severely undersized but had such great fundamentals and most importantly thw work ethic and drive to never quit on his dreams.

He had a decent amount of D2 and D3 interest during his big recruiting summer of 2022 heading into his senior year of 2023. The only D1 school who even kicked the tires were Xavier. His decision to go to a small D3 in Raleigh NC might be one of the best decisions he has made as a baseball player. He entered his school at 5'8' and 140 pounds as a freshman and found himself 7th on the depth chart in the Middle infield at his very first fall practice as a freshman. By the end of the Fall he found himself 5th....and on the Developmental team where he proceeded to tear the cover off the ball and get the call up after a month into spring 2024. He then started 4 straight games at SS on the varsity squad......and did really well. He hit the ball very hard, made a ton of plays and made a big impression.

This past summer.....he went to work. He did not play any summer ball and focused on the weight room 6 days a week and getting into the cages 3 days week on his own with some other former teammates and getting on the field in 100 degree heat with me 3 day sa week to stay sharp with his glove work and conditioning. I also made it a poijt of emphasis to shut his arm down for 8 weeks once his season ended and ramped it up 2 weeks before he left for Fall Sophomore year.

Another point of emphasis was working in the OF. He has a 24 year old 6th year senior in front of him at SS and a 4th year senior at 2B. We talked about being able to play anywhere.

It paid off.

He had a 35 minute talk with his head coach and he was glowing about his fall. Here are the bullet points.

1. His physicality jumped off the page this fall. He came in at 5'11 and 170 pounds. All his metrics leaped. Exit velo off the bat, arm velo across the diamond. He worked at SS all Fall as well as CF and LF. But SS is where is was 85% of the time and he started at SS in 90% of their games this fall.
2. He told him his leadership for a young guy is fantastic, his teammates all love him, he loves his academics, and he especially loves his speed.
3. He will be a starter this spring and the coach said I am going to play you everywhere. I want/need you in the lineup and if either MIF is struggling with the bat you will take a job permanently there if need be. He will be playing SS, 2B, LF, CF, 3B. The cvoach basically said...your speed, bat and glove is needed so we can win. So be ready to be that super utility guy this season.
4. He views him as their future at SS and said he sees things going that way his Junior year if he produces at the plate like he thinks he will.

My son is thrilled. He will be an everyday guy in 2025.

Now his next mountain to climb is taking what he really wants, which is the starting SS position. He views himself as a leader and a captain and he wants it bad.

I told him....keep grinding son.....just keep grinding.
Awesome stuff. Congrats to your son. When you add attitude, work ethic, and execution together, great things happen.
 
he grew 3 inches? I grew a little during my freshamn year but 3 seems like a lot :)

Good for him
Yeah he popped. My bad it was two inches. He was 5’9 entering freshman year.
Was he a young HS graduate? If so, this is a big reason why if your boy has any athletic ability it's a good idea to start him in school on the later end so he gets that full 18 yr old year of maturity in his senior year of HS. My son is an October kid. We started him so that he would turn 18 at the beginning of his senior year of HS for this reason. It worked out well for him.
 
he grew 3 inches? I grew a little during my freshamn year but 3 seems like a lot :)

Good for him
Yeah he popped. My bad it was two inches. He was 5’9 entering freshman year.
Was he a young HS graduate? If so, this is a big reason why if your boy has any athletic ability it's a good idea to start him in school on the later end so he gets that full 18 yr old year of maturity in his senior year of HS. My son is an October kid. We started him so that he would turn 18 at the beginning of his senior year of HS for this reason. It worked out well for him.
My son was born in March of 2005.

I simply was not going to just hold him back....not knowing a thing about what his potential athletic ability was going to be. I also had the size issue early on in high school but I grew 9 inches between Freshman and Junior year.

When my son was showing he was a ball player at the age of 8,9,10 he was very small....but I wanted to wait for him to hit puberty. He did.....and he is a classic late bloomer. Just took 2 years longer than I did. Now in high school he did hit his stride the summer of going into his senior season. That is where he was recruited. The summer of 2022 he was ripping linedrives off of D1 commits all summer. Guys touching 95-96 with junk. But because of his 'smaller" stature only D2 and D3 were really showing interest.

Now? I have zero doubt he can go to a power 4 and compete.....but right now he loves where he is at. He needs to have playing time. Something he was robbed of in high school. His time has finally arrived. Time to capitalize on it and go from there.

I never ever considered holding him back for baseball. I just got him into school when he was supposed to go. I have zero regrets about that. It shaped who he is right now.

I guess he was considered a younger senior? He was only 18 for 4 months of his senior year.
 
he grew 3 inches? I grew a little during my freshamn year but 3 seems like a lot :)

Good for him
Yeah he popped. My bad it was two inches. He was 5’9 entering freshman year.
Was he a young HS graduate? If so, this is a big reason why if your boy has any athletic ability it's a good idea to start him in school on the later end so he gets that full 18 yr old year of maturity in his senior year of HS. My son is an October kid. We started him so that he would turn 18 at the beginning of his senior year of HS for this reason. It worked out well for him.
My son was born in March of 2005.

I simply was not going to just hold him back....not knowing a thing about what his potential athletic ability was going to be. I also had the size issue early on in high school but I grew 9 inches between Freshman and Junior year.

When my son was showing he was a ball player at the age of 8,9,10 he was very small....but I wanted to wait for him to hit puberty. He did.....and he is a classic late bloomer. Just took 2 years longer than I did. Now in high school he did hit his stride the summer of going into his senior season. That is where he was recruited. The summer of 2022 he was ripping linedrives off of D1 commits all summer. Guys touching 95-96 with junk. But because of his 'smaller" stature only D2 and D3 were really showing interest.

Now? I have zero doubt he can go to a power 4 and compete.....but right now he loves where he is at. He needs to have playing time. Something he was robbed of in high school. His time has finally arrived. Time to capitalize on it and go from there.

I never ever considered holding him back for baseball. I just got him into school when he was supposed to go. I have zero regrets about that. It shaped who he is right now.

I guess he was considered a younger senior? He was only 18 for 4 months of his senior year.
One of the best athletes at my HS was a kid that was always 2b, point guard, db type of kid witha nickname like " scooter" because he was just always little. Ended up going to Oregon for baseball, iirc. Went from 5 foot nothing to 6'1 from beginning of senior year untill end of college freshman year.

The height gave him game with the ladies too, unfortunately. I say unfortunately, because he couldn't get a date in HS and then knocked up the first girl he actually ever dated freshman year. I kinda remember that was the end of his competitive sports days, but he stayed involved in sports while there and became part of the athletics dept in some way. Went to a Giants game with him and his grown *** son before I'd even gotten married.
 
In hindsight we should have held my daughter back. She is a September birthday. We figured as a female no big deal. She definitely packed a little maturity wise and blossomed her freshman year of college.

She turned 18 September of freshman year in college. Lol
 
In hindsight we should have held my daughter back. She is a September birthday. We figured as a female no big deal. She definitely packed a little maturity wise and blossomed her freshman year of college.

She turned 18 September of freshman year in college. Lol
late august here and same thing the worst part was still having to drive her everywhere her sophmore year take that to the bank brochacho
 
In hindsight we should have held my daughter back. She is a September birthday. We figured as a female no big deal. She definitely packed a little maturity wise and blossomed her freshman year of college.

She turned 18 September of freshman year in college. Lol
late august here and same thing the worst part was still having to drive her everywhere her sophmore year take that to the bank brochacho
Well here you don't get your license till you're 17 so she didn't drive until the start of her senior year
 

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