First off, I have always looked at these forums throughout my son's high school career and thanks to all of you fine people we have received so much incredible insight. I was hoping that someone could help my son out in the situation that he is in.

He is a freshmen pitcher at a top D3 program up in the north east. He throws upper 80's and has been clocked at 90 during the past summer. He started out during fall practice throwing this hard and had his off-speed pitches working alright. Still needs to get better though with his curve and change. Although he throws with decent velocity he still has pretty good command. The problem now is this. During fall practice he started to lose everything. Some may be due to a possible arm injury. He is currently seein some sports doctor and is still being evaluated. He lost some control and once he lost that he began throwing meatballs and was getting launched during intersquad scrimmages. Couldn't get a feel for his off speed pitches and got lit up real bad. He eventually did not make the team as his velocity is down to the mid 80's. He is considering tranferring to a CC back home. Our questions are as follws...

Can he transfer now, before the end of the fall semester at his current college and enroll in the local community college for the rest off the fall?

Should he finish out the semester and then tranfer? Or would this make him ineligible to play during the spring at the CC?

I figure that I will still have to pay half a year's tuition at his current school off if he tranfers, or will I have to pay the full years? It doesnt matter either way, I was just simply curious to how this would all work.

Of course, all of this will be somewhat determined possibly if there are any real serious issues with his arm.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Why would you leave in the middle of the semseter.he will waste 12-15 units of college.At least finish the semester, and send some feelers to the JCs.Dont throw away academic units, they are sometimes hard to come by.Oterwise you just wasted a half a year of tuition.Baseball is great, but they need the academic units.

I'm with fanofgame - finish the semester and get the units. Leaving now would give him a transcript filled with W's that would follow him forever.

Additionally, transferring into a Juco mid semester would be very difficult as there are very few classes he could actually enroll in (only those with really late start dates) assuming they are not fully enrolled already.

In terms of spring eligibility, I think it depends on where home is. California has its own Juco system, separate from all of the rest of the country - and with its own rules. In CA, as a Freshman you can transfer in to a school at mid year and still be eligible to play assuming you are fully enrolled for the spring (e.g. 12 units).

I should point out that most CA Jucos are extremely competitive and are a challenge for any player trying to make the team. And, just like your son's D3, they are playing fall ball now and making roster decisions. Most do add players at the break - most typically drop downs from D1s and D2s who are looking for more playing time and or have grade issues.

You would need to check the rules in your area - calling the local Juco Athletic director would be a good start.

Hope this helps

08

Highheat35,
Most importantly he needs to be healthy...but do not leave during the semester, this will be a major issue for an accepting college in the future. Finish the semester, then move in a direction that best fits your son. Depending on the JUCO, I know most in our area would not accept 2nd semester transfers, and in fact he might be injured and that might not be a possiblity anyway. Some schools do accept 2nd semester guys and some schools will accept injured guys as well (not trying to sell you, but that is something we do, Diamonds in the rough that coaches give up on). This past season we brought in 4 guys who had surgery last season and are unknown? Quite frankly we don't know but we'll give thema shot when they are healthy and go from there. Your biggest concern that I was referring to earlier was your son would be a considered a 4-2-4 transfer if he were to transfer to a CC then look at another 4 year school. There are specific rules to that, dropping out of the first sememster would be a big issue. Refer to either the NCAA website under the rules/compliance section or talk to a compliane officer at your current school. When you make a decision, make an educated one, get all the fact you can then move forward. Good Luck to you and your son!