O'kay. I am so glad I followed my gut and moved to the Duluth area. My sister stayed put and boy is she sorry now. She remained in the highly political and poorly talented area I was in. The older age groups are actually loaded with talent at her son's school, but the freshman group is not. While her son did make the team, she is almost embarrassed for him and the school that the roster is so weak. The school had a huge turn out for try outs, but the lowest actual pool of talent they've ever seen. This is not just her opinion but the opinion of most, even the coaches. They basically had only 7 really talented boys good enough to make the cut, 3 of which they would have liked to move up to JV but couldn't or else they'd have the worse team in the state. The other 12 on the team were chosen only because they had no other choices. Several boys who has the talent chose not to try out for the HS team because they knew it was going to be the laughing stock of the state. She is wishing now she'd been that wise.

Is it better to stay on a HS team with the lowest talent the state will see, or would it be better to wait for your summer team that is one of the superior teams to play? The HS he attands does not allow their players to play for anyone else in the summer so if he stays on the team, there will be problems this summer.

HS coaches cannot force you to play on their summer team. They sure can make your life miserable if you don't but that is it. Ultimatly, you have to do what is best for your son. If the team is that bad then they certainly will not be getting any exposure to the next level guys. I would try to work it out to do both but if not then I would play summer with the travel team. But only if they are going to be playing in high level events that will draw the scouts.

Good Luck!!!

BBISME - Just curious. Did you move to Duluth from another part of metro Atlanta, another part of Georgia, or from another state?

I think that kids should play for their high school no matter how weak it is in most cases. Exceptions exist if the coach is an idiot or if there is absolutely no support from the parents/boosters. But even in those situations there is an opportunity to step in, organize, and help the team become what it could be. Parents can also organize supplemental coaching staff and raise money to pay for better equipment and some clinics put on by professional trainers, for instance.

It is a short season but I believe it is important to support the high school team in all but the most extreme cases - IMHO.

I've seen some poor teams that have the exceptions I specified above that would have caused me to move, so I understand what you might have been upd against and can imagine situations where I might have done the same. But baseball is such an important part of my kids experience that if it were not possible to move the kids would have played even for a poor team. I would have told them to use it as their spring training for their summer travel ball.

In answer to your question, I moved from another part of metro Atlanta. In fact, I stayed in the same county I was in, just changed cities and school districts. Ultimitiely that is what I wound up advising to my nephew. Which is, consider this practice and know that your team is depending on you to help them. Maybe it will be a good lesson for him in regards to sportsmanship.

quote:

Originally posted by BillBill:
BBISME - Just curious. Did you move to Duluth from another part of metro Atlanta, another part of Georgia, or from another state?

I think that kids should play for their high school no matter how weak it is in most cases. Exceptions exist if the coach is an idiot or if there is absolutely no support from the parents/boosters. But even in those situations there is an opportunity to step in, organize, and help the team become what it could be. Parents can also organize supplemental coaching staff and raise money to pay for better equipment and some clinics put on by professional trainers, for instance.

It is a short season but I believe it is important to support the high school team in all but the most extreme cases - IMHO.

I've seen some poor teams that have the exceptions I specified above that would have caused me to move, so I understand what you might have been upd against and can imagine situations where I might have done the same. But baseball is such an important part of my kids experience that if it were not possible to move the kids would have played even for a poor team. I would have told them to use it as their spring training for their summer travel ball.

I'm guessing we're talking about the S. Gwinnett area, which has seen its talent pool diminish. Feeder systems that were power-houses at one time are now much weaker. It's sad.

We've always looked at HS ball as something like a warm-up to summer ball. For my son it's still fun, it's about community, it gives him a chance to work on his skills, and he plays with his buddies. If you are one of the good players, it give you a chance to be a leader and a mentor. You'll hate the losses, but they keep you humble and remind you that it's a team sport. You can do your personal best to help the team, but you alone are not the team. Do what you can to pull everyone up with you, show up ready, support the coach. Convince him you'll help the team even more next year by being challenged in a competitive summer program.

You are correct. It is the S. Gwinnett area but not South Gwinnett High (that program fell apart long ago and is actually slowly beginning to rebuild). It is Brookwood High School. Take a look at their loss yesterday to Loganville. 11-0.

quote:

Originally posted by BBISME:
You are correct. It is the S. Gwinnett area but not South Gwinnett High (that program fell apart long ago and is actually slowly beginning to rebuild). It is Brookwood High School. Take a look at their loss yesterday to Loganville. 11-0.

Think that's bad...

Duluth JV game yesterday we left at the top of the 4th with North Forsyth still hitting-it was 22-0. That stellar Duluth squad managed 1 hit in 4 innings.

I know. I'm glad we are in the Peachtree Ridge district.

Wait, so you are saying Brookwood freshmen is bad? I'm on the Parkview frosh team, and we consider Brookwood one of our toughest opponents we will face. I know Clint Carr and Micheal Gouge are still over there, how can yall possibly not be good?

Yes, Clint, Michael, Nick, and Ryan are all still there. However, the rest of the kids are from the AA travel team that was terrible, some not even from that team. While the 4 aforementioned boys are spectacular (you're welcome sis) you need more than 4 to make a good team. When they play anyone of any caliper, that will show.

We are playing next week

BBISME,

With all due respect, I hope it works out for you. Not sure I would put such emphasis on a freshman team though. It means zero when they are in 11-12th grade.

Brookwood beat my hometown team in the quarters last year and I was extremely impressed with their coaches (especially 3b coach), players, fans and facilities.

It’s political everywhere you go.

Hard to improve on:
Lagrange Invitational Tournament Champions (2008)
8-AAAAA Region Champions (2008)
AAAAA State Champions (2008)
Most Wins in Georgia State History (2008)
#3 National Ranking (2008)
24 players to college baseball over the last 5 years (2004-2008)

THop

Time will tell. For the kid's sake, I hope I am wrong. Your son hasn't played with the kids over the last several years or else you might be of a different opinion. Emphasis should go to the freshman team as they are the future not the past. Last year's varsity team was great but the last we'll see for a long time to come I'm afraid. The JV team may have a 500 season this year and next, but after that look out.

That said, the kids and parents are all very good people, many of which I consider my friend as well as my son's friends. Just not the caliber you need to make a competitive team. Even in their own parents opinions. In private conversation even they will tell you they know their son's aren't that good which is why they were involved in the board, etc as they grew up.

BBISME: I'm not "politically savvy" when it comes to politics in HSBaseball. Your comments about parents getting on the board early because they knew their sons weren't as competitive got me interested. Does it really make a difference if you are on the board or not?

Brookwood is in the semis (again) and EVERY parent needs to volunteer to help out their kid’s high school sports program regardless of the sport.

quote:

Last year's varsity team was great but the last we'll see for a long time to come I'm afraid.

Guess you were wrong on that one. I don't know much about Brookwood, but they seem to have a very good, very competitive program.

If you were that off on your prediction for the varsity program, could you also be wrong on your prediction for the team 3 or 4 years down the road? Time will tell. I don't think it's a real good idea to jump ship because you don't like the program or prediction for the future.

My son's school has been historically not real good. Son, however is committed to playing for "his school" and with his friends. You have your reasons, I'm sure, but there is no way to tell what the future holds. Better hope Brookwood doesn't kick your butts in a couple of years.