What to do; when your sophmore is told he must play in summer HS games or else. No showcases; no travel ball? What do you think?

Unfortunately my 16 yo is in the same position this summer.

When asked this question years ago about our older son, our immediate reply was travel ball was more important to him. If he had to choose there was no question. Our younger son is a different story. He loves playing on his high school team and loves the coaches. He's very disappointed to say the least, but we left he choice up to him.

The obvious downside to this decision is the loss of this crucial summer to get better, playing at a higher level against better competition. He decided to play the local tournaments with the school, which is for the month of June only, workout with his brother, and hit the batting cages. Also, a great suggestion we had from the Georgia forum was to send the word out in July and post on web boards that he is available for any team needing to pick up a catcher in July.

That's how we handled this dilema, but each situation is different. As I said, the decision would have been different with our other son. It came down to one question in our house. How important is it to play for the school team, knowing that no position is secure in high school.

First you talk to the coach without being confrontational. Don't forget he's heard all the arguments you are going to present many times over. Most coaches who discourage playing in showcases, etc. will allow it on a case by case basis as long as you ask in advance, but if they say no, you have to be willing to accept that answer.

The coach wants to see the players and he wants his players to play together so there's a valid reason for his approach. On the other hand you want to get your son the most exposure possible and usually showcases, camps and scout ball are the best route for that.

The key is to try and strike the best balance possible. If the coach is adamant then the best balance possible is to only do showcases and camps during the "dead" period, usually in August and whenever else there is down time from HS ball.

Remember, the coach doesn't have to put your son on the team no matter how good he is.

Perhaps what is needed is the rule that is in place here in the Northeast---HS Coaches are limited to the number of their own players they can coach out of season and that number is miniscule ---no way the entire team can be together under the coach out of season---it solves all these problems

We have rules like that in Ohio and the way coaches get around it is to have a Legion coach or Acme coach coach the team but the HS coach still pulls the strings. I have seen both the good and the bad. One coach has his players stay in his system and many players go on to play in college. I have seen another that dictates his players to play in the local team and nobody plays in college. Trust your gut feeling, you know who has your kid's best interest in mind.

You should follow your son's high school coach's instructions. Wait until the summer after his junior year before worrying about the showcases. You might be able to squeeze one in during the late summer or during the winter. My son's club team gives him the flexibility to place the high school team first. The club team only asks that we don't miss their games for another club team. His high school coach is allowing him to go to the Junior Olympics. Is your son's school playing in the VIBL?

TR,
The area where goyarddad's son plays used to have limits on coach involvement with the players but has essentially eliminated them as of a few weeks ago. It doesn't really make any difference though because the coaches did exactly as Baller26 has noted. Such is life.

That is exactly what happens in Georgia, Baller. HS teams play during the summer and fall, but are coached by someone "hired" by the HS coach. It's still his game, but technically he doesn't coach the team. Kids can still be penalized for not playing on the HS team during the off-season (unless they play football--then there is an allowed excuse!)

We were told we had to choose. Three kids who had made a very good travel team chose to only play HS ball. I spoke w the coach and explained the situation and my son is playing both with the HS team first priority; travel ball coach understands.
His Travel Ball team is fantastic and has won tournaments; the HS team is horrible and not competitve due to lack of pitching.
It is more fun for my son to play travel ball.