Here's an interesting question a fellow player's parents put to me:

How important is it to play summer league baseball (like Connie Mack) between HS and Fr. College season?

Apparently, the player is considering taking some time off to condition, will continue running, throwning etc., but may not officially play during the summer - summer league is a short season, ending in July, etc.

What are your thoughts on this?

I'm not an expert like some of the posters - but my son who will now be a junior at a D2 next year did take the summer of between his senior year of high school and the first year. Most of his friends who were going to play D1 ball also took the short time off.

He did really work on conditioning and working out with a pitching coach. Lots of throwing, etc.

I would really stress the running part and conditioning - no matter how good a shape they think they are in - that first year is really a shock. It is amazing how their bodies change that first year.

This is just my opinion. I think its very important for an incoming college player to be in the best physical shape of his life. Most of these kids have been playing every summer and many have never had that down time to relax and do some other things during the summer. Once they enter college its non stop for four or five years. School , fall ball , exams , school , spring season , exams and then off to summer college baseball and then right back to school.

I believe the time off with the focus being on conditioning and doing some other things is well worth it for the incoming freshman player. Maybe take some summer school classes as well. If your going to play limit it so you can do the other things you have not been able to do. This is just my opinion.

I like to see the kids stay "baseball shape"---my guys played in "adult leagues" with ex pros and college players which play 30 to 40 games mostly at night and on weekends which enables the players to take days classes and work part time if he wishes.

And the competition is top notch---the one thing you don't want to do is come to college in fall out of shape when all the others are ready and raring to go

FWIW, I think taking time off the summer between high school and college is a BIG mistake. I don't know very many good players who do this. Then again I don't know all the players.

PG, I tend to agree, however, the schedule where we are at is short in the summer - only a month long for baseball (ends mid July). I know the kid and he will likely plan a big workout program - conditioning, throwing, running, so in that respect, I guess maybe he's not taking off the summer - just going to forego actually playing from mid-June to mid-July. PG, does that make a difference in your opinions?

I agree with Coach May and alot depends on the position. Conditioning, running, etc. is very important BEFORE you get to college, most don't realize that.
son played and traveled before he left for college, limited innings pitched but he was very tired when school began. He was shut down for a bit before his instruction and practice began.

If we had to do it over, I would send him to school for the summer, take a class, work in the gym, get acclimated.

I strongly beleive in trying to enjoy the last hurrah before college begins, there is nothing wrong with wanting to do something other than play baseball. Most likely it will be a player's last chance to do anything during the summer other than baseball for years to come.

There are many players that come hurt from playing summer ball, you don't want your first semester to be one of being shut down or more time wiht the trainer than teh team.

JMO.

When the frosh gets to college he will be playing with guys who are JUCO players and returning starters who know the college scene very well. With that ahead of him the player better be ready for battle and all the adjustments that come with it

And you cannot play worrying about getting injured--you cannot play scared

Kids who don't play up to the last possible date before heading off to school will find themselves behind the eight ball when they arrive at school. Everyone else is working out and playing......

Quoted from the summer conditioning manual my son's college just sent all players:

"We cannot emphasize enough how much your work this summer will affect your performance next spring. Not working out this summer or working out half-heartedly will prevent you from reaching your full potential and will greatly increase your risk of injury. If you skip workouts, or do them half-heartedly, you will be unprepared for the amount of work we will be doing this fall. Completing this program on your own will require a great deal of self-discipline. It is important for everyone but especially for new players. You will be physically overwhelmed this fall if you don't get after it this summer."

amen to that !!!!

My son got his summer workout schedule recently and his coach to be stresses that this work is not optional and he has to record his workouts. He just got thru with his track workouts as the state meet just took place in TX this weekend so he's already in great shape. We have been hitting after a two week break after high school baseball and tomorrow the first summer select games start. Sophomore brother going to work out with him so that should give him a jump on what they expect for college. He was already doing some kind of intense recorded workouts that a lot of people do and his 165 lbs. don't have one extra ounce of fat. Wish I could say the same about myself!