Parents of Committed Players?

This guys....

Might be the biggest piece of advise you could hear. I totally agree!

 

It will be ok!

I tried to write something about what we just went through (nightmare) but it came out way to serious. Bottom line is everything works out. We just prayed for the best opportunity for him and I truly think that is exactly what has happened! We did everything wrong as it applies to having him recruited but he simply loves where he is playing. Have fun and don’t take it too seriously!

 

Maybe you should enlighten parents what NOT to do?

 

It was very therapeutically but I erased it. Let me think about how to word everything without getting stoned. No I mean literally by rocks not what you were thinking.

 

Just keep in mind for the parents going through or already have been through the process, given time, the holes that you found in the picture get filled in upon reflection; sometimes we created the hole.

 

We created all the holes!! If your reading the advice on this board, you are going to be way ahead of us.

The player – Take care of your business!! Grades, Work hard, Play hard, Grades, present yourself like a champ, Grades, Grades and more Grades.

Parent – If anyone tells you not to get involved, laugh and stay away from any advice they give in the future. I kick myself everyday for taking that advice seriously. There is a difference between an irritating parent and a concerned advocate for your son. If you think your player will be seen because he is playing High School ball than your betting on last year’s filly! That horse does not get players seen in most areas. In my opinion the first thing you need to do is get them into every College Camp possible. Even the ones they are not interested in because you never know who may be there helping. Second and this I believe is optional – Get them on one of the big name Showcase Teams. Don’t waste your money on one of the second tier teams because they simply do not get the players seen. You can put Showcase in the name but to the baseball community it’s just another daddy’s travel team. True or not perception is everything. If your guy is just looking for a place to play and get better than fine but don’t foul yourself in believing the scouts will be lined up watching the events. The parents are fun though. This one took use a few years to learn!

You asked what we did wrong- He did not keep his grades where they should be. I thought the high school would take better care of him- recruiting, promoting and making him a better player. I did not understand Showcase ball and questioned everything they did in recruiting him – not very trusting. We did not really start sending him to College Camps until he was a senior. We simply had no idea what to do or who to ask!

He was blessed. He turned it up his senior year and cleared the NCAA. We were able to get him to enough camps that he had several opportunities. He is doing great and it worked out the way it should! He is playing for a great program that saw him at someone else’s camp!

 

Those of you who are just entering the fray could read itslife's warning and my post and think we're at odds. I'm pretty certain that we're not, and here's why:

I couldn't agree more with itslife's assessment of the need for parents to understand the ins and outs of the recruiting process early on (9th grade at the latest); passing along their knowledge and helping their sons make good decisions throughout the process. This includes having a current and realistic knowledge of how recruiters and scouts function; which leads to good choices about teams, showcases, training programs, etc. I also happen to think that there's a certain amount of monitoring that a parent can perform; although I think the degree and form that takes is highly individual and needs to be predicated upon the player's genuine desire to play past high school.

I suppose what I'm trying to say, as well, is that a parent should expect to help guide their son in a variety of ways; but, that they also need to recognize their limitations. Ultimately, it's the player who will get the job done, and the more a parent can help reinforce his acceptance of responsibility for that, the better off I think he is at the process' conclusion.

Along with that, I think there's a point at which parental advocacy becomes meddling; and, I've seen it work to a player's disadvantage in a number of circumstances when a parent crosses that invisible line. Baseball decisionmakers taken as a group carry a strong bias against parents serving as mouthpieces for their sons, and many will avoid "problem parents" by avoiding their sons.

At the end of the day, it's got to be the player's skill at and passion for the game that win the day. I'm sure that it was that way for itslife's son; just as it was for mine. Just try to make sure that you're really helping throughout the process instead of getting in the way of letting that happen.

 

Prepster

every parent that has a child being recruited or wanting to be recruited should read that post. It is the absolute truth!

 

And......

Bonsway brought up a good topic that goes along with this thread. What not to do? I could write for a long time on that topic so I will post just one and let others add to it.

Player talking to another player in the dugout. "Yeah I got a letter from them too. I chucked it too. I don't want to go there either."

Have you ever been to the school?
Have you ever met the coaches?
Have you ever seen the team play?
Do you know who plays on the team?
How do you know you will have any other choices as good as that school?
That coach took the time to contact you and you dont have the common courtesy to respond to him?

Coaches talk all the time and your name comes up as a kid that doesnt respond to mail.

I dont care who sends you a questionaire , and email , a camp invite etc etc. Respond! Thank them for sending it. Let them know you appreciate it. And dam it appreciate it. There are kids out there that would run through a brick wall to get one letter from anyone anytime and you just chuck it?

That school may in the end when its all said and done be the best option for you. It could have been the only option for you. And how do you know if you do not take the time to respond and see for yourself?

And if you do not appreciate it that speaks directly to the character and attitude of the player. And its not good.

 

Prepster, I could not agree more.