My two-cents

Read if you'd like. Sorry it's a bit long.

I've been lurking on this board for years. I actually find it one of the most well-mannered boards out there, with a great group of people who seem genuinely concerned and passionate about HS sports and specifically the state of baseball. I appreciate the moderators and the rest doing a great job keeping the board running and well-mannered. I decided that I wanted to share some of my personal ideas and feelings and see what people thought. Qucikly, my coaching career has gone as follows: HS assistant, legion assistant, HS head coach, legion head coach, assistant college coach, to presently(by choice)........not a coach. Which the latter, by the way, pretty much sucks. Anyways, thats another matter....

I'm thirty years old, (some of you may tell me thats young), so if it is, I'd like to think I have and "old school" mentality. The topic of HS baseball versus, legion, versus showcase ball, AAU, pay to play etc. is always a hot one. So many differnent opinions and philosophies, personal intrests etc. Not exactly what I want to talk about.

What I personally find disheartening is the way that most all HS sports are being devaluized. The honor, prestidge, the "big deal" seems to be slowly slipping away. A recent post was made that I thought stated it great by saying there seems to be little worry over "making the high school team anymore". It seems to be getting to the point that its no big deal. I had a friend of mine, a HS basketball coach, he said he thought that in twenty years, there may be only one HS sport, football. He defending his point by stating that its the only sport that doesn't have competition. Baseball has legion, showcase, travel, AAU. Basketball has AAU and other summer leagues, Soccer has classic, ODP, tennis hs club teams, etc. HS student athletes are being sometimes told/taught/given the impression/etc. that if you want to go to the next level, your best chacne to do that is through doing these "other" things. (I'm not posting to say thats either wrong or right.) Ultimately, the psyche of the kids begin to feel and believe that those other programs outside of the school are more important. Will it ever get to that point where kids actually quit playing HS sports? I don't know, but it made me think.

Back to baseball more speciffically. Lets be honest. Baseball players and coaches have egos and a lot of pride. We do. I'm not saying thats a bad thing at all. However, speaking for myself, as a HS baseball coach with an ego and pride, it's a tough pill top swallow when you feel as if your credibility, knowledge, and ability to help your players is questioned or challenged. And what i mean by challenged or questioned is not always blatant. But its tough to handle when your players look away from you and to others for the very help and support that you want to provide. (Remember....kids, parents, coaches today feel your best shot at the next level is exposure not through HS athletics, but summer and fall teams.) I've personally been blessed to have had played for great coaches in high school and college, and to have worked with great coaches in HS and college. They taught me well and I have done my best to learn from each of them. I've also been blessed with many great relationships with former players adn coaches on my staffs, from which I have been thanked for helping, although, I ultimately did very little. I just tried to point them in the right direction and watch them fly.

I chose teaching and coaching as my profession. I didn't choose to teach and then decided to coach later. For me, the two go hand in hand. So for me, and others like me, its hard to watch parents and players devalue your livelyhood and passion, while they have decided to go another direction for the very assistance that you decided to provide for thirty plus years. I don't think parents and kids are doing it on purpose. It's just happening by the way things seem to be going and its tough to swallow. At 18 years old, I decided to teach and coach. I was a NC Teaching Fellow. I knew I wanted to be what my HS coaches were to me. I just don't know that players and parents see us today the way my parents and myself saw my HS coaches back then. (not looking for anyone to cry me a river here). It is up to me, to create relationships and influence those around me; but this may be why people feel so strongly about HS sports and dislike the trend that seems to be occuring. Will my two year old little boy play showcase or travel ball or pay to play? I don't know. It's 10+ years from now. But probably. However, I do know one thing, I'm gonna make sure he knows it is a big deal to be a part of HS athletics, and he will also know the repsonsiblities and pride that go along with it. And if he never makes it to college athletics, it won't matter. Cause not just anybody can be a HS athlete. To me, it still means something.

HS coaches - keep doing what you love no matter what. You will always make a difference for your studnets and players if you have the right motives.

Summer Ball coaches and Fall Coaches (I've been both) - Today's parents, families and young men and women are putting tons of faith in you in regards to thier futures more than ever, and the trend seems to only be getting bigger. Continue to do things the right way for the right reasons.

If we all do this, kids are gonna be allright. And hopefully, that is why we all do what we do.

 

your 2 cents are worth a lot more...

Very good post JT......there really should be no debate about which is better between any of the baseball opportunities that are available. as we should all be glad that we are free to choose. as for me I would have my son play as many as he could and wanted to BUT I also would never want him to forget where he started which was Little League before AAU and Middle School Ball before Travel Ball and finally High School Ball before Showcase ball. All of them serve a purpose and a need and for someone to look down on any one of the above is simply a shame........Winning the lottery would be fantastic BUT I sure hope I would not forget to value the little things in life.

 

What a great post. i see so much of this. I ran a youth league for 6 years. I saw it first in soccer. Parents and kids feel that travel soccer is far superior than HS soccer. Almost takes on an elitist mindset or cast system. My younger son plays school soccer only becuase he got burned out on Travel and ODP stuff. Most of the kids look down their nose at school soccer. You're also on target with golf and tennis. That long ago went the way of summer tourneys as the focus.

I don't see as many looking down their nose at school baseball but I see more and more parents and kids that feel avenues other than HS baseball is the way to be seen. This is sad because HS baseball is fun. You play with your friends, for your school, toward team goals. I'm even seeing kids continue to train during HS baseball season to prepare for their choice of summer ball. I also see the frustration with my son's HS coach. As I have gotten to know him he is a good, christian man. I see where he gets frustrated with the shift in focus. And he and his staff has as good of knowledge as anyone to teach the kids. Collectively, they know the game well.

I think you are right about football. My oldest plays and the baseball players that play football love it. They don't have to worry about joining other teams. Just go play with your buddies for your school. And you get a break. It doesn't go on for 12 months a year.

I really enjoyed your post this morning. Keep on teaching and coaching. The world needs more of you. Good luck.

 

Coach- first of all, Welcome to TBR!!! The quality of your post is one that we all can benefit from. I hope you will not become a stranger because an opinion from a HS coach is one that is always welcomed.

The point I would like to discuss is one of the roles a baseball HS coach plays. We have a terrific interview by a HS coach that explains in detail what he tries to get accomplished with all of his players. I would be happy to re-post it if anyone is interested.

From talking to a few HC's, one of the things that bother them is this. They spend countless of hours working and developing their players. They know these guys like they were their sons. Some of their players go on to play summer ball with an elite showcase team. Now these players had better be developed to play on those teams because they get little practice and little development during the summer. They come back to the program and tell their coach,

"My summer coaches had me change this, change that"

"Did it help?"

"No...I'm confused. I never got a chance to practice it and I didn't feel comfortable in the game"

"C'mere and let's work on it"

Coaches are humans and as you said, they have pride and ego. They mentor, coach and develop these guys all year long. Many become father figures to the players. Then one of the most exciting days of their life (committing and signing with a college), the player chooses to do it with his Summer ball coach. Now, a HS coach will not tell you this, but I know he feels he has been "kicked in the groin".

The fact that college coaches' teams are playing during the HS season it is difficult for them to come watch. This is why there is so much attention to the player in the summer and fall...and the relationships between the recruiter and the summer coaches are formed.

Compare this to the business world. A person that you have mentored has been promoted. After his promotion he gives all his thanks to his new boss for creating the opportunity...not to his former boss who developed him.

It's not why HS coaches coach (looking for a pat on the back). But they want their players that they have established a close relationship for years, a relationship that includes many hours talking, guiding, suggesting about things that go way beyond baseball; they just want their players to remember and include them on a day that is one of the biggest days of their life (that also includes marriages, babies and any other life changing event). To not be included leaves that coach with the impression the player didn't place much importance to their relationship.

There are so many other areas that cause a HS coach to be concerned about events surrounding HS baseball, but that is one of them.

 

High School coaches

“Poem About…The Coach”​

Dewaine Grahn’s - “HOT CORNER” –​

Oakland Independent, Editor Sports Columnist​

Behold the man whom all want to approach.
All want a piece of him. He’s The Coach.
A high-visibility job. The pay is poor,
Considering the hours, the flak and the chore.
He wants to win and prepares to the hilt.
W’s are expected in the program he’s built.
He may win trophies, even state-champ honor,
But it’s never enough, He could be a goner
If a parent or a fan, obnoxious and loud,
Incited the right folks in the school-board crowd.
His every action is intensely studied,
The longer the coaches, the more he’s blooded.
Encourages the players to play hard and scrappy,
Always worrying ‘bout keeping ‘em all happy.
Who’s gonna start and who’ll be on the bench?
Which moms and dads will create a stench?
How hard to push in summer? Will it hurt baseball?
If he backs off, will they be ready come fall?
Will new uniforms be OK’d by the A.D.?
Will the new assistant be all he wants him to be?
A misbehaving player…how many games should be sit?
And will the administration stand behind it?
All those practices and games…the season’s so long,
Good thing Coach’s spouse is understanding and strong.
Coach loves his job. It’s truly a passion.
Love of the kids never goes out of fashion.
When the season ends, though a struggle it’s been,
Coach can hardly wait to do it all again.
A coach connects in ways no other teacher can
‘Cuz coaching is far more than making a game plan.
Coach can’t have bad days. Must always be on the beam.
Preaches respect the ref and “there’s no “I” in ‘Team’”.
It tears his heart out when a player breaks the rule,
Bringing dishonor to family, coach and school.
He tries to mold players to be all they can be,
And he cries real tears that few will ever see.
Coach knows for a fact, more than his bosses,
That his impact goes way beyond wins and losses.
Coach feels lack of appreciation for all he does,
But he sucks it up each year, simply because.
It’s the gift God gave him. It’s what he loves to do.
It’s a privilege and a joy experienced by only a few.
Just when he thinks he may have failed the test,
A player says, of all his teachers, Coach was the best.
When it’s all said and done; when summation you encroach,
The best title in the world is that of, simply, “Coach”.
Thanks for all you do in gyms, fields and courts.
Nothing builds character better than sports.
To the coaches in this room, allow me to say:​

“Thank you for the honor given to me today.”

 

AMEN!

"What I personally find disheartening is the way that most all HS sports are being devaluized. The honor, prestidge, the "big deal" seems to be slowly slipping away. A recent post was made that I thought stated it great by saying there seems to be little worry over "making the high school team anymore". It seems to be getting to the point that its no big deal."

All I can say is Amen! I have been discretely trying to say these things for a long time. I coached high school ball for 5 years and then later travel ball and tried the showcase route. Battling the competitors.. other teams... taking my players and then beating their chest like they had done something, finally got to me. I have had parents say "NO MATTER WHAT, I am with you til the end..." Guess what.. gone..

My philosophy has been and will contunue to be... There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don't mind who gets the credit.."

Thanks JT for telling it like it is..

 

It does not just happen.

You can not expect kids to have pride in the program if there is not pride in the program. You can not expect kids to dream of playing for their HS team if there is not someone in charge with the kind of passion and desire that it takes to build that program. If a HS baseball program does not have pride and passion you need not look any further than the people running it. A coaches job is not just to coach the team in practice or at games. How do you build pride and passion in a HS baseball program?

You make it special to be a part of it. You require a tremendous amount of effort and dedication to wear the uniform. You weed out the kids that are not dedicated and are not willing to pay the price to wear the uniform. If you end up with just 9 players then fine you play the season with 9 players. But at least you know those 9 want to be there as bad as you do. You teach the game with passion. You give to them even more than you require from them. You do not pick your players based on talent alone. You pick your players by those that are passionate about being a part of your program. Willing to do whatever it takes to wear the uniform. Are willing to make an investment in the program. Want to be coached. And have some talent.

Kids want to be a part of something special. They do not want to be average. They want to leave a legacy behind. They want to be part of the legacy that preceded them. Now this does not just happen because its HS baseball. Someone has to get out in front and lead the way. You can not expect anything in return other than the fact you are the coach. You can not expect people outside your program to appreciate what you do or even know what you do. You do it because you love the game , you want to make whatever your a part of special , and you expect your players to follow your lead.

Ego will not do you one bit of good as a coach. I could careless who gets the credit. I hope they get the chance to get some good coaching from someone else and it helps them out. I could careless who gets the credit for a college scholley as long as they get one. Our players have tremendous pride in their program , school and community. It is special to wear our uniform. Why? Because you have paid a price to do it that most kids are not willing to pay. You are the last guys standing. Everyone else has gone by the wayside and you are left carrying the banner for your school and your community.

We have some kids that play showcase. They really enjoy it and they love playing. But they will tell you this has nothing to do with how they feel about HS baseball. When they are playing in HS they are playing for their programs legacy and all those that have come before them. We have little kids after every game getting signed baseballs from our star players. They wait behind the backstop for the coaches to finish their post game speeches "usually" me running my mouth way too long. As soon as they see we are finished its a mad rush of younger kid who dream of playing in our program running out onto the field. They want autographs. They want to run the bases.

Im sorry if others do not have this at their programs. But it has nothing to do with showcase baseball or legion baseball. It just doesnt happen. It takes alot of dedication to build a program. Our HS players are home town heroes. Our former players are as well. We have a couple of boys that committed to ACC schools this year. They can not go anywhere around our town without the younger kids wanting to talk to them. The other players are treated the same way. Make it special if you want it to be special. It aint gonna just happen because its HS sports. This is not a slam on the original post because I understand the frustration that you can have. Lord knows its a battle to get there. But it can be done.

 

Random thoughts:

JTbaseball, no doubt you scored with your definition of the problem. But let's be real: The undeniable truth (in baseball & basketball & golf) is that the most exposure happens in showcase type events. For college recruiters, it's a matter of numbers. It's more efficient to scout the All Stars instead of going school to school.

I think high schools must eventually think outside the box & figure out an equally attractive alternative. For example, the Area III Legion teams held a mid-season All Star/Showcase event in Thomasville. Small step forward...but brilliant!

Perhaps High Schools could do the same. Maybe the State Association could hold area showcase events that spotlight Seniors & provide them with the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.

High School has one distinct huge advantage: hometown pride, playing in front of family & friends & the girls (or guys) & the marching band & spirit & rah rah rah. No way the travel ball/golf/whatever can touch that. So the leaders need to say: "We don't have a problem...we have an opportunity."

 

Coach 27

Wow! Sounds like you are associated with a super high school! I went back and read some of your posts and can't figure it out. What high school are you associated with?

 

restrictions

do you think part of the "problem" for many would-be good HS coaches may be all the rules and restrictions with practices , workouts, dead periods , etc?? because the AAU, clubs, etc have more freedoms?