Baseball Career musings

Hi Guys

I wanted to take a few minutes and talk about a subject in the back of all your minds. Your kids' future in the game.

Its sort of like I told my Own son a while back: "Bud, you know that there is nothing I would rather do in the world than watch you crush a baseball, or drill a runner at second." Most of you have the same feelings, and have some anxiety about the thought that your son or daughter might not be allowed to play the game as long as they might wish, or at the "level" they might wish.

I must say that your anxieties have a basis in fact. Here in Texas, a kid must go a particular school based on where they live. That single reality creates a lot of "applicants" for the same jobs.

Let's talk about "highschool ball"
I've read a lot of posts where you have tossed various "strategies" for success around, but all of those strategies have some limitations due to the following:

1. You can never quite get a clear picture of what a particular coach thinks he needs at the time when your kid reaches the right age.

2. Kids often progress in "spurts", and your kid might be lagging at tryout time.

3. your kid's confidnce might be lagging at tryout time due to causes outside the game, or outside your control.

4. Your kid might be trying to break into a lineup full of Tiger Woodses at any particular time.

5. A particular coach simply may not see the potential in your kid or feel that more potential is present in another kid for his/her team with limited slots.

6. Let's get it out there now. I've personally found a lot of politics and brown nosing for those limited slots, even to the extent of serious money being "slipped into the program".

7. I am also personally aware of a couple of highschools in my area, known as perenial baseball powers, who have "boosters" that hire kids' dad or mom and move them into the district so the kid can play for them.

Given all of the above, and many other local "situations" I have not mentioned, I thought it would be helpful to open a discussion about some options open to you and your kid.

A. You might visit with some private or chartered school coaches in your area. Some of them might not even have a baseball program and would be delighted for you to start one.
B. Homeschoolers around here have their own teams and compete in the private school leagues. Their coaches are mostly volonteers. These homeschool teams also play exibition games with the big public schools, and compete with remarkable competency.

Trust me on this, The pro and college scouts are out in droves watching for good prospects. Your kid can be on a team that is not so highly regarded, but playing AGAINST one of those touted prospects' teams and still be noted and approached. Those scouts can't just watch one team or prospect during a given game.

As your kids move into that twelve to fourteen age group, try to honestly identify your kid's best talents rather than skills. What you are looking for is those inherent abilities(and weaknesses) that set the kid apart.
For Instances:

Tall,Slow runner, big bat average arm=1B

Very quick,great arm,gutsy= maybe 3rd

Very fast,weak arm, good glove,average bat=2nd

Very fast, strong arm, good bat=Center field

Not so fast, great arm, good bat=right field or maybe left.

Truly bright, good arm, decent bat, thinks well under pressure..maybe catcher

If he or she can't do any of the above, teach them to be a good pitcher, and hit a smart target.

Have fun
Kenneth Bean

C.