For you young guys

[Jake Patterson]

Now that school ball is winding down there seems to be a number of young guys looking to improve by attending clinics and such...

To keep what you do in perspective here's an article on CT's number 1 player, a young man I have been following. He's been clocked at 93. As far as I know he is the only player in Eastern CT getting a serious look by the MLB.... out of - maybe 500 players.

http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=9b01686d-3d4b-4b8b-bc2c-bb107a926f5f

[Three A's baseball]

I'm not sure what your point is.....Are you telling those who want to improve at camps and clinics to go fishing because the odds are against them????

or is your point you can be like this kid if you work hard, practice & study great things can happen and never give up on your dreams?

[TG Coach]

Now that school ball is winding down there seems to be a number of young guys looking to improve by attending clinics and such...

To keep what you do in perspective here's an article on CT's number 1 player, a young man I have been following. He's been clocked at 93. As far as I know he is the only player in Eastern CT getting a serious look by the MLB.... out of - maybe 500 players.

http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=9b01686d-3d4b-4b8b-bc2c-bb107a926f5f


Add to the perspective: Be the best you can be, make varsity and make all-conference before you start having big dreams.

My son thinks he's going to play college ball because dad played college baseball, mom played college softball and his sister currently plays college softball. With all the genetics he has in his favor (another three college baseball players in the family tree and a college football player) I tell him to focus on taking it one step at a time. He needs to start on varsity and star before college ball becomes a consideration. And more than all this I tell him to get all A's. He'll go further with grades than baseball. Plus grades can open up additional baseball doors for college. With the new NCAA baseball scholarship rules coaches are going to love players who can get academic rises.

Now here's a surprise for all you potential college players. It's more work than you can ever imagine. You will feel owned. My daughter thinks the season is a breeze. In the offseason she has swimming from 5:30 to 6:30am for upper body strength. She has lifting and plyometrics from 7:30 to 9:30pm Monday, Wednesday and yes, Friday night. Then there's practice for three hours Monday through Friday. If you're keeping track that's four hours on the easy days and six on the harder days. Oh, then there's this thing called class and homework. Her only close friends are her teammates. They're the only people she has time for. And dating, yeah once in a while. Not much time for it. The season is a breeze with three hour practices on non game days.

I went through it and would do it again. But I did see a lot of players give up the dream due to the demands, or the demands crushed them.

[Jake Patterson]

I'm not sure what your point is.....Are you telling those who want to improve at camps and clinics to go fishing because the odds are against them????

or is your point you can be like this kid if you work hard, practice & study great things can happen and never give up on your dreams?

As our school seasons wind down many young players get a resurgent of energy and desire to improve. All good stuff. Something I would encourage for the serious player...

The article is to help them understand the standard. The summer months is the time where many youngsters and their parents spend a great deal of money on clinics and camps. While many are good - many fill the players with unachievable hopes while taking a great deal of money. I am not suggesting a player not pursue his dreams, but they need to understand training and skill development is just a piece of the equation, genetics and ability are the key.

[TG Coach]

I'm not sure what your point is.....Are you telling those who want to improve at camps and clinics to go fishing because the odds are against them????

or is your point you can be like this kid if you work hard, practice & study great things can happen and never give up on your dreams?

I believe Jake feels these kids don't understand how hard it is to play college ball. A lot of all-conference kids walk on and try out in D3 just for the chance to continue playing. There's nothing wrong with having a goal as long as the person also looks at alternative options.

[TG Coach]

As our school seasons wind down many young players get a resurgent of energy and desire to improve. All good stuff. Something I would encourage for the serious player...

The article is to help them understand the standard. The summer months is the time where many youngsters and their parents spend a great deal of money on clinics and camps. While many are good - many fill the players with unachievable hopes while taking a great deal of money. I am not suggesting a player not pursue his dreams, but they need to understand training and skill development is just a piece of the equation, genetics and ability are the key.

I know a coach, who if approached by parents at the end of a camp asking how good their pre high school kid is, and what are the odds of playing college or pro ball responds, "If he works hard there's no telling how far he can go." He's right, there is no telling. The kid might suck. He might be great. But he also doesn't want the parents to stop spending money sending their kid to camp.

Some delusional parents take "There's no telling how far he can go" as a positive sign for a big future while their kid is a pre high school stud.

[Three A's baseball]

Jake - I agree with the overpriced and overyhyped camp point. What I would ask is for a summer practice routine that a father and son could work out together that could pay maybe even ore dividends then going to one of those camps.

I think that would be a very useful post as well.

[Jake Patterson]

Jake - I agree with the overpriced and overyhyped camp point. What I would ask is for a summer practice routine that a father and son could work out together that could pay maybe even ore dividends then going to one of those camps.

I think that would be a very useful post as well.

3A's,
I think you are absolutely right. There is nothing better (on many levels) than a motivated father and son team. Let me give this some thought.
Jake

[rich]

I believe that NO ONE is qualified to tell a player/his parents what the player's " ceiling" is. Ask the self appointed " Guru's" and of course they'll give their sermon on the mount. Hey, it's obvious if a kid is a potential D 1 player but hard work can overcome anything . Set the bar high & see if a player has the dedication. A guy I'll see in about 2 hours at our complex was told to go out for tennis when he was cut as a high school Frosh. How do you think the self annointed demigogue felt when the guy hit 4 big fly's in a college game and was mentioned on Sports Center?

[callyjr]

I believe that NO ONE is qualified to tell a player/his parents what the player's " ceiling" is. Ask the self appointed " Guru's" and of course they'll give their sermon on the mount. Hey, it's obvious if a kid is a potential D 1 player but hard work can overcome anything . Set the bar high & see if a player has the dedication. A guy I'll see in about 2 hours at our complex was told to go out for tennis when he was cut as a high school Frosh. How do you think the self annointed demigogue felt when the guy hit 4 big fly's in a college game and was mentioned on Sports Center?


wasn't MJ cut as a HS freshman?

[Jake Patterson]

I believe that NO ONE is qualified to tell a player/his parents what the player's " ceiling" is. Ask the self appointed " Guru's" and of course they'll give their sermon on the mount. Hey, it's obvious if a kid is a potential D 1 player but hard work can overcome anything . Set the bar high & see if a player has the dedication. A guy I'll see in about 2 hours at our complex was told to go out for tennis when he was cut as a high school Frosh. How do you think the self annointed demigogue felt when the guy hit 4 big fly's in a college game and was mentioned on Sports Center?

Unfortunately there are people who make a living telling players what their ceilings are - they are called scouts and coaches. From high school on up coaches are very involved in identifying ceilings.



but hard work can overcome anything .

Again I would respectfully disagree. At the higher levels all the hard work in the world can't compensate for bad genetics.

[TG Coach]

Hey, it's obvious if a kid is a potential D 1 player but hard work can overcome anything.

Hard work isn't going to overcome lack of ability. You can't develop something that isn't there. Hard work seperates those with the passion and desire from others who also have "above the bar" potential.

[TG Coach]

wasn't MJ cut as a HS freshman?

He was in a powerhouse high school program and hadn't grown yet. He was 5'9". He grew and developed before the next season.

[rich]

You guys woulda cut Cards #22.