This is a topic that has been bugging me for a while. Names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Timmy is a pitcher. Everyone agrees that if he has a future in college baseball, it is as a pitcher. Timmy is a rising senior. He "sits" 83-84. He may occasionally "flash" an 85, or even an 86, but that's pretty rare. The problem is that Jimmy has been sitting 83-84 for two years now. He looked like a hot prospect a couple of years ago, but now, not so much. He and his parents have bought into the argument that you have to play travel ball for the exposure. So, that's what Timmy has been doing for the last couple of summers and falls. Unfortunately, Timmy is not getting much interest from scouts. He and his parents don't understand why because he has done everything he is supposed to do to get recruited.
So, what is wrong with this picture? What Timmy's parents don't understand is that all they are doing is "exposing" the fact that he is not progressing. Sure, good competition is a good thing. But, what Timmy needs is velocity, and constant travel ball is a poor way to develop it. Let's face it. If Timmy wants to play serious college ball he needs to get well into the upper 80's, if not 90. The odds of that happening doing what he is currently doing are pretty slim. The problem is no one will tell him/his parents that.
One of the best lines I ever read was "Players are made in the off season." Timmy has no off season because if he doesn't play summer and fall ball he will "fall behind." Timmy would be better off taking a summer (and/or fall) off and work on building velocity. He needs a serious conditioning program focusing on his lower body and core. (Not what you typically get in a HS program). He needs to be on a daily shoulder maintenance/prehab program. (He should have been on one for years). He needs to be on a REGULAR long toss program. A weighted ball program might also be an option.
Will any of this help? Maybe. Maybe not. He may have already reached his genetic limit. But it's the only shot he has. And it is darn near impossible to work a comprehensive velocity program while playing travel ball (or Legion) at the same time.
I have used Timmy the pitcher as an example. But, the same could be true of catchers as well. If your kid is throwing a 2.3 pop time for the second or third year in a row it's time for a new plan. If your middle infielder is still running a 7.5, it's time for a new plan. There's no point in showcasing his lack of development.
The problem is no one will tell Timmy and his parents this. Is the travel ball coach going to do it? Yeah, he may tell Timmy he needs to work on conditioning. But, is he going to tell Timmy he would be better off working on his velocity than playing another season or travel ball? Probably not. In fairness, the Legion coach is not going to tell him this either. They need him a lot more than he needs them.
Wake up people, before it's too late. I once read that the biggest problem with HS baseball players is that most of them have no sense of urgency. If you/your kid is like Timmy, time is running out.
Timmy is a pitcher. Everyone agrees that if he has a future in college baseball, it is as a pitcher. Timmy is a rising senior. He "sits" 83-84. He may occasionally "flash" an 85, or even an 86, but that's pretty rare. The problem is that Jimmy has been sitting 83-84 for two years now. He looked like a hot prospect a couple of years ago, but now, not so much. He and his parents have bought into the argument that you have to play travel ball for the exposure. So, that's what Timmy has been doing for the last couple of summers and falls. Unfortunately, Timmy is not getting much interest from scouts. He and his parents don't understand why because he has done everything he is supposed to do to get recruited.
So, what is wrong with this picture? What Timmy's parents don't understand is that all they are doing is "exposing" the fact that he is not progressing. Sure, good competition is a good thing. But, what Timmy needs is velocity, and constant travel ball is a poor way to develop it. Let's face it. If Timmy wants to play serious college ball he needs to get well into the upper 80's, if not 90. The odds of that happening doing what he is currently doing are pretty slim. The problem is no one will tell him/his parents that.
One of the best lines I ever read was "Players are made in the off season." Timmy has no off season because if he doesn't play summer and fall ball he will "fall behind." Timmy would be better off taking a summer (and/or fall) off and work on building velocity. He needs a serious conditioning program focusing on his lower body and core. (Not what you typically get in a HS program). He needs to be on a daily shoulder maintenance/prehab program. (He should have been on one for years). He needs to be on a REGULAR long toss program. A weighted ball program might also be an option.
Will any of this help? Maybe. Maybe not. He may have already reached his genetic limit. But it's the only shot he has. And it is darn near impossible to work a comprehensive velocity program while playing travel ball (or Legion) at the same time.
I have used Timmy the pitcher as an example. But, the same could be true of catchers as well. If your kid is throwing a 2.3 pop time for the second or third year in a row it's time for a new plan. If your middle infielder is still running a 7.5, it's time for a new plan. There's no point in showcasing his lack of development.
The problem is no one will tell Timmy and his parents this. Is the travel ball coach going to do it? Yeah, he may tell Timmy he needs to work on conditioning. But, is he going to tell Timmy he would be better off working on his velocity than playing another season or travel ball? Probably not. In fairness, the Legion coach is not going to tell him this either. They need him a lot more than he needs them.
Wake up people, before it's too late. I once read that the biggest problem with HS baseball players is that most of them have no sense of urgency. If you/your kid is like Timmy, time is running out.