I feel bad for me 4 years ago * turned into updates on my son's baseball

[Flasch186]

Surgery tentatively scheduled for his birthday 11/22

[Flasch186]

Surgery went perfectly and at 25% of the cost the first place tried to rope me into (I don't have insurance). The entire surgery cost less than 8K when the original quoting was at a cost of $30k.

The doctor and now his PT person have said that it couldn't have gone any better, and the recovery should be smooth.

1 week on crutches, 1 week walking with crutches, and then a slow build back up to action perhaps in a few weeks. The poorly timed part is that next Summer's tryouts are right after Xmas and he wont be ready for them. I let his school coach know and he said that he'd put him on the team he felt was appropriate. Oh well. As soon as he gets back at it I'm certain we'll get back into the lessons etc but I'm so glad his surgery went that well.

Shop around those services when you go without the insurance scam...

[RainMaker]

That's good to hear. And don't be surprised if he beats the recovery timetables they give. Kids (especially athletes) tend to have superhuman healing abilities us adults don't.

[Flasch186]

The road to recovery continues

The pitching lesson last week with the varsity coach said he was amazed… literally walked to my car blown away by Aiden

Today lesson was horrible lol, lots of mental breaks as the coach, imo, didn’t do a great job explaining things/adjustments and it was exasperating. One variable is I was watching today and typically I do not. Aiden wanted me to but I won’t next time for sure.

I’ve signed Aiden up for summer ball tryouts which are in two weeks and mentioned it to the coach and he said that he thinks he’s one of the coaches for the 2028’s. I said that I didn’t think Aiden would be able to hit yet (and even if he could he’d be so rusty) due to the stiff front leg in the ground and a twist motion on that femur yet and he said not to worry as he can put him on it as a PO that can hit. The school ball season will be a long try out really since it’s the same coach.

While I fear this is the beginning of a move towards being a PO with limited options it’s not my story to tell.


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[Flasch186]

All clear!

Started hitting in the cage today




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[Flasch186]

Aiden had tryouts for the Summer Ball program and while it's kind of silly since really his *tryout* is how he does this spring in school ball all season long, he went and checked the box 2 days after getting fully cleared.

Of course in typical Aiden fashion he went to Flight, trampoline/basketball park the night before and got a hip pointer...the one in the front of your hip that just hurts like hell and makes you want to not run... that one.

So they led with the 90 yard dash and he ran slower than ever. Now, was it the surgery or the hip pointer or both since he's traditionally been in the top 1/3? Maybe all of it but he was markedly slow and the coach asked him when he got cleared and he informed him that it was two days ago so hopefully they put an asterisk by it.

Then he fielded from the outfield and threw and that has always been a boondoggle for him. He just refuses to get his whole body into the throw and instead goes for the perfect side of the scale so oh well. Until he lets her rip he'll always say he doesn't have the strongest arm but its not that, its his legs and hip and hinge but why listen to dad?

He hit really well but he's slicing the ball still which signifies opening up, being too rotational, and too much bottom hand. He's working with that new hitting coach and he's going to be building confidence through that so I think that'll striaghten out finally because he caught almost all barrels. He's just giving away some power.

Then he got to pitch and it was good. He hit 72 on the gun which isn't bad (not great either) for just coming back and as he gains more confidence and his strength along with growth, he'll get more confident to rip his hips towards home and really go for it instead of the thinking about it. He threw a lot of strikes and had some really nasty stuff working including his splitter. The coaches said that their goal for him is to hit 80 by the end of the season.

He'll make the team but its not an elite team by any means. They're not flying him anywhere and one could argue from the parents perspective that the coaches are just money grabbing but {shrug}, he's gotta play in the summer and its the program that the coaches from the school are involved in and so they'll be able to keep tabs on him if they so choose to.

Hopefully now on the other side of the surgery and maturing he'll turn this year into his year.

[flere-imsaho]

Ah, the times I've wanted to shake either of my male teenagers and say "what were you thinking!!!"

[Lathum]

To piggy back here.

I have mentioned elsewhere my daughter belongs to a softball academy that is very intense and designed to get kids to college on scholarship. She is 11, will be 12 in May.

They do a "spring training" in Florida superbowl weekend. We would have to fly down from Jersey that Thursday and either fly home during the superbowl or stay another night and fly home Monday. She would miss 2 days of school.

Between the camp, hotel, and flights plus my meals it would be about 2K. It isn't really about the money, I just feel like at 11 the ROI won't be great. I get it when she is 14-15 and scouts, college coaches, etc...are there.

I don't want her to fall behind, but I also don't want to get too crazy to soon. Am I wrong in thinking we shouldn't do it? FYI it is not mandatory.

To further complicate it I was planning on going on a work trip to Vegas with my wife that week which I would have to cancel. We would be in Vegas for her birthday and Blake Shelton is playing.

[Atocep]

I'm not as knowledgeable about softball, but for baseball I'm not a big fan of out of state tournaments, training, etc before high school. I don't think there's much to be gained and I've seen far too many kids that are really good at that age burn out and quit before they even reach high school.

Trips like this are designed to wow parents and is a selling point to pull in players but the ROI, as you said, isn't going to be there. You're basically paying $2k for 3-4 days of practice it sounds like? Not a chance.

[Flasch186]

The ONLY reason I would do it is if it could influence things further down the line (schools, sports, coaches, etc) otherwise I don’t see any reason to do it unless it’s for fun (Cooperstown).

Aiden made the summer team $2275 for 4 in state tournaments FML


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[Lathum]

So my daughter moved from 10U to 12U for this upcoming season. She is 11 so on the younger side. Her academy has 2 12U teams, and while they claim it isn't an A team or B team set up I think one is likely better. The plan is for them to alternate weekends and not play in the same tournaments.

The other team, the one my daughter isn't on, is playing at nationals in Ocean City MD this July. Coach texted me today and asked if Syd wants to come play on that team for that tournament.

We are beyond excited and proud of her. To be asked as one of the younger kids to go to nationals is a huge honor. Probably doesn't hurt that she is a catcher but clearly they see something in her. She is going to be over the moon.

[Flasch186]

Awesome sauce!!! That’s great stuff man!!


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[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

Awesome sauce!!! That’s great stuff man!!


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Thanks!

She cried when we told her she was so excited.

[Lathum]

Daughter found out today she made the middle school team as a sixth grader. She is over the moon excited.

[Flasch186]

Nice bro!!!!

In the meantime my son and I are not in the same page as he plateaus again into another wasted season of wasted opportunities and trashed trust with the coaches as he commits mental stupidities over and over. From missing signs and hoping they don’t come back to bite him (they do), bad at bats from not making the adjustments he knows to do, bad swings and preparation in the on deck circle from not adjusting and doing the things he needs to do regarding posture and hips etc, to having bad lazy warm up tossing and stretching before the game leading to minor nagging injuries… he’s batting 9th and they’re trying to figure out a way to bench him it would seem, rightfully so.

It’s so frustrating because he’s the best or second best athlete on the team but his brain is an absolute fog which would be fine except he is as frustrated as anyone.

This coach is leaving the school after the next three games and I’m excited to see if the next jv coach can some how flip a switch with him. I cannot clearly but all of the coaches talk and I’m certain they’re as baffled by him as anyone.

The odds of him playing baseball in college were less than 1% anyways but they’re looking like stone zero at this point which I wouldn’t care except in dreading the day he realizes his dream is dead and I have to console him.


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[Lathum]

Thats too bad. Have you considered a sports psychologist?

[Flasch186]

for years, even used a couple but he's so unwilling to look in the mirror that its a waste of money and we tried it for a few months at times. What I mean is he literally knows what to do in all things, effort, pitching, hitting, fielding and at times he is great but sometimes its dazed and confused and frustration for a bit after the game.

I think we are starting, the wife and I, to think that this is perhaps his ADHD. We never had it diagnosed in him BUT we know we have different forms of it as do our girls but he's the oldest and our middle shows the most of it, we looked into the past and started to see things that Aiden did that align and definitely what we see regarding this stuff would fall into a feature of it. Shrug, I dunno

[Flasch186]

Start of summer ball and he has a good practice last night and they did a live scrimmage. He pitched well and got good at bats but most importantly he looked confident.

In the mean time I won volunteer of the year at the school he’s at for my video work for the baseball program. They keep giving Aiden scholarship money so I’ll take it!




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[flere-imsaho]

Nice!

[Lathum]

My daughters All Star team had a semi final game tonight for our division. Down 12-3 going in to the last inning, mostly of our own doing, won 14-12. It was amazing.

[Flasch186]

Been a while since I updated because there’s not much to update on. His summer ball season is very much like the last few years. Can’t hit and has seemingly given up on the idea of hitting. I think the better he’s gotten at pitching the less he wants to hit which is whatever but it’s a shame. He’s a very good fielder, very good base runner, but he is truly not willing to put in the work both physically and mentally.

He’ll hit at lessons and give lip service to what his intentions are but he wants to hang out with friends, have sleep overs, and just be a kid. I’m fine with that however I have not been good necessarily about ignoring harder answers to his comments about why he can’t hit.

I tell him, you don’t put in the work for change to occur and, in his words, he goes blank and doesn’t remember what he’s been taught in lessons, (adhd) perhaps. Ok but it’s an excuse for lack of intent and lack of practicing good reps.

He’s becoming an average high school pitcher but is staring at what I’ve been warning him about for years which is that the choices are going to get made for him.

The coaches are viewing him more and more as a PO and certainly not a ‘dawg’. He’s too pensive, too thoughtful, and just a wuss when it comes to being competitive hitting. He doesn’t want it bad enough and there are kids coming up right behind him that do.

So pitching seems to be his last connection to baseball. He’ll play through high school and he’ll get everything team sports gives kids in that way but it’ll be way less enjoyable as a reluctant PO then as a kid who believed in himself and worked at overcoming hardship on the field.

He’s having a fun life and making good choices so far when it comes to avoiding trouble and being a good kid so baseball so far is doing what I hoped it would in keeping him straighter and narrower.


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[flere-imsaho]

Honestly, still seems like a win overall. My son is similar in a way - really naturally talented athletically, but balks at the idea of putting in the work to get over-the-top. But as long as he's having fun, being a good kid, and getting good grades, I'm fine with it.

[Lathum]

I’m struggling with handling my daughter’s reactions to her failures on the field. She’s an uber talented player and plays high level for a well knows 12U program. Her program has two 12U teams. One is basically 2012 kids and one 2013. She’s a 2013 but is big for her age. On her team she’s the best player. Bags lead off and is the primary catcher.

We are currently at east coast nationals with the other team. She was asked to come play with them. The two teams train together and are overseen by the same coach so she knows all the play calls, etc. and they know her and all the girls know each other. That being said it’s not her primary team so she’s not playing nearly as much as she usually does. Pinch running a lot and catching a few innings here and there. Which is fine as that was the expectation.

This teams primary catcher went down yesterday so they were down to two. I’ll also add the teams best pitcher isn’t here as her other team is playing in the little league World Series. We played 4 games and the last game was an elimination game. The backup catcher for this team started and Syd came in during the fourth inning. We were down 2-1 and. We were the away team and took a 3-2 lead in the top of what would be the last inning. Syd came up to bat with two outs and a runner on third and struck out. She got hysterical and the coach had to pull her out because you can’t catch crying and had to go back to the starter, who to be honest isnt as good as Syd, who was hot and tired. We won the game. The last out was literally in the air as the timer went off.

Syd looked like we just lost. I was so fucking pissed at her. Not because the K of even the crying, but because her team won a monster game that put us in the final three of a 46 team tournament and she looked like she was at a funeral.

I get that she’s 12. I love her emotion and drive to win but she’s gotta learn to let it go.

Now it’s the next morning and I’m still pissed and embarrassed which makes me mad that I’m mad. She’s had a good tournament, hit .333, been a beast in the bases, and solidly caught when given the chance and I dont want this to define it.

Any advice from you guys who have had kids in the game would be appreciated.

[Flasch186]

My only suggestion is to not even bring it up unless she wants to and try to keep your words short and non repetitive. I’ve found Aiden will quote something I said one time and for some reason forget the things I’ve hammered on.

I’ve started to believe that the extra layer of failure that set Aiden off even more was him believing he’d failed me. So I wish, if I could rewind the clock, I’d have said almost nothing at all unless he wanted me to.

And

If you’re upset today, then you too aren’t exhibiting the “letting go” mentality.

You can try to explain that process for yourself to her if you’d like in a story time:

You know, when I was at work I had this big project due, and my part of the project just was packing and even though the group got it done I felt like I’d let the team down but actually because the project got done and I was lifted up by Susie and Joan the company actually landed this big project and we’re all celebrated together…. Etc etc

Easier said than done

Good luck!!!


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[flere-imsaho]

She's a kid. Love & support. Do it enough and she'll come to recognize that the love & support is the important thing.

[Lathum]

Follow up-

She struck out first AB and kept it together.

They ended up 2nd in the tournament which was a great outcome. Won several elimination and extra innings games.

[Flasch186]

That’s great

The thing I wish I could rewind is that it’s:

Less words more doing something yourself so they watch and join you


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[Flasch186]

Aiden just finished his worst season yet

It’s pretty incredible in that the more he talks snot what he’s going to do in a season the worse it is lol

He basically completed committed hitting to the point where the coaches just simply didn’t put him in to hit because he was so dysfunctional. Looked like he’d never hit before ever. From approach, to batters box control, to timing and mechanics. Just so odd.

And then pitching he increased velocity some in the middle of the season but then his control went to crap so he decided to “take a little off” which lowered the velocity and did nothing to increase control. He said, “my arm felt heavy cuz I haven’t thrown in a while”. Garbage.

On a positive note he got all honors classes and one AP this year. He’s blown through so much credit with his mental gymnastics and Jekyll & Hyde behavior I don’t think he could possibly get back to par with these coaches unless he had some sort of miracle occur. One interesting delusion is he thinks he was ok this season lol.

Oh well. He’s just going to practice a ton, get pitching lessons and maybe hitting lessons if he decides he wants to try but he is so far from being able to compete at the plate I’m not sure they’ll ever put him in the field again other than to pitch if he figures that out over the next year.

He’s just perhaps too cerebral and then not passionate or driven enough to pursue the with it takes to get results. Oh he wants the results, he just doesn’t want to work harder for them even though he’s fooled himself into thinking he works at it a ton. In comparison to some kids he does but it’s not an adjustable, and it’s not making him actually get better.

Luckily I don’t really guide, coach or push him anymore in baseball… summer reading and time management? Oh yeah.

I Would rather remain friends for life than kick him while he’s down. Coaches can try to figure that crap out.

I just hope that there’s some career for him that AI won’t destroy before he can build a nest egg that doesn’t rely on mine.


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[PilotMan]

Can he play catcher? Catchers are cerebral, and they don't have to hit, but also, generally have pretty good arms.

[Flasch186]

He’s a lefty. Almost impossible to start that but that’s not really the problem, I think it would still be the same. It’s not a baseball problem.

It’s an effort versus outcome miss (I can’t find the word). He wants the outcome, wants to put in average to below average efforts individually (that he thinks are enough), and also wants all of the distractions plus keep incredible grades on a demanding workload:

Honors English
Honors algebra 2
Ap modern world history
Honors chemistry
Honors Spanish 3
Honors paint and print

… so it’s just not realistic for him to be great in baseball without putting in great efforts. I’m fine with either way but the disconnect is hard for me to relate to and hard to converse with him about.


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[Flasch186]

I cannot wait to write about the conversation we had walking to the braves game. The delusion.


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[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

It’s an effort versus outcome miss (I can’t find the word). He wants the outcome, wants to put in average to below average efforts individually (that he thinks are enough), and also wants all of the distractions plus keep incredible grades on a demanding workload:

Honors English
Honors algebra 2
Ap modern world history
Honors chemistry
Honors Spanish 3
Honors paint and print

On a positive note, if he maintains that rigor with incredible performance, as long as he tests to those capabilities then he's going to have a very wide array of opportunities to choose from when the time comes. That's a combination that can easily spell a full ride to an awful lot of places.

Ultimately baseball's real purpose in his life may have been to put him in the position to do these other things at such a high level.

[flere-imsaho]

He sounds like my soon-to-be-senior: all the talent in the world but thinks he can get by with just average work. If I had his natural talent with my work ethic I would have been an incredible athlete back in HS.

[Flasch186]

So on the walk to the braves gang he starts talking about how he wants to focus on pitching (doesn’t care shot hitting BUT still wants to be able to when called upon [what!?]. He’s going to get ChatGPT to give him a workout plan, he wants a pitchers bag so he can put ask the warm up stuff in it, he’s going to really turn it on and…

He believes he’s going to be relied on some for varsity this season and be the ace of JV.

It’s so so hard to not point out that not only is the varsity loaded with absolute studs (one is going to be an mlb draftee) and then juniors who are very very good but Aiden has not been great and he’s not deserved in top of not having any sort of seniority. They have seen him quit on himself, they can tell he’s not putting in the work, they don’t need him, and yet for some reason he thinks he’s very very good and they do.

He said that other than 2 starts this season he’s been very very good…he’s literally thrown 11 2/3 innings all summer season so when he says this it’s such an inaccurate review of the season that I just don’t even know what to say so I just go with it.

I’m encouraging, I take slight shots (not directly at him) about commitment, self discipline, drive, work ethic etc in an effort to get him to flip the switch but it’s not sticky. A few hours and tomorrow it’ll go away.

Delusional but I guess I just am supposed to just encourage and try to point out what it takes an and slightly what’s been missing without hurting him so hopefully I did that.

I try to hide my incredulousness.


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[Flasch186]

Aiden guest played on a team this weekend and he got the start today. I’d say the other team was a jv team maybe slightly better than…

5ip
3h
3bb
1pik
64s%
1er
11 k’s (5 looking)

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I’m struggling with handling my daughter’s reactions to her failures on the field. She’s an uber talented player and plays high level for a well knows 12U program. Her program has two 12U teams. One is basically 2012 kids and one 2013. She’s a 2013 but is big for her age. On her team she’s the best player. Bags lead off and is the primary catcher.

We are currently at east coast nationals with the other team. She was asked to come play with them. The two teams train together and are overseen by the same coach so she knows all the play calls, etc. and they know her and all the girls know each other. That being said it’s not her primary team so she’s not playing nearly as much as she usually does. Pinch running a lot and catching a few innings here and there. Which is fine as that was the expectation.

This teams primary catcher went down yesterday so they were down to two. I’ll also add the teams best pitcher isn’t here as her other team is playing in the little league World Series. We played 4 games and the last game was an elimination game. The backup catcher for this team started and Syd came in during the fourth inning. We were down 2-1 and. We were the away team and took a 3-2 lead in the top of what would be the last inning. Syd came up to bat with two outs and a runner on third and struck out. She got hysterical and the coach had to pull her out because you can’t catch crying and had to go back to the starter, who to be honest isnt as good as Syd, who was hot and tired. We won the game. The last out was literally in the air as the timer went off.

Syd looked like we just lost. I was so fucking pissed at her. Not because the K of even the crying, but because her team won a monster game that put us in the final three of a 46 team tournament and she looked like she was at a funeral.

I get that she’s 12. I love her emotion and drive to win but she’s gotta learn to let it go.

Now it’s the next morning and I’m still pissed and embarrassed which makes me mad that I’m mad. She’s had a good tournament, hit .333, been a beast in the bases, and solidly caught when given the chance and I dont want this to define it.

Any advice from you guys who have had kids in the game would be appreciated.

Saw Flasch post and figured I would follow up. This tournament and experience seemed to be a real learning moment for her. She shakes off failures way better and has developed into a leader who always stays positive. Her team is now the "top" 12U team and she is captain. Leads drills, stretching, etc...They had a great fall season and she was a beast leading the team in runs scored, RBI, HR, and stolen bases batting in the 2 hole as a catcher. I am especially proud of her being 23/23 in stolen bases in 19 games.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I’m struggling with handling my daughter’s reactions to her failures on the field. She’s an uber talented player and plays high level for a well knows 12U program. Her program has two 12U teams. One is basically 2012 kids and one 2013. She’s a 2013 but is big for her age. On her team she’s the best player. Bags lead off and is the primary catcher.

We are currently at east coast nationals with the other team. She was asked to come play with them. The two teams train together and are overseen by the same coach so she knows all the play calls, etc. and they know her and all the girls know each other. That being said it’s not her primary team so she’s not playing nearly as much as she usually does. Pinch running a lot and catching a few innings here and there. Which is fine as that was the expectation.

This teams primary catcher went down yesterday so they were down to two. I’ll also add the teams best pitcher isn’t here as her other team is playing in the little league World Series. We played 4 games and the last game was an elimination game. The backup catcher for this team started and Syd came in during the fourth inning. We were down 2-1 and. We were the away team and took a 3-2 lead in the top of what would be the last inning. Syd came up to bat with two outs and a runner on third and struck out. She got hysterical and the coach had to pull her out because you can’t catch crying and had to go back to the starter, who to be honest isnt as good as Syd, who was hot and tired. We won the game. The last out was literally in the air as the timer went off.

Syd looked like we just lost. I was so fucking pissed at her. Not because the K of even the crying, but because her team won a monster game that put us in the final three of a 46 team tournament and she looked like she was at a funeral.

I get that she’s 12. I love her emotion and drive to win but she’s gotta learn to let it go.

Now it’s the next morning and I’m still pissed and embarrassed which makes me mad that I’m mad. She’s had a good tournament, hit .333, been a beast in the bases, and solidly caught when given the chance and I dont want this to define it.

Any advice from you guys who have had kids in the game would be appreciated.

Saw Flasch post and figured I would follow up. This tournament and experience seemed to be a real learning moment for her. She shakes off failures way better and has developed into a leader who always stays positive. Her team is now the "top" 12U team and she is captain. Leads drills, stretching, etc...They had a great fall season and she was a beast leading the team in runs scored, RBI, HR, and stolen bases batting in the 2 hole as a catcher. I am especially proud of her being 23/23 in stolen bases in 19 games.

[Flasch186]

Time for an update, but I’m gonna have to do it with voice to text cause it’s a lot but it looks like Aiden is really in love with baseball again especially Pitching and he says he doesn’t care about hitting but pitching wise. His mechanics have really gotten way better it’s having a pretty good season. He had one bad terrible outing but he was also trying to muscle grunt and he hit 84 as a sophomore on a pocket radar which is not 100% accurate but still pretty good and then hitting he got his first home run on the big field bounced off a foul pole and so he’s pretty excited about that. It’s got two more years ahead of them and who knows maybe he’ll be able to play in college but I doubt it cause he’s freaking smart as convenience so I’m not certain he can play baseball one of the schools he might be able to get into engineering or whatever all right that’s the update you guys

[RainMaker]

84 is really good for a sophomore. With weighted balls and some other drills, you can likely get that to 90 by the time he graduates which is what you'd need for most D1 schools.

I capped out at 91 when I played but had terrible command. Also blew my elbow out which is fun.

It really sucks the focus is entirely on velocity these days for kids. Toughest pitcher I remember in high school was a guy who likely didn't touch 80 but just painted the corners and could take 5-10 miles off a pitch. It was impossible to square him up. But he got no real college offers and ended up playing for a D3 school called Carthage.

[flere-imsaho]

The "four years ago" in the title of the thread refers to 2016. Fuck we're old.

[Flasch186]

Indeed

[flere-imsaho]

Being in love with the sport is the most important thing, IMO.

[Flasch186]

What he looks like in pitching practice now:

https://share.icloud.com/photos/00aV...welEnF9xakOUfQ

[RainMaker]

Oh shit he's lefty too. Yeah, you'll be getting some offers if he keeps this trajectory.

[Flasch186]

https://share.icloud.com/photos/055T...wvHlvcWyadQeQw

Aiden finished his JV season while his Varsity season continues. It was a great bounce back from a terrible year last year. coaches matter I tell ya.


"On the heels of a Varsity District Championship that'll put a wrap on Aiden's JV experience at St. Johns Country Day School and an incredible season it was. He had an awesome time and grew a ton. He finished that JV season with some awesome highlights and some great positive stats:
on the mound -
21.2 innings pitched
37 strike outs
9 earned runs given up
.160 opponent batting average
at the plate -
.366 average
1 home run (his first on the big field)
11 RBI's
11 Runs
It was an awesome year of growth and I'll leave it at he's an incredibly hard worker so he'll continue to get better. He continues to bring home great grades and be an awesome young man that we love. We're proud of him and can't wait to see him reach his maximum potential whatever that will be"

[Flasch186]

Any advice would be great, but we have a problem Aiden‘s pitching coach that he throws with typically on the weekends is also the pitching coach for the varsity team and really good friends with the head coach and that was great for a long time but Aiden has completely lost the strike zone and has just been completely discombobulated by all the different directions and he’s getting from this coach and other coaches and passing or before he goes out there and he’s just a mess. So we got a reference to another coach who seems to be good and he pitched with him one night last week which is great because nights are better than the weekend obviously and now Aiden really wants to pitch with this new coach, but we don’t want him to offend the team coach. There was going to be a natural break. Come June 1 when Aiden goes to a Pitching laboratory let’s call it for two weeks and so we were just confused as a break but the coach has Aiden in his stable. Let’s call it and he gets paid so I’m sure he likes that who doesn’t. So anyway, we have to navigate how to not pitch with the pitching coach from the school, turn down his scheduling requests, and go to the new coach without pissing the old Coach off and I don’t know what to do and he doesn’t know what to do so for example he pitched with him today and it was not good and he even said that the old coach just tells him to do so much stuff that he doesn’t do any of it and he’s regressing here at the end of the season. Ugh.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Doesn't help you any but this is the second time in the past couple weeks where I've been shocked to hear that situations like this -- school coach is also private paid coach for his own players -- are allowed. Came up on social media in another state & I was stunned to learn that was even a thing.

That's banned in Georgia -- not via the "can't pay" route but via the "out of season practice" limits -- and has always been banned as far back as I can recall. I had no idea those situations were allowed anywhere until recently, still completely boggles my mind. (whatever northeastern state I first heard about it, apparently it's the majority of most baseball coach pay & many simply coach HS in order to get easy access to clients)

[Atocep]

It's banned in Washington State as well. The recently retired most successful coach in the state got around it by opening his own training facility and hiring coaches not affiliated with his school to teach the players. He's still wasn't allowed in the area when his high school kids were training, but he could indirectly direct the offseason training for his players and get immediate feedback on how it was going.

The guy won multiple state titles at the highest classification level, but he was really a love him or hate him coach. The parents whose kids were "in" with him loved him but it didn't take much to fall out with him and then you're buried the rest of your high school career. I knew one kid that sat the bench his entire career because he was a chubby kid until his freshman year and the opinion of him was formed when he was in middle school. He still managed to land on a college roster because of his summer play. Another kid, that was a fantastic catcher, gave up baseball for a year during his freshman year; he just burned out because his parents pushed him so hard. He tried to get back into his sophomore year and despite being the best catcher on their roster (by far), he played JV as a sophomore and sat the bench as a junior before giving up baseball for good. Completely unrelated to this, but good god the stories about this coach are infinite. People still bought houses in his district so their kid could play for him because he coached 16u and 18u team USA and had as many connections as anyone. He put a ton kids that had no business playing D1 in D1 programs simply because of who he is.

Originally Posted by Flasch186

Any advice would be great, but we have a problem Aiden‘s pitching coach that he throws with typically on the weekends is also the pitching coach for the varsity team and really good friends with the head coach and that was great for a long time but Aiden has completely lost the strike zone and has just been completely discombobulated by all the different directions and he’s getting from this coach and other coaches and passing or before he goes out there and he’s just a mess. So we got a reference to another coach who seems to be good and he pitched with him one night last week which is great because nights are better than the weekend obviously and now Aiden really wants to pitch with this new coach, but we don’t want him to offend the team coach. There was going to be a natural break. Come June 1 when Aiden goes to a Pitching laboratory let’s call it for two weeks and so we were just confused as a break but the coach has Aiden in his stable. Let’s call it and he gets paid so I’m sure he likes that who doesn’t. So anyway, we have to navigate how to not pitch with the pitching coach from the school, turn down his scheduling requests, and go to the new coach without pissing the old Coach off and I don’t know what to do and he doesn’t know what to do so for example he pitched with him today and it was not good and he even said that the old coach just tells him to do so much stuff that he doesn’t do any of it and he’s regressing here at the end of the season. Ugh.

I don't know how sensitive to these things the school pitching coach is, but I'd just be honest and tell him you want to give Aiden a chance to reset for a couple of weeks, clear his head, and get a different voice before jumping back in with the school coach. Most of the trainers my son and I worked with were very understanding and expected players to work with different people. As far as development goes, it's a really good thing. You can't rely on one voice and a player has to learn how to learn from different people.

If you know or have a feeling he's sensitive to these things disregard the advice above.

[Flasch186]

They won the state championship and Aiden (who didn’t play in the post season for varsity) is driven to play a bigger role next season. We’ll see.

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