DS doesn't want to play baseball anymore

[lacrosse_lady72]

High school sports politics is an ugly thing.

That statement couldn't be more true. Football, Soccer, Baseball and Softball were the WORST at my school. In any of those, it was all about who you knew and who you played for outside of school. I remember, pretty the only way to get onto the varsity soccer teams is if you played on a FC Portland team. I felt bad for the kids who worked just as hard but never got to where they wanted to be when the kids who also worked hard, but didn't take it seriously, got whatever they wanted.

 

[Sparx]

I think your son sounds awesome! He really has his priorities straight.

When I was in high school I dated a soccer player. There was a group of maybe four boys on the team who were very rude, obnoxious and snotty. The coach had a rule that if you missed practice you wouldn't play the next game. These boys NEVER went to practice yet they started every game.

That coach left the team for a better opportunity elsewhere. The assistant coach took over. The FIRST practice they missed, they were off the team. No questions asked. He'd watched them not show up to practice under the previous coach and he watched them take up starting spots from the students who actually worked hard on the team. He kicked them off.

I really wish situations like that would happen A LOT more often. High School sports are a battlefield.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks for all the replies and support. I understand the second chance concept but this player also plays basketball and football. Plus his brother is a volunteer baseball coach, so it's pure politics. Which I know is a big part of our world, just hard when our kids have to experience it.

I also work in this school system. I know I will be asked why he isn't playing and I will just tell them he doesn't like the way the program is run. Simple as that and it's the truth. He doesn't want to play in college so it probably is time for him to move on.

I will add he is really excited that his high school band will be marching at WDW during spring break 2011!

If he is not going to play in college then dump it. No need to be frustrated.

Sounds like he has his head on straight.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I know so many kids including my own that started out living for sports and then after many years decided to step out. In my experience they know when they are done. They usually have very good reasons. Often it is the ugly high school sports politics, sometimes it is burnout, and sometimes they just are ready to explore new things. It is also my experience the kids are ready to hang up the skates/cleats long before the parents have any idea they feel that way. If the kid has had some time to think about the choice and has other interests I would step back and respect their decision.

 

[swald91]

Sounds burned out to me....that happens with MANY different activities. I think when these kids get older some of them see the politics & just want out. Hopefully when kids are so involved & suddenly stop, they find another activity/sport to get into...

 

[tvguy]

I was on a Little League Board for 6 years. Biggest dropout times are when the kids hit 13 and 16. Few people realize Little League have divisions to age 18 since so few kids still play at the age.
There is also a a proposal around here to limit players to a high school team, and one other team per year (Little League, Traveling Team, USSA, Legion, Cal Ripkin, Pony). There is concern that kids need several months away from a sport, less for their mental health, more for their physical health. I've actually seen kids try and play High School Ball, Little League and a third league, and they end up playing 7 days a week, sometimes with double headers 9 games a week. Their bodies never get a chance to recover, and minor injuries turn into major injuries.
My son played through high school, Little League thru age 18, and Legion Ball at age 19. He considered College ball, but the conditioning schedule was from 5 am to 7 am and 3 pm to 6 pm 6 days a week in the winter, and the travel schedule meant there were many weeks he would only be in class 2 days a week. The coach made it clear that he wasn't awarding anything more than a 50% scholarship, and when tuition is $40,000, I'm sure didn't want to pay $20-40,000 a year in tuition for him to play baseball.

 

[AristocatFan]

Sounds burned out to me....that happens with MANY different activities. I think when these kids get older some of them see the politics & just want out. Hopefully when kids are so involved & suddenly stop, they find another activity/sport to get into...

I think he's burned out too. This past school year the baseball conditioning was during the same time as winter drumline. Between the two he was at the school from 6am to 9pm three days a week. It was an exhausting time for him but he was having fun.

And to comment on all the ball playing. DS has a friend that is 15yr and a catcher, played high school then this summer he plays on two teams, catching the majority of the time. That poor boys knees are going to be shot before he's 18!

 

[webprinter]

DD was the same way with soccer. At one time, she played on 3 teams at the same time. Her junior year in hs, she totally stopped playing. I never did figure it out. She still likes playing with friends and watches it, but 3 years later, she has never regretted dropping out. Go figure. We thought she probably just burned out.

 

[thegoof213]

im around the same age and i love baseball (lets go phils) but last year i didnt want to play anymore either it wasnt that i was terible i was not to bad but once you get to a certain age baseball becomes somthing that has to be a full comitment because of how competitive it gets at that stage with practices every day of the week and coaches really pushing you so for me it was play only baseball or quit and keep playing my other sports i still am in love with the game and play it with friends so dont worry