TAKE YOUR SON OUT TO A BALLGAME. PLEASE!

I have just returned from another weekend of watching college baseball games. This is my 7th year of doing so, which is 2 or 3 years before my son/sons would  play in college. It's great now because I have a son playing and the other who has just finished his playing career is now a college coach. The point today is, I talk to many, many parents, who all have the idea that their son's can and will be playing baseball in college and most think it's going to be big time D1 too. All of this generalization comes without ever having seen what the caliber of player is, at this or for that fact, any collegiate level. GO SEE A COLLEGE GAME. Can be D1, D2, D3, go see a game.

By this time in mid to late March, the high school tryouts are over, the team is selected and practice has begun. For the D1 college's  most, if not all have played between 15 - 25 games already and still have another 35 to go. The schools here in the Northeast are just coming back home and will be having their Northern openers this weekend or next. Check the college website for their schedules (http://www.d1baseball.com/) and go see a game. Look for some of the local talent that you may be familiar with and see how they are fairing. Look at how they may have changed physically from that kid you knew a year or two ago. See if their skills have changed, better hitter, stronger arm. This is what a college player looks like.

I had written previously about visiting schools, do it and try to do it while games are being played on campus. Many families take vacation over February or Easter breaks, check the area you are traveling to and GO SEE A GAME. Parents and players alike will be very surprised to see how a college team prepares for the game, BP, Infield/Outfield, pitchers all getting their work in etc. If the game starts at 7pm get their at 5:30, if it starts at 1:00, get their at 11:30. Make a day or evening of it and really watch whats going on. You may be very, very surprised at the talent and skill level on the field and how the players and coaches interact. It's no longer high school or summer ball where kids have to be coddled or mom and dad make a call. This is big time, grow up, play hard and if you fail or stumble, pick yourself up and make the next play or get a hit the next at bat. This is the educational part of college baseball.

If you have an opportunity, Take your son to a college game. Great atmosphere, good baseball and hard working ball players who by the way, still have to get it done in the classroom, weight room and the ball field. These guys are good... Good luck

Questions can be emailed to allbaseball247@gmail.com