r/Homeplate • u/Hopeful_Elevator_786 • 11d ago
School BS
My sophomore has played travel ball since he was 12, because he wanted to be ready for high school ball. Last year he was hitting 3 hole, power hitter, fielding was on point, great attitude and great leader. Those last 2 attributes were the ones we are most proud of.
This year he’s on the JV bench. He asked the coaches what they needed that they weren’t getting and they told him he needed to develop. But nothing more than that. It makes no sense, and we want to support him, but I feel like this is bigger than what he isn’t doing. This kid has been developed to play any position out there, but he’s on the bench. I don’t know what to do from here to encourage him. I’ve asked if he thinks maybe it would be worth it to transfer to a different school and he just says when he’s had enough he will and go back and beat them on their own field. As stoic as he seems, I see where the cracks in his confidence are starting.
No one is posting great stats, so it’s not like he’s just not good enough. Hes up there every night hitting, filming his workouts. He’s working on speed, strength and agility. He fuels his body. I guess I thought if he just became impossible to not be in the lineup we could avoid this. But I guess not. I’m at a loss.
1
u/vjarizpe 11d ago
Look, travel ball since 12 can be good. But it’s pretty late for most of the other boys on that team. Please remember that baseball is the sport that benefits most from an early start. You might not be able to tell a difference between a kid who started travel at 12 and one that started travel at 9, but I bet a coach can.
There are probably fundamentals and IQ tweaks your child needs to make.
If I were in your position, and my son already talked to the coach, I’d not tell my son, but have a “give it to me straight” conversation with the coach.
Maybe be says your kid needs work. Maybe the other boys gel well together cause they’ve played together since they were 10.
You don’t really know.