Rejection is Tough (High School Baseball)

Guess I have a different taste of high school baseball. Our head coach does not, and has not, in his 26 yrs allowed politics to play a part in his program. I played for him my senior year which was his first year as the head coach and was an assistant coach for him for 15 years(got off the staff a few years ago). He is an old school coach who does it his way and put zero stock in who your parents or relatives are--it is all about the team. Seen numerous kids who didn't make the team even though their parents attempted to play suck up, their sibling were part of past successful teams, their relatives are so and so. Pretty awesome situation to be a part of as a player and coach. He has been very successful with this style. He has already been elected into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame and has 5 state championships to his credit.

I am now experiencing his program from a different perspective--as a parent. My son is a freshman who currently is playing varsity baseball for this coach. My son got zero special treatments, etc because of me coaching with him for 15 yrs nor did I expect that. In fact I knew my son would have a harder time simply because I knew the coach would want to ensure that he was not being biased towards my son because of our coaching relationship. He had to fight, claw, scratch for any and all playing time he has earned. His method works as once again they will be playing in the IHSAA state final game this Friday night!!(Yes my son will be starting at 2nd--Dad brag--sorry)

He definitely isn't the most popular person in town by those whose sons didn't make the team, didn't get the playing time they thought they deserved, etc. However as he has always said--" I am paid to put what I feel is the best TEAM on the field . I am not paid to be the most popular guy in town." This is why I respect him so much. He hasn't cracked or changed in 26 yrs. He is definitely the exception not the norm.
 
Eric, Tell Thomas I am sorry to hear that he didn't make the team and to keep his head high... Never Give in! I don't imagine he's the type kid that gives baseball up just because he didn't make the HS School team... His drive and love for the game is something that I first noticed about him when I saw him play...


"The Man in the Arena"
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
 
Amazing but very stressful, nothing like being an athlete in highschool, yet trying to keep ur grades up, have a social life and maintain some family time, best of luck to your son, everything happens for a reason, but im sure he will make it with the experience and support that you have given him!
 
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