How to maintain a great HS BB team?

[Braves]

Is it the Coach, the feeder program or both?

Who does a great job of both and how does AAU, AABC and Travel teams affect this.

[NCBBallFan]

HS coaches come and go...An excellent example of building a strong program in a hurry is Hopewell, which should win the ME-CA 8 outright. There is a good feeder program in the north end of Mecklenburg county. They fielded a team of Juniors & Sophomores that were entirely from North Meck the previous year and finished 3rd in the conference.

The coach obviously had little impact on the quality of the program. He inherited a good group of ball players.

But feeder programs are cyclic. There are great years with strong classes of players coming through the pipe-line and down years where there just doesn't seem to be the quality that was present in the past. The cycle up in the north end seems to be one outstanding group of players every 3 years. I don't know why, but that's the way it seems. Any ideas?

[Braves]

It used to be a HS coach had tremendous impact on their players. The lessons taught were lifetime and seemed to motivate alumni to return to help in some capacity.

I think Coach Bagwell at South Meck still does a good job of going to Rec games and Middle school games to check on prospects. Of couse, it helps that many summer games are played on his field. Coach Greason at East Meck has recognized the benefit of Summer games on his field and always scouts for talent.

To me, a good feeder program is a must. But it seems it is getting more difficult when the players are scattered amongst Travel teams. Not to change the subject, but did you realize that some parts of our region is developing 5-6 yo Travel teams...Ugh. I know..another topic.

I have noticed, NCBBall, that quantity of good talent is cyclical. but maybe that's only in our area.

[NCBBallFan]

I think that travel teams are a must in order to develop talent in an area. But I have always encouraged the travel team players to play in the local rec league. Since they are usually the pitchers, they don't pitch much in rec because they are saving their arms. We have always tried to schedule our rec season around the travel players needs so that they can compete in both.

Baseball below HS needs to be about more than W/L. The frendships that you have developed over the years from age 5-6 should be maintained. You need the game experience against the best players but you can get that in the summer & fall. You need rec in the spring (up to HS age) in order to remember that it's still a game and people must come first.

An old axiom is that you get better playing against the best competition. A true axiom is that you get better with good coaching against any competition. You get better by practicing and playing the game.

[Braves]

Originally posted by NCBBallFan
Baseball below HS needs to be about more than W/L. The frendships that you have developed over the years from age 5-6 should be maintained. You need the game experience against the best players but you can get that in the summer & fall. You need rec in the spring (up to HS age) in order to remember that it's still a game and people must come first.

An old axiom is that you get better playing against the best competition. A true axiom is that you get better with good coaching against any competition. You get better by practicing and playing the game.

Amen brother!!!

[Braves]

BTW, NCBB, who are the younger players Hopewell is counting on this year?

[NCBBallFan]

I'm not associated with the Hopewell program but here is my guess of the Juniors/Sophomores that should contribute to Hopewell this year.

Ben Beard, Jr: Can lash a baseball, line drive hitter. Defense is suspect at times and may be better suited to the OF than 3B where he normally plays.

Walt Himes, Jr: 1B/3B. Fundamentally sound hitter. Soft glove and solid defense.

Dan Woodall, Jr: Catcher but may be out of position. He's a good hitter and blocks/frames well but doesn't have the violent throwing motion you like in a catcher. His pop times are suspect and he may be better at 1B/OF. Good speed.

Steve Laco, Soph: CF. Suspect at the plate but defense makes up for that. Greased lightening on the base paths. Needs to work on bunting skills. With his speed, anything to the left side should be a single with ease. Needs more experience reading pitchers at 1B.

There are some more but my mind is drawing a blank right now.
The team will be able to hit with anyone.

[Braves]

Is there a particular school you like to follow :D

[NCBBallFan]

Yes

[Braves]

I thought so, but I just wanted to be sure. Of course, many Hopewell/ North Meck kids grew up together. Is your son attending Tom House Clinic ?

[NCBBallFan]

No, we probably should but there are so many options out there that you can't do them all.

[Braves]

Yeah, his clinic is pricey, but this is the first time he has been here and who knows when he will be back. I know the parties involved and it will certainly be well run and informative.

But I agree. Ya gotta pick your spots.

[NCBBallFan]

What team captures your primary allegiance? Does your son still play in HS?

[Braves]

South Meck

[NCBBallFan]

Hopefully we will meet when our team play this season.

[Braves]

I'm sure I will. Check your Private Message

[rcbbfan]

NCBBallFan, my son attended the USC camp this weekend as well. This is the 3rd time he has attended this camp and he really enjoys it. He says it's the best of all the other camps that he has attended. Hope your son gained some useful info for the up coming season. Good luck.

[NCBBallFan]

Observing the camp, I was most impressed by the catcher portion of the camp. The coaches did a great job on blocking, framing, throwing and mind-set of the catcher.

We attended the pitching section, but there is not many better places to send a catcher-to-be.

[SouthPawDad]

I tend to agree and disagree with a few of the views related above. I think that from the ages of 4-12 kids should play and love to play the game because it's fun. I still go past a local church to just watch the t-ballers on Saturday mornings because it's such a hoot! Playing in the dirt, picking clover, can't tell where the short pants stop and and the stripped socks start. But everybody's having fun! (unless of course the parents get involved!)

However, around the age of 13, "dominant" players really begin to dominate, less skillful players begin turning to s-----, and the better players are looking for competition. My son started traveling summer and fall and now he's a hs junior. I firmly believe his competitiveness and drive to become the best he can be started when he started playing against better players.

My son's hs will field a varsity team this year composed of nearly all sophomores and juniors. Half of these kids play on summer and fall teams. Their leadership and desire to excel drives the other players to step up their commitment to the team.

Lastly, the old axiom of "practice makes perfect" is not true. The correct interpretation should be "perfect practice makes perfect"!
This is what helps a hs to continue fielding good teams. When the coaching staff can instill the desire for "perfect practice" and not settle for less, then, regardless of the W/L record, the kids become "winners" in all areas.

[Up and In]

Before I give a brief opinion on this topic I want to thank Braves for his dedication to keeping this type of forum up and running. Thanks Braves!

In order to build a successful baseball program there are obviously numerous things that must occur. However, there is one that jumps out at me from among the rest. It is COMMITTMENT TO THE TEAM. These four letters, when practiced by all of those indiviuals involved in a baseball program, be it Little League or the New York Yankees, there must be a strong committment to the team by each person. By each person I mean from the coaches and the players to the parents and the Athletic Director. Without this, it is impossible to succeed consistently, and that is what this game is, a game of consistency. Those who are consistent with their actions in a good way the most, will always be successful one way or another.

For a team to be fully committed, they musy come together no matter what goes on off of the field. I would go to war and fight beside any member of the fall team that I played for this fall and I know that everyone else on the team feelsh same. I guaruntee you that if you were to look at the where the teams who had the most talent and very little committment as a TEAM, and the average to above average teams who were committed and had the desire to be successful finish, you would find that CONSISTENTLY it is the teams that committ themselves and come together as one.

Just my opinion.

[Village Idiot]

I remember the Woodall kid from our battles with the Northmeck Pony All Stars a few years back. What a good crop of well coached ball players. We played many AAU tourneys and ran into the Charlotte Royals a few times as well. I see the names in the paper from time to time and it does'nt surprise me that they're doing well. Lack of feeder programs makes it darn near impossible to compete these days. That has hurt us at Mooresville for quite a while. But we now have a good crop of players comming along due to the fact that they have been involved with AAU, USSSA and other leagues for several years now. It's wrong to expect a coach to develop a competitive program without having these feeder leagues. So many sports today have been specialized to the point that you must pick one, and JUST one and work on it 10 months out of the year. Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Softball and Baseball have mostly gone to this format. Did I leave anybody out? Just try and be COMPETITIVE without them.

[NCBBallFan]

I know Dan Woodall and I gotta say that he's an even better person than he is a ball player.:invasion:

[fatman]

I believe that it's a combination of feeder programs and the school board's gerrymandering.

My son played for the Big I several years ago, and they had a very competive team that were co-champs and tournament winners the last year that Indy was in the SW4A. The team that gave them the most fits was Butler. Interestingly enough, 75% of the team members, my son included, played either Mint Hill or Matthews rec ball.

Imagine how good I would have been that year had the best players from each team had been on the same one.

[Chief]

:bump:...to first page

...we have a lot of newbies right now

[whc6]

I have to disagree a bit with NCBballfan.

Greenville NC may have the best youth baseball program in the state (No doubt about having the best high school program).

They do things a bit differently in Greenville. The formula has not changed in 30+ years. Very few players are on traveling teams and AAU ball is looked upon as a hinderance rather than a help.

Parents do not coach until a kid is in Little League. Prior to Little League the kids are trained by Rec and Parks Dept employees, all of whom are more than qualified. Fundamentals are stressed over and over and over. It pays off, as the JHRose and DHConely high school teams are known for not making mistakes.

The most important thing is the Greenville staff makes playing ball fun. From the time you start in T-ball to playing at Rose with Coach Vincent, you will have fun.

It must work. They recently sent a Little League team to Williamsport, their Babe Ruth Programs win state championships on a yearly basis, Rose has placed more kids in college baseball than any school in America, and Rose wins and wins and wins.

And it is all fun.