You don't know Ft Thomas very well. If Highlands scheduled their games in the sarasota area there would be no Thread about Highlands Spring Break. Trust me, the Sarasota area would be the answer to everybody's problem. I could care less whether the kids play or not. Highlands Baseball will take second fiddle to Football as long as HHS has a football program unless it has a better commitment to the baseball program by all parties. When they get to be 30 years old, they will wonder if that one week of fun in the sun with the jones's was really worth it

My senior year the baseball team went to Daytona Beach for Spring Break. The kids got to have their fun and it kept mom and dad from having a nervous break down. It seemed that everybody was happy even if it was Daytona Beach.

You commit to your team, you go wherever they go.

This did effect me personally when I played at.................... Several other players went also and when they returned ended up quitting the team because Coach Petty told them before they left that their position would be filled by someone else. He told us up front if we left your position was gone. By the way, we won the region that year even after 5 starter's had left the team.

 

That's a real shame that you are okay with only winning the region that year considering the State Championship talent that season. Ask Coach Petty if he could change one thing in hind sight what he would do with that team and he will probably tell you make them all make a commitment for the full season. Because of selfless acts of some that year it cost the Baseball Program and more importantly the dedicated ones a chance to make history and raise the bar for baseball.

This did effect me personally when I played at.................... Several other players went also and when they returned ended up quitting the team because Coach Petty told them before they left that their position would be filled by someone else. He told us up front if we left your position was gone. By the way, we won the region that year even after 5 starter's had left the team.

 

That's a real shame that you are okay with only winning the region that year considering the State Championship talent that season. Ask Coach Petty if he could change one thing in hind sight what he would do with that team and he will probably tell you make them all make a commitment for the full season. Because of selfless acts of some that year it cost the Baseball Program and more importantly the dedicated ones a chance to make history and raise the bar for baseball.

Woooow!!!!!!:fight:

That is still not a solution because the kid isn't worried about the team - they are still selfish. If you start doing that and one season you have one kid / group who wants to go to Sarasota; another kid / group wants to go to Orlando; another kid / group wants to go to St. Augustine and then the parents want to go Cocoa Beach - where do you go then? If you go to Florida it is because you are wanting to work on baseball; it is not a vacation. The parents can treat it as one but their kid is there to work. I think a coach needs to find time during the week to do some fun stuff but that is not the focus of the trip. People lose perspective of this.

 

Agreed . I must also point out that I followed a certain Highlands Baseball team to Panama City Beach Fl. one year and was concerned about the way things were handled by the players and parents that year. The deal sorta went like this - Since all of Ft. Thomas enjoys traveling 600 miles every year to see their next door neighbor then the Head baseball coach came up with a brainstorm - Everybody meet in P.C with their families and we will get together three times during the week and play a couple of local Fl teams.

The problems went something like this 1) You had a 6'5" / 93 mile an hour freak on the mound throwing chin music because he could'nt see straight since he got overserved the night before 2) You had 3 seniors in the duggout fertilizing the bermuda 3) You had players talking about the all you can drink at the Nite Club beginning at 5 pm.

Bottom line is unless you take your team to a destination less desirable than the "IN PLACE" then you are asking for some serious liability plus you are giving the name across your pressed uniforms a black eye.

Agreed . I must also point out that I followed a certain Highlands Baseball team to Panama City Beach Fl. one year and was concerned about the way things were handled by the players and parents that year. The deal sorta went like this - Since all of Ft. Thomas enjoys traveling 600 miles every year to see their next door neighbor then the Head baseball coach came up with a brainstorm - Everybody meet in P.C with their families and we will get together three times during the week and play a couple of local Fl teams.

The problems went something like this 1) You had a 6'5" / 93 mile an hour freak on the mound throwing chin music because he could'nt see straight since he got overserved the night before 2) You had 3 seniors in the duggout fertilizing the bermuda 3) You had players talking about the all you can drink at the Nite Club beginning at 5 pm.

Bottom line is unless you take your team to a destination less desirable than the "IN PLACE" then you are asking for some serious liability plus you are giving the name across your pressed uniforms a black eye.

Its a shame you had to drive 600 miles for the kid to have a drink. I wonder if the kid had ever had a drink before going to Fla. If he had been drinking why would a coach play him anyway?

Sometimes coaches have to adapt to the situation their dealt. When was the last time Highlands won the region anyway. It seems to me that it has been a few years ago. I would think that the coaches would be looking for any way to get the best players possible to come out for the team. I guess just winning the region was a pretty good feat back in 79-80 for a Highlands team.

Agreed . I must also point out that I followed a certain Highlands Baseball team to Panama City Beach Fl. one year and was concerned about the way things were handled by the players and parents that year. The deal sorta went like this - Since all of Ft. Thomas enjoys traveling 600 miles every year to see their next door neighbor then the Head baseball coach came up with a brainstorm - Everybody meet in P.C with their families and we will get together three times during the week and play a couple of local Fl teams.

The problems went something like this 1) You had a 6'5" / 93 mile an hour freak on the mound throwing chin music because he could'nt see straight since he got overserved the night before 2) You had 3 seniors in the duggout fertilizing the bermuda 3) You had players talking about the all you can drink at the Nite Club beginning at 5 pm.

Bottom line is unless you take your team to a destination less desirable than the "IN PLACE" then you are asking for some serious liability plus you are giving the name across your pressed uniforms a black eye.

 

If this is true, it's no wonder HHS has not made another trip south. Fortunately I don't believe the 4 coaches coaching at HHS now would permit such actions to be tolerated without serious consequenses.

Sometimes coaches have to adapt to the situation their dealt. When was the last time Highlands won the region anyway. It seems to me that it has been a few years ago. I would think that the coaches would be looking for any way to get the best players possible to come out for the team. I guess just winning the region was a pretty good feat back in 79-80 for a Highlands team.

Coaches don't have to adapt to players, it's the complete reverse....Players learn to adapt, abide, participate and comply with the requirements of the Baseball coaching staff.

 

Teams do go on, with whomever is their to play.....good, bad, young or old, the team will go on. Now, it's up those whom is affected by the quandary, do I go on vacation or do I stay with my team....

Its a shame you had to drive 600 miles for the kid to have a drink. I wonder if the kid had ever had a drink before going to Fla. If he had been drinking why would a coach play him anyway?

 

Maybe it was a "two for one" the night before.

I'm not sure why baseball is the sport this is always an issue. Can you imagine someone telling Dale that they're going to take a week off for a Labor Day family holiday vacation? How about telling Coach Listerman that they're going to take a week off to go skiing over the Christmas holidays?

 

I can't fathom someone thinking this is an acceptable reason. "Coach Krumps, we'll be back in about 10 days after we go to Daytona Beach." Response: "Great. Enjoy the sun. Eat some good seafood. Root for us when you get back because you sure as hell won't be wearing a uniform."

I think that the dead period falls within conditioning for football. Yes it probably bothers Dale that his football players go on a 2 week layoff of conditioning. So it's not just baseball that is effected by having layoff's. And yes Dale allows family's to take vacations during the summer other than the dead period.

I think that the dead period falls within conditioning for football. Yes it probably bothers Dale that his football players go on a 2 week layoff of conditioning. So it's not just baseball that is effected by having layoff's. And yes Dale allows family's to take vacations during the summer other than the dead period.

This is not even close to being the same situation.

 

Here is a closer scenario, "Hey Coach Mueller, I am going skiing for vacation during Thanksgiving Break. Sorry I am going to miss the semi-finals." Would that fly?

 

Dead Period is during the offseason. Spring Break is during the season. Completely different!

It all boils down to "PRIORITIES".

 

If your priority is vacation and your sons priority is baseball, then you need to compromise. Either, 1) You go on vacation, leave him behind with another team members parents and miss all his games that week, or; 2) You stay home, forgo your vacation and take in every pitch, every out and every victory or defeat.

 

If your priority is baseball and your sons priority is vacation. Then I call in to question, "Does he really want to be playing Baseball or is he playing because YOU want him to be playing baseball?" Tough question? You bet. But it's reality. Go on vacation.

 

I'm one of the lucky few who's priority is baseball and so is my sons. Has this ever been discussed in our house? You bet it has! My question has always been, "What takes the higher priority: Baseball or partying with your buds for one week?" As long as the answer is baseball we stay home. We watch a lot of baseball. We take vacation in other times of the year, outside of baseball season. All the while remembering he won't be with us after High School and IF he's lucky enough to play at the next level we won't be able to see as many of his games as we do right now.

 

The bigger question here, "Does your son plan to play baseball at the next level?" If the answer is yes, then he better get use to playing during Spring Break. That's when colleges (ALL LEVELS) are in the height of their seasons. What college coach is going to let a player take off for Spring Break? NONE!

 

You have to get your PRIORITIES straight and the time to do it is NOW! Not when spring break rolls around. That's not fair to that kid that was on the bubble who gets cut on the last day of cuts. The kid who would have made the sacrifice to stay home for Spring Break to play for his TEAM!

This is a great post. I have enjoyed reading it for almost an hour. Unfortunately this same battle is being waged at our high school. Here is the scenario: We are a small school (135 male students). We have been very competitive however in all sports last year winning the district in baseball, football, and soccer. As you can imagine with only 135 male students it is tough to find 12 good baseball players to fill varsity positions. No enter the situation where 5 of 6 seniors want to travel to Florida for spring break. Obviously a very touchy situation.

It all boils down to "PRIORITIES".

 

If your priority is vacation and your sons priority is baseball, then you need to compromise. Either, 1) You go on vacation, leave him ........................ That's not fair to that kid that was on the bubble who gets cut on the last day of cuts. The kid who would have made the sacrifice to stay home for Spring Break to play for his TEAM!

 

Great post and you are 100% correct imo. The question and argument for this thread though is the fact that the Higher Court (The Head Baseball Coach) has already ruled and some people just won't accept the law. There won't be any trying out or making the team if they are not commited for the entire year.

The law here protects the dedicated kids or the kids who just love baseball from being penalized and let down by a few (and here in lies the problem - "a few" could not saying would be the difference makers imo for this program to reach some higher goals)

I will predict some "I wish I would've" coming in a few years from some of these kids when they become old and grey and have nothing better to do than play on BGP on Fridays.