Crack of the Bat
by Blaine Clemmens
Follow Up #1: Anti-showcase High School Baseball Coaches
The email responses have been coming in pretty steadily since I posted that first article regarding the anti-showcase mentality of SOME high school coaches. Thanks to those that have sent those messages and taken the time to write down some very detailed thoughts. It is going to take some time to organize all the emails into the follow-up articles and to categorize much of the content into subtopics.
Because I am still receiving emails on this topic on a daily basis and starting to get some different points of view (which is what I was hoping would happen), I want to hold off a bit on putting together my specific thoughts on the subject. I don’t know that I have really changed my thoughts at this point, but the more differing points of view that I read, the broader my perspective becomes, and ultimately, that is what I hope putting this topic out there for public discussion will do… broaden perspective for all of us.
There are so many different tangents that can, should, and will be discussed in those follow-up articles. I think ultimately, that as the leader in this business, the major thing we (PG) can do is to make an effort to educate people about our business, and to also learn from and listen to differing points of view as we continue to work to provide a good product for the benefit of the players. It is good for us to understand where the negative sentiments about showcases come from. My belief is that what is on the surface is not always the whole story… it usually never is.
At this point I have mostly received emails that tell of experiences with anti-showcase coaches or the ways that showcases have been beneficial for players. I have received a couple of emails from coaches that are or have been affected by the exposure-centric model of summer/fall baseball. I have also had one long back and forth with a parent of a legitimate prospect whose perspective is very well rounded. He brought up some very interesting points, many of which were gained from his and his son’s personal experiences, and many of which are positive in regard to showcases, but some of which that are not all that positive.
What I want to do for this posting is to include either parts of or some entire emails that I have received, so you can know what is being written to me and maybe be prompted to share your thoughts.
Like I did with the very first email I posted that prompted this discussion, all names, schools, and other information that might expose someone’s identity are omitted (or changed) because the last thing we want is for a player to receive backlash because their parent shared an experience. Again, these are not the only emails I have received and they are not the only points of view that will be discussed in the follow-up articles.
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“My son’s high school baseball coach did not discourage his participation in traveling teams or showcases, but without them he would have been in a much different position.
He was best known in high school as a quarterback. He loved baseball, though, and had to turn off all football recruiters in the middle of his senior year so that baseball teams would know that was his sole commitment.
He pitched for his club/travel team for three years, a palomino team for one year and with a development team for one tournament. These experiences did not interfere with his high school baseball but they did conflict with summer football camps and passing leagues. He would often have a passing league game on Wednesday evening, fly to a tournament on Thursday and pitch Thursday night. Then come back for a passing league tournament on Saturday.
Through these experiences he learned of his love for baseball and decided that is what he wanted at the next level. The exposure he received permitted him to have choices when it came to deciding which college was best for him.
I believe it is in the best interest of high school coaches to encourage showcases. It highlights good players and attracts scouts to their high school games. This may permit more of the players on that team exposure that they otherwise would not have. There is a special feeling among the players and parents when a scout attends a high school game.”
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“My son's baseball schedule was so full this past summer… His HS coach told us it was unnecessary. He was invited to many showcases and tournaments and we picked what we thought was best for him. We could see the difference beginning to emerge in our son when he was away from his HS team. He played with so much more confidence when he was not being intimidated. His HS coach said traveling to showcase events/tournaments in the fall was not what my son needed to do… he said he needed to stay home and ‘do the work’.
My son committed to a college in July… never once did his coach call him the whole summer to talk to him. I sincerely do not believe my son would have the opportunities upcoming for him next June with the draft or next fall in college… if we had listened to his HS coach.
You have to do what is best for your son. Listen to what others have to say, surround your son with positive influences. They cannot flourish without confidence and cannot continually be beaten down.
I feel bad for the players who have had to travel the showcase circuit and do tournaments without their parents. There is so much knowledge to be gained, so much information passed from one parent to another that you will need later in your decision making process about school and the draft. If HS coaches and/or parents don't ever go to these tournaments, how would they ever know the value of them? Parents should not let their son be beaten down and told what to do, they need to step in. So many times, the parents are just as afraid of a coach as their son is.
The friendships that are molded, the respect from players of their caliber, the maturity that comes with traveling that prepares them for college or even more, the ability to see all that is possible. Most of all, these tournaments/showcases and other great players are making that HS player such a valuable asset to his HS team. What more of a marketing tool could they ask for their "programs"? Some coaches miss the best part of being a coach, the respect from their players. Sometimes, that reward outweighs the wins.
Thank you for writing about this for it is a problem that needs to be addressed.”
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“We are having similar problems, not so much with showcases but with travel ball. I can understand a (HS) coach being upset if the player was playing for a mom and pop team and was being taken away from his high school workouts, but when the player is getting professional training and playing for a established team such as (team name omitted) the (HS) coach needs look at each situation.
My son was told by his (HS) coach that if he did not show up for a fall preseason game that he should turn in his gear and the coach would find someone that was more dedicated to his program. This is the type of pressure that some kids are put under. I respect that the HS coach is trying to develop a program but it is the off-season. I will tell you my son has had more exposure from his travel team, PG events and showcases. I have been told (by the HS coach) that if my son is as good as the events would lead him to believe then he will play high school baseball. If the coach chooses not to play him he is still getting seen over the summer via tournaments and or showcases.”
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This email is in response to me asking the parent about being able to use the email in this article… in some ways, this email speaks even louder than the story this parent related…
“Please let me think about that over the weekend. Reason being: If used as written, I’m sure it would be easily deciphered in my son’s school as to who sent this email. I’m sure that there are a few parents/players from his high school that read your articles/web-site. Thus it could cause him undo repercussions when it comes to high school ball/tryouts and or playing time. As you can see as with your email from your article, coaches have so much power/control of a young man’s future (playing time, stats control, who makes the varsity) but so many times they do not want to let that future flourish. Do not get me wrong, I see the opposite end of this situation at other schools in our area too. There are coaches that help their players get recognition, encourage showcases and their players are getting the DI, DII, and JUCO scholarships and opportunities to play at the next level. Thanks for your valuable time and I will get back to you.”
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“My son has a D-1 scholarship because of playing for his travel team and numerous PG showcases including PG Nationals last year. My son has been the best player in his local area, but playing ball outside (the area) and attending showcases is what made him a better pitcher today. Playing with top prospects on his travel team just made him work harder to get better. My point is there is a lot of talent (out there) and if you do not get out of your local area you will have no idea what you are competing with. He has the only scholarship on his team which has been a top team in our area for many years. He also has numerous Professional teams interested in him. None of this would have happened if he had not played travel ball and showcases.”
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These last two emails are two that I think speak quite loudly and they are the last two I will post in this particular column. Rest assured that I have some other emails with different points of view, such as from a Legion coach that is affected by showcases, and even one from a parent that is a self-described “Anti-High School Baseball” parent. There are others that are important to get out there for us to read and consider as we work to all become more educated on this subject.
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“We've encountered two different types of ‘anti-showcase’ coaches. We had a high school coach who would require players to play for his fall and summer team, threatening loss of playing time if he would not sign up. Then he would require attendance at fall and winter practices, again dangling playing time. Finally, when college coaches would call to inquire about that player, he would penalize him for not attending these practices by giving lukewarm reviews, or suggesting the player wasn't working hard enough, even though he knew the player was attending camps, visiting college baseball programs, going to showcases, or other private coaches for instruction.
The second type was the all-controlling summer team coach/administrator who refuses permission for players to attend things like the PG events IF it conflicts with their schedule. Pressure is brought to bear on the parents and players by implicit or overt threats of dismissal, loss of playing time, poor reviews/badmouthing and demotion to lower-level teams.
Both coaches act because of the perceived threat the showcases, camps, and tryouts pose to their programs. To be fair, I would agree that not every kid should go to these tryouts, but elite players or those who are in competition for scholarships, certainly need exposure. The high school coaches may not actually know what showcases can do, but the elite summer team coaches know, they just think THEY know better and can place the player without going to showcases.
Perhaps in the end it is the system that is screwed up, as I have to admit the number of showcases, camps, tryouts, and the like are confusing and their are many conflicts. I think we all appreciate the efforts of you and many at PG who genuinely try to help players and parents negotiate through this mess.”
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“I am sure that I am adding nothing that you have not heard before to this topic but I wanted to give you our experience regardless. First let me start by saying that our state is not known as a baseball recruiting haven. My son has had success playing in travel ball and we were advised by an opposing coach that he should go to a showcase to see where he stacked up against other players and what he needed to work on to improve. We also thought it was good for him to expand his visibility outside of our state.
He signed up for the regional underclass showcase the summer before his freshman year (last year) and actually did very well, receiving a high PG rating. If anything, what this did was give him the desire to work harder and to continue to improve. He then went to the 16-U WWBA in Marietta, pitched very well and ended up on Baseballweb TV for his performance which once again gave him even more desire. This summer he attended another regional underclass showcase and while he did not perform to his potential he still made the top prospect list.
Now, my son is just 15, but in his area he is very well known. The showcases not only let him see all the great talent that is out there, it has given him and increased work ethic, desire to be the best but it has made him ‘known’ outside of our state. This has given him opportunities that he never would have received had he just played locally.
The high school coach sees our son’s success as an opportunity for his high school players as it may allow them to be seen by scouts who come to see our son. His HS coach wants him to take advantage of every opportunity he can, as it will not only help him as a player but in an indirect way could possibly help one of his team mates. Even though my son can’t be contacted by college coaches due to his grade and age, we do know indirectly that some of the top programs have him on their radar. The PG showcase is the reason for this and will continue to help him in his goals of playing college baseball. The showcases have also given him a dedication and work ethic because it exposed him to other very talented and dedicated student athletes all striving for the same goals.
Keep up the great work and thank you for giving our kids a resource and outlet to create opportunity for themselves.”
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Ok, that is enough to digest for this column. I will continue to receive (happily so) emails on this topic and look forward to hearing from all points of view. My email address is bclemmens@perfectgame.org.
Ultimately, my goal for pursuing this subject is exactly the same as one parent’s response when I asked if I could use his email. He said, “Sure Blaine feel free to use it. If it can educate one coach and give one kid more of an opportunity I will be happy I could help.”
Thanks!
This column represents the thoughts and opinions of the author and are not necessarily those of Perfect Game.