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Honest advice


  • I live where the competition for sports is not the highest. My son dominates every sport he plays. He is faster than everyone, and beats the competition easily. What I am wondering is, what is fast for a pitch for a 9 year old? My son threw a pitch at 49mph, and people are acting as if that is really good. He is 5 feet one inch tall. Left handed, very skinny. I have played football with him, and basketball a ton. He has done very well in both. I have neglected to play baseball with him very much, and a friend has been working with him. He is very excited by my son's raw abilities. He thinks that this is his sport. My son will most likely be around 6 4" to 6 7" when mature according to most growth charts. Should I concentrate him on baseball?

    Look, I am not an idiot, I understand that he needs to play many sports, and be well rounded, I am just wondering if this sounds like a child who is exceptional? He has not played baseball much at all, but my friend (the coach) is very pumped up. He is very impressed with his abilities in baseball, and I have no idea if this is very good, or just average. Please be brutally honest, no hurt feelings here.

    HuskerBuckeye

  • First of all, it's nearly impossible to predict your son's height but with that being said; if he hits at least 6'2" and is a lefty, you need to keep him on the pithers mound. He stands to make a lot of money on the baseball diamond. If he wants to play bball an football thru high school because he likes it, then let him but baseball is where it's at if he's a lefty and can throw hard. But I cannot stress this enough: DO NOT overthrow him at a young age, just because he's good don't let all the jerk off coaches he will encounter let him throw 80 or more pitches a few times a week. Save him, his left shoulder/elbow needto be preserved and throughout little league it is a common practice to let the best kid throw the whole game, every game.

    UNTbuckeye85

  • I was almost the same when I was a kid... dont limit him... I limited myself and regret it.... I felt I was more natural at baseball (6'3 LHP, lanky, you know type of kid scouts drool over) But my dad felt I was more natural at football as I packed on weight quickly and gained a TON of muscle mass. as he said I had a "mean streak, hard hitter, and had a nose for the ball" I wish I would of listened....

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    Pissing Michigan fans off since 1987!

    OHSethIO ●

  • I would let him play all sports for as long as he can. Eventually, his skills and preferences will sort things out.

    Agree to NOT over use that arm. It can't be stressed enough.

    Hating scUM since 1964

    chasechasechase ●

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    brickosu ●

  • Husker, I've been around many kids in sports and I think the biggest thing is to just let him do what he's most passionate about. I find most kids at that age really don't know what they want to focus on, they just like to play everything. He'll figure it out. Trust me, I've heard quite a few dads say they wished they didn't push their son onto something he eventually got burned out on. Happened to me when I was a kid.

    This post was edited by McBrutus on 3/5/2013 at 8:31 PM

    McBrutus

  • I have run lacrosse and football clinics and have done so for six years now as well as coach high school working on my second year. I have had kids in all ranges of talents as well as parents who push their kids and ones who do not bother. While I am not a baseball guy, I will say this, take him to camps and clinics but only push him when he needs to be pushed. As in if he is not being mentally tough when he should be, guide him. But if he is burnt out give him a rest. I have parents that jump on their kids backs from 9-16 years old and burn the kid out. At nine years old, the best thing to do is let your son play all the sports he wants to imo.

    I will say this, college coaches LOVE players who play a variety of sports. It is always a good thing to keep in mind.

    cprBuck

  • I appreciate all of the responses. Understand that I do not push my son in any direction, I just feel badly for not helping him with baseball. I have stressed football and basketball with him. My friend acts as if I am missing the boat.

    HuskerBuckeye

  • McBrutus said...

    Husker, I've been around many kids in sports and I think the biggest thing is to just let him do what he's most passionate about. I find most kids at that age really don't know what they want to focus on, they just like to play everything. He'll figure it out. Trust me, I've heard quite a few dads say they wished they didn't push their son onto something he eventually got burned out on. Happened to me when I was a kid.

    Great response. I saw good athletes get burned out by high school and just quit sports all together.

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    Y'all don't know me.....Dirt Nasty.

    Dirtnasty ●

  • 49 mph for a 9 year old is quite good. If he's hitting that mark without playing much baseball then I think it's worth pursuing if he's into it. He could probably be around the 55-60 mark next year with some steady practice and for a 10 year old, that's top tier. From what you said about him, he sounds like he'd make a heck of a QB.

    McBrutus

  • McBrutus said...

    49 mph for a 9 year old is quite good. If he's hitting that mark without playing much baseball then I think it's worth pursuing if he's into it. He could probably be around the 55-60 mark next year with some steady practice and for a 10 year old, that's top tier. From what you said about him, he sounds like he'd make a heck of a QB.

    I coached him in 9-10 year old football. He was the QB. We scored 23 touchdowns the entire year. He scored 21 of them, and threw for the other 2. He can throw a football very well. I am not trying to brag, just being honest.

    This post was edited by HuskerBuckeye on 3/5/2013 at 9:37 PM

    HuskerBuckeye

  • HuskerBuckeye said...

    I coached him in 9-10 year old football. He was the QB. We scored 23 touchdowns the entire year. He scored 21 of them, and threw for the other 2. He can throw a football very well. I am not trying to brag, just being honest.

    Like somebody else said, dont let him throw to much early and do not let him throw curves right away. I threw a curve when I was 13 and felt something funny. I was never the same. I pitched in high school but I was only good for 3-4 innings and would have to play 2nd base if we had a game within the next two days. My arm was complete junk. I am not an expert by any means and I am sure there are some good books out there you could read for advice on how to train a young pitcher. I would just do some research.

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    Downtown

  • AAU and summer leagues in every sport possible. I was very good at basketball and baseball in school and was mediocre when i played in both. Really helped my game once i got older.

    This post was edited by Diegobuck on 3/5/2013 at 10:15 PM

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    Diegobuck ●

  • My son is 6'1 180 going into the 5th grade

    jlhunsinger

  • I forgot to mention he's 17

    (No truth to either, just for kicks guys)

    jlhunsinger

  • Had a son with similar abilites at 10. I made the mistake of buying him a playstation. KEEP HIM PLAYING WITH THE BALL !!

    buckeyeinsaline

  • Diegobuck said...

    AAU and summer leagues in every sport possible. I was very good at basketball and baseball in school and was mediocre when i played in both. Really helped my game once i got older.

    Good point. If the kid does love baseball get him playing year round if possible.

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    Downtown

  • Whatever you do, enjoy the next 8-10 years. Enjoy the hell out of them. The odds of a kid playing beyond high school aren't high. If your son ends up being gifted enough to play beyond high school, consider that icing on the cake..........

    Most importantly, let him do what he wants to do, with regard to sports...........Good Luck!!

    Senator

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    lbrown8653

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    "Tonight, my butt's sore." - Mike Krzyzewski 11-29-11

    Tripol

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    squirrelboy

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    check out bloguin.com or awfulannouncing.com. Follow me @bkoo on twitter.

    bennybuckeye

  • HuskerBuckeye said...

    I live where the competition for sports is not the highest. My son dominates every sport he plays. He is faster than everyone, and beats the competition easily. What I am wondering is, what is fast for a pitch for a 9 year old? My son threw a pitch at 49mph, and people are acting as if that is really good. He is 5 feet one inch tall. Left handed, very skinny. I have played football with him, and basketball a ton. He has done very well in both. I have neglected to play baseball with him very much, and a friend has been working with him. He is very excited by my son's raw abilities. He thinks that this is his sport. My son will most likely be around 6 4" to 6 7" when mature according to most growth charts. Should I concentrate him on baseball?

    Look, I am not an idiot, I understand that he needs to play many sports, and be well rounded, I am just wondering if this sounds like a child who is exceptional? He has not played baseball much at all, but my friend (the coach) is very pumped up. He is very impressed with his abilities in baseball, and I have no idea if this is very good, or just average. Please be brutally honest, no hurt feelings here.

    Let the kid play what he wants. You can guide him by giving advice when he asks but in the end it is him who will have to give up things to go to practices, games, and all the extra training that goes along with being better than everyone else. It takes a miracle to break into pro sports.

    He's 9 years old. Kids change their minds every 5 minutes. I wouldn't worry about any major league potential at the age of 9. Maybe when he is in high school you can evaluate the situation again but even then don't even think about the majors. I'd be focusing on getting free college education with his ability. Plenty of kids get good degrees that help them in life that don't go to the majors.

    Baseball is a game that is played to have fun. That is your paramount thought that should reside in your head at this juncture. Be carefull in your exuberance to not suck the fun out of the game.

    Hope your son does well in life.

    "The only thing That Team Up North will be tasting this year is the salty tears of defeat" - UFM

    Gobucks187TTUN ●

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    check out bloguin.com or awfulannouncing.com. Follow me @bkoo on twitter.

    bennybuckeye

  • Downtown said...

    Like somebody else said, dont let him throw to much early and do not let him throw curves right away. I threw a curve when I was 13 and felt something funny. I was never the same. I pitched in high school but I was only good for 3-4 innings and would have to play 2nd base if we had a game within the next two days. My arm was complete junk. I am not an expert by any means and I am sure there are some good books out there you could read for advice on how to train a young pitcher. I would just do some research.

    Young arms are VERY touchy. I was a good-sized kid, 6 foot/180 in high school and blew my arm up trying to learn to throw a curve from a former minor league pitcher. My friend's father taught him to throw one at same age (15). No problem for him. I think in your shoes I would be extremely careful about who taught my kid the off-speed pitches and when. I think the key to damaging or not damaging a young arm all comes down to the mechanics. If he has a less than perfect pitching motion with a basic fastball, he doesn't get to learn the other pitches.

    ModestoBuck

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