Is college baseball worth it?

stemit
Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:43:21 +0000

In the off season he lifts 3 days a week. He awakens at 6, lifts begin at 630 and end around 8. By the time he showers and cools down its 845. He runs 3 days a week- counting shower and cool down that’s a further 1.5 hours per run. He works on skills 5-6 days a week - counting getting to the facility and cleanup that’s 2 hours per session. I calculate the time devoted to his sport differently from the way the NCAA calculates it; I start the clock from the time he commences an action designed to get him to a sport related activity until te time he is back in his room. Once official off season practice begins (they do less then the NCAA allows) add a further 6-8 hours on top of that.

Once official in season practice begins, add a further 6-8 hours.

Once games begin, there are 3 game days per week (5 games). On a home weekend, team breakfast is 8 and by the time the players shower following the second game, it’s well past 6. On an away weekend you leave after practice on Friday (about 5ish) and return to campus late Sunday nite. Most of the time, the busses do not have electrical outlets (some do) which restricts your ability to work while driving. On weekday games, most are away. Depending on the game time, you are physically away from campus for about 8 hours.

During season you maintain the 3 times a week lifting - but lifting begins at 8 rather then 630; you practice three other days; counting time my way that’s a further 18 - 20 hours. I count (and again, I am not counting the way the NCAA counts) that for home weeks, he devotes 45-50 hours; away weekends add whatever you want for the travel to and from and the two nites in the hotel. It is very common to see the players study upon arriving and following the Saturday game.

In choosing classes, most players avoid early classes. In season, most avoid early classes and classes that conflict with the normal practice times. Profs excuse game related absences if told in advance. Weekend starting pitchers do not attend weekday games. The travel roster is limited to 24ish players so some players don’t travel on weekends.

My son learned how to balance everything - so did his teammates. There is a learning curve and the first semester is very stressful as you figure it out. You often choose between sleeping and eating since you are always tired and hungry first semester. Some changed majors - my son quickly discarded a potential science major and chose Econ; others discarded Econ and became history/psychology majors. Everyone remained eligible.

One key as I learned this year (and parents do not want to hear this; but it is reality) is strategic skipping of classes. The concept was explained to me and, once I listened to the reasoning, I agreed (especially since I had done the same thing in my day). It goes like this: some professors are simply not effective communicators (e.g., those that lack fluent English [and, unfortunately, in these high priced prestige schools all too frequent]). The lectures are boring, incomprehensible, large and worthless. Those are skipped and are self-taught by the player and then reinforced during the small sections. My son mastered the material (as evidence by his grades - even in a grade deflated atmosphere) and learned on his own at his own pace. (BTW, his non athlete roommates did the same.)

The pressure of athletics, in my opinion, made him much more proficient in learning and balancing multiple priorities. The skills he has developed have made him desirable to employers - he is currently deciding between playing summer ball (for the third season) or an incredible internship. It’s his choice.

One further note: any parent who thinks their student athlete will sacrifice a robust social life for academics has either a unique child or is being fed something coming from the back end of a bovine. Just MHO.