I’ve coached Club and High School baseball and have a son who is a senior and signed to play at a D1 next year. I’ve yet to meet a parent, including me, who is able to objectively evaluate their own son.
If you truly believe that it’s politics holding your kid back, you can look into a transfer. I haven’t seen many that have transferred to a program of similar strength and saw much different success. Moving down, or up, in program strength changes that a little.
Agree.
I played Div I football, I know what it takes and what that type of athlete looks like. Every time I'm around a group of guys the I coulda, woulda, shoulda stories get told. Always an excuse and always someone else's fault.
People aren't near as good as they think and neither are their kids. That is the harsh reality of sports. Me, and my kids included. As I was again reminded of last week, watching a Perfect Game showcase game on my computer. 12U, pitchers from both teams 79-82 mph fastball, 68-71mph curveball. Those are 6th graders. A lot of high schools won't match that.
I won't say that politics don't happen in sports. I will say they happen far less than parents believe. Coaches are as competitive as athletes. They don't like to lose. They put the team on the floor, court, field etc that they think will win. Very, very few coaches will trade losses for playing the "right" kid. They play the kids that they believe give them the best chance to win. Most parents never agree with those decisions.
I'm not a fan of the transfer, send them somewhere else. You are simply teaching them to quit if they don't' get their way. Look at the transfer portal in the NCAA now. The vast majority of them never find a new home with success. Another large proportion of them are right back in the portal in a year. Turns out, it is often not the coaches. Stick it out, do your best and have no regrets.
Unfortunately, effort and attitude will only get you so far in sports. The higher you move up, the less those two qualities matter. Some people are athletically gifted, you won't "outperform" them with hard work. Fact of life.
Go talk to the coach. Do not tell your son your are talking to the coach. Ask him what he is seeing. Ask him where your son is deficient in his eyes and what he needs to do to improve his position. Coaches coach, players play, parents cheer.
Baseball is a really tough sport with a ton of development and understanding the game. It is very rare for a freshman or sophomore to be involved in high level varsity baseball. Tell your son to outplay everyone to a degree that the coach has no choice but to play him.