Baseball players playing football:Good or bad?

[ytownpride04]

What do you think about baseball players playing other sports, particularly football?

[WoodyHayes]

Most of the time I believe kids playing multiple sports are good unless they are a bonafide D-1 prospect. Then I do not believe that I would take a chance on getting hurt.
I am getting pumped up already. I umpire high school ball down here and our first scrimmage is only about 1 month away. Even down here the first half of the season is cold.

[ABCP]

Good. Just about every college coach will tell you the pros of competing and being part of a team every day possible out-weigh the risk of injury, at least until you accept any offer you might get.

[gclbaseball1]

Good they will get stronger playing football and coaches encourage multiple sports if the kid can.

[bigdawg33]

Your D1 prospects are usually very athletic,and excel in many sports. College coaches like the versatality. Football provides a toughness that many baseball players lack (okay ...IMO). I read an article about the coach from Rice who specifically recruits football/baseball players because of this toughness. He says these players dive more instinctly, don't shy away from colisions at the plate, and in general aren't afarid to get dirty.

The draw back in HS is that fall baseball is a HUGE recruiting time. College coaches are usually not available during the HS season because their team is playing. They only will travel mid week, and it won't be the head coach traveling during the season.

Top D1 schools want to see you many times, and summer and fall seasons are the best times. So if you need to be seen, you may try to get on a team like the Redbirds in the fall. They play on alot of college campuses, against top competition.

[BRICKtamland]

coaches encourage multiple sports if the kid can.

Sure, that's what they tell you. ;)


Personally, I wish I would have said "F'em" and played football along with baseball but too late now.

[thePITman]

Most of the time I believe kids playing multiple sports are good unless they are a bonafide D-1 prospect. Then I do not believe that I would take a chance on getting hurt.

We have a "bonafide D-1 prospect" baseball player that started on the football team as a Freshman, played almost every down on both sides of the ball as a sophomore, and will be a 4-year letterwinner in basketball if he continues to play. My guess is he will not continue to play basketball because of what I think is a lack of "love" for that game, but I have no problem with him playing football all 4 years.

As others have said, I'm always for a kid playing multiple sports.

[DevilsAdvocate]

Sam Bradford...the Heisman Guy....talked about how he played 3 sports all through high school and never concentrated solely on football till he got to college. It's high school....and if you can play another sport while enjoying being with your classmates, have at it. Most smaller schools can't afford to have athletes "specialize".

[southpaw69]

Sam Bradford...the Heisman Guy....talked about how he played 3 sports all through high school and never concentrated solely on football till he got to college. It's high school....and if you can play another sport while enjoying being with your classmates, have at it. Most smaller schools can't afford to have athletes "specialize".

The flip side to that is football has no other recruiting season other than the season. One day camps in the summer but no other season like AAU basketball and summer baseball. Summer baseball is huge for getting recruited and AAU basketball as well. Football is totally different. I know more than a few big time baseball players that played football and it cost them. Some of them their college careers and others didn't go as big as they could have if they didn't play football. Injuries are a big part of it as well as time away from the other sports. That being said........be a kid and do what you want.

[DOG 44]

Good because it teaches them discipline and team unity that a sport like baseball doesn't necessarily teach. Nine man stand around is a totally different attitude than what it takes in baseball. If a kid can attack baseball like he has to attack football and the workouts involved it will no doubt make him a better player in baseball and may also help him have an impact on his baseball teammates.

[thePITman]

Good because it teaches them discipline and team unity that a sport like baseball doesn't necessarily teach.

ROFL! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Hometeam]

Good because it teaches them discipline and team unity that a sport like baseball doesn't necessarily teach. Nine man stand around is a totally different attitude than what it takes in baseball. If a kid can attack baseball like he has to attack football and the workouts involved it will no doubt make him a better player in baseball and may also help him have an impact on his baseball teammates.

I think you're underestimating the time, hard work and expense some kids put forth when they play baseball.

[DOG 44]

I think you're underestimating the time, hard work and expense some kids put forth when they play baseball.

The keyword is "some". I've seen a few teams baseball workouts and in comparison to football workouts it's like night and day. I've firsthand heard guys that play both sports say nothing about baseball is harder than football.

[GCPRO]

Have to agree with a couple of the above posts that suggest that football gives ballplayers a toughness that is not easily gained without the sport. Been involved in the game for a while at both the HS and travel ball levels and just have seen at both levels.

[HWCUSA]

Have to agree with a couple of the above posts that suggest that football gives ballplayers a toughness that is not easily gained without the sport. Been involved in the game for a while at both the HS and travel ball levels and just have seen at both levels.

I agree! Played both sports and football workouts are by far the toughest. :thumb:

[BRICKtamland]

The keyword is "some". I've seen a few teams baseball workouts and in comparison to football workouts it's like night and day. I've firsthand heard guys that play both sports say nothing about baseball is harder than football.

Yeah, that's what football guys like to think.

[Hometeam]

I can't say that I necessarily agree that playing football makes you a better baseball player. Baseball is completely different skillwise. You can be tough as nails but it won't teach you to hit the ball better, be able to scoop the ball quickly and throw with accuracy, etc. In fact, when my son was growing up, some of his instructors said it was basketball that actually helped with baseball because it improved your hand/eye coordination, helped with quickness, etc. Not sure I necessarily agree with that, either.

If you want to play other sports in high school for fun and to keep busy and fit, then I think it's okay to play other sports. It's a personal choice. But I don't think one necessarily influences the other. There's always that risk of injury when you play another sport, also.

[GCPRO]

hometeam-i didn't see where anyone said it would make you a better ballplayer, the question was asked whether it was good or bad. my above answer was based on what i have witnessed over the course of 25 plus years of being involved in the game-football players just have a tougher mentality overall, not necessarily making them better players, just responding to adversity a little better. As for basketball improving play, it seems to me that basketball improves overall athleticism as much as any sport with maybe the exception of gymnastics.

[Balanced]

For the most serious multi sport athletes I think the real conflicts surface when you factor in the "off season" requirements these kids are involved with.

2 quick examples.

Football / baseball combination - HS football players lift / run at least 3x weekly all winter, spring and summer....often times on baseball game days. Does this affect baseball performance? It has to. Also, although there is some crossover, certain aspects of football strength training is actually detrimental to baseball development.

Again, football/baseball. Fall/winter is an important "off season" period for baseball players. Fall leagues were mentioned above. I will add college camps, showcases and of course training. A serious player cannot participate in these important fall events / processes if he is on the football team.

Not sure what the answer is but one thing I do know is off season requirements (much of which is self imposed by the more serious athletes) are forcing kids to think about what sport they have the best chance in and going for it.

[popazapa]

In baseball you are considered a good player if you are successful 30% of the time when hitting the ball. I think it takes far more mental toughness to be a baseball player. Physical toughness? I see many football players who are physically tough and athletic but not very good baseball players. Baseball is more mental toughness and skill set than pure physical toughness. Not sure physical toughness really adds all that much. Football lifting often produces a muscle bulkiness that hurts baseball hitting ability - seen that too. A good baseball player will dive for the ball and run bases with agressiveness whether they have played football or not. My two cents.

[Hometeam]

In baseball you are considered a good player if you are successful 30% of the time when hitting the ball. I think it takes far more mental toughness to be a baseball player. Physical toughness? I see many football players who are physically tough and athletic but not very good baseball players. Baseball is more mental toughness and skill set than pure physical toughness. Not sure physical toughness really adds all that much. Football lifting often produces a muscle bulkiness that hurts baseball hitting ability - seen that too. A good baseball player will dive for the ball and run bases with agressiveness whether they have played football or not. My two cents.

Well said, and I agree.

[gclbaseball1]

In baseball you are considered a good player if you are successful 30% of the time when hitting the ball. I think it takes far more mental toughness to be a baseball player. Physical toughness? I see many football players who are physically tough and athletic but not very good baseball players. Baseball is more mental toughness and skill set than pure physical toughness. Not sure physical toughness really adds all that much. Football lifting often produces a muscle bulkiness that hurts baseball hitting ability - seen that too. A good baseball player will dive for the ball and run bases with agressiveness whether they have played football or not. My two cents.

100% correct. Everything you said I have seen in kids too. You are absolutely right.

[GCPRO]

I am just saying from MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE the kids I have coached in baseball that also played football were much more tough minded kids than those that did not. There are exceptions to every rule obviously.

[ABCP]

I'll add that in my experience, multiple sports kids are more team-oriented than those who concentrate on one sport.

[Hometeam]

I'll add that in my experience, multiple sports kids are more team-oriented than those who concentrate on one sport.

I'll have to respectfully disagree.

[bigdawg33]

In baseball you are considered a good player if you are successful 30% of the time when hitting the ball. I think it takes far more mental toughness to be a baseball player. Physical toughness? I see many football players who are physically tough and athletic but not very good baseball players. Baseball is more mental toughness and skill set than pure physical toughness. Not sure physical toughness really adds all that much. Football lifting often produces a muscle bulkiness that hurts baseball hitting ability - seen that too. A good baseball player will dive for the ball and run bases with agressiveness whether they have played football or not. My two cents.

Imagine the combo top football/baseball player would have...they would have both mental and physical toughness....which would give them a distinct advantage.

I do agree with the concerns about weightlifting and bulkiness. Each player tends to train more in the area of their "preferred sport". The real top athletes can get away with less specific training in their second sport. I know several D1 baseball players who where awesome football players in HS, and a few College football players who were stud baseball players in HS. Some who were recruited in both sports, but these are the top athletes.

They may have some catching up to do once they specialize in college, however their raw athletic talent allows them to do so.

[Baseballslife34]

I do both and it keeps you in good shape and really keeps athletes out of trouble and there heads cleared. It is good for the athletes to stay in two sports to stay in shape and stay mentally strong as well

[bonafideplayer]

Adam Dunn - played both at Texas
Ryne Robinson - played both at Miami University Ohio
Colt McCoy - threw 90's in h.s. baseball
Danny Ainge - played minor league baseball, pro basketball and college football
Bo Jackson - enuf said

[thePITman]

http://pitmansblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/dont-doubt-baseball.html

[BJUSMA]

My son plays football, hockey, and baseball. Even with the demands of the other sports, he still finds time each week to work on baseball skills year round. I know that playing football and hockey has a positive impact on his athleticism, especially his running speed. I think kids should do what works best for them. For my son, what works best is playing multiple sports.

[HWCUSA]

My son plays football, hockey, and baseball. Even with the demands of the other sports, he still finds time each week to work on baseball skills year round. I know that playing football and hockey has a positive impact on his athleticism, especially his running speed. I think kids should do what works best for them. For my son, what works best is playing multiple sports.

Good Post! Playing multiple sports is more positive than negative. Anyone that says it's a negative thing is just trying to justify the fact that they can't handle the greater demand and commitment it takes to accomplish it.

[Hometeam]

I don't think ANYONE is trying to discourage kids from playing multiple sports if that's what they want to do.

However, to say that playing football, hockey, basketball, etc. will help them to be a better baseball player is ludicrous, IMO.

[aroundtown]

If they have the gift to play multiple sports and keep their grades up then more power to them!!!