What is expected of my child at Good Counsel when involved with the baseball program?

It should always be remembered that Our Lady of Good Counsel High School is first and foremost a religious, academic institution. The precepts of this must be upheld. We build student-athletes, and baseball is an activity. Not every child will find this standard an easy one to attain, however, we are confident this can be achieved with the help of tutors, good study habits, and faith.

Does my child have to attend the offseason study halls?

To participate students must have a 2.0 GPA. If they are in the 2.0 - 3.5 GPA range we ask that they attend study halls to improve there GPA. These study halls are usually held during the offseason. If your child is below a 3.5 GPA, they should attend team study halls or have a valid reason otherwise. They can still try-out, participate, play in games, etc. Players should attend team study halls to improve grades. Those students over a 3.5 G.P.A. do not need to attend the team study halls.

Will my child be allowed to play other sports at Good Counsel?

Yes, we do not have any limitations on what sports the boys may play. Again, baseball is an activity and if your child wishes to play soccer, football, wrestling, etc. this will not be held against him while competing for a position in the spring.

What kind of commitment should my child be prepared for?

Even though our season is from about March to June, most players train all year round. Players participate in camps, Fall and Summer Club leagues and most players enroll in the weight training program at the school. None of this is mandatory and is not officially sanctioned by the school, however, to be able to keep up with our competitors students have to do more on their own than just show up March 1st.

How do I go about getting my child into the admissions process?

First you should make contact with one of the coaches below. You will want to schedule a "shadow day" for your child to accompany a baseball student athelete at Good Counsel through out the day. You may also want to visit the open house which us usually the third sunday in November. Most information about the admissions process can be found here: http://www.olgchs.org/admissions_importantdates.html

How should I stay in touch with the team and coaches?

The website, the website, the website. Almost everything is available on the website. All practices, cancellations, rescheduling, administration, events, and games are communicated through the website. During the school year it should be checked once a day. This does not take long and lunch or break-time will suffice. During summer, check the site at least once a week.

Where does practice take place?

Regularly scheduled practices will be held at Bottegal Field @ Good Counsel. Parents must provide transportation home from the field. Practice will end about 6:00pm. Players should be prepared to adjust their schedule on bad weather days. All sports compete for gym time. Prime times are not always available so sometimes we are in the gym at odd hours. When a decision is made to change plans due to bad weather or field conditions, an announcement will be posted on the web site.

What kind of Medical procedures must my child follow?

Every kid who wants to play must have a physical on file with the school. They can not participate in anything until that is done. Good Counsel has a training room with two full-time trainers. ANY injury should be looked at right away by Peter J. Kotz or Lee Wisniewski our certified athletic trainers. They and only they may release you to practice or play. Also if your child is sick and does not have an excused absense from school they may not participate that day in any athletics.

What paperwork do you need from me?

When your child comes to Good Counsel, a good start is to get the player profile form filled out on this website and get your son's Proof of Birth turned in as soon as possible. This will be kept on file. You will also need to get a medical release form completed and submitted to the athletic director. The form is available online at: http://www.olgchs.org/athletics_releaseforms.html

As a parent of a player or future player, do I have to join the booster club?

No, the booster club is optional. We created the baseball booster club so that the players at Good Counsel will have a better baseball experience. Membership is encouraged and always welcome.

Does Good Counsel offer athletic scholarships?

No, money is only awarded through financial aid on a need basis.

What is the difference between the Summer, Fall and Spring teams?

The summer and fall teams are designed for only those kids that wish to play baseball year round. The fall and summer teams are club teams and do not have tryouts and often can be filled out by players from other local area schools including WCAC schools. The Fall and Summer teams are also only coached by volunteers and not the full regular staff of Good Counsel. During the Spring tryouts are held around the first week or March and this is done on a competitive basis and is officially sanctioned by the school.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Coach McGowan or Coach Hornbeak.