Travel Ball
- Thread starter dawg21
- Start date
No particular insight but from what I can tell, it's necessary if you want your kid to play in college, and it's also overkill.
Dont force it but if he wants to participate then go for it. Maybe not age 8 but at 11-12 you really should start preparing for competitive JV-HS if you want to be successful post-HS.
How old is he? It's overkill if he's too young, and it may burn him out. It's pretty necessary if he's a little older if he is thinking about playing for a while.
If you do decide it's for you, do some research on the coaches. Amateur baseball has more coaches who don't know what they're doing than any other sport from my own anecdotal evidence. It might be because I've been a baseball coach and hitting instructor for about 20 years and have never coached any other sport, but it just seems like the vast majority of amateur baseball coaches are about 20 years or more behind on what they are teaching. I can't believe some of the things I see coaches teaching kids at the travel/ select and high school levels, especially some of the hitting mechanics.
If you do decide it's for you, do some research on the coaches. Amateur baseball has more coaches who don't know what they're doing than any other sport from my own anecdotal evidence. It might be because I've been a baseball coach and hitting instructor for about 20 years and have never coached any other sport, but it just seems like the vast majority of amateur baseball coaches are about 20 years or more behind on what they are teaching. I can't believe some of the things I see coaches teaching kids at the travel/ select and high school levels, especially some of the hitting mechanics.
5, seriously and you are interested in travel ball? Nothing can be gained at 5 that cant be better learned in the back yard. Hell he's a few years away from even running around the neighborhood meeting up for vacant lot sports.
You asked for an opinion so I will give one, and it won't be the popular one. Consider travel ball as making a good investment in your kid. Travel teams usually play on weekends. In my opinion, having your kid in church on Sunday mornings is a far more worthwhile investment in your kid than having him playing on a travel team on Sunday. Just my opinion.
It might be overkill, but most towns' city leagues have gone to crap since travel ball got popular. If he is going to be serious about baseball and improve, travel ball is about the only option. But you don't have to start it when they are real young. I did it when I was thirteen for the first time. We played over 50 ballgames. You have to be willing to spend all of that extra cash travelling and such. I have coached twice in my town the last few years and the leagues were just awful and the players that are left just don't give a crap about anything. It's sad and really frustrating.
Dr. James Andrews himself says that travel ball and year round baseball is the greatest cause of arm injuries among athletes. On the other hand if he doesn't play baseball year-round he will fall behind athletically in that sport. My suggestion, try to get him into all sports. Baseball, basketball, football whatever. Let him play sports year-round to stay in shape and train different parts of his body to do different things. If he's a great athlete and works hard his lack of experience in a certain sport won't hold him back.
You've got quite a few years before you need to start worrying about travel ball. He might not even be interested in baseball anymore in 3 or 4 years.
Hmmm, no ... I'd say your opinion is pretty popular with me. And besides that, many parents push their kids into sports way too much.
When I coached little kids baseball (tee ball and coach-pitch) we always had our games on Saturdays.
When I coached little kids baseball (tee ball and coach-pitch) we always had our games on Saturdays.
The problem with travel ball...
is that more times than not, it becomes more about the dads and not the kids. I'm not sure where you live but my suggestion is to get him signed up for a rec league and be an active volunteer. I understand that baseball is not for every parent. However, most rec leagues make you go through a course that can teach you the basics so you don't teach the kids the wrong mechanics and form. Further, you don't have to coach but at 5 years old, most coaches appreciate parents that will be willing to help as dug out dads, base coaches, etc. As the season progresses, see how your son responds. If he can't get enough of it and he has shown some ability then after he is 6 or 7 consider letting him play for an All Star team. They normally play two to four tournaments. Ask the coach questions regarding what he will be teaching your son and how practices are conducted. Be warned though that there are plenty of coaches out forming travel teams because their sons wouldn't be on one otherwise. Be wary of this coach.
If your son still isn't getting enough baseball then consider letting him try out for one of the true travel teams that play 8 or more tournaments. However, if you are having to force your son to go to practice or he isn't completely on board then don't push him as he is not going to have fun and it will burn him out. Further, don't try to force your son to play at a level above his ability. I have seen plenty of kids that are playing on teams because their dad and the coach are friends, etc. The kid will get frustrated and it becomes counter productive as they know they are hurting the team.
Unless, you traveling to an out of town tournament, then most sunday games don't start until after church on sunday. Further, if you are out of town, you can find a church or have a bible study before the game. Baseball is still an American game and tournaments normally are respectful of church services...unlike the heathen euro sport known as soccer.
Finally, like someone else stated, keep your son involved in as many different sports as possible. You never know what he will like as he gets older.
is that more times than not, it becomes more about the dads and not the kids. I'm not sure where you live but my suggestion is to get him signed up for a rec league and be an active volunteer. I understand that baseball is not for every parent. However, most rec leagues make you go through a course that can teach you the basics so you don't teach the kids the wrong mechanics and form. Further, you don't have to coach but at 5 years old, most coaches appreciate parents that will be willing to help as dug out dads, base coaches, etc. As the season progresses, see how your son responds. If he can't get enough of it and he has shown some ability then after he is 6 or 7 consider letting him play for an All Star team. They normally play two to four tournaments. Ask the coach questions regarding what he will be teaching your son and how practices are conducted. Be warned though that there are plenty of coaches out forming travel teams because their sons wouldn't be on one otherwise. Be wary of this coach.
If your son still isn't getting enough baseball then consider letting him try out for one of the true travel teams that play 8 or more tournaments. However, if you are having to force your son to go to practice or he isn't completely on board then don't push him as he is not going to have fun and it will burn him out. Further, don't try to force your son to play at a level above his ability. I have seen plenty of kids that are playing on teams because their dad and the coach are friends, etc. The kid will get frustrated and it becomes counter productive as they know they are hurting the team.
Unless, you traveling to an out of town tournament, then most sunday games don't start until after church on sunday. Further, if you are out of town, you can find a church or have a bible study before the game. Baseball is still an American game and tournaments normally are respectful of church services...unlike the heathen euro sport known as soccer.
Finally, like someone else stated, keep your son involved in as many different sports as possible. You never know what he will like as he gets older.
Travel ball starts at 6.
Not that I agree with it but it's not like it was when I was growing up when you didn't start playing travel ball until you were 12 or 13.
Not that I agree with it but it's not like it was when I was growing up when you didn't start playing travel ball until you were 12 or 13.
That's how it was for me and I am mid 20s. There is a difference between travel ball and all-stars. By all means if you want to do all-stars, get productive practices in and play 4-5 tournaments in the summer go for it. Travel ball to me means every weekend for months on end. If that is what 6 year olds are doing then their parents are dumb. That shouldn't start until 12.
If you can join a good rec league, stick with it until your son is done with 8 year old coach pitch. Don't play travel ball just to say you did. Find a good group, maybe start your 8 year old All Star team the next year as a travel squad. Get a COACH, not a daddy, that knows his pitching and hitting fundamentals and can handle the fast pace of the game. It does speed up, and while it's stupid, there WILL be teams out there even at 9 with coaches that won't hold back. If your kid's coach is a psycho or an a-hole, leave. It's not worth it and there are PLENTY of teams out there.
Rec leagues are fine the first few years. It's starts thinning out because of travel ball around 8 for baseball and around 10 or 11 for girl's softball.
Just providing my two cent, even though i may be considered as one of the dumb parents because my son is 7.
We live in Louisiana and my son will start playing travel ball starting in mid march. We have been practicing since the first of January. There are 20 plus teams registered in the a 45 mile radius for U6 baseball. Plus the recreational leagues here do something called a double play system where the league actually selects players while the season is going on so they can start practicing with and playing against better competition before the season is over. My son also played his second year of full pad football this past year at the age of 6.
IMO, you need to get him started as early as you feel comfortable. You can never get these years back and the reality is that if you are not playing now you will be left behind. Maybe not in MS, but definitely in the surrounding states. You never know what kind of oppurtunities that your son will miss by waiting around. Quite frankly, the experiences your son will gain by competing on a higher level may not translate to future leaguer, but may help prepare him for the game of life.
I also speak from experience of playing travel ball when i was 15. I am close to 40 and travel ball was not quite as popular as it is now. i know i would loved to have had a chance to play a better level of competition when i was 7.
We live in Louisiana and my son will start playing travel ball starting in mid march. We have been practicing since the first of January. There are 20 plus teams registered in the a 45 mile radius for U6 baseball. Plus the recreational leagues here do something called a double play system where the league actually selects players while the season is going on so they can start practicing with and playing against better competition before the season is over. My son also played his second year of full pad football this past year at the age of 6.
IMO, you need to get him started as early as you feel comfortable. You can never get these years back and the reality is that if you are not playing now you will be left behind. Maybe not in MS, but definitely in the surrounding states. You never know what kind of oppurtunities that your son will miss by waiting around. Quite frankly, the experiences your son will gain by competing on a higher level may not translate to future leaguer, but may help prepare him for the game of life.
I also speak from experience of playing travel ball when i was 15. I am close to 40 and travel ball was not quite as popular as it is now. i know i would loved to have had a chance to play a better level of competition when i was 7.
I agree with this. I think it is more of what your kid is interested in. My son is 6 and has always loved sports. He would rather watch football than cartoons. He goes with me to MSU games and actually watches the game instead goofing off. My son plays soccer, football, and baseball because that is what he wants to do. The main problem I see even in rec. sports is parents forcing their kids to play a sport because the parent likes it. It's miserable for all parties involved. If you have a kid that enjoys sports and wants to play, then I have no problem with anyone letting their kid play travel ball at a young age. You have to find the right fit for you and your kids. Like me, I don't mind my son playing travel ball but we aren't playing every weekend of every month. I found a coach that plays 2 weekends a month which to me is not overkill but still allows my kid to play a high level of talent for their age.
It completely depends...
I played on summer rec league my whole life and we were just as competitive if not WAY better than most "travel" teams. The same rec league team then grew up and went on to win the 3-A State championship in MS, and beat teams like Madison, USJ (nashville), Tupelo, and Christian Brothers (who were nationally ranked) that year. The level of talent you play with or against doesnt dictate how good you end up being. Save yourself a couple grand and spend it later in life at somewhere like Dulin's in Memphis where you get hitting lessons from someone who has played in the bigs, and not some asshat dad who "thinks" he knows what he's talking about. The money is WAY better spent on personal lessons if your kid decides he wants to be serious. Otherwise baseball is meant to be fun for kids when they're that young. Without all the crazy parents who live vicariously through them, which is very prevalent in MS and surrounding areas.
I played on summer rec league my whole life and we were just as competitive if not WAY better than most "travel" teams. The same rec league team then grew up and went on to win the 3-A State championship in MS, and beat teams like Madison, USJ (nashville), Tupelo, and Christian Brothers (who were nationally ranked) that year. The level of talent you play with or against doesnt dictate how good you end up being. Save yourself a couple grand and spend it later in life at somewhere like Dulin's in Memphis where you get hitting lessons from someone who has played in the bigs, and not some asshat dad who "thinks" he knows what he's talking about. The money is WAY better spent on personal lessons if your kid decides he wants to be serious. Otherwise baseball is meant to be fun for kids when they're that young. Without all the crazy parents who live vicariously through them, which is very prevalent in MS and surrounding areas.
Six is too young to play travel ball. Play rec and all-stars through coach pitch and at least the first year of kid pitch. After they start pitching and hitting from someone that is trying to strike them out instead of hit their bat you should know without asking if your son should play at a higher level. I say that you should know because 60% or more that are currently playing "select" baseball shouldn't be. It is amazing the number of kids playing select ball that can't make their high school team.
If he is a pitcher be very careful.
If he is a pitcher be very careful.
travel ball is a neccessary evil if you want your kid playin top competition. but find a coach that knows baseball and has no connection to the players. a dad or relative coaching can turn travel ball into parents acting like 8th grade girls with all the drama
Go read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
If he isn't the oldest, or close to the oldest on his team, it doesn't matter**
Seriously, there are some very interesting statistics about the percentage of major league guys who are born within the first two months of the baseball year. Seems like it was August and September with him citing July 31 as the most common age cutoff date. For those of you still procreating who want a sports star you need to line it up so that they'll be the oldest in their "year"...
If he isn't the oldest, or close to the oldest on his team, it doesn't matter**
Seriously, there are some very interesting statistics about the percentage of major league guys who are born within the first two months of the baseball year. Seems like it was August and September with him citing July 31 as the most common age cutoff date. For those of you still procreating who want a sports star you need to line it up so that they'll be the oldest in their "year"...
Age dependant, burn-out possible
Have 17 yr old Junior who pitches in east Ga. Been on the travel ball circuit since age 10. Don't think you need to start until age 10-13 depending on the travel team available in your area. By the time they hit HS it is the place to be seen by college coaches. If you think about it what are college coaches doing when your son is playing HS ball, coaching their own teams. Don't really like it but that's what it has become. Atl host 4 tourneys a year in consecutive weeks which draw 100-150 teams per age group, 15U, 16U, 17U and 18U with top talent from across the US, Canada and points South. We played 4 teams which had Juniors committed to D1 programs MSU being 1, Oregon, Oregon St, Texas (3) and Washington. Super competitive and saw several D1 coaches watching certain players and teams during the 2 weeks we were there.
Have 17 yr old Junior who pitches in east Ga. Been on the travel ball circuit since age 10. Don't think you need to start until age 10-13 depending on the travel team available in your area. By the time they hit HS it is the place to be seen by college coaches. If you think about it what are college coaches doing when your son is playing HS ball, coaching their own teams. Don't really like it but that's what it has become. Atl host 4 tourneys a year in consecutive weeks which draw 100-150 teams per age group, 15U, 16U, 17U and 18U with top talent from across the US, Canada and points South. We played 4 teams which had Juniors committed to D1 programs MSU being 1, Oregon, Oregon St, Texas (3) and Washington. Super competitive and saw several D1 coaches watching certain players and teams during the 2 weeks we were there.
We will have to agree to disagree on age, but I 100% agree with you on the "select"designation to describe thetravel team. The "select" kids on our team are not all "all-stars", but they sure do have committed attitudes and I believe life is 10% of what happens to you and the rest is your attitude in handling it.
At most we will play 40 games in 10 weekends all within an hour from the house. To me, that is not a bad way to spend family time and for the kids to learn about teamwork, hardwork,dedication
and mostly how to deal with defeat.
He will play coach pitch the next two years on his "travel" team and when he starts kid pitch I agree with your gauging how much he is allowed to pitch.
Also,several posters pointed out weekend travel does not allow you to make it to your church. That is a valid point that I can not argue.
All good information here.....if your son shows the tools (aggression, relative skill etc....) then "they" will find you. You'll be standing at the rec park one evening and some guy will secretly tap you on the shoulder and ask if you're are interested......much like a drug deal.
Let it play out and make sure you get hooked up with a good person who puts teaching technique and sportsmanship first. Very few people have had a terrible experience with tourney ball - they've seen some sad things but most have very good experiences.... My son has loved every second of it since he was 7 and will play school ball this year and not play tourney (or very little) for the first time since he was 7. He's in the 8th grade now and I have no regrets through this process and most importantly I have not lost friends throughout the process but gained many (as has my son).
Let it play out and make sure you get hooked up with a good person who puts teaching technique and sportsmanship first. Very few people have had a terrible experience with tourney ball - they've seen some sad things but most have very good experiences.... My son has loved every second of it since he was 7 and will play school ball this year and not play tourney (or very little) for the first time since he was 7. He's in the 8th grade now and I have no regrets through this process and most importantly I have not lost friends throughout the process but gained many (as has my son).
From a monetary standpoint it would be better to save the money you will spend on all that and invest it some type college savings plan. There is only a minuscule chance he will get a college scholarship or play any meaningful pro ball (heck even the odds of playing big time high school baseball - Madison Central or NWR - are long). If, years from now, his talent is evident (and he still has the desire) money would probably be better spent on professional instruction.
For the future benefit of the child, it would probably be better to push him toward golf or tennis as these are sports he can play for a lifetime.
On a somewhat related note, I wonder what the workplace will be like in 20 or 30 years when kids that are being increasingly coddled, catered to, entertained and told how good they are are stuck in a cubicle with no one affirming them or catering to them.
For the future benefit of the child, it would probably be better to push him toward golf or tennis as these are sports he can play for a lifetime.
On a somewhat related note, I wonder what the workplace will be like in 20 or 30 years when kids that are being increasingly coddled, catered to, entertained and told how good they are are stuck in a cubicle with no one affirming them or catering to them.
From a past baseball player and big summer ball player I would suggest you have him play summer ball. Picking the right team is huge to because you want to find a great coach and you want your son to play for that team as long as possible and grow up through that system. I played for the same summer ball team for 7 years and I believe thats the reason I became the player I was and the reason I played high school baseball as a 3 year starter. Do your homework on summer ball teams and make sure its a good one as playing more ball in the summer will make your son alot better player than taking summers off.
I coach a 9 year old travel team, so here is my opinion...
Work with him one on one til 7. When he is 7 get him on a team that doesn't overdo it, meaning play every weekend. There is such a thing as a happy medium. That s why I coach, so we don't travel somewhere every weekend, but enough to get better and learn the game and basic skills. No reason to try to make him Babe Ruth at age 7, but no reason for him to sit out either. My advice. Go see a few games with 7-8 year olds (travel teams) and judge for yourself. If he waits until 10-11 to play against decent competition it will be tough to catch up for most, but not all. Injuries and burn out are definitely something to take precautions on. That is unfortunately the world we live in, starting earlier just to try to keep up. I would highly recommend no rec league stuff after 7. In my opinion, after that age it is made up of teams with most of the kids (not all) playing simply to play a little. There is no commitment to get better in most cases, not all. So it becomes worthless for someone with a desire to work and get better. Again, that s my experience with my son. It may be different other places.
Work with him one on one til 7. When he is 7 get him on a team that doesn't overdo it, meaning play every weekend. There is such a thing as a happy medium. That s why I coach, so we don't travel somewhere every weekend, but enough to get better and learn the game and basic skills. No reason to try to make him Babe Ruth at age 7, but no reason for him to sit out either. My advice. Go see a few games with 7-8 year olds (travel teams) and judge for yourself. If he waits until 10-11 to play against decent competition it will be tough to catch up for most, but not all. Injuries and burn out are definitely something to take precautions on. That is unfortunately the world we live in, starting earlier just to try to keep up. I would highly recommend no rec league stuff after 7. In my opinion, after that age it is made up of teams with most of the kids (not all) playing simply to play a little. There is no commitment to get better in most cases, not all. So it becomes worthless for someone with a desire to work and get better. Again, that s my experience with my son. It may be different other places.
We left park & rec ball at the age of 12. The league was so political and the park admin didn't give a rip about whether a coach knew anything at all about the game of baseball. At age 11, my son had a coach who got pissed at him in practice because he wouldn't swing at the high pitch he was throwing. He finally threw at his head but luckily for him he didn't hit him. I was sitting there watching and my son's practice ended at that point. Talked to the park director and nothing was ever done about it. The guy could not pitch and the other coach they assigned to the team had quit coming to practice completely. My son had a good travel ball coach that did not over do it at all. We ended up going to Cooperstown for a week at age 12. After that they played a lot of local tournaments and even some games during the week with other area teams. At one time the local park officials were threatening to not sanction the travel teams so the teams just stepped out to USSSA and went on about their business. When you got kids playing all stars just because their dad helped coach the #1 team in the park and goes to church with the head coach, it's time to leave when that kid is just pitiful. Daddy's have ruined park ball in this town.
PS .. We had a batting cage and pitching machine in the backyard. That is where we did most of our work from age 5 and up. I knew nothing about the game of baseball but could work on fundamentals. In the end, baseball paid most of my son and daughter's (softball) college tuition and fees at good schools.
PS .. We had a batting cage and pitching machine in the backyard. That is where we did most of our work from age 5 and up. I knew nothing about the game of baseball but could work on fundamentals. In the end, baseball paid most of my son and daughter's (softball) college tuition and fees at good schools.
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I agree with all you said, but I see you mentioned burn out. My son is 9 and plays travel ball, and I hear this a lot with older kids and parents. The problem is, I have yet to find a kid who was one of the top 4-5 players on a competitive team that "burned out". I haven't talked to every kid and I may be wrong, but the kids I see "burned out", either couldn't compete at a high level, or their team was getting drilled every weekend.
Daddy's have about ruined tourney ball as well. Most teams have six of seven
dads get together to form a team and then they look for four outsiders. If you are not one of the inside daddy's it has
become pretty difficult to make a tournament team in the Jackson area unless your son is way above average. That is why we have
gone the PSA route with paid coaches; more objective evaluation of talent and you don't play all the time and play the best postions because your daddy is
one of the team founders. You earn your position and your playing time.
dads get together to form a team and then they look for four outsiders. If you are not one of the inside daddy's it has
become pretty difficult to make a tournament team in the Jackson area unless your son is way above average. That is why we have
gone the PSA route with paid coaches; more objective evaluation of talent and you don't play all the time and play the best postions because your daddy is
one of the team founders. You earn your position and your playing time.
Is he good, great or average?
If you have a player that can consistently compete (hold his own)...
(1) with kids that are two years older, then you have a player that, potentially, might "go somewhere".
(2) with kids that are one year older, play him up and reevaluate year by year.
(3) with older kids due to an early growth spurt, play him up a year or two and reevaluate year by year.
(4) with kids that are his age, his size, that have his same level of interest in the game, etc., then you have a average player.
If you have a player that really likes to play in the game, but doesn't love to practice, don't shell out the money for travel ball. The child WILL find/discover/stumble upon something that grabs his attention. Save your money for that future interest.
Let others tell you how good/great/average your child is. Don't go fishing for compliments.
We've all seen "can't fail players" in the 8-12 year-old range that got sick of baseball and wanted nothing else to do with it. We've also seen a RARE GEM of a player that loves to practice, is a student of the game, is a self-motivator, has the physical ability to compete with older kids, etc. that ends up "going places".
If you have a player that can consistently compete (hold his own)...
(1) with kids that are two years older, then you have a player that, potentially, might "go somewhere".
(2) with kids that are one year older, play him up and reevaluate year by year.
(3) with older kids due to an early growth spurt, play him up a year or two and reevaluate year by year.
(4) with kids that are his age, his size, that have his same level of interest in the game, etc., then you have a average player.
If you have a player that really likes to play in the game, but doesn't love to practice, don't shell out the money for travel ball. The child WILL find/discover/stumble upon something that grabs his attention. Save your money for that future interest.
Let others tell you how good/great/average your child is. Don't go fishing for compliments.
We've all seen "can't fail players" in the 8-12 year-old range that got sick of baseball and wanted nothing else to do with it. We've also seen a RARE GEM of a player that loves to practice, is a student of the game, is a self-motivator, has the physical ability to compete with older kids, etc. that ends up "going places".
What I hate about tournament baseball is the fact that most teams want you to play fall ball as well. My son used to like baseball but after having to practice twice a week preparing for tournaments in the fall and once a week until mid-December. This all during football season and beginning of basketball has put a sour taste in his mouth. Also, those arms need a rest. I hope he gets excited about baseball again.