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re: Legendary youth baseball coach lays the smack down on travel ball
Posted on 3/12/16 at 7:32 am to Jim Rockford
Posted on 3/12/16 at 7:32 am to Jim Rockford
One of the reasons why rec ball is considered "bad" by so many is because the best players even down to the "sorta good" players are under constant pressure to play travel ball. So they abandon the league.
Think about the rec league team you played on growing up. Chances are there were maybe two guys on that team who were really good, just like all the other teams. Now imagine the two good players from every team left and made a single team. That's what is happening to the quality of rec leagues right now.
What people need to understand is that these good kids who have left rec ball, elevated the play of the other kids because they both learned from them and were led by them. And most of the time, the parents of these "good" kids are the quality parents that push rec leagues toward quality, and form the base from which good rec coaches emerge.
When I coached rec ball, my roster was under constant siege from travel teams, which aggressively recruited my kids year after year. Early in the game, at the 8 -12 year old level, I lost my players left and right to travel teams. By age 13-14, though, I had players leave travel teams to come to me, because they were tired of it. I actually drew kids to my roster with the promise that we would never travel.
Still, I believe travel ball has its place. And I don't think it's inherently bad. I don't place all of rec league's problems on travel ball. That wouldn't be right or fair. But I will tell proponents of travel ball to quit fracturing teams at the rec level. They either don't realize the effect they have, or they don't care. It goes way beyond the one or two players they take from a rec team.
Think about the rec league team you played on growing up. Chances are there were maybe two guys on that team who were really good, just like all the other teams. Now imagine the two good players from every team left and made a single team. That's what is happening to the quality of rec leagues right now.
What people need to understand is that these good kids who have left rec ball, elevated the play of the other kids because they both learned from them and were led by them. And most of the time, the parents of these "good" kids are the quality parents that push rec leagues toward quality, and form the base from which good rec coaches emerge.
When I coached rec ball, my roster was under constant siege from travel teams, which aggressively recruited my kids year after year. Early in the game, at the 8 -12 year old level, I lost my players left and right to travel teams. By age 13-14, though, I had players leave travel teams to come to me, because they were tired of it. I actually drew kids to my roster with the promise that we would never travel.
Still, I believe travel ball has its place. And I don't think it's inherently bad. I don't place all of rec league's problems on travel ball. That wouldn't be right or fair. But I will tell proponents of travel ball to quit fracturing teams at the rec level. They either don't realize the effect they have, or they don't care. It goes way beyond the one or two players they take from a rec team.
1
Posted on 3/12/16 at 8:03 am to SpqrTiger
good post!! Yes, I remember the rec ball days growing up. It was a blast with great memories. Family members could all come watch, friends from everywhere just made a night of it or even an entire Saturday just watching friends and family play in all different age groups. And games were usually over by early afternoon on saturdays. Man, those were the days.
The sad thing is now, the 4th 5th or even 6th best kid on those rec ball ball teams we knew and grew up with are playing travel ball as well. So many different teams now because some dad got upset his kid isn't wanted so he makes his own team. It's just a vicious cycle. Most of these tourneys they play now are so top heavy with talent, it takes several games of blowouts before 2 really good teams actually play. It's ridiculous. Some of my friends brag that they went 3-0 in a tourney and won 13-0 or 15-1. I'm like, did y'all get any better blowing out kids that are below average rec ball players?? Cause that's essentially what a lot of these tournaments are full of now, average to below average rec ball kids!!
The sad thing is now, the 4th 5th or even 6th best kid on those rec ball ball teams we knew and grew up with are playing travel ball as well. So many different teams now because some dad got upset his kid isn't wanted so he makes his own team. It's just a vicious cycle. Most of these tourneys they play now are so top heavy with talent, it takes several games of blowouts before 2 really good teams actually play. It's ridiculous. Some of my friends brag that they went 3-0 in a tourney and won 13-0 or 15-1. I'm like, did y'all get any better blowing out kids that are below average rec ball players?? Cause that's essentially what a lot of these tournaments are full of now, average to below average rec ball kids!!
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