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Message
Legendary youth baseball coach lays the smack down on travel ball
Posted on 3/11/16 at 7:00 pm
Posted on 3/11/16 at 7:00 pm
9
Posted on 3/11/16 at 7:13 pm to Jim Rockford
He tells the truth
Posted on 3/11/16 at 7:23 pm to Jim Rockford
I keep telling my brother, after about 35 games in a season, there are seriously diminishing returns. Not to mention all the other travel ball bullshite. A kid is going to be as good as he'll be.
Posted on 3/11/16 at 8:12 pm to Jim Rockford
Current travel ball parent who was/still kind of is anti travel ball. We were not looking to join a travel team but most of the kids we always play rec ball with started a team. I know all the coaches well because I have coached with all of them. All good guys.
The thing is, at least where we are, rec ball is so bad it's not worth playing. The people who run it do not care and 1/2 of the parents do not care. It basically forced my hand if I want my kid to play any semblance of baseball worth playing. We will end up playing less than 35 games and all of the tournaments are within an hour or less drive. If it was anything other than that my kid would be out.
I think that rec leagues will be a thing of the past not long from now and you will, unfortunately, just have travel teams.
The thing is, at least where we are, rec ball is so bad it's not worth playing. The people who run it do not care and 1/2 of the parents do not care. It basically forced my hand if I want my kid to play any semblance of baseball worth playing. We will end up playing less than 35 games and all of the tournaments are within an hour or less drive. If it was anything other than that my kid would be out.
I think that rec leagues will be a thing of the past not long from now and you will, unfortunately, just have travel teams.
This post was edited on 3/11/16 at 8:14 pm
Posted on 3/11/16 at 8:13 pm to ULSU
My uncle has 2 of his kids in baseball, and it's fricking annoying how they're always cutting out of family get-togethers no matter how significant they are.
Sister's wedding? See ya, we got a game.
Family member in the hospital? Well we don't have a game next wednesday so we'll stop by and see them if they're still alive.
I've lost so much respect for this person in the last few years.
Sister's wedding? See ya, we got a game.
Family member in the hospital? Well we don't have a game next wednesday so we'll stop by and see them if they're still alive.
I've lost so much respect for this person in the last few years.
Posted on 3/11/16 at 8:51 pm to DrSteveBrule
My son has been on a 90 game plus travel team past 2 seasons. Our friends with kids who aren't on travel teams act all self-righteous.
While my son rarely gets to play, he's getting to see two-cow towns their kids may never even visit.
Totally worth it.
While my son rarely gets to play, he's getting to see two-cow towns their kids may never even visit.
Totally worth it.
Posted on 3/11/16 at 9:07 pm to Garfield
How does one become a "legendary youth baseball coach"? WTF does that mean, who is this guy, and why does his opinion matter either way? I don't understand all the hate for travel ball on this board. I played on the same team from 9-14 years old and loved it. Would've rather played with that team than my high school team if given the chance and we won state twice in my 4 years in high school.
Not every travel team is out there recruiting kids from team to team. We traveled all over the southeast and I had some of the best memories with that team. I really think the generalization that all travel ball is bad is ridiculous.
Not every travel team is out there recruiting kids from team to team. We traveled all over the southeast and I had some of the best memories with that team. I really think the generalization that all travel ball is bad is ridiculous.
Posted on 3/11/16 at 9:20 pm to Jim Rockford
It comes down to this: if your kid (NOT you) loves baseball then let him play as much as he can. If your kid only likes it a little bit the. He should probably not travel and play all those games to avoid burnout.
If your kid is talented he will get noticed and drafted or given a schollie regardless of where he plays.
If your kid is talented he will get noticed and drafted or given a schollie regardless of where he plays.
Posted on 3/11/16 at 9:23 pm to ATH216
Did u listen to him? He didn't say it was all bad
Posted on 3/11/16 at 9:36 pm to Moustache
Travel ball has more negative aspects then positives imo....
Between the amount of practice time, games every weekend, the fact the coaches are teaching kids as young as 7 to throw a curve, and then finally the cost.
Travel ball should be reserved for kids starting high school so 13+ all younger kids should be required to play rec league ball and then at 13/14 you have a better idea of those kids who are good enough for travel ball vs those kids whose parents are willing to pay for travel ball.
Between the amount of practice time, games every weekend, the fact the coaches are teaching kids as young as 7 to throw a curve, and then finally the cost.
Travel ball should be reserved for kids starting high school so 13+ all younger kids should be required to play rec league ball and then at 13/14 you have a better idea of those kids who are good enough for travel ball vs those kids whose parents are willing to pay for travel ball.
Posted on 3/11/16 at 10:19 pm to Garfield
quote:
My son has been on a 90 game plus travel team past 2 seasons. Our friends with kids who aren't on travel teams act all self-righteous.
While my son rarely gets to play, he's getting to see two-cow towns their kids may never even visit.
Totally worth it.
Doesn't sound like it
Posted on 3/11/16 at 11:12 pm to Dr. Huxtable
quote:
Doesn't sound like it
He may not get to play often but my son is getting fresh country air. Better than playing video games all day and becoming a home-bound fatty (granted my kid's a little overweight but that's mainly genetics and all the sunflower seeds he eats during the games).
Posted on 3/11/16 at 11:41 pm to Moustache
quote:
If your kid is talented he will get noticed and drafted or given a schollie regardless of where he plays.
I try and make this argument all the time to friends, yet they don't listen. I will not let my son play travel ball and he's fine with it. He's actually very good and better than most of his friends that play TB and it drives them(and their dads) nuts. Most of his skills have been developed at home in the damn yard, it's called WORK!! If my son beats the odds and has any future past high school it will be on the mound, so I long toss the hell out of him. Not with wasted time and money on the weekends. I don't need to be part of a club, me and my wife are pretty secure in who we are. There is about a 0.08% chance my son will ever earn a nickel playing the game. I just want him to love the game his entire life, if he does I've done my job as a baseball dad.
Frick travel ball and the lie it's become, the insecure jack asses can have it!!
This post was edited on 3/11/16 at 11:44 pm
Posted on 3/11/16 at 11:49 pm to HarrisLetsRide
quote:
I try and make this argument all the time to friends, yet they don't listen. I will not let my son play travel ball and he's fine with it. He's actually very good and better than most of his friends that play TB and it drives them(and their dads) nuts. Most of his skills have been developed at home in the damn yard, it's called WORK!! If my son beats the odds and has any future past high school it will be on the mound, so I long toss the hell out of him. Not with wasted time and money on the weekends. I don't need to be part of a club, me and my wife are pretty secure in who we are. There is about a 0.08% chance my son will ever earn a nickel playing the game. I just want him to love the game his entire life, if he does I've done my job as a baseball dad. Frick travel ball and the lie it's become, you insecure jack asses can have it!!
Thumbs up my friend
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.
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!!
Posted on 3/12/16 at 8:33 am to HarrisLetsRide
I'm with you. Travel ball seems to be a club for insecure parents who can brag to others about how great Junior is because he plays "travel ball". The funny thing is watching high school baseball, my son is a senior this year, and seeing all those "travel ball" kids who are no better than the players who chose not to play, or many of these all-stars who are riding the pine. I want to tell some of the parents "I'll bet you wished you'd saved that money you wasted on travel ball for Junior's college seeing he's not going to get a scholarship or drafted". There is a couple of travel ball stars who neglected their grades through the years while being hauled off to Timbuktu living the dream that are now academically ineligible. People let the kids play and have fun.
Posted on 3/12/16 at 8:34 am to Jim Rockford
am i the only one shocked that there is such a thing as a "legendary youth baseball coach"?
Posted on 3/12/16 at 8:34 am to rmc
quote:
I think that rec leagues will be a thing of the past not long from now and you will, unfortunately, just have travel teams.
This is so woefully, indescribably off base it's almost hard to comprehend. We're talking about REC YOUTH sports, it will NEVER go away. THe numbver of people with your mindset (and the crazies who are 10x more extreme than you) is FAR inferior to the regular joe who has an 8 year old and just wants him to get outside and play some sports with his buds.
what you're saying is akin to thinking that the rise of AAU teams the last 20 years is eventually going to eliminate youth basketball.
Posted on 3/12/16 at 9:12 am to WG_Dawg
My kid has been playing rec ball ever since 5 and is one of the better kids in the league and probably the fastest. These travel ball assholes will not leave us alone constantly calling,emailing, even stopping by the house to try and get us involved. They are amazed that we do not want to participate and act like I'm not doing what's best for my kid. We spend our weekends in the woods or on the water mostly and my kids love it.
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