re: Little League World Series

I just don't completely understand the end goal and if travel ball really serves as a means to that goal. Is it to make the high school team? You'll have kids that make the high school team that play mostly rec and/or AA/AAA team. They take an butt load of kids on high school teams. Some of those kids, who have maybe not specialized until high school or grow later or develop later, will pass the kids up that have played 150 more games and practiced 300 more times. And, what does making your high school really get you? Pride? The goal should be to go to college for free. Playing 150 more games and practicing 300 more times doesn't ensure that. Again, you'll have kids that blow right past big bad travel ball kids and get scholarships, too.

quote:

---

I coached it for 8 years...i have had kids play high level travel and some not...i have seen both. I grew up with rec....like i said...Rec sucks

---

I think you lack the understanding that not all rec departments are the same. You live in the Mecca of the travel ball world - but not every person’s situation is going to be the same as yours


So you can sit there and pound the desk as much as you’d like, but until you’ve experienced what others have in their own towns, maybe you should be a little more receptive to what people are saying


Just a thought

I believe it.

I appreciate our coach not doing that

So depending on what hs you go to, you aren’t making it not playing travel. I can promise the big 5a programs that are competing for state like the AP programs are not taking rec only kids. The big 5a are taking 15 max usually, every once in a while it’s more like some did this year.

The goal is to allow your kid to play the game he loves at the level he is capable and to have the chance to make the hs team. Considering 7% of hs baseball players play in college, saying the goal should be to get college paid for is dumb and that 7% includes juco. Only 2% play d1.

Do you play golf? Ever taken lessons? Ever go practice? Do you suddenly think because you do that and go play courses all the time that you are going to the pga or going to play in college?

What if someone goes fishing all the time, has a nice boats, buys all kids of rods and reals and lets a guide show him things, does that mean he thinks he is gonna be rolling with the big dogs on the tour?

What is he like, c/o 2032? Meh

quote:

---

stop blaming travel for problems with rec. Sorry but 5-8 practices and 10-15 games is not enough for development and especially when the practices have to focus on helping the kids who have never played before and then the rules are setup to make sure those same new kids dont get hurt. Its a watered down version of baseball.

---

Not blaming. Im saying that your best rec leagues adjusted to travel ball and are pulling some kids away to play. Your best rec leagues like AP, has a place the tops and the beginners can play and be competitive.

How exactly does this work in AP? They have two different divisions within the age group?

quote:

---

I think that is a good thing that your coach is like that. A high school baseball roster with more kids than a college team is silly. Some of those teams that take 15-20 freshman are going to make cuts after their first year. It's just a way to ensure that no one slips through the cracks(uncommon) and to boost fund raising (the primary reason).

---

pretty much

but there has been a push back on HS coaches, especially at the bigger/better schools, to take more kids. Because there is a ton of pressure on kids to be really good early just to make the team, hence the growth of travel baseball. So many coaches are feeling that and creating freshman only teams as a 3rd JV team. This is especially true when they watch a kid they cut as a freshman become all state as a senior playing at the near by private school. Doesnt happen a lot but when it does, its eye opening.

like you said...when they are making 1k+ per kid per year do to fundraising, summer ball dues etc it makes sense. Also it ensures more kids a chance to develop under the right coaching


issue is it takes coaching time away from other parts of the team and it ensures there will be cuts after freshman and sophomore years..


I will say at some of the bigger nicer schools around DFW, they have 2-3 fields and 2-3 full coaching staffs and they take 40 or so freshman. usually keep 20-30 per class after that. but it allows the possibility for a rec only kid that is 6'3 as a freshman a chance to develop. if he doesnt...oh well can cut him later. I do feel its a better approach to tamp down on everyone feeling the pressure at 9 or 10 to go to travel and spend tons of money or no shot of making the HS team.