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re: Kirk Herbstreit slams Travel Ball culture
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:07 pm to Gaston
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:07 pm to Gaston
quote:
My son did travel soccer and quit after his freshman year of HS…Pretty sure he hasn’t kicked a soccer ball since then…loved it until he didn’t. We probably all played some role in that loss of interest. .
You know, this is probably my biggest fear - not that my kid attending a 6A high school gets pushed out of a game that he still loves, but that he forgets he ever loved it in the first place. A lot of people have written about how you can have balance while being a travel ball parent, and that’s true. But it gets exponentially harder the more kids that you have involved, and I have three. Last spring felt like I barely got to come up for air sometimes. It’s stressful. At his core, my oldest just wants to get out there and play with his buddies, and there is nothing in the world wrong with that. But, my lord, when he isn’t putting in the extra reps at home, while I’m waking up for a 5:30 Sunday start for the 3rd Sunday in a row, it’s everything I have not to lose my shite on him. I’ve done it more than once, and I’m not proud of it. I know it’s not fair. He didn’t design this system. I know he’s just a kid who wants to play a game, and I realize that’s exactly the sort of stuff what will push him away. shite really does suck sometimes.
2
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:18 pm to Lake08
quote:
It’s like the parent that “had to buy their 6 year old an iPhone”. A very high number are ok with the 10k worth of travel every year, so they can humble brag…
Agreed. It’s under the umbrella of “supporting my kid”, but subtly suggests that poor people cannot support their kid.
I’ll stand by it. If you’re good, you’re good, and you will get noticed.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:23 pm to pelicanpride
Yup, just do better next time. My son understands…it was the transition from kids sports to ‘are you going to be the dominant force’. It’s something he had to hear. He very much wanted/wants to be the best, and he understood that early…just took a couple of car rides and some frank ‘discussions’.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:31 pm to Lgrnwd
He's spot on with this. Depp nailed it best.
Social Media has made everyone the same person. Keeping up with the Jones on steroids.
Social Media has made everyone the same person. Keeping up with the Jones on steroids.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:32 pm to Gaston
quote:
just took a couple of car rides and some frank ‘discussions’.
You don’t think those frank discussions are what caused him to fall out of love with soccer? I have no issue being honest with my kid about what it’s going to take for him to get to where he wants to be. Whether or not he decides to really grind is up to him. I just wish he could go feel his way through the baseball world without it taking up so much of my time. I love to watch him play, and I’m willing to pay for him to continue to do that through high school if that’s what he wants. These tournaments are just so brutal when you have multiple kids involved.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:34 pm to pelicanpride
I think a major problem with today’s world is that we don’t allow kids to be kids. Parents (not saying you) are quick to try to make things into a career path.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:49 pm to TexasTiger08
quote:
I think a major problem with today’s world is that we don’t allow kids to be kids. Parents (not saying you) are quick to try to make things into a career path.
Baseball isn’t my son’s career path. LOL I could have told you that his first Little League practice. But he does love the game now, and he’s become a pretty solid player. This issue is that there isn’t a place for a 13 year old kid like him to continue to develop without doing select. But that takes so much damn time out of my schedule that it infuriates me when he isn’t doing the tee work in the back yard that would immediately improve his swing. On the other hand, why the hell should he have to work on this shite constantly just to go play with his buddies? Maybe I just need to leave him be, but I’m still driving him to every practice and tournament, which is exhausting when you multiply across 3 kids. I just keep telling myself that in five years it will all be over, I know I’ll look back and miss it.
Well…maybe 10 years, but at some point, I’ll definitely look back and miss it.
This post was edited on 8/11/25 at 10:50 pm
Posted on 8/12/25 at 5:59 am to pelicanpride
quote:
Last spring felt like I barely got to come up for air sometimes. It’s stressful. At his core, my oldest just wants to get out there and play with his buddies, and there is nothing in the world wrong with that. But, my lord, when he isn’t putting in the extra reps at home, while I’m waking up for a 5:30 Sunday start for the 3rd Sunday in a row, it’s everything I have not to lose my shite on him. I’ve done it more than once, and I’m not proud of it. I know it’s not fair. He didn’t design this system. I know he’s just a kid who wants to play a game, and I realize that’s exactly the sort of stuff what will push him away. shite really does suck sometimes.
Great synopsis of what makes the Travel Ball culture inherently bad.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 6:17 am to Lgrnwd
My son just played rec ball, you could always tell the travel ball kid, he showed up with a rolling bat bag and 4 bats in it…. 
Side note: Worked with a girl who she and her husband are big time travel ball parents, they’re convinced their son will be playing in the majors one day. Basically told them not to get their hopes up. Their kid is a decent ball player, but doesn’t stick out head and shoulders above most kids. Told them about my nephew who was part of Rummel’s starting rotation, a kid who’s played all over the country since he was 9. After high school, he pitched at Loyola for two years, then just got burned out. Never put on a glove since.
Side note: Worked with a girl who she and her husband are big time travel ball parents, they’re convinced their son will be playing in the majors one day. Basically told them not to get their hopes up. Their kid is a decent ball player, but doesn’t stick out head and shoulders above most kids. Told them about my nephew who was part of Rummel’s starting rotation, a kid who’s played all over the country since he was 9. After high school, he pitched at Loyola for two years, then just got burned out. Never put on a glove since.
This post was edited on 8/12/25 at 6:20 am
Posted on 8/12/25 at 8:40 am to Chad504boy
quote:
Kirk don’t do travel ball then. Quit bragging about your privileged vacations you rather go do
Travel ball dad.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 8:43 am to Hangover Haven
quote:
After high school, he pitched at Loyola for two years, then just got burned out. Never put on a glove since.
And that's more than 90% of Travel Ball kids do after highschool
Posted on 8/12/25 at 8:44 am to Hangover Haven
quote:
After high school, he pitched at Loyola for two years, then just got burned out.
That big NIL transfer ain’t there for everybody
Posted on 8/12/25 at 8:44 am to The Boat
I hate the term, but that was still a top 5 beta moment.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 8:47 am to pelicanpride
quote:
This issue is that there isn’t a place for a 13 year old kid like him to continue to develop without doing select.
Private lessons? What about started high school where they offer 8th grade and getting into that program as early as possible?
Posted on 8/12/25 at 9:02 am to pelicanpride
quote:
I know I’ll look back and miss it.
Sooner than you think. The kids go from needing dad to motivate them to simply needing support. My son’s only plan in life is to be in the NFL. I want to shake his arse and tell him to study more…but I’m sure there’ll be plenty of people along the way who tell him he won’t make it…I just have to hug him and tell him I believe in him and know he can do it. Swallow all the doubt and just be a positive force for him.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 9:11 am to Lgrnwd
One thing that’s clear after reading this thread is that baseball (and soccer, cheer, gymnastics, tennis, likely others as well) in America are no longer meritocracies, at least in some communities. There is a high price of participation.
I am very familiar with the lacrosse development systems in the midatlantic and NE, and while I certainly would not describe those as entirely healthy or accessible, this sounds insane.
I am very familiar with the lacrosse development systems in the midatlantic and NE, and while I certainly would not describe those as entirely healthy or accessible, this sounds insane.
This post was edited on 8/12/25 at 9:14 am
Posted on 8/12/25 at 9:26 am to LSUfan4444
quote:
Private lessons? What about started high school where they offer 8th grade and getting into that program as early as possible?
His school district doesn’t offer middle school baseball, so you pretty much have to do select. For high school, he goes to a 6A school, so it’s going to be super tough to make varsity as a freshman. Even if he did, he wouldn’t get playing time. Reps matter. Plus, he enjoys playing select. I just wish that level of competition were offered closer to home and without the never ending tournaments.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 9:46 am to pelicanpride
quote:
His school district doesn’t offer middle school baseball, so you pretty much have to do select
Sorry, I meant choosing a school that offered 8th grade
Posted on 8/12/25 at 9:49 am to Crowknowsbest
quote:now you know why so many sons of former players are making it
One thing that’s clear after reading this thread is that baseball (and soccer, cheer, gymnastics, tennis, likely others as well) in America are no longer meritocracies, at least in some communities. There is a high price of participation.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 9:55 am to Lgrnwd
quote:
Great synopsis of what makes the Travel Ball culture inherently bad.
I wouldn’t say it’s inherently bad. Some families love it. But there needs to be a middle space for a kid like mine who is a solid player and loves the game, but who also wants to have a life outside of baseball. There needs to be a local developmental option without the expense and grind. Someone is going to make a lot of money when they figure that out.
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