re: Kirk Herbstreit slams Travel Ball culture

Yea, everyone knows travel ball is trashy

quote:

---

That doesnt mean some of those kids dont go play for another team during the fall...they dont have to sign a contract with the Knights

---

I understand that

Some people will play year round at 9. I’m just pointing out that isn’t normal and it isn’t part of it unless you make it that way

But Will Clark is just out of touch with what the REALITY is

Would it be great if rec was still like it was when he was young? It would
Be AWESOME

But the reality is it isn’t. If you showed Will Clark what a 9u rec league looked like he would say “frick no I wouldn’t put my kid in that”. So yeh, in dream make beleive land rec ball is great. But it doesn’t exist most places anymore

The kids that are affected the most are the brother and sisters that have to give up their entire summer to watch brax play. I have a good friend who owns a wholesale baseball/softball equipment warehouse and he just laughs at the amount of money these parents pay for pure crap

quote:

---

But Will Clark is just out of touch with what the REALITY is

---

The reality is that 98% of the talent needed to play past high school is God given and the best kids are still the best kids. But now, in order to play competitive sports (which has a ton of value and should be pushed to kid) costs and effort have gone up 50x.

It’s awful

quote:

---

well no offense but the main branch out the compound in mandeville also doesnt produce many good players or teams at the youth level. and dont get it twisted knights are a good org but they are 100% all about the money.

---

of course its about money. Its a business

But your other choice is pelican park which is a complete waste

quote:

---

The kids that are affected the most are the brother and sisters that have to give up their entire summer to watch brax play. I have a good friend who owns a wholesale baseball/softball equipment warehouse and he just laughs at the amount of money these parents pay for pure crap

---

dude unless you are a kid going to PGI, select fest, national showcase at 13 or later....no youth teams are really playing after june. too damn hot.


as far as the OP and kirks comments, honestly why cant you do both travel baseball within reason and vacations? we do every year.

I’m surprised sports nutrition, at a young age, isn’t a bigger business. That’s the crucial ingredient, along with weight room…

Son showed up at UF on June 1st and weighed in at 152lbs. He weighed 167 last week, but said he held onto all of his fluids to do so. He has to sign in for all three meals, eats two lunches everyday as well, and see the nutrition girl for his smoothies twice a day. Still skinny AF.



Im guessing 6’3” and about 185 is where they want him…but it’s all nutrition at this point.

Are you a coach for UF?

quote:

---

The reality is that 98% of the talent needed to play past high school is God given and the best kids are still the best kids. But now, in order to play competitive sports (which has a ton of value and should be pushed to kid) costs and effort have gone up 50x.

It’s awful

---

i would say its less than that but your point absolutely stands

to play competitive sports you dont have to play travel if you live in a decently urban area, but if you want your kid to play in HS or have the chance to play in HS you do.

the problem is there are 2 extremes in most of the south. A rec league with maybe 5-8 practices and 10-15 games and then the season is over. 80% of practice time is centered around the lowest common denominator kid just trying to get him where he can participate. If you make all stars 90% of leagues may get an extra 8 games.

then you have the travel ball kids who many times are playing 50-60 games and sometimes up to 100.

35-50 is prolly about right for development.

but yea it cost. and its not just baseball, its every sport....soccer, baseball, basketball even now football but wiht football its always going to be athletic ability and most HS teams dont cut. not to mention the individual sports like tennis, golf, swimming, etc and even track is like that somewhat.

it is what it is unfortunately. But if I told you...hey your kid is pretty smart and you have a chance to move them to a private school that caters to high IQ kids like him....is that somehow awful?

its the same thing, its a choice and if you cant afford certainly people shoudnt do it. and 100% academics is a million times more important.


and ftr I love will clark and love watching his rants but he is big time out of touch. he is just like arod and will tell you....i swung down and show swining down and then you go loook at film and he didnt swing down at all nor does he when he takes a full swing.

he will tell you hit ground balls, when statistically they have a much much lower chance for success.