re: This board is enamored with the travel ball lifestyle

Exactly


I like you thibs, but come on baw

Fine Ed, if we let your fortnite arse son on our travel ball team, will you stop slandering the game that I love so much??

So three organizations for a total of 25 different fundraisers (that came from you, not me) equals about 8 fundraisers per team....

Are they a travel ball team, or a mobile gofundme app???

How do they have time to travel and play ball??

This board would rather focus on the very few that succeed in spite of not playing travel ball or lessons. They would rather act as if it is the norm and not the exception.

Yes, my son plays travel ball. As well as, basketball and football. He enjoys it, so we do it. My daughter enjoys dancing, so we do it.

Does this mean either will be professionals in their activities, get a college scholarships, or even participate in high school- hell if I know?

What I do know, is I’d rather give them opportunities to explore what they like and provide them the chance to put in work and see results from it.

I enjoy seeing them accomplish something they couldn’t achieve previously. I like watching them learn from lessons of failure. I enjoy them being passionate about whatever they choose to participate in over just laying around watching youtube. Guess that does make me a bad and selfish parent now that I lay it all out.

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I used to think the same thing until my son got to high school. Most of the kids that get substantial playing time have had years worth of lessons and has played travel/select ball. They are ahead physically and mentally. This comment will get bashed but it's the truth. If your kid wants to play in high school and not just sit the bench for 3 or 4 years, i strongly recommend lessons and some travel ball

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Man that's kind of a shame. I played in HS and back then the HS teams were made up of just the best athletes who had played in the local Y / rec leagues. Same for basketball. The vast majority had not received any private or professional coaching before junior high school team / high school team. And they certainly weren't travelling much to play.

My seven year old plays soccer in the fall and spring, basketball in the winter and baseball in the summer. All relatively local (metro-Atlanta teams). Keeps him busy enough. I can't imagine adding extra private lessons or travelling to play any time soon. The idea that he is going to start "falling behind" soon if he doesn't start private lessons, playing one sport year round, travelling to play, etc. seems ridiculous.

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So three organizations for a total of 25 different fundraisers (that came from you, not me) equals about 8 fundraisers per team....

Are they a travel ball team, or a mobile gofundme app???

How do they have time to travel and play ball??

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20 May be high, but it’s comfortably in double digits

And the parents are doing the fundraising. So not only do you have to pay to get on the team, you have to work to support the team

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know of no teams in the Thibodeax or Houma area that are that hard up for money..and I've been doing this for a while now and know pretty much all the teams...

Unless these are young teams that are new to the scene....if so you need to make new friends.

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Never said they were hard up, but they fundraise like a mofo

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My main (and probably only major) gripe about travel ball is that most of the time, they just play games, and don’t really practice**.

For example, one of the best travel teams in my area is ran by a guy I know who’s never played high school ball before.. he’s basically just a team organizer and finds tourneys for them to play in. I asked one of the parents how many times they practice, and he said MAYBE ten times in two years..

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This definitely happens. There are other teams that are coached by guys that know what they are doing and practice more than they play. I guess it just depends on what you're looking for.

My son is in HS and he and most of his teammates do showcase ball and most of the teams are regionally based. They will only practice a handful of times because kids from all over the state are on this particular team. They'll play 6 or 7 tournaments in a summer. But these kids are the better high school players and most are taking private instruction elsewhere.

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So three organizations for a total of 25 different fundraisers (that came from you, not me) equals about 8 fundraisers per team....

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yeah and how come I never get hit up that much for cash donations? I get hit once or twice a year but it's usually a fundraiser, which is usually a party, cash bar, with a band and fun night out.