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re: Travel ball anecdote
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:15 am to tduecen
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:15 am to tduecen
quote:
2-5 games on Saturday if they advance.... that some point it is just too much.
I agree. Think about it, pro players who are athletic freaks can only muster two nine inning games in a day, yet we have 10-year-olds playing five six inning games in day. The reason for this is simple greed - the more teams in the tourney, the more money generated...when you allow 16 teams into a tourney you have no choice but to play 6 games on Sunday until 10pm...
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Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:16 am to joeleblanc
I was watching MLB network and they said 25/30 guys drafted in the first round last year were dual sport stars in High School. Wouldn't that mean they weren't psycho travel ball players?
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:18 am to Jim Rockford
When did the travel ball craze start? I was that age in the early 2000s and don't remember it going on.
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:18 am to oldcharlie8
Yep, the stepson has played for these tools in 10-12 football and baseball. Neither guy was any account as an athlete but both expected those kids to be great.
The football coach was a train-wreck, drunk and stoned idiot. We held him out the next year rather than be around him. I swear the guy was getting the plays off of Madden 2013. He had no idea of how to teach blocking and tackling.
The baseball coach was a strange dude. He lived to coach as many teams as time allowed. His own son plays SS but cannot field a grounder and make a good throw. This coach tried to take our rec team, with equipment and jerseys purchased through the organization, a build a select traveling team because he is too poor to fund one himself. He screamed and verbally abused the kids. He was warned that one instance of abusing our kid would not end well for him, there were other kids he also knew not to abuse. I've never seen a grown man put so much of his own self-worth in whether some 11-12yo kids won or lost.
The football coach was a train-wreck, drunk and stoned idiot. We held him out the next year rather than be around him. I swear the guy was getting the plays off of Madden 2013. He had no idea of how to teach blocking and tackling.
The baseball coach was a strange dude. He lived to coach as many teams as time allowed. His own son plays SS but cannot field a grounder and make a good throw. This coach tried to take our rec team, with equipment and jerseys purchased through the organization, a build a select traveling team because he is too poor to fund one himself. He screamed and verbally abused the kids. He was warned that one instance of abusing our kid would not end well for him, there were other kids he also knew not to abuse. I've never seen a grown man put so much of his own self-worth in whether some 11-12yo kids won or lost.
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:24 am to geauxbrown
There's no doubt travel exposes kids to more experience and a larger variety of competition. But it's also a bit ridiculous. Travel teams really didn't start in my area until I was in high school, so I never played. But the freshmen when I was a senior all travled. They ended up doing a lot better for our high school team by the time they were seniors. So I see it can be beneficial.
What I don't like is how serious the talent at a 5th grade level is taken. Friend coaches a team his son is on. Makes comments about how is son is okay, but he isn't going to make the high school team. Says this in front of his kid and I hear the kid repeat it. This is 5th a 6th grade kids. Many of the best players in little league when I was that age never picked up a bat in high school. I was a fat little kid who could barely run to first base, but made first team all region by the time I graduated. This travel team shite puts too much focus on being good now instead of getting better. They are young and learning and who knows what puberty is going to deal them. Those coaches need to take it easy.
What I don't like is how serious the talent at a 5th grade level is taken. Friend coaches a team his son is on. Makes comments about how is son is okay, but he isn't going to make the high school team. Says this in front of his kid and I hear the kid repeat it. This is 5th a 6th grade kids. Many of the best players in little league when I was that age never picked up a bat in high school. I was a fat little kid who could barely run to first base, but made first team all region by the time I graduated. This travel team shite puts too much focus on being good now instead of getting better. They are young and learning and who knows what puberty is going to deal them. Those coaches need to take it easy.
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:28 am to Jim Rockford
It's that way 15 years or so. I've umpired all levels for 30 years. The. Advent of select travel teams started as a legit 1-2 teams per city with the true elite kids to play against other towns true elite kids. Then it morphed into any kid with a glove and and at least one dumbass parent w a checkbook could tell everyone he played on a travel ball team . Now it's just a scam and adults are the pawns.....
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:29 am to joeleblanc
quote:
Honestly, what are the chances a kid makes it professionally bc he played travel ball?
No better than if he didn't.
Not true. I want to qualify this statement by saying I am a coach of a "travel ball" team for a different sport. I am not some F-250 driving, flatbill wearing, ego-driven coach. There are merits to a travel ball system but we do need to ensure we never lose the perspective that these are CHILDREN we are coaching, not professionals.
Travel ball ensures that talented athletes can compete against other talented athletes. Most Div I coaches in any sport attend/watch video of travel ball tournaments. the best way to see the potential a recruit possesses is to evaluate them against the best.
Travel ball is also the reason why Louisiana is one of the most fertile grounds per capita for baseball/softball. LSU sports would not be as good in softball/baseball/football if it were not for the elite level training offered to Louisiana student-athletes.
The problem of parents and coaches pushing children too hard is definitely a problem. I refuse to work with parents who are overly involved and act as if their lives depend on the success of their 15 year old child. Most cases, those athletes flame out their junior year of high and never really make it in college. Too much pressure eventually causes the athlete to hate the game.
The first practice of my season, I introduce one rule, "Work hard, Have fun"... Recognizing these kids are training darn near year round, I work hard to avoid burnout and stress loving the game. In my years as a coach, my teams have won numerous tournaments. I have also been blessed to have a small part in the training of 5 Div I athletes (3 LSU) and at least 40 smaller college athletes.
Travel ball is a good thing as long as we (adults) don't ruin it for our children.
This post was edited on 2/21/16 at 9:31 am
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:32 am to Jim Rockford
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:38 am to Tigeralum2008
quote:
Travel ball is also the reason why Louisiana is one of the most fertile grounds per capita for baseball/softball. LSU sports would not be as good in softball/baseball/football
So LSU wasn't winning championships in baseball in the 90s before the travel ball craze took off?
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:41 am to KG6
quote:
So LSU wasn't winning championships in baseball in the 90s before the travel ball craze took off?
True but my point remains that the best way to find a truly elite athlete is to see them compete against top competition.
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:48 am to KG6
quote:
So LSU wasn't winning championships in baseball in the 90s before the travel ball craze took off?
I think he was getting to the point of Louisiana kids today are getting better coaching at a younger age, therefor some not all have increased their sport of choice IQ tremendously.
My youngest son (11) has been on some elite travel teams. Probably a coach or two of his are in the topic. I see both sides of the coin. As parents, you must balance the work load and make sure he still enjoys it while also doing the right things to make him or her better at their craft.
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:49 am to Tigeralum2008
Tigeralum2008, You are 100% on the money. Had 2 daughters in travel softball and they thrived in the experience. You have to be involved with the right people and organization with the right goals. Didn't shell out a ton of money. We didn't do it to be "flashy". Just did it for the reps and experienced coaching. It payed off In the fact that my oldest started infield for a 5A team all 4 years and several college offers. My second is following suit as a hs soph. although she is backing off travel ball and I'm cool with it. You just have to keep perspective and be an adult about it.
Posted on 2/21/16 at 9:53 am to Jim Rockford
Is all of Ascension Parish on travel teams?
Posted on 2/21/16 at 10:00 am to joeleblanc
Travel ball has many benefits for student-athletes.
Since most college coaches exclusively scout travel ball tournaments, the kids are seen by a higher number of coaches.
One tournament my team competed in last season had hundreds of college coaches in attendance from all conferences/divisions. You don't get that at a local little league.
Kids also learn to compete at a high level. Teaching them how to focus when the stakes are high. This helps them when they are in their high school state tournament. I would also contend that this is an important skill to take into adulthood.
Regional travel can be fun. You see new arenas, compete against out of state talent. Build friends outside of your high school. You root for your travel ball teammates at other schools.
I would wager most (definitely not all) travel ball athletes would say they loved the experience even if they did not "make it" to the next level.
My approach to coaching travel ball is to make the athletes better prepared for their high school seasons. State champions in our sport usually features a team with 90% participation in travel ball within the entire program (not just varsity). Even if only a small % of those athletes go on to play college, travel ball can improve the athlete's chances of having a successful, memory filled high school career.
Since most college coaches exclusively scout travel ball tournaments, the kids are seen by a higher number of coaches.
One tournament my team competed in last season had hundreds of college coaches in attendance from all conferences/divisions. You don't get that at a local little league.
Kids also learn to compete at a high level. Teaching them how to focus when the stakes are high. This helps them when they are in their high school state tournament. I would also contend that this is an important skill to take into adulthood.
Regional travel can be fun. You see new arenas, compete against out of state talent. Build friends outside of your high school. You root for your travel ball teammates at other schools.
I would wager most (definitely not all) travel ball athletes would say they loved the experience even if they did not "make it" to the next level.
My approach to coaching travel ball is to make the athletes better prepared for their high school seasons. State champions in our sport usually features a team with 90% participation in travel ball within the entire program (not just varsity). Even if only a small % of those athletes go on to play college, travel ball can improve the athlete's chances of having a successful, memory filled high school career.
This post was edited on 2/21/16 at 10:02 am
Posted on 2/21/16 at 10:02 am to Flamefighter
Not saying travel ball is bad. I know of teams that do it right. At least one I know of doesn't have a kid on the team and I think that helps. But I know plenty who think the key to success is paying to get their kids fancy jerseys and playing with all the other kids who's parents do the same thing. Thats is directed at the younger kids. As you approach high school, I think it does become more important and I do think the "better" players start to stick out and really gain from it.
Like I said, it wasn't around for me. But by highschool, we had year round leagues to play in. I got a lot better from freshman to senior year use off of getting so many reps. But the visibility has always been there. For us, it was going to camps at colleges. I remember having a braves scout talk to me after a round of BP. I had a hell of a round and when he found out I was a sophomore, he talked to me about where I played. Then I had my second round of BP and he realized that first one was a fluke
. Had teammates who got a lot of attention through that type of stuff though. I think travel ball is the Avenue to see that now, but it's not like it didn't exist before.
Like I said, it wasn't around for me. But by highschool, we had year round leagues to play in. I got a lot better from freshman to senior year use off of getting so many reps. But the visibility has always been there. For us, it was going to camps at colleges. I remember having a braves scout talk to me after a round of BP. I had a hell of a round and when he found out I was a sophomore, he talked to me about where I played. Then I had my second round of BP and he realized that first one was a fluke
. Had teammates who got a lot of attention through that type of stuff though. I think travel ball is the Avenue to see that now, but it's not like it didn't exist before. Posted on 2/21/16 at 10:04 am to RDOtiger
That is hilarious. I actuallly would watch a reality show on this guy and his team.
This post was edited on 2/21/16 at 10:13 am
Posted on 2/21/16 at 10:10 am to little billy
quote:
That is hilarious. I actuality would watch a reality show on this guy and his team.
Think he works for Marucci? lol
Posted on 2/21/16 at 10:12 am to little billy
KG,
Not all sports have those scouting resources. I agree baseball would probably still be able to find athletes because it is a multi-billion dollar sport. But what about the non-revenue (major) sports? Small sport coaches have limited resources. they would rather go to a travel ball tournament and see 500 potential recruits rather than a local league and see 1-2.
I highly recommend that parents sit down with the child, find schools they are interested in attending/playing and then going to their camps as it shows the family what it would be like working with this coach for the next 4 years. Unfortunately, the numbers of athletes who actually do this is pretty low. You also do not get as many "looks" at camps as you do in travel ball tournaments
I have never coached my children and will never do it in the future. It's just too political for my tastes plus I want my kids to see me as "Dad" not "Coach"
One TERRIBLE result of travel ball though is college coaches "OFFERING" schollys to freshman athletes. I frickin hate this. One kid I coach recently "committed" when they haven't even played a season of high school ball in their respective sport. It is fricking stupid that this is even allowable.
Kids are being pressured by coaches to "sign" after their sophomore year of HS in most sports these days. If you are an unsigned junior/senior who recently had their success "click"...you are behind the 8-ball
Not all sports have those scouting resources. I agree baseball would probably still be able to find athletes because it is a multi-billion dollar sport. But what about the non-revenue (major) sports? Small sport coaches have limited resources. they would rather go to a travel ball tournament and see 500 potential recruits rather than a local league and see 1-2.
I highly recommend that parents sit down with the child, find schools they are interested in attending/playing and then going to their camps as it shows the family what it would be like working with this coach for the next 4 years. Unfortunately, the numbers of athletes who actually do this is pretty low. You also do not get as many "looks" at camps as you do in travel ball tournaments
I have never coached my children and will never do it in the future. It's just too political for my tastes plus I want my kids to see me as "Dad" not "Coach"
One TERRIBLE result of travel ball though is college coaches "OFFERING" schollys to freshman athletes. I frickin hate this. One kid I coach recently "committed" when they haven't even played a season of high school ball in their respective sport. It is fricking stupid that this is even allowable.
Kids are being pressured by coaches to "sign" after their sophomore year of HS in most sports these days. If you are an unsigned junior/senior who recently had their success "click"...you are behind the 8-ball
This post was edited on 2/21/16 at 10:21 am
Posted on 2/21/16 at 10:21 am to Tigeralum2008
quote:
True but my point remains that the best way to find a truly elite athlete is to see them compete against top competition.
Believing you're competing against "top competition" is your issue. I imagine that as a coach, you eventually have to start believing the bullshite you're pitching.
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