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Started By
Message
re: Travel baseball vs. Rec league/school ball (for kids 12 and under)
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:41 pm to Choupique19
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:41 pm to Choupique19
quote:
There are probably 4 or 5 options, and not just two. Most notably is the guy who makes a living with these teams/organizations.
You are right, I was pointing out the two most common ones.
There is also...
3) The assistant coach from the local high school who is coaching as a means to scout and/or develop future talent that will eventually be attending the school.
4) The "professional" coach (although this seems more an issue with basketball than baseball)
2
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:42 pm to btnetigers
In BR.. the kids don't have to necessarily "travel" but by age 11 or 12 will more than likely have to play tourmanents to play "competitive" games..there is a tournament within 20 minutes of BR every weekend.. the problem with the existing leagues in BR, is the the competition is just not there (I wish it were) and I do not see the point of spending 3 hours at the ballpark to watch a kid get literally ONE at bat (which will almost certainly result in a walk or a hbp) .. games are 10-8 with the teams combining for 3 hits.. I hope one day the tide turns back to league ball being better, but at this point it will take a while for that to happen.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:43 pm to btnetigers
So how would you spend all your vacation time? Going on vacation? frick that.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:46 pm to yaherrdme
Back when I played we didn't have travel ball. Everyone played rec ball, and towards the end of the rec ball season, the league would draft an all star team, and we'd play in tournaments for a couple of months. Rec ball was March - June, all stars was late May - late July. For all starts we did not do much until rec ended, then we would practice a couple of times a week and play in tournaments on the weekends. Everyone had a tournament, so we didn't travel far at all. Outside of the actual championship tournaments (i.e. Dizzy dean or Babe Ruth division, region, state), etc, we never "traveled" anywhere for a tournament. Kenner had one, JPRD east, JPRD west, Carrollton, St Bernard, that group in St Charles, etc.
Now, "travel" ball is an alternative to rec ball. That, to me, is a shame.
Now, "travel" ball is an alternative to rec ball. That, to me, is a shame.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:47 pm to btnetigers
My friend's daughter plays travel ball at the highest level and will probably get a softball scholarship. OTOH, he's probably spent more than that on private coaching, high tech bats and equipment, and travel expenses. They have a batting cage with pitching machine in their back yard. They're playing out of town nearly every weekend, and their vacation every year is a national tournament.
One thing he told me is that the power colleges like to have their softball commitments locked up by 9th or 10th grade. If you don't have a firm offer by then, you're looking at a second or third tier school.
One thing he told me is that the power colleges like to have their softball commitments locked up by 9th or 10th grade. If you don't have a firm offer by then, you're looking at a second or third tier school.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:50 pm to LSUFanHouston
You could do a good list for coaches but just as fun could be a list of travel ball parents.
1) don't know a lot but just want their kid to get with a good coach to learn
2) know everything about baseball but somehow chose to enter job market as an electrician instead of a baseball coach
3) use their kid's team as a social status. Have to post on Facebook every weekend about how great it is to spend 14 out of the next 16 weekends at the ball park.
4) the my child has to play on a "major" team because dad likes telling his buddies at work that his son is on a "major" team and not a sissy "daddy ball" team
1) don't know a lot but just want their kid to get with a good coach to learn
2) know everything about baseball but somehow chose to enter job market as an electrician instead of a baseball coach
3) use their kid's team as a social status. Have to post on Facebook every weekend about how great it is to spend 14 out of the next 16 weekends at the ball park.
4) the my child has to play on a "major" team because dad likes telling his buddies at work that his son is on a "major" team and not a sissy "daddy ball" team
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:52 pm to LSUFanHouston
Right on....that was the good ol' days.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:55 pm to GenesChin
quote:
Where does that money go? Tournament expenses etc?
Entry fees. The joke of it all is the world series. I think as long as you pay you participate.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:56 pm to yaherrdme
quote:
In BR.. the kids don't have to necessarily "travel" but by age 11 or 12 will more than likely have to play tourmanents to play "competitive" games..there is a tournament within 20 minutes of BR every weekend.. the problem with the existing leagues in BR, is the the competition is just not there (I wish it were) and I do not see the point of spending 3 hours at the ballpark to watch a kid get literally ONE at bat (which will almost certainly result in a walk or a hbp) .. games are 10-8 with the teams combining for 3 hits.. I hope one day the tide turns back to league ball being better, but at this point it will take a while for that to happen.
Solid post.
The 8 year olds traveling all over the South is too much. However, I don't have an issue with finding local tournaments and playing for a couple of months (not from late January to early July). But I do concede that as you get into junior high you can add a little more to the plate of the young ball player if the kid seems ready to increase his game.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:57 pm to LSUFanHouston
If you want your kid to actually enjoy playing BB, stay in league ball. The travel ball grind will wear on him.
If they kid is good enough, scouts will find him.
If they kid is good enough, scouts will find him.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:58 pm to Topwater Trout
quote:
The joke of it all is the world series. I think as long as you pay you participate.
Key word being "pay". Pay for the long trip to the Gulf Coast, pay for a week long stay at the Condos on the beach, pay for a weeks worth of dining, pay for the kids' entertainment when they aren't playing...
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:59 pm to btnetigers
quote:
Wait until they are in 8th or 9th grade and then maybe consider it - IF they are good.
Honestly, that is too late. Nowadays kids rarely make reputable high school baseball teams unless they played travel ball. The system sucks but all of the good players (and not so good) are playing travel ball. The rec system has been depleated to a point where it's close to a shite show.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 1:59 pm to btnetigers
I spent many summers playing rec ball at Lakeview and it was awesome.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 2:00 pm to Topwater Trout
quote:
Entry fees
Need more sponsors.
quote:
The joke of it all is the world series. I think as long as you pay you participate.
No kidding. It seems like every state hosts a "World Series". I know there are many different sponsoring organizations, and each one has a World Series, and they all seem like pay to play events.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 2:00 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
the coaching is embarrassingly bad. Look, I coach myself
quote:
many rec leagues are so desperate for coaches they will take anyone who signs up. Including adults who are not at all dependable and have no desire to actually coach the kids, but are basically forced into doing it so the kids can have a league
This is true
Posted on 3/3/16 at 2:01 pm to GenesChin
Not all travel ball is bad if you get into the right situation or if you have a group of coaches and parents that are not in it strictly for winning rings.
Travel ball teams that are cutting kids any younger than 10 have serious issues. Sad thing is it happens and they recruit kids from other travel teams which becomes awkward.
If you are good enough you should be able to play high school ball as some kids develop later no matter what level they play at.
Travel ball teams that are cutting kids any younger than 10 have serious issues. Sad thing is it happens and they recruit kids from other travel teams which becomes awkward.
If you are good enough you should be able to play high school ball as some kids develop later no matter what level they play at.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 2:04 pm to LSUFanHouston
I've watched a couple boys in my son's class get sucked into competitive baseball and they (and their families) seem to disappear off the face of the earth. It's quite sad - it's like the boy (or more likely his dad or mom) has decided he's gonna pursue a not very likely scholarship over actually having a "normal" childhood and just being a kid b
Posted on 3/3/16 at 2:05 pm to LSUFanHouston
WTF!?
Thank God this is America and everyone can decide what is better for their families. Maybe you pussies should make some signs and petition to have travel ball banned. Bunch of freaking whiny arse people with nothing better to do. Much more serious problems to address... LMAO
Thank God this is America and everyone can decide what is better for their families. Maybe you pussies should make some signs and petition to have travel ball banned. Bunch of freaking whiny arse people with nothing better to do. Much more serious problems to address... LMAO
Posted on 3/3/16 at 2:10 pm to mooseofterror
quote:
mooseofterror
What are you talking about?????
You are right, everyone can decide what they think is best. And this being America, we are allowed to make fun of them.
Posted on 3/3/16 at 2:10 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
Back when I played we didn't have travel ball. Everyone played rec ball, and towards the end of the rec ball season, the league would draft an all star team, and we'd play in tournaments for a couple of months. Rec ball was March - June, all stars was late May - late July. For all starts we did not do much until rec ended, then we would practice a couple of times a week and play in tournaments on the weekends. Everyone had a tournament, so we didn't travel far at all. Outside of the actual championship tournaments (i.e. Dizzy dean or Babe Ruth division, region, state), etc, we never "traveled" anywhere for a tournament. Kenner had one, JPRD east, JPRD west, Carrollton, St Bernard, that group in St Charles, etc. Now, "travel" ball is an alternative to rec ball. That, to me, is a shame.
This is the way it was when I played back in the 1980's for JPRD West. Wish it was like that now.
There is an alternative in Baton Rouge though. I have helped coach my son's team for the last couple of years after one year of travel baseball which proved to be too much. As we moved up to 13-14 year old age division there were not enough teams to play in the American legion league that we have been playing in for the last few years. This year we are playing in the D2 Baseball league which is run by David Delucci. He played for Catholic High, Ole Miss, and 13 years in MLB. This league is much more competitive than what we were seeing in American Legion as it is made up of travel teams that use this league to play games during the week and to also cut down on weekend tournaments. The cost is a $700 league fee to cover fields, insurance, etc. You supply 2 balls per game plus pay a $40 umpire fee for each game. Total cost for my team was about $2500 so that would only be about $210 per player with 12 players. I got my company to sponsor us so my cost per player was only $70 and that included uniforms. There are 16 games this season with a Jamboree tournament this weekend and a final tournament at the end of the year to determine the champion.
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