At what age

should you start travel ball? How much is to much for a 7 year old who loves sports, especially baseball? What drills or drill websites are best for this age. He throws, catches, and hits well for his age. I know keeping it fun is the most important thing for this age child. They're many 8-u travel teams but not that many 7-u. Is 8 years old the magic age or should you wait until the child is a little older.

 

To be honest, I didn't start my son playing organized baseball until he is 10. He will not participate playing TB until he is at least 13. The early years should be spent solely on working on fundamentals and keeping the game fun.

 

I'm with Braves.....let them enjoy the game and their friends. It will get intense before you know it.

The biggest question I have at the ages of 7 and 8 years old is how competitive can you be anyway???? I am a supporter of Travel Ball but I have never understood getting started this early.....

 

Admittedly, our decision was made easier by the fact that our rec league offered quality coaching in addition to the oportunity for our son to play there until he moved up to the larger field ("Rec League Age" 13). Because the combination was present, we politely declined any opportunities that came his way until that time. As a result, he had a ball with his buddies and was able to begin to develop some good fundamentals, simultaneously.

When he was 13, he joined a 14-U travel team. For the first 18 months or so, he tried to play travel, rec league, and middle school (Boy, was THAT ever fun to try to keep up with!); but, rec league fell by the wayside pretty quickly. I'd venture a guesstimate that after the age of 15, travel ball and related off season development made up 80% of his baseball experience; with high school ball making up the balance.

To this day, I join Braves and Dbacks20 in believing that keeping it social and local until he moved up to the larger field promoted what I'm confident at this point will be a lifelong love of the game.

 

Plenty of time to experience the intensity of travel ball. My son started at 11 and full time at 12. That worked well for both my boys. It's different for everyone. Good luck.

 

our experience...

Unlike Prepsters, our local league was weak and was going in the wrong direction for my son. At 9/10 he was very competitive and the last year he played (at 9) his team had a couple of forfeits due to parents not getting kids to the games... it wasn't the kids fault, not many of them can drive themselves at that age!
He was so frustrated that he was almost ready to give up baseball! Then he was asked to tryout for the South Wake Storm. He had played against some of the SWS boys in all stars and they remembered him. He made the team as the starting short stop and we never looked back. He thrived in the competitive atmosphere of AAU ball.
Today, you have more options for your son. If, like in Prepsters case, you have a solid rec league or if your league offers a select team option then your boy can do fine there until he's 12 or so. Once they reach 13-14 you can tell how serious they are and also have an idea of their talent level. At that point, seek out the best competitive level for your son. It will make a difference when he reaches high school

 

I'm courious....I think we agree at the early ages especially as young as 7 and 8 year olds the players should really be focused on fundamentals and mechanics.....

My question is....since I have not been around this age group for a while (no smart comments Braves)...does Travel Ball at this age promote learning how to play the game or is it a bunch of dads coaching trying to win trophies for "Little Johnny"?

I'm not trying to "stir the pot" or "open a can of worms" here but I just don't get Travel Ball for this young age group unless you have "solid coaching" that really want to teach these kids how to play the game....just my opinion.

 

I'm hurt .....you're age never entered my mind, except to remind you that kids of today actually have gloves with more than 3 fingers

 

Total Dedication Required

According to one of my former players Andrew Webb, this is how intense it will get when playing travel ball:

1) Give up most if not all of your summer/fall weekends
2) Give up time with your girlfriend or school friends
3) Give up time on other interests like hunting and college football
4) Makes school homework time difficult
5) Give up Church time
6) Costs the family alot of money

"So the next time you go to a baseball game, don't just see someone merely catching, throwing and running; instead see a dedicated, passionate, and hardworking group of players that were willing to give what it takes to be a baseball player."

 

That's a good one......