advice please

perhaps no better place I know of to ask this question:

My son has played travel ball for 4 years... the team was solid and everyone got along but as the kids have gotten to middle school and the sap started to rise we lost a few to skateboarding other sports etc. Anyway, the team is no more. The coach was great; he appreciated the skill set my son brought to the game and he and I had great communication. In other words we were totally spoiled as far as travel ball is concerned. I know from my girls playing FP travel ball that finding such a siutation is rare. We went and filled in one weekend for another team and of course it was a dissapointment... almost across the board.

My son is fortunate in that he will be playing HS ball for a very well connected (college wise) coach who runs an extremely professional program. He is also the local legion coach. Not only do I have this going for me but he already knows my son, respects his level of development and we have an excellent rapport. I also have connections with a couple of pro scouts locally.

My question is: Do I even have to play travel ball in the interim before HS when I have all this going for me? On the girls side I know I do but I am thinking I might not have to on the baseball side. My son's primary position is catcher. Thanks.

 

IMHO, as long as your son is not being abused (ie... throwing too much as a pitcher), I think it is good to play as much as possible. On the flip side, I believe that kids need down time too.

 

What year is he in school?

 

he is in the 6th grade. We have a competative Babe Ruth program locally.

 

Let him play with his friends and enjoy your local Babe Ruth league until he hits 8th grade. It would probably be beneficial to get in the travel ball game at that point leading up to his 9th grade year.

 

accordingly

I know a kid very well in our community & several of his buddies, that are in 5th grade & have been playing hardcore weekend travel ball for at least 2 yr's. But I am of the opinion that this is not necessary in order to excell later in the sport.

 

beware

of burnout......

 

I agree with some of the others that burn out can be an issue with the long term players. The important issue in my opinion is the quality of coaching early in a players developement, say up to age 13. If he's getting quality coaching and developing a good skill set, then I'd stick with the rec program till age 13-14. At that time seek out a travel program that will offer a high level of competition and competent coaching. Travel ball doesn't necessarily quarantee either. There are some pretty poor AAU - USSSA teams out there. And the level of coaching can vary significantly.

 

I think

I think that most pre-teens that are going the travel ball route are looking a higher level of competition than many rec ball leagues offer.

 

EastOfRaleigh

I understand and it certainly varies from one individual to another as to whats best. Personally in my son's situation it worked out best with him not playing any travel ball until he reached 14. It amazed me how many of the kids his age group in our area that started playing travel ball early never played beyond HS and some didn't even choose to play at that level.

Every kid is different and I would just caution a parent to make sure it is the kid that wants to play and travel and not just the parent wanting the child to do that.

An interesting question I pose is, does playing at higher levels of competition at a young age, say 6-9 guarantee the player will be better at age 18 than those athletes that start playing at a later age, say 13-14???