At what age

I agree wholeheartedly. My son started travel ball age 13, and now plays in college at a D2 school. So you don't have to start early....In fact of the 9 or 10 kids in our Rec league that played travel ball only 3 including my son went on the play College ball, the others chose not to for 1 reason or another.

One of the most valuable parts of travel ball for my family was the bonding time. Some people put down the fact that you spend hours traveling to and from tournaments - In my eyes that was some of the best time spent with my son. We got to share successes, discuss the shortcomings and I got to just talk with him for hours. Now he's in another stage of his life where he has to make more decisions on his own, I hope that our talks help him make wise ones.

Good luck with your son, and make sure you both enjoy it.

 

About that "playing catch" thing.

The whole darn game is just a game of catch. Dag Namit!! Cain't ya get it.

It really is that simple. If Im wrong and my wife agrees that I was wrong at least once then why do all ball players before a game play a game of what?

Yup thats right! A game of catch.

When some of you where there, at various levels, played those pre-game games of catch, did some of you think about who played catch with you at an early age?

The point is I agree that if there is a good program out there and it works out for the very youngest then go for it.

 

I think that there are just a lot of 8's that start there. Mine started at that age. As far as skills at that age. Learning the basics catch and trap the ball with the free hand, grounders and fly balls. Streching and warming up. Hiting off a tee. Those things are are tools they will use the whole time they play. Learning these habits early is a jump start on the future.

 

Little TJ Loves Baseball

Did you teach "Little Braves" to hang around the concession instead?

 

Well, he is certainly a concession "pro", but this reminds me of a story when he was 4-5 yo. I was at some tournament with On Deck talking to Steve Buchanan, father of UNC-A pitcher Ben Buchanan. Now, most times when your kid wants something they will say, "Daddy, can I have some money for some candy" and they try to put their hands in your pocket reaching for change. ...not my son. He comes over interrupting my conversation with Steve, digging through my pockets. I found some money and handed it to him. He said, " No...I want your credit card"...............I looked over at Steve and I didn't see him--- He was on the ground rolling with laughter.

Kids, ya gotta love 'em!

 

Well, I guess i know when it started