Opportunity to play baseball in Italy this summer!

Travel to Italy with Coach Knight this summer!

I am taking a high school level baseball team to Italy this summer and I need some players!

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I will be working in conjunction with America's Team and ACIS travel and taking a team to Italy at the end of July. The trip is pricey (as you would expect for a trip overseas) but includes nearly everything. I have been in Europe twice before and have played baseball overseas...and I can tell you that it would be the trip of a lifetime. I teach World History, but we will also have a guide from Italy with us 24/7 and we will visit the most incredible landmarks in Italy (Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, etc.).

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This trip is NOT purely for all-state or D1 caliber players. The level of play depends on region but will be comparable to high school, so you don’t need to be a superstar to make the trip…..just a solid high school player. Most importantly, we want quality kids that love the game, carry themselves with class and who will appreciate this wonderful opportunity while being an ambassador of the United States. Parents and families are welcome to make the trip as well.

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If you are an interested player, a parent of a player or a head coach of a school or summer team and have some players that might want to go with me, I need the following information:


Name (1st & last)
Address
Email Address
Parent name(s)
Positions the individual is capable of playing (listed in order with best position 1st)
Year in school and high school you currently attend
Coach I can call/email for a recommendation (with some form of contact information)

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We will take between 12-14 players, so it is 1st come, 1st serve. Once I have an opportunity to call or email your contact person and they vouch for you being the kind of person we want on a trip like this, I will send the information to Brigham Joy. Brigham is the founder and director of America’s Team, and he will send you an official invitation and provide you with all the details so that you can decide if this trip is right for you.

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Just so you know, I recently retired after 13 years as a varsity head coach. I played collegiate baseball and 3 years in the professional ranks, as well as having had the opportunity to play for a Team USA in Holland in 1998. This is a legit chance for a young man to travel to Italy and play baseball while seeing sights that most people are not fortunate enough to experience in their lifetime. They will also be getting quality coaching and contacts that will undoubtedly help them if they aspire to play at the collegiate level.

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If you have questions about me (Coach Knight) or the trip, feel free to contact me at [email protected]. I hope some of you will take this wonderful opportunity to play baseball overseas!

Sincerely, Jim Knight​

 

Wow! This is the single greatest thing I have ever read on TBR!! Those that have the opportunity to make this trip will be some of the luckiest baseball players around as the Coach has put together a complete experience...baseball is your ticket, but individual player's lives will be touched in profound ways (even if not immediately known to them)

The Coach has figured out a way to use his love for baseball in a very creative way!

 

Coach Knight...you the man

What a wonderful opportunity!! But before I let my son know about this can you post a ballpark expected total cost for the entire experience?
You know, if you do, you may save yourself a lot of calls from parents who cannot afford.

Thanks,

 

Plenty of time to let the player raise the money (or a portion) themselves...that would be a good lesson and make the trip even more valuable. We don't have to serve everything up to them. I know a high school baseball player who built and sold over 400 bluebird houses to raise money....it can be done, but requires devotion to the task.

 

Thanks all. Should be an incredible experience for anyone able to go.

Trip will cost approximately $4500. I know that is really high, but it includes:

-Round trip flight
-2 meals per day
-after-game socials with foreign teams
-2 uniforms
-travel insurance
-transfers
-bus & train passes
-admission to all venues
-room in 3 & 4 star hotels

***there is more.....that is just what I have off the top of my head.

Flight alone is $1000 and dollar isn't what it used to be in Europe so the cost is higher.

We have some excellent fundraising things that players can do to help alleviate the cost.

Hope some local kids can make the trip! Contact me at [email protected] for more information.

 

I've been thinking about this for a couple of days. Here is what I've been thinking:

- Gather your players despite the cost. Let's not let that be the determining factor.

- List all of the players participating with some background information (school, position, experience, etc,)

Once the names are posted in its own thread we'll place it as a sticky and will find creative ways to raise the money...or have Tripp Roake-Jeff Shaeffer-Don Hutchins and Stretchy pay for the whole thing

Seriously, we can do some constructive things on here to create some excitement to raise the money...we're only talking about $50 grand. Shoot....Baylee and Dawgwoods keep that money around for change.

 

Awesome. Wish Mrs. JM15 and myself could tag along. I'd love to head over there with you and the team. However, in reality, I know it won't be possible but I would love to do anything I could to help raise money for this team. Probably won't be able to pitch in money unless I hit that megamillion tomorrow night but I would do everything possible to spread the word.

Good luck Coach

 

Braves- Love this idea!

This is an incredible opportunity.....and in talking with the company last night, it's something they'd like me to do every year if I can! It would be a really cool thing for kids to look forward to and I'd take a trip to a different location every time....so kids could save up for a year if needed.

Definitely didn't want this trip to be just for kids with money....and something like this would really help. I'd be happy to help work a fundraiser to help these kids. Not sure what we'd do --- maybe a day camp (baseball)? Golf tourney? Not sure - let me know.

I will start a new thread today with the names and some basic information of the people I've heard from so far. Anyone interested, send me an email at [email protected] and I'll forward it to the head guy to send the official invite and more detailed information.

Also, I will be creating a website (already started but it's pretty primitive at this point) at www.coachknightbaseball.com. I will be putting information about the trip and the players on it once we get further along. Also, I was thinking that any corporate or individuals sponsors could put ads on this site (which I pay for myself) and that would be a way to give them some recognition for their assistance.

I have called the Independent Tribune and the Charlotte Observer about doing articles about the trip - thought that might be ONE MORE WAY to get word out and name drop a bit for people willing to help these kids!

Thanks to all of you for the support on this. I want to make this trip amazing for these young men AND hopefully do it the right way so it could be an annual thing.

Let me know of any names....and let's find a way to help these kids get to Europe! Coach Knight

 

fundraiser

AutoBell sells their full service car wash tickets for 1/2 price to those needing to raise funds and the players can them sell them for full price ($11.95) and keep $6 per ticket sold...they sell very well as folks are just paying for something they were likely to pay for anyway if they are AutoBell customers.

I think the experience will be over the top fantastic for the fortunate players who get to participate, but I think it will be an even richer experience if they have to make some effort to fund their trip. I spent my winters in the early 70's trapping and I sold my fur pelts to fund my attendance for three years at a one week basketball camp each summer in Virginia (we had John Wooden, Bill Russell, Gail Goodrich, Wes Unseld, Charlie Scott and others as camp guest instructors, so it was a good one at the time). Even then and certainly now, I valued that experience more because of the work and commitment I made to get there. My parents didn't just write the check (couldn't really) and if it was going to happen, I had to make it happen....and I did.

Don't get me wrong, if this all comes together as I believe it will...it will be great and those like the Coach who are putting their energy into are doing absolutely great things...I just think there is a role in the process for the lucky participants to put the game console down and contribute to the money-raising efforts, too.

 

Low & Slow-
Thanks. Didn't know that about AutoBell - cool idea. Appreciate the support....and I agree 100%. Investing in the trip will make a kid appreciate the experience that much more. Coach Knight