Travel Ball, Showcase Survey

A lot of us are watching our sons age out of High School Baseball. A lucky few had a chance to experience the recruiting process and will continue play at the next level. This class is on the front side of the travel ball and showcase explosion. Question is how was the experience and would you do it the same way if you had the chance?

Survey:
How many years travel:
Cost estimate less hotels, food:
How many years showcase:
Cost estimate less hotels, food:
Why Showcase:
Where and when did you see scouts:
Did you see scouts at your HS games:
Who helped the most with recruiting, HS or Showcase:
College Baseball Scholarship offer (y/n):
College Academic Scholarship offer (y/n):
Last:
Would you do it again:

Answer as many as you feel comfortable with. This may help the younger groups coming up, let them know what to expect.

 

I think that everyone's opinion on this topic is a personal one for themselves and my personal opinion is that if I had to pay $2,500 - $4,000 / year (Not including travel expenses) it wouldn't be worth it. 3 or 4 years of that goes a long way towards paying for your child's college. If my son wasn't asked to play for the SCP (South Charlotte Panthers) he probably wouldn't be playing showcase ball. That's not to say that playing for On-Deck, CBC or any team like that doesn't have merit, it just means that I don't think paying that kind of money is of any real value. My thoughts are that if your good enough, they'll find you. Your High school team and Legion ball is an excellent way of showcasing your skills, and again, if your good enough they'll find you. I don't think that people really understand what a baseball scholarship (For most kids) actually pay's for - Next to nothing. I'm not knocking showcase ball or the parents who put their kids in their respective program, just for me, the money would be better spent elsewhere. Good luck in your decision.

 

Survey:
How many years travel: 3 (ages 13, 14, 15) Local LL until the age of 13
Cost estimate less hotels, food: $900 per year (baseball expenses)
How many years showcase: 3 (ages 16, 17, 18)
Cost estimate less hotels, food: $0 (baseball expenses)
Why Showcase: SCP had way too many positives to list
Where and when did you see scouts: Most very showcase game. But what put my son on their radar was the Skills Camp at CBC in January and State Games. The Showcases gave the recruiters a way to see him multiple times.
Did you see scouts at your HS games: Some (10 or so in 3 years)
Who helped the most with recruiting, HS or Showcase: Showcase - Don Hutchins, Danny Hignight, SCP
College Baseball Scholarship offer (y/n): Y, several
College Academic Scholarship offer (y/n): N
Last:
Would you do it again: Absolutely. We did not think we were trying to get my son a scholarship. It was what our family did as a hobby, vacation, for FUN! Memories, pictures, video, just as some families spend time on a cruise or at a resort; we spent our time at a baseball field and having an opportunity to go on to the next level was only icing on the cake. My son had good mentors, hung around good baseball players / families, plus it kept him away from temptations and out of trouble. That was worth far more than I ever paid.

Good Luck to those who are starting the process, I wish you all possible success!

 

There it is. That's the answer

 

My kid is a few years away, but from what I have heard and witnessed, I agree 100%. It sure isnt a one size fits all, for sure!

 

We started travel ball with AAU and USSSA at the age of nine until the age of thirteen. We started showcase at 14 and is still playing showcase. We started showcase because i wanted my son to play with and against the best competetion. The cost of both has varied but most has to do with gas, food and hotel expenses. We started noticing scouts at the showcase games. Depending on the type of tournament you were entered depended on the number and type of scouts. We have notice some scouts at the high school games. Showcase was the most influential as far as recruiting was concerned. We have been fortuanate to be offered a baseball scholarship. If i had to do it again i would do the exact thing. the friends that we have made, the players that he met and plays with and against are now friends. The competetion from his teams and the teams that he has played against with out a doubt has helped him become the player that he is at this point in his life. The coaches that he played with, Dirtbags and SC Panthers are all top notch and taught him so much. There are negatives and positives in showcase, you just have to find what is the right path for you and your family.

 

My son played travel ball for two years.Played a game at a division 2 school one weekend.Coach liked his hustle.We asked for a tryout.My son went in as a academic walk on.Has played every game his first three years.Travel ball made the difference.One year left.We have had a blast.

 

If you can play, they will find you. End of story as far as I'm concerned with the whole showcase debate.

 

Survey:
How many years travel: Since the age of 13
Cost estimate less hotels, food: (2 seasons a yr.) $10,000
How many years showcase: (1)was NOT worth it
Cost estimate less hotels, food: $1500
Why Showcase: The coach send there would be scouts
Where and when did you see scouts: When we went to the individual Showcase's without a team
Did you see scouts at your HS games: 1 HS away game
Who helped the most with recruiting, HS or Showcase: Ourselves and the individual showcases
College Baseball Scholarship offer (y/n): Yes
College Academic Scholarship offer (y/n):
Last:
Would you do it again: We would to a point, we would put our showcase time into the individual showcase's and start earlier. That was worth the price. 1 showcase all 12 coaches contacted and made some sorta offer to our son. (TPX $199) In this day of Baseball recruiting You MUST go to them DO NOT wait for them to find you cause depending on your situation or lack of exposure (small schools, bad coaches, etc...) they may not find you even if you might be the next Pedro or Bonds. Its UP TO YOU...
We as a family had more FUN going to those kinda showcases cause it was about him and his talent not a team. The team is not going to a college its your son/daughter.

 

How many years travel:6 years (age 9-14)
Cost estimate less hotels, food: $5,000 more or less
How many years showcase: 3 years (15-17) (team showcase ball) Also has played senior Legion for the past two years--FREE
Cost estimate less hotels, food: $5,000 for team ball and probably another 2,000 for showcase camps (he didn't attend a lot of them)
Why Showcase: Thought it would provide better exposure and would play better competition
Where and when did you see scouts: A few at team showcases, some at Legion Playoff games, mostly at individual showcase camps
Did you see scouts at your HS games: Never...not a baseball school!
Who helped the most with recruiting, HS or Showcase: Actually, Legion and individual camps
College Baseball Scholarship offer (y/n): Yes
College Academic Scholarship offer (y/n):Yes
Would you do it again: Absolutely...wouldn't miss a minute of it!