travel ball killing little league

Little League also hopes that parents understand the costs often associated with Travel Ball may be prohibitive. Once-proud public institutions are being privatized, with many unintended consequences. It was something that we passed on to them. Little league teams have pulled out of the North Carolina state championship tournament after gunshots erupted during a weekend game, their organizers said Monday in social media posts. We pick and choose how much we want to play, spend, etc and have been very successful in several states. Most professional golfers look the same. Learn from others short comings and honor God with your precious time on the field. Whos forcing their kid to play??!! Now, the league has grown a bit but has 190 kids playing travel ball, with multiple teams at 12u, 14u, 16u, and 18u. He has a decent arm but has never pitched in travel. When we read books about how it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert on anything, it may wrongly motivate us to try to create little experts out of our kids by the time they graduate from high school. However, I am concerned about the amount of time spent in preparation, travel, and practice that can rob a family of what is truly important from a Scriptural perspective. With baseball programs now a rarity in middle schools, travel baseball and Little League are the best option for kids enthusiastic about baseball. It was excellent, by the way. But this, which I encourage you to read in its entirety, is a very damning piece about the state of baseball in America. And for the good of rec ball leagues everywhere, for the good of your family, and for the good of your kids, I would urge you to avoid travel ball until the kid is old enough to commit to a more demanding regimen. Steven_Ellis February 21, 2015, 12:46pm #1. (Little League, 1) Paperback - September 24, 2013 by Matt Christopher (Author) 290 ratings Book 2 of 5: Little League See all formats and editions Kindle $6.99 Read with Our Free App Audiobook $0.00 Free with your Audible trial Hardcover $7.24 37 Used from $1.28 10 New from $7.24 Paperback $7.99 66 Used from $1.29 20 New from $6.75 Audio CD Our youth baseball program is custom-built to meet all the insurance needs of teams and leagues in one easy-to-use, affordable plan. Thanks for posting this. Ive heard of travel ball teams that play 60 games in a summerfor kids under 10!and then they practice at least once a week through the winter. Baseball should be a fun game for him not a demanding job. However, they are much more severe. All Rights Reserved. Help your kids find the joy of learning in areas other than sports. Every year, various baseball organizations, including USSA, AAU, or Perfect Game, organize hundreds of these tournaments across the whole country. Kids need to see that Jesus and his church are more important to their parents even than baseball. He politely said there wouldnt be. And I hope all who read my question realize that there is no 1 correct answer for everyone. My older brother played sports from t-ball to college, probably would have went pro if he hadnt hurt his shoulder (yes, he was THAT good, Im not just saying it, he had an unhittab,e curve ball), but the decision was made when he first started that God and His church would always come first, and he would not play if there was a conflict between his first priority and the game. My Kids Dont Play Sports Bottom line: give your kids a childhood theyll want to replicate with their own children not one theyll react against. On the other hand, if the goal is for the kid to have some fun while learning the fundamentals of baseball, Little League is the way to go. Dont sacrifice your sons childhood on the altar of the hope that hes the next Derek Jeter. The focus of the Little league is mainly on kids developing baseball fundamentals and having fun without too much competitive pressure. It also has a successful 18u rec program. Christian Smiths Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers I have a feeling you may not describe yourself as so Dr. Hamilton (humble?) Your email address will not be published. foster a love for the game. When comparing travel baseball vs Little League, each of the two has its own advantages and drawbacks. Who knows; organizationally they still seem to be doing pretty well overseas and a U.S. team won three of the last four Little League World Series featuring international teams. What Is Travel Baseball? As a volunteer basketball coach for 18+ years, Ive seen girls spiritually suffer by the same well-intentioned convictions of their parents. So, teaching them the core baseball concepts is more important than competing. I just watched a program not too long ago on the rise of Tommy johns surgeries. Not one. It seems to me that time comes in the mid to late teens, but thats going to be a judgment call . I know you were saying that theres no one answer for everyone. to return baseball to urban fields. Its become a white elitist sport, Mr. Greene told me. Odysseus. Scratch. Just like my folks did. Listen to baseball experts'. This is decided by the player's ability from the previous year of play and/or how they look in tryouts. Bud Norris, who pitches for the Houston Astros, played in Novato North LL, from Tee Ball through seniors. Josh McDowells The Last Christian Generation Rec ball is where they develop and Motivations: Just because you liked something as a kid, or were good at it, it doesnt mean your child will or should be. In 2002, Havenwood Little League merged with Riviera Beach Little League and two other local baseball programs in Pasadena and became the Pasadena Baseball Club. Were enjoying the homeschool league to which we belong right now, but also realize that our daughters team is not a highly competitive team, but the JV/Varsity teams are a bit more competitive. A lot of well rounded and good mannered young men who enjoy competition and sportsmanship. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. . My son tried out. Fifth, a child can play travel ball while a family is still committed to church. Its apparent that wegenerally speakingspend more time encouraging our children to pursue athletic excellence than we do in developing a Biblical Worldview in them. Once-proud public institutions are being privatized, with many unintended consequences. I think "specialization" is killing certain sports in local markets, it depends. Just like you, he burned out after two years and transferred so he could pursue his other passions and, more importantly, gain much-needed work experience which benefited him tremendously when he graduated from college and was looking for a job. Just last year, I finished your work Gods Glory in Salvation through Judgment. Generally speaking, these parents dont do the Sunday sports to evangelize. Is travel baseball killing Little League in America? I know families whove mortgaged their homes so their kids can play baseball, he said. As a long-term pastor Ive watched parents who were convinced their sons would benefit by travel ball deeply regret their decisions a decade later. The higher level of competition drives young players to work harder on their game. Overall, the risks are pretty much the same as regular baseball. Despite the beautiful fields the travel ball team played on, the grass wasnt greener. I've seen and heard stories about parents who spend thousands of dollars to get their kids on the best travel ball squad in their areas. Continue with Recommended Cookies. A fun, family-friendly, reasonably affordable activity you can do with the kids? While rec ball was enjoyable, the ever changing pool of players, coaches and parents made for inconsistent experiences for my daughter, some good and some bad. If his 10-year-old son did not make the team at the $2,500-per-season private baseball club where I coached, the boy would lose friends and the familys routines would be upended, he argued. I remember back when we played Dizzy Dean and Babe Ruth baseball. Thats why Im writing this post. and our I had worked with him quite a lot prior to that. I wrote about this for Camden Chat in 2016: Orioles baseball will not be the most important thing that we teach our daughter about. Well-roundedness: Despite the cultural drive for pursuing one sport, well-roundedness as a child makes for happy, well-adjusted adults. And I want to provide the best competitive opportunities I can for my own kids. I hope my article could help to answer your questions. For others, it can wreak havoc. Today, participation is seen by many as a near necessity for talented players to develop their skills and hone their game against the best competition they can find. We have the pressure of middle school tryouts being in 2 years, and we wanted to make sure that he did well at those tryouts. It is simply not necessary for the younger kids. It is evangelism that is not solely dependent upon our efforts, but on the power of the Word being preached, loved, and then given to others. God makes it pretty clear when Paul says, Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus We represent Him, so we will want to do our best and want our kids to understand why. I am very thankful we found an amazing travel ball coach at age six. You are spot on with all your assertions, and I wish Id been able to absorb something like this when my oldest two were starting out. Thankfully, we have a great group of players, coaches, and families. I also when I was kid play at lyndon and never traveled and loved it and still played college baseball myself for 4 yrs. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. This question reveals how far our cultural worldview has intermixed with a Christian one. I love helping people get a better understanding of the game. The guy running the program told me he was going to have a 7/8-year-old team. -ta. By living our life for Christ the other 6 days. There doesnt have to be a life lesson constantly pointed out. Give MVP, Player of the game, most improved player of the game.. Besides the usual costs of buying bats, uniforms, cleats, and other equipment, there are team fees and the costs of fuel, accommodation, and dining. It should be noted that the local Little League programs pay a one-time entry fee for each team to enter Tournament Play ($200), which goes into a restricted fund used exclusively for offsetting local Little League programs expenses accrued during International Tournament play, including the World Series in each division of play. I would also ask to establish contact with you for a best practices sharing of information and spreading of the works you are enjoying. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. #momof3boys. What guides me is Paul in 1Cor9:22-23 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. That was it! He was athletic and had the potential to play college baseball, so we finally enrolled him in travel ball after his freshman year in high school. It is a trend mirrored by our schools, hospitals and military. It is the most pernicious aspect of youth league sports. Nonetheless it's something that I hope that I can enjoy with her (and any future kids, too) for the rest of our lives, much as I still enjoy talking and watching baseball with my parents to this day. Certainly, both travel baseball and Little League proponents have some valid arguments and Ill try to dig a little deeper and explore the advantages and drawbacks of both systems. My boss lets me take off whenever I want for travel ball. Mr. Greene, who is currently a minor league coordinator and coach for the Milwaukee Brewers, said what troubles him is not pushy parents, showboating players or bullying coaches. After my first year of it in college, I found that what had been so fun because I had the opportunity to look forward to it in the off season, or even on days between practice or games, began to feel like a dreaded obligation that consumed a significant portion of every day. It is this simple fact: Baseball is no longer a game that is for everybody. re: Travel Ball/ Little League Coaches leaving work Posted on 8/20/22 at 6:32 pm to philly444. Jan 25, 8:31am. There are rules and considerations for exceptions and of course fall ball has its own set of rules as there is no rec ball at that time. I have been wanting to put my son on a travel team. In fact, Little League International pays all the expenses of the dozens of teams that reach the World Series level in Little League Baseball and Softball, including travel, meals, and lodging. What I got was disaster. Yes, Major League Baseball has its RBI Program to return baseball to urban fields. I don't have to tell you that millions of Americans just simply can't afford that. Scotland (Scots: Scotland, Scottish Gaelic: Alba [alap] ()) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Im not saying that travel ball is a sin, but it seems to be something that Satan can use to tempt people away (especially dads). Im coming at this topic from a multi-dimensional approach. but could it be said that youre in the big leagues of your profession? Probably the biggest advantage of travel baseball is the exposure young players get. I have also read some of your other works and have learned much from them and enjoyed reading them. Train your coaches and prepare them for every level they will be involved. The closest Little League organization to Pasadena now is in Davidsonville, 23 miles away. He did see some development as a player, but nothing major. The Broadneck, Brooklyn Park, Glen Burnie, Harundale, Havenwood, Lake Shore, and Marley Little Leagues are all no longer associated with Little League. He told us last week that he is glad that we have taught him to focus on his eternal future. Do the social aspects improve their values and stimulate great discussions at home, or lead them away from family?). Travel Baseball vs Little League Which One is Better? My son is 11u, and this fall was his first (and possibly final) season of travel ball. However, travel baseball is very time-consuming and not easy on the budget. I appreciate the article. Small towns breed professional athletes, and the reason seems to be that kids in small towns arent over-coached, over-organized, and over-specialized by the travel ball opportunities found in larger cities. For one thing, their bodies just arent developed enough to handle the strain. (Answered! Little League baseball is a program organized by a non-profit organization based in Pennsylvania and it features local youth baseball competitions all over the world. Truthfully, we have gotten better instruction and development at a Rec ball/All Star level. See caveats in opening and closing paragraphs. They will actually improve more at each sport because a variety of new skills enhances old ones in ways that cant be quantified. Tha KS alot for all your insight!!! It did to me. Our children assume that Sunday morning is time to worship with our church. General Pitching Topics. No player evaluations are required for the Fall season. LittleBallparks.comis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sitesto earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Dont get me wrong: I love competition. Thats fine for an 18 year old on the cusp of adulthood, but theres no reason to put a 714 year old through that kind of rigor. Jan 25, 9:37am. The Little League League Finder tool quickly and easily identifies whether a residence or school address is located within the boundaries of an active Little League program. Rec ball and travel ball can coexist, BUT, it has to be done with the kids as the foremost priority. Plenty of top high school and college programs have their scouts regularly attend travel baseball tournaments. Because COVID, This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. coming down the pike. Thanks for sharing them. However, the main reason weve stuck with travel is the consistency that it offers. But they have more similarities than you think there are. D.A.s or District staff are encouraged to work with the leagues in their district to provide combined district travel teams, establish player pools, and find ways for all players interested to have an opportunity to . Rec ball in many places is competitive. Have fun with sports, and use it to build character, not dream-castles in the skies. I dont even want to think about how much parents pay for their 714 year old kids to travel to tournaments, to stay in hotels, to pay the tournament entry fees, and whatever else all this costs. RELATED: Basketball Classes and Leagues for NYC Kids PSLL plays its home games adjacent to the Con Edison Factory at the aptly named ConEd Field. Its about the fact that fewer and fewer kids are playing baseball every year. If I show my kids church is optional but reach the other parents, Ive failed. Since tournaments and games are. In the US, the program involves kids ages 4-16 and is organized into the following divisions: For a lot of kids, Little League is the first time they meet with the organized baseball. While it has completely permeated and overtaken little league baseball, it exists in every sport, football included. Listen to truthful, accurate feedback from coaches. We have had a sub par experience, and I have that guilt every Sunday that we are at a tournament instead of honoring God in His house. (No wonder God calls us to pray without ceasing!). The only kind of baseball scholarship D1 programs offer is a partial one. Messages conveyed: We parents need to pray daily about what messages we are sending our children by the sports or other activities we have them in. Listen to article. When I was playing at Arkansas, none of my teammates had a full ride from the baseball program. What are they learning? And something that we will continue to do playing baseball, watching baseball, playing catch, playing wiffle ball, etc. She excelled once she wasnt under my leadership and under the leadership of a professional. Hey, for years sports programs operated quite successfully without Sunday morning scheduling. If your kid is good and loves to play, you wont be able to keep them from it. Developing skills in (or at least having exposure to) music, art, great books, drama, theology, politics, or science-and-math-related activities makes us better, more empathetic, engaged human beings and citizens, and better leaders. I spent my 20s laying the foundation for what Im doing with the rest of my life, not bouncing around in the minor leagues. But if missing church on a Sunday for travel ball is condemning, then missing church for family vacations, work, sickness or any other reason is the same. We played Upward for quite some time and my wife was amazed at how many parents going to the practices are unchurched. I know because I was her coach for years. And you should. Enjoyment: Help your children enjoy a sport for the simple joy of the sport. Which we gladly did because we got to see our daughter develop into a top notch softball player, which would not have happened here. Editor's note: This is the first story in a four-part series examining the pros and cons of youths playing extensive travel baseball versus Little League, or a combination of the two. This is great information, but unfortunately rec ballaka little leagueis a political nightmare where I am from and for many others. We decided to engage in travel ball because the coaching was better. They also have T-ball divisions. For decades, NASCAR was a working class, southern sport. After a few weeks of intense practices, it was clear my son would not see much playing time. Little League wants parents to understand the potential dangers of allowing a child to participate in programs in which limited rules and regulations may exist while recognizing our programs rules that are designed to protect players from injury, such as Pitch Counts and equipment rules. Confused! For every 10 players that are forced to play at the highest level for their age, 6-8 will quit by the time they get into high school. Let kids be kids. I am offering these thoughts for parents who are considering whether to put their kids on a competitive team, or a travel-ball team, or a tournament team, or whatever it may be called in your sport and locale. I have a neighbor who constantly pesters me about our childrens sports involvement level-rec. Identity: Think about how your child views his or her identity. Nope, the good, serious players in most sports do both in high school. Be a parent. But a story did cross my timeline about something near and dear to my heart: baseball. My son (now aged 26) was approached from age 10 on to play travel ball, but we declined year after year because it would pull us away from church plus cost us a small fortune. It can be beneficial for high school aged and sometimes junior high kids, but the little ones, ages six to twelve, it's the worst thing you can do for them. Your email address will not be published. Excellence: Pursuing excellence is important, but be sure you know and your child knows what you mean by that. Is travel baseball killing Little League in America? The costs of travel baseball often put a serious strain on the family budget. We are leaning strongly to go back to his Rec ball league that we enjoyed in the spring. Many of the assertions in this article are quite true. And yes, they will see how I live and whats important to me the other 6 days a week; for better or worse. But most of them still play, in one way or another. Havent seen any. Two guys who are now playing in MLB came from two of the leagues in the District. Likewise, I appreciate the voices of parents who have been there on both sides. What will travel ball mean for your marriage? Thanks, Roy. Below are just a few stream of consciousness suggestions as readers consider their views on how they encourage their children in sports. I love excellence. Travel is not glamorous but grueling. There are two sides to every situation. He pulls down honor roll at school and is in band. Theres also the matter of synchronizing tournaments with kids school commitments and parents jobs. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Written on their website was High Level Competition For Competitive Kids. Please advertise when you have this league so I can get the 70 or so kids I will bring with me to get in registration line. 6 Differences Between Baseball And Softball, What Is A Quick Pitch In Baseball? 12YO & 11YO players who are trying out for the National League. Our two kids old enough to know what baseball is love the Orioles. Providing evidence of insurance to field owners and tournament organizers can consume a team manager's life and drain the budget without the right insurance program. A dad refusing to help his son become a baseball player because hes not a fielding dad?. Our daughter played travel softball for 9 years. Id bet if you polled the MLB players the vast majority of them would agree. And teams may invite players from anywhere in the region. I chase my boys all over creation and its very taxing in many ways. Its a Jesuit-based publication with a political slant that does not agree with mine. Additionally, every local Little League program in the United States with a team that travels 150 miles or more per one round trip to a section, state, and region level tournament receives a reimbursement from Little League Baseball of $1 per mile for one round trip to each tournament site, to help offset travel expenses. We only have 1 high school senior playing basketball. Great post. Uber competitive athletics is going to end for 99.9 percent of kids/young adults. He is 11, athletic, fast on his feet , 4'9" 75 pounds average size for his age. For us, travel has been amazing. vs. travel. Its better to honor God than to win, and its better for your kid to enjoy the game than for him to play at the highest possible level. That would inevitably awaken the competitive impulse, leading to more practices, more effort expended, and the gradual creep to a higher key. That the glory of the Lord might cover the dry land as the waters cover the sea. As a PastorI certainly appreciate the sentiments expressed in this article. The roster includes 35 players, 27 of whom can receive scholarship money. I wanted to play all the time, until I got to college and had to do so. A job is not a game. Additionally, every local Little League program in the United States with a team that travels 150 miles or more per one round trip to a section, state, and region level tournament receives a reimbursement from Little League Baseball of $1 per mile for one round trip to each tournament site, to help offset travel expenses. What better way exists. Every expert agreed that kids are being played too hard and too long. Wr had to travel 3 ours to find a competitive travel team. Travel baseball may be making people a lot of money but, in the long run, it may be killing the golden goose. I have friends I respect whose kids have played (and some who do play) travel ball, and I mean no offense to them by this post. . The irony is that if you dont value your commitment to church (and Christ) enough to pass on sports to commit to church, you arent likely to step out and preach the gospel at the sports events either. Coaches pitch from a shorter distance than Rookie with a softer exterior ball. For a 9 year old team the average tournament entry fee will be $200-$300 EVERY weekend, not to mention the gate fee of at least $10 per person per day. Maybe families should pray over the decision that best suits each individual child. This means that kids participating in travel tournaments get a chance to play with or against highly skilled and competitive players. My 5 year old has peers that are playing baseball year round already! With American Specialty Express' online . My kid started lessons at five and at almost thirteen, still going strong. A lot of these coaches have other full-time jobs and simply dont have enough time to focus on their team. March 28, 2014 -- A Little League coach and his family said they feared for their safety when their East Meadow, N.Y., neighbor terrorized them for a year with threatening anonymous letters because her son failed to make the summer travel team. Well, this certainly diverged off the main topic of traveling versus rec sports, but I hope it provides a little more to talk about, especially among family members. It has been somewhat successful in some respects in that some of its alumni like Carl Crawford, C.C. Thank you for speaking out and I hope people will take these comments seriously. For millions of American families, paying private for-profit clubseuphemistically termed travel teamsthousands of dollars a year to organize athletic games for their children is now an unquestioned way of life that shapes family routines, work schedules and commutes. Not criticizing anyone not on same path, but if they want it, you wont stop them. I needed a break, and I wanted to be a counselor at a Christian camp that summer (Kanakuk). As of now, we do believe that we are pursing the wisest course. Its not for every child or family, but we have enjoyed allowing our child to play travel ball, at least today. To make matters worse, I learned his old Little League team did incorporate kid pitch mid-way through the season. I pray that God keeps me humble and rightly focused. When I was a kid, I played baseball under the Little League umbrella from age 8 through age 12. Growing up I loved baseball. It is organised by and named after The Football Association (The FA). Im sure that's true for some but once kids get to high school, travel ball. They sound the same. Let them play the game. Ryan E. I think this is a good post and is great advice. While you make some great points, let me provide an alternate perspective, even if I appear at present to be the lone dissenting voice. Batting cage time and sessions with the pitching coach came with additional costs. However, players who do participate in any non-Little League activity, and miss games or practices because of such participation, may be suspended or dismissed from their Little League team by action of the local Little League Board of Directors. "We spent days, months, years . Second, recreation leagues can be just as competitive and demanding as travel ball, but doesnt have the same season length. After college, my husband played pro baseball for a while and I played on a national team. Lets think about two sports; Golf and NASCAR. It's a vicious cycle. They chronicled 850 baseball deaths in Death at the Ballpark, spanning professional, amateur, Little League, and even backyard pickup games. For additional information please contact Tony Carter 615-202-9606. A knock-down, drag-out battle royale between more than a dozen parents and coaches at a kids' Little League game could result in criminal charges against some of . Mid-way through the season, I asked the coach if there would be an opportunity for some kid pitching. Do not tolerate conduct of the weak and uneducated.

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