My son is 11u, and this fall was his first (and possibly final) season of travel ball. Yes, Major League Baseball has its RBI Program to return baseball to urban fields. All of the travel players MUST play rec ball. We also pushed the season back deeper into the summer so to allow high school kids (mostly JV players) to play rec ball as well. The nature of sport is that participants will learn in the course of their play, practice, games or meets, all about discipline, perseverance, punctuality, teamwork, goal-setting, how to handle disagreements, disappointment and failure, as well as success and recognition. I could now study what I wanted to study, and my classes were no longer determined by baseball practice. Travel Baseball vs Little League Which One is Better? 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. With this comes the COOPERSTOWN TICKET. You can argue all you want and say you go to church when you travel, but the first time you skip church because it interferes with game time, you have taught your child that a game is more important than worshipping God. Kids blossom at different ages. And given the number of kids playing and the number of available spots, even a partial baseball scholarship is terribly unlikely. Were seeing some growth in her skills and she loves the game. Do not tolerate conduct of the weak and uneducated. The low-end travel teams can be local teams going to a few tournaments outside the region. No. Think brands like Mercedes-Benz. 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. I stayed with the Little League program because I was told that for my sons 7-year-old season, there would be kid pitching. A jury convicted three men of murder in the 2017 death of a beloved Little League coach who was fatally stabbed over a confiscated driver's license while working security at a downtown bar. I learned I would have to stay in a hotel for out-of-town tournaments. No formula exists, but here are a few ideas to think about: Variety: Encourage your children to play a different sport each season until their upper teens. The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football.First played during the 1871-72 season, it is the oldest national football competition in the world. The three year old is already all in and ready to play. 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. But heavens know there has to be a way to save the sport of baseball. The percentages are outrageous. They need to run and jump and exercise other muscles than the ones required by baseball. I find it filled with some great thoughts based on extreme examples and false assumptions. If youre coaching your 12 year olds travel ball team, what does that mean for the rec league opportunities your 7 year old has? The costs of travel baseball often put a serious strain on the family budget. I submit that even with all the excitement of the game, and the money and fame that come with it, the life of a professional athlete is not one to be envied. My daughter is involved in a local homeschool league. Every year, MCLL designates players in our All-Star Tournament teams to represent MCLL in the Little League Tournaments within various age groups. NASCAR started as bootleggers in the 1940s and 1950s trying to see who had the fastest car. Is Travel Ball killing little league and organized baseball? Is it a help or detriment to their character and bodies? My daughter loves the game more now than ever before. Thanks to all who replied. It always seemed the season ended right about the time we got to know everyone. And thats where the travel baseball jumps in as currently the surest path to the higher level of the game. Too many times parents want what they want, not whats best for their kids. The demographics of NASCAR drivers has changed dramatically. The pitchers pitched far more balls than strikes. As a preachers daughter, I saw many families who were active in church get involved with a travel ball team, and not only stop being active, but eventually drop out of church altogether. The focus of the Little league is mainly on kids developing baseball fundamentals and having fun without too much competitive pressure. I was forced to purchase team-designed cleats and helmet. Which we gladly did because we got to see our daughter develop into a top notch softball player, which would not have happened here. Thank you! Being part of a team, no matter how long its for, isnt permanent, so as nice as it is to identify with activities that we love, we dont want them to define us or our kids. Anthony Lynn, who remembers his Little League days so vividly, told me that he thinks travel ball is cynical. But they have more similarities than you think there are. It was time for him to play real baseball! Travel ball is being on the right team, knowing the right people, and working on your skill set; not that much different from academic pursuits really and more so I suppose. So many kids grow up dreaming, so few put on a big league uniform. Well, there wasnt. Let kids be kids. I remember back when we played Dizzy Dean and Babe Ruth baseball. Christians need to be gathering with the same group of people every week to worship the risen Lord Jesus, to hear his word, and to fellowship with each other. They chronicled 850 baseball deaths in Death at the Ballpark, spanning professional, amateur, Little League, and even backyard pickup games. He is pitching in little league with success this year. 12527 posts. Coaches pitch from a shorter distance than Rookie with a softer exterior ball. little league field, killing 1 . It also has a successful 18u rec program. We all need to be careful that identifying with just one sport and spending most of our time with it can deter a child from gaining skills, interests and appreciation for other activities and knowledge. (Their varsity team is seeded #1 or #2 nationwide and is competitive, though still strives to put Jesus first.) What better way exists. He said he had seen it happen. Our time in sports opened up a world of opportunities, and more importantly taught us much about life, ourselves and God, so we are very pro-sports. I chase my boys all over creation and its very taxing in many ways. It is a trend mirrored by our schools, hospitals and military. I was recently Contemplating to start travel ball from my son recently and for some reason Ive been holding back . Those two sports may not seem very similar. vs. travel. And though the book purports to be comprehensive . He is 11, athletic, fast on his feet , 4'9" 75 pounds average size for his age. Jan 25, 9:28am. I dont believe in definitive s. As a volunteer basketball coach for 18+ years, Ive seen girls spiritually suffer by the same well-intentioned convictions of their parents. I was told pitching machines are good because they pitch a consistent ball, and help with hand-eye coordination. Once he has gone through everyone, he will tell them to 'release' and they will throw the ball to the teammate across from them. And there are eight Urban Youth Academies providing year-round instruction in the game. It was good for us a s a family although the wallet didnt think so. The only kind of baseball scholarship D1 programs offer is a partial one. I dont normally respond to blog posts, but I wanted to respond to this one because I respect you. There is another very sad thing that often happens as a result of a familys involvement in travel ball. While many are still from the south, many are from upper-middle to upper-class backgrounds, with their appropriate support systems. (He never would have been able to do this had he continued playing in college as all of the players were expected to play in a summer league each year.) Baseball is the greatest game ever, it is exactly that, a game. I think Jesus said it best when He said, What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?, Thank you sir for thisI wrestle with this issue a lot as our older children (3 boys/12, 9, & 8) are starting to get to the age where this is a possibility. I am coaching a 5-6 yr old team and can already feel the pull of private instructors, out of season ball, travel squads, etc. Registration is quick, easy, and FREE. Keep him in rec ball, where he wont get burnt out because hes a kid facing the demands of a profession. but could it be said that youre in the big leagues of your profession? They open/close each practice and game with prayer and are not overwhelming us with lots of games. So we are playing upward thru our church. But it hasnt been enough to revive baseball completely in inner cities to what it once was. He didnt make the middle school team as only travel ball kids only made it. In general, most of the Little League tournaments are organized in the local area and involves teams from the same city or community. Tha KS alot for all your insight!!! Baseball exists not just because of the community's love of the game. Listen to article. Listen to baseball experts'. Honestly, in the sport of football, it may be most perpetuated by mothers, though from the . Of course our children have bents that we want to nurture, encourage and help them develop, but lets make sure we arent pursuing our own agenda. 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. While I wasnt thrilled hed be hitting off a tee because he could already hit a pitched ball, I figured we had to start somewhere, and Tee Ball was all that was available. Very few will walk in my church doors on Sunday. The competitive environment, expert guidance, and the quality of available facilities are unmatched by any other youth competition. . Sabathia and the Upton Brothers have become big league players. A job is not a game. Are those stewardship issues as well? Teams advancing to the regional level in the U.S. receive an additional $200. Is it any wonder that race sponsors like Goodys and Virginia National Bank have been replaced by Bluegreen Vacations, Ally, or Bank of America? And this, more than anything else, is the problem with the continued growth and success of baseball. Little League to . Travel is not glamorous but grueling. For us, travel has been amazing. If I was in the big leagues, my summers (and falls, and springs) would be dominated by an unrelenting schedule leaving no opportunity to coach my kids teams. And if I had any skill to make some of that money working in baseball, I wouldnt have a day job. Skip to main content Toggle navigation menu. Was it really worth it? If you are traveling every weekend, or most of them, for a Friday, Saturday, Sunday tournament, what happens to non-sport family time? Havent seen any. Travel baseball is very competitive, especially compared to recreational leagues. Is travel baseball killing Little League in America? Rec ball and travel ball can coexist, BUT, it has to be done with the kids as the foremost priority. And it certainly does nothing to address the issue of middle and working-class suburban residents and the expense involved in playing the game at a high level. We pick and choose how much we want to play, spend, etc and have been very successful in several states. The best coaches and the best players stop playing rec ball in favor of travel ball, leading to fewer teams and a lower level of competition in the rec league. 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. So, teaching them the core baseball concepts is more important than competing. 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. He has a decent arm but has never pitched in travel. See caveats in opening and closing paragraphs. My daughter has played with the same girls and coaches for 3 seasons now. I do wonder though as a parent of a child who did play travel ball and also ended up as a D1 athlete if we arent typically just exchanging one pursuit of excellence for another. Two guys who are now playing in MLB came from two of the leagues in the District. Though parents are well-intentioned, often children are tired of pursuing what was once fun but has become a stressful climb to the next level of competition at the expense of other parts of their lives, or at the expense of joints injured by overuse. My arm hurt all the time, and I wasnt a pitcher. Excellence: Pursuing excellence is important, but be sure you know and your child knows what you mean by that. 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. God will open doors to tell others about Christ as we are faithful to follow Him. I love helping people get a better understanding of the game. Our children assume that Sunday morning is time to worship with our church. I got an education, got married, we started having children, and now I get to coach my kids. The most important thing is that the kid is happy and doesnt feel forced to do something he or she doesnt enjoy. Once-proud public institutions are being privatized, with many unintended consequences. blair and son funeral home smiths falls / top of the world patty griffin meaning / travel ball killing little league. . Just like my folks did. They learn more socially because they have different teammates for each sport and different roles. They also have T-ball divisions. Our eldest, now six, is in her second year of playing though she has moved over to softball. Dont get me wrong: I love competition. Wow this article really spoke to me. What I got was disaster. Rec ball. 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. Participating in travel baseball will likely eat most of your free time. It seems to me that time comes in the mid to late teens, but thats going to be a judgment call . A lot of teams are started by parents, but some are run by former high school and college coaches. 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. Is there a solution to all of this? Here in our area not so much. The result: In the United States, baseball is becoming a mostly white country-club sport for upper-class families to consume, like a snorkeling vacation or a round of golf. 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