Travel Baseball: The BAD & the Good
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
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I thought it would be important to discuss travel ball because some people think they must play travel to get recruited or be discovered.
That is not the case.
College coaches can miss up to 90% of all travel ball games, so hoping to be discovered at a tournament is a bad strategy.
There is a better way.
That said, are there benefits to travel ball? Certainly, we will cover them in today's episode.
0:00 Travel Ball Intro
0:55 Sponsor: LMNT
2:10 Travel Baseball Pros and Cons
#travelbaseball #collegerecruiting #summerball - Sport
Our first team in travel/select was a nightmare 10u (last fall)....lots of $$ and the coaching was TERRIBLE!! We didnt care the kids lost most of the time the issue we had was nothing was being taught by the coaches..... fast forward to the following spring and this fall (11u). We found a new organization and coaches who actually teach kids the game and how and why they do the things, my son has loved the game even more so because of it. Its awesome so see him start believing in himself more and more. As long as he loves the game thats all we care about as parents, if he goes on to bigger and better things then great, if not then thats fine too.
Great perspective. Thank you for sharing!
We experienced the worst Travel Ball this summer (this week actually). My 16u son was recruited onto a Premier Scout team as a 2 way player by a Senior member of the organization. This was a new team without a specific coach yet, but the organization had a long history of building teams. We paid the excessive fee and after the season started the new coach tells my son he will not be allowed to play the field or bat, but PO only.
After 24 games, he's gotten 8 innings on the mound. He's the only player to not start a game, period.
I expressed to our contact (not the coach) that we were frustrated with how the season was going and we didn't ask him to do anything. Just sharing our experience. The coach immediately kicks my son off the team. No call, no discussion, gone.
Sorry to hear this
Unfortunately there’s many organizations out there like this. Before committing, you really need to do your homework and understand the expectations of the organization and yours. Ask lots of questions, talk to other parents from the team if possible, and develop a list of pros and cons. Don’t get sucked into the hype of a team because of how many trophies they might have if it comes at the cost of your son not being able to play or develop. Some of these organizations pick up additional players just to help pay the cost of running their other teams. Also beware of teams bringing in guest players to win trophies when their own paying players are sitting on the bench. I’m sorry you’ve had to go through; however, it’s a value life experience. It’s important to build networking with former teammates, personal coaches, and even strangers you might run into at games or batting cage. I usually start off a conversation with a compliment before asking questions. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to get my son on a great team with more opportunities after leaving another great organization mostly through word of mouth and doing my homework.
Our travel ball experience has been a mixed bag but positive overall. We are in Atlanta so we don't have to actually 'travel' often because there are so many good tournaments held in this area. It's important to remember that travel baseball is a business and you're the only one who truly has your kid's best interest at heart.
Yes, this!
Summer travel ball for us is just another opportunity to play when HS ball is over. There is very little exposure but lots of playing tough competition and learning the game. If you want to be a ball player vs a cage king you need to play ball. My sons team this weekend went up against arguably the best pitcher (on paper) in the finals and deystroyed him at the plate because they are ball players.
Yes this is a pro, playing good competition if you play the right teams.
Love the globe. Classic. Why the clouds in background never move? I have no idea.
We have a great group of parents, a knowledgeable coach and a core of about 6 kids that’s been together for 6/7 years. Travel ball has changed a lot since we started. Some tournaments seem like nothing more than a money grab. While others offer more like media coverage and solid competition. Seems like such a toss up. My son is a catcher and I love how he leads, encourages and works. He’s blessed to have the team environment he does.
Thanks for sharing your perspective and journey.
And when your little guy gases out and never make it will you still love him?
Terrific content as always...thanks for your insights.
My pleasure
I think that a lot of people use travel ball as an option to avoid Little League. In our area, the Little League administrator seems to not understand that he is there to help kids and their parents.
Sorry to hear that. It should be all about developing the kids and having fun at this age.
Young pitchers need to learn location and speed make much more difference than curves and sliders.
My Son wants to study Engineering in school…not too many of those coaches at our games this past Summer. Question becomes if we just focus on those Engineering school camps/showcases how do we get them “game footage” (other than HS)? On that same question…what do you put for Summer team on questionnaires? Thanks Alex great content as usual.
Good: Kids having fun
Bad: everything adults bring
👀
I agree with most everything you’ve said. It’s clearly impossible for recruiters to cover a tournament with 500 teams playing at 30 sites. But what are the alternatives? Do college coaches *expect* prospects to play travel ball even if only as a sign of relative commitment? Let’s say my son skipped next travel season, his 17u season, and instead focused on development, showcases, camps, and maybe just a few games. I’m convinced that would be the best option for him, but would that be seen as a mark against him?
Wonder this myself.
I'm also convinced most of travel ball is a money grab and scouts aren't there. I'm starting to think individual camps are the way to go. However, as I'm sure many of you do, we get 100s of canned invitations to camps at specific schools, or at places where "several schools" will be in attendance. How do you even break that down to know which ones are good?
Nope, it will not be a mark against him. I coached for eleven years and never saw that. He will get much better exposure at the right camps and showcase. With camps just make sure the schools are recruiting for his position and it's a good fit. Showcases make sure the coaches there are the decision-makers. Send out video too. A good way for exposure.
@mediarichlearning
@bretamorrison3384
@wadehanna5445
My experience with NorCalU24 has been nothing but excellent
Love hearing this!
Positive: We have been with our club for eight years. They are very well known and have had success with D1, D2, D3, placement. The team has also had about 15 or so player's recruited from college into MLB.
Negative; The club owner played for two or three teams in AAA. His club is categorized as non-profit, what? The rest of the coaching staff played D1 or D2. Only one of the coaches played AAA. Nearly all the same coaches over eight years.
Pay to play. Pay to practice in the form of half a 1/2 hour lessons. Pay to strength train. Pay for the MLB mental thought processes or development. No team practices during the summer season. Nothing really is included. Recently, the club has started to buy up every other club within 300 miles. So, even if you don't like the buissnes model there is no where else to go.
At about 13U and up the benches had 15 players. Now at 16U up, eighteen players plus PO and HO.
This Summer, in many large four to five guaranteed game tournament's with 95 teams. There were always 8 players seated. On average some players rotated on the field, but never during the game. Out of a six game weekend my son would play two games and maybe a third as a relief pitcher. They say this normal but it sure doesn't feel like it?
My son has always played about two years up, this year, one year up. After this summer I requested via email that the club drop him to one of the lower tier teams on 16U (three teams for each year on 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U) inorder to get more play time or cut him from the team if they feel he isn't cutting it as I have a problem seeing the dollar value. No answer. A week later the answer was, "The benches are less crowed during Fall Ball." Never addressing my concerns above concerns.
I have seen more improvement in his play over the last six years training with private coaches outside of the club. Recently, the coach recommended we travel to the Dominican for better training and game play for much less.
What is your opinion?
Why let a team cut your son? You should take control and remove him yourself. Based on your observations, it doesn’t seem like this organization is providing the value that you’re seeking. If there’s tournaments, there’s other teams out there. It may require you to travel a bit further to get what you’re looking for but you’d have to determine if it’s worth it rather than staying in the current situation.
My son is playing at MB Academy in the Dominican for six month's over the Winter to improve skills, size, strength. The reality is at his level the player is really paying for representation as much as to play. So, are choice is to stay with our organization for summer ball as they have a good reputation for placement. Going to play and train on the island. Best.....
You mentioned pitchers throwing too much. Can you elaborate on what is too much? Is it just too often throwing multiple times a week, or is there another criteria you’re thinking about?
At tournaments it can be pitch counts that are way to high or throwing back to back days with high volume. Some coaches do a great job with managing arms but a lot do not and overthrow guys. We are seeing it now with more TJs than ever.
Should POs play summer travel ball? Or organize scrimmages with HS teammates at least once a week? Thanks.
If they threw a lot of innings then they will want to consider organized scrimmages.
could you look at my team iyg spiders
Will do!