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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| sward |
Posted - 01/11/2012 : 13:31:57
I am going to try and keep this short...I am really concerned about "perspective" in youth baseball.
Just this year I have had several conversations with parents regarding travel teams. I have also had many in-depth discussions with parents who have left or considered leaving teams. These specific conversations have me wondering what people know about baseball from 9th grade-12th grade. Below are some questions I would like feedback on. After some of you post, I am going to respond to what I hear from potential parents and discuss those responses. You don't have to answer each question. Thanks.
For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)?
What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U?
What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future?
If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season?
In your opinion, what is different between 12U, 14U, and 17/18U travel baseball? |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| sward |
Posted - 02/16/2012 : 10:34:30
Guys, There are some really great perspectives here...I like it.
I am covered up at my facility and can barely come up for air...we are doing 400+ lessons, plus classes, sports performance training...and more...When I get some time I will be back on...Thanks! |
| AA17Dad |
Posted - 02/13/2012 : 20:16:58
1.For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)?
I'd say this is an individual decision. If you enjoy the travel and hype of the SNIT's don't mind spending the cash and have a work schedule that allows for it than do. Personal, I like the travel and the SNIT's but I don't think it adds up to much in the end at this age.
2.What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U?
National Youth Baseball World Series, Elite 32., Cooperstown, while not the pinnacle of competition. It would definatley be on the list of things to do @ 12y/o.
3.What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future?
None.
4.If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season?
Training.
5.In your opinion, what is different between 12U, 14U, and 17/18U travel baseball?
Puberty.
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| ATLDEE |
Posted - 02/13/2012 : 15:46:23
For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)?
I dont feel that living here in Atlanta you have to do alot of traveling for SNIT..because after twice you dont make it you would problably not fair so well at the ELITES..
What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U?
for my son it will be the ELITEs
What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future?
outside of the experience...non but we cannot discount what that does for a kid's confidence and maturity...
If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season?Training of course...but no one want top tier training and no competition to guage it by....
In your opinion, what is different between 12U, 14U, and 17/18U travel baseball?
The level of expectation required on all those involved I.E parents,coaches, players and schools are the primary difference as your player continues to grow and develop...
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| Big Dawg |
Posted - 02/13/2012 : 13:44:30
Sward, lots of post here, can't wait for your feedback! |
| Gwinnett |
Posted - 02/12/2012 : 13:20:28
Sward, never heard back from you??? What were your thoughts on all the responses?
quote:
Originally posted by sward
I am going to try and keep this short...I am really concerned about "perspective" in youth baseball.
Just this year I have had several conversations with parents regarding travel teams. I have also had many in-depth discussions with parents who have left or considered leaving teams. These specific conversations have me wondering what people know about baseball from 9th grade-12th grade. Below are some questions I would like feedback on. After some of you post, I am going to respond to what I hear from potential parents and discuss those responses. You don't have to answer each question. Thanks.
For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)?
What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U?
What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future?
If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season?
In your opinion, what is different between 12U, 14U, and 17/18U travel baseball?
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| bballman |
Posted - 01/12/2012 : 15:58:31
quote:
Originally posted by excoach12
Parents ... now sit back and bask in the accolades their SON earned over the last 9 years and pretend that they had anything whatsoever to do with the development of their son beyond stroking a check and bitching. They toss around their sons name and the school he plays for and the size of the bat he swings as if they (the parent) made all the decisions and put in all the training time to get their son where he is so the rest of us should genuflect before them and beg them to say some words to our team.
I think thats about it. Have a nice day. :)
A little jaded, don't you think? Most parents of this age group are not like this. In fact, most of them are very humble about it. Not saying there aren't some like you mention, but overall, parents are pretty good about their son's success at this age level.
Just sayin'. |
| excoach12 |
Posted - 01/12/2012 : 14:13:01
For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)?
Nope. All I see are more unneeded $$ signs. We are very fortunate in Georgia to have high quality competition right in our back yard.
What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U?
10U and 12U is Cooperstown. 90% of the players will never see the Elite 32. I might be the only idiot on the planet who never heard of the Elite 32 before joining travel ball but if it was that big a deal you would think I would have heard about it. I knew about Cooperstown Dreams Park before joining travel ball.
What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future?
None whatsoever. Playing in, or not playing in, Cooperstown or the Elite 32 will have no impact on your players baseball future. Now, they will have good memories of both and be able to say "I did that" but they gain nothing more than memories. Those select few who get past the bottom level teams at both events gain a little training through the higher competition.
If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season?
You need both because top tier training prepares you for top tier competition and playing top tier competition IS top tier training.
In your opinion, what is different between 12U, 14U, and 17/18U travel baseball?
9U- Coaches who think they know what they need to do and parents who don't understand why baseball has to be so competitive.
10U- Coaches who begin to know what they need to do and parents who begin to argue about everything the coach does.
11U- Coaches who realize they don't know as much as they need to know to do what they want to do. Parents who get mad at the coaches and think they can do better, but don't.
12U- Coaches who finally turn over pitching and batting practice to qualified instructors and become more administrators. Parents who continue to bitch about the coaches.
13U- Coaches who realize that for their kid, and the other kids, to get better and ready for high school they have to let go and leave it to the more professional coaches and they look back at 9U and say "What the hell was I thinking!?" Parents who finally realize they might have been wrong about the coaches and they did the best they could with what they had and now that their son is more interested in girls, cars and music let their kid quit.
14U- Coaches who weed out the players with talent from those that don't and get talented kids onto high school teams and on the path to higher baseball. Remaining parents realize that the last 5 years of defending their lesser skilled child went for naught and finally face reality that their son is a much better chess player than baseball player and they let the kid play chess which is what he wanted to do since he was 9 but the parents "knew better".
15U - 18U- NOW real baseball skills are developed, sharpened, tested and players made ready to face the challenges, highs and lows of trying to be one of the few who make it to college ball and beyond. Parents who used to bitch about every coach they ever had and how THEY would have done things differently, but never even volunteered to be team business manager, now sit back and bask in the accolades their SON earned over the last 9 years and pretend that they had anything whatsoever to do with the development of their son beyond stroking a check and bitching. They toss around their sons name and the school he plays for and the size of the bat he swings as if they (the parent) made all the decisions and put in all the training time to get their son where he is so the rest of us should genuflect before them and beg them to say some words to our team.
I think thats about it. Have a nice day. :) |
| ATLawman |
Posted - 01/12/2012 : 12:38:51
I agree with HITANDRUN on the last question. My oldest son is now a high school senior. I have heard him say the same exact thing, that now "baseball is more like work" when he talks to my 12 year old about the game. It's nice to have him tell the younger brother to just have the most fun you can have and play hard. He likes to remind his younger brother that he is very lucky to still be able to run around and cut up 20 minutes after losing a game. Now my oldest has been hitting showcases for the past two seasons and playing year round. He still loves the game, and talks fondly about his old buddies from his 10u travel team, etc. Personally, I think the stress kind of goes up as they get older. Playing for school pride, and showcasing yourself to get a scholarship can take its toll on a young man. |
| HITANDRUN |
Posted - 01/12/2012 : 11:13:03
For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)
I rather play local and save money comp is good enough in Georgia
What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U?
Cooperstown unless you have a chance to play in the LLWS
What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future?
Not a tournament to go win but to enjoy the whole atmosphere of baseball, learn a love of the game, Hall of Fame, starting to become young men, barracks life no mom no dad. Really nothing that relates to ones future of playing baseball.
If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season?
Having to chose I would say Competition but neither really matters. I think training pre puberty is overrated. Many a college player never started baseball until after 11 years old. Have fun, Love the game, overcome burnout from all the workouts and conditioning and all that mess, when you get to junior senior year that is when it matters.
In your opinion, what is different between 12U, 14U, and 17/18U travel baseball?
17 and 18u it becomes more like work. You have to do the extra things if you want to go to the next level. Time to showcase yourself as a player.
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| Steel-Will |
Posted - 01/12/2012 : 09:59:24
Sward,
For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)?
3-4 SNIT's in the spring is probably too much, but it's better than too little; i.e. ZERO SNIT's for major level ball players. 2 is just right; The Atlanta and Auburn and maybe the South Carolina event in the fall or some combination.
What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U?
At 10u and 11u, the Elite 32 competition is unparalleled. Cooperstown at 10u in the past for the experience. 11u at the College World Series is something really nice to do as well.
What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future?
Don't REALLY know how attending will affect a player and their psyche verses not participating. It's not a MUST have event to have future success in baseball. But for a competitive individual, the intense competition could spur them on to prepare for future success.
If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season?
Much quality training is always my goal. I passed on Cooperstown at 10u last year and used the resources for training.
In your opinion, what is different between 12U, 14U, and 17/18U travel baseball?
I don't REALLY know. I'm planning on using those years as BIG evaluation years; where are we in the process and how do we stack-up against the competition and what adjustments do we need to make in training and playing to reach the goal of baseball at the next level.
In practical terms that means we push hard at 10 & 11 so we evaluate well at 12. Again we push hard at 12 & 13 so we evaluate well at 14 and make the HS baseball team as a freshman.
That's my 10,000 foot view of the process now. Could always change!
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| prestont |
Posted - 01/11/2012 : 15:42:53
sward - thats one of the positives about travel ball, and so many teams. If folks do the research you can find the 'right' team for your son and family. For us - the 3 factors we value most are; opportunity, instruction, and level of competition.
For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)? Our family does not mind traveling 3-4+ times a season to face good competition. Gotta earn your way to Elite-32, and reading between the lines that when you say traveling to SNITs it is to earn bearth to Elite-32.
What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U?
Cooperstown @ 10U & 12U. We went at 10U and it was a GREAT experience. Kids can play baseball @ 10U in C'town whereas I understand 12U is either a single or HR. We had a great time in Myrtle Beach last year @ 11U with TC Summer Nationals. This year @ 12U we're planning on hitting Omaha for CWS. Elite-32 can be - if thats what the team/families are interested in pursuing
What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future? Not at a point to provide a valid answer - we want my son to continue to work hard, put in the time, and get good instruction to help him get ready for older age groups.
If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season? Easy answer is BOTH - us as parents can help here by choosing the right travel team and putting in the time/effort outside of team practices |
| bmoser |
Posted - 01/11/2012 : 15:41:56
For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)?
For Major caliber players who want to play in the Elite 32..yes. That might be 10% of all players. For the other 90%, not likely.
What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U
Cooperstown. Just look at how many posts there are about C'Town versus any other event.
What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future?
It's a lifelong memory playing in the event and visiting the H.O.F.
If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season?
I don't see them as mutually exclusive, but if I had to pick 1... training.
In your opinion, what is different between 12U, 14U, and 17/18U travel baseball?
Don't know. My son is 12. I just hope he keeps playing until 17. |
| Gwinnett |
Posted - 01/11/2012 : 15:41:29
Sward,
For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)?
Two SNITs was very fun for both my son and myself. My son enjoyed playing different teams from out of state and we enjoyed watching other great teams compete at different ages. My son also liked going out of state (Alabama) for one of these tourneys. The whole traveling and staying in a hotel I suspect.....lol..... The competition was very challenging as well.
What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U?
At 11u the Elite 32 was a great experience! It was incredible to see and play the top teams from around the country. Never seen anything like it at that age! My son loved it. At 12u I'm not sure what will be our pinnacle?
What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future?
None. The experience of playing and watching was incredible!
If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season?
BOTH! Wouldn't have it any other way. We have always worked with great trainers in addition to our team. If we couldn't do both it would be training.
In your opinion, what is different between 12U, 14U, and 17/18U travel baseball?
12u to 14u-I think for us will be mostly maturing mentally and physically. The game changes from youth baseball to REAL baseball. This transition to us will be the most critical in really being a great future baseball player. Honestly, we have had lots of fun up till this moment but going forward up to 14u my son knows that this is when it really counts and the hard work is just beginning. I have know idea for 17/18u?? |
| DecaturDad |
Posted - 01/11/2012 : 15:06:13
My son is currently 12U:
For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)? No, It is more important that he has fun. Going out of state is fun, but it does not need to be a super NIT.
What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U?
In my opinion: Cooperstown. It lets the boys show some independance while staying fun. Most teams do not go thinking they will win.
What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future?
None. If it keeps him interested in baseball, that is a bonus.
If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season?
If it HAd to be one or the other, I would pick top tier training. But I agree you really can't have the training without the compitition. (You can have top-tier compatition without the training, but only for so long.)
In your opinion, what is different between 12U, 14U, and 17/18U travel baseball?
Not there yet, but i am guessing 12U is still about fun with friends. by 17/18 it is truely about a love of baseball over many competing choices. |
| jacjacatk |
Posted - 01/11/2012 : 14:25:04
quote:
Originally posted by sward
For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)?
What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U?
What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future?
Answering all these from the perspective of a 13U parent who didn't get involved with travel until 11U. We didn't care about SNITs, just about getting a better level of baseball than rec/all-stars was providing. My son really wanted to go to Cooperstown, which we were ultimately unable to do primarily because we made poor decisions in picking a 12U team. Ultimately, that won't matter for his future, of course, and I don't think any accomplishments before 13U/14U are especially important to a player's future, with the possible exception of burn-out/overuse.
quote:
Originally posted by sward
If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season?
In your opinion, what is different between 12U, 14U, and 17/18U travel baseball?
I think you need both top-tier competition and training, but top-tier competition, at least at the younger levels, means better than you are now, not necessarily the absolute best and top-tier training means working outside of the team if necessary.
IMO, travel (or really any other level) ball before 14U should be about properly learning the basics and having fun, because the results ultimately have little bearing on what will happen in HS and beyond. 13U/14U is presumably the point where the preparation for HS really starts, and where puberty starts impacting all the players enough to start differentiating players substantially. I suspect this is the level where team coaching has the most impact on future development, as the players' abilities start to surpass dad's ability to teach.
I assume 17U/18U travel is mostly post-HS preparation at higher levels, and an alternative/supplement to HS play at lower levels (no real experience here, obviously, so would love to hear more about it). |
| wareagle |
Posted - 01/11/2012 : 13:58:46
For 9U-12U, is it more appealing if your potential team is going to play in 3-4 Super NITs (this means going out of state)
Really only want to go out of state for one year end event
What event is the pinnacle for youth baseball at different age below 13U?
11u Elite 32
What importance does this event (from the previous question) have in the player's future?
probably will never go, and probably will not matter.
If you had to chose would you rather play top-tier competition or have top-tier training during the season?
You need both, top tier training can not be accomplished without playing top competition.(however You do not have to go all over the country to do this)
In your opinion, what is different between 12U, 14U, and 17/18U travel baseball?
Much less talk on the forums from parents and coaches at the older ages.LOL |
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