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At what cost?

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[quote][i]Originally posted by Groan[/i]
[br]Just wanted to state that while all these kids and their parents focus on getting to the elusive next level in baseball, other family members are pushed aside.  Try outs, private lessons, showcases, etc leave little time to visit with family. Baseball is the top priority, and the rest be ****ed. Sure sacrifices have to be made if you want to get better at something, but many folks in this travel ball realm of existence have lost their internal compass regarding balance...and choose to push family aside. It is not just one less trip to grandmas... It is no trip to grandmas. But hey, grandma is 92, you will have plenty of time to visit with her after your son finishes JUCO.

So all this travel ball and showcases are worth it...? At what cost? Our time on this spinning ball is short, and anything that becomes so important that other family members are ignored requires a reevaluation of priorities. A serious car accident, terminal cancer, or a trip to see Batman could easily re focus priorities, but for many people (including members of my own family), nothing short of these will keep little Timmy from his private hitting lessons.
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T O P I C R E V I E W
Groan	Posted - 07/20/2012 : 09:17:26 Just wanted to state that while all these kids and their parents focus on getting to the elusive next level in baseball, other family members are pushed aside. Try outs, private lessons, showcases, etc leave little time to visit with family. Baseball is the top priority, and the rest be ****ed. Sure sacrifices have to be made if you want to get better at something, but many folks in this travel ball realm of existence have lost their internal compass regarding balance...and choose to push family aside. It is not just one less trip to grandmas... It is no trip to grandmas. But hey, grandma is 92, you will have plenty of time to visit with her after your son finishes JUCO. So all this travel ball and showcases are worth it...? At what cost? Our time on this spinning ball is short, and anything that becomes so important that other family members are ignored requires a reevaluation of priorities. A serious car accident, terminal cancer, or a trip to see Batman could easily re focus priorities, but for many people (including members of my own family), nothing short of these will keep little Timmy from his private hitting lessons.
6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
HITANDRUN	Posted - 07/23/2012 : 15:00:34 replace studying learning or education instead of baseball and everyone thinks you are great.
Canton Chargers	Posted - 07/20/2012 : 16:31:14 My point is, anything can get out of control if you do not balance your life - but I don't judge others for how their spend their time. I'd much rather my son be at the ball field working on his dream, then sitting in a dark room playing video games, or worse, on the street up to no good. Amen!!!
ramman999	Posted - 07/20/2012 : 11:49:09 Look, it's not for everyone - Balance "in all parts of life" is very important, and people learn it over time, hopefully long before their kid puts down the glove. It can become as much of an addiction as any vice - the equipment, the lessons the travel, it can be out of control. However, you can insert "dance", or "singing" or "piano" or "cheer" or "soccer" or "karate" or "church" or "family" any other overdone function into your post. I've had neighbors give me a hard time over spending our weekends at a ball field, yet all week they carted their kids to music lessons and dance lessons and recitals and any other time filler. Still others that go to church all weekend, lead prayer groups and bible studies at night, and when they weren't at work they were at church. My point is, anything can get out of control if you do not balance your life - but I don't judge others for how their spend their time. I'd much rather my son be at the ball field working on his dream, then sitting in a dark room playing video games, or worse, on the street up to no good.
PeachFuzz	Posted - 07/20/2012 : 11:34:03 There has to be balance. I will preface all of this by saying that we have an only child, so there are many issues that we don't have to deal with. We have a rising junior and we've been doing the travel ball thing since 10U. Are there sacrifices to be made when playing majors level (or any level for that matter) travel ball? You bet. We make vacation plans around the ball schedule. We go see the grandparents on off-weekends. He sees a hitting instructor weekly. Heck, we have a 70' batting cage & MLB pitching machine in the back yard. So, are we one of the crazy ones?? I guess so. Do I want to see him play through High School and maybe play a little college ball? Yes (if he wants to). I have always made it clear to him that I don't want him to play baseball any longer than he wants to. If he's ever playing for me, it's over. But let me make this point. Our son's (and family's) focus is on three areas...church, school and baseball. Between the three, his days and nights stay pretty full. The vast majority of his friends are baseball buddies or church friends that we have known for years. We know the boys and their parents. He is an honors student...not because he is particularly gifted, but he knows that academics are important and if he does not do well in the classroom, his little baseball career will come to a screeching halt. I say all that to make the following point: I believe that during the teenage years, idle time is the enemy. Too much free time for 15-18 yr olds is rarely a good thing. He is a great kid that has never given us a minute's worth of worry. We are very involved parents..(he's our only one, so he is stuck with our undivided attention). But, I am wise enough to know, that tons of free time would not be a good thing for him. My motto has always been, "either we find stuff for him to be involved in, or he will".... We have spent a lot of money and time over the years on baseball. If he decided today that he was done, would I be a little disappointed? Of course. Would I feel that we've wasted time and money? Not in the least. I would not trade the time and memories that we have built as a "travel ball" family. I also would not trade the life lessons he has learned (i.e. mental toughness, prioritization, tolerance, confidence, etc.) on the ballfield.
TAZ980002	Posted - 07/20/2012 : 11:06:15 Groan, due to a nagging tendon strain in my 13u player's tricep, we were forced to take a break this Summer from competitive travel ball. On one hand, we have really missed the baseball tournaments and hanging with the friends we have been around the past couple of years. On the other hand, we just finished our first "non baseball" related vacation in 3 years. It was great. I think you are 100% right that balance is very important.
peashooter	Posted - 07/20/2012 : 09:28:27 Here is the problem with most parents. TIMMY DOESN"T need private hitting lessons! Take Timmy in the back yard and throw him pitches, soft toss, wiffle balls, etc! All these parents get hung up on all the private instruction. I have seen more kids with screwed up swings from their private instructors then I can to discuss. POWER V, releasing the top hand (which 99% do too soon), pulling off the ball, not approaching everything to the opposite field, not preaching quick left hand (righties) to the ball, etc...

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