| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| jaguars18 |
Posted - 07/12/2015 : 20:44:03
I am noticing more and more academy type teams stacking or practicing 2-3 teams at a time on a field, I assume it more profitable to do this but seems it takes reps away from kids, I also am not used to joining a team then needing to pay for a package of catching,hitting or pitching lessons?
last year was our first exposure to this
Thanks |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| bfriendly |
Posted - 07/16/2015 : 21:02:38
We were in one and the one thing we loved as much as anything was the private instruction that came with it! One of my friends was with a Big name outfit and ended up paying for outside lessons. Go figure.... |
| prestont |
Posted - 07/13/2015 : 14:10:03
We've found that DecaturDad is right - more coaches on the field with position specific drills, and lots of reps, and has worked well for our son over the last year.
Jags18 brings up an interesting point regarding team drills/chemistry as some practice together as an age group (vs individual teams). Its a question that I've been asked a few times over the last year, but every place has their approach.
I too have heard of other academies that have pushed lesson packages on top of player fees. |
| Ready2Play |
Posted - 07/13/2015 : 11:21:06
My son has played on a few Academy teams over the years who conducted their practices with multiple teams. As DecaturDad mentioned, we also found that there are benefits to that format. In each case, our teams also scrimmaged which was advantageous.
We have not been told by any academy team that lessons were mandated, either with their academy or with an instructor of our choosing. However, we were told by one academy that their winter workouts (at an additional fee) were "strongly encouraged." The workouts turned out to be very effective in sharpening their players' mechanics, speed and agility. I can't say how the players would have performed without the workouts. My son also works out with a private instructor who he was with before joining the academy. His mechanics were refined with all the reps he got last year in but there was a cost in that he didn't get much time off, not even one month when you add in summer try-outs. My son also plays a different winter sport so between the two sports, he had a practice or a game 6 to 7 days a week. By the end of the season, he had reached an understandable level of burn-out in baseball. Lesson learned. I think the "strongly encouraged" winter workouts and camps are not uncommon when playing for an academy. It is easy to feel obligated, at least we did.
|
| CaCO3Girl |
Posted - 07/13/2015 : 08:33:54
I have only heard of one park out of Douglasville that requires the packages to be purchased, and they also require the signing of a contract. I haven't found this common on the Marietta/Cherokee side of life. While I agree extra lessons outside of practice time are useful I would prefer to be able to pick the instructor/location for these outside lessons. I would steer clear of anywhere that mandated private lessons as a part of the team requirement. |
| jaguars18 |
Posted - 07/12/2015 : 21:56:16
That is a great point IF it's actually more coaches, however working on team stuff with your own team is valuable |
| DecaturDad |
Posted - 07/12/2015 : 20:58:48
Having teams practice together gets more coaches on the field and allows more time on position specific drills. For example, you get all the short stops together to work on a drill while the 3rd baseman are doing another drill. I have found that is works well.
Now being told to pay for a "lesson package" is something we have never been asked to do, but it does not surprise me. |
