| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| knapper1 |
Posted - 06/08/2010 : 14:25:13
I'm thinking about letting my son try out next year at 10u for travel ball. I've been trying to checkout several teams websites to gauge the off time and talked with other friends who have kids in travel ball.
I've seen some teams play nonstop thru june without any weekends off. Seems a little too much to me. I would think a weekend off and maybe ocassional sunday or saturday off would do the kids well and give them and families a break to keep them fresh for the season. I guess it depends on the coaches.
Any thoughts? |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Gold Glove |
Posted - 06/10/2010 : 10:43:38
quote:
[i]Originally posted by ingasven
Personally speaking,I have never understood the "we need to have family time and don't want to play too much" if someone is signing up for competitive travel baseball.
Good Luck
Everyone is different, but in my 11 years of travel our formula for success has been two tourneys a month beginning in March, one weekend completely off and one weekend for a round robin. We practice two times per week every week weather permitting and if someone wants to take a vaction the week of our off week that was fine. Once June rolls around, we play 3 tourneys in June and try to play a big season ending tournament in early July. This seemed to be a good balance and if parents wanted their kids to play more I didn't have any issues with them getting picked up on our off weekend. Our turnover was low and most of our players are still playing at the high school level, so burn out never became an issue. |
| AA17Dad |
Posted - 06/10/2010 : 10:10:54
quote:
Originally posted by atlbaseball
Talk to the coach and make sure it is a fit for you and your family. There is no need to play every weekend..only going to lead to burnout and overuse/injuries. We try to take at least one weekend off every month but always get grief from those parents that are gung ho and dont ever want to take a break.
As far as family time..it is those teams that create a balance that will be in it for the long haul. It is about development, not about being a superstar at 12/13. Be VERY afraid of the coaches/teams that dont believe in taking a break!
AMEN Brother! |
| DecaturDad |
Posted - 06/09/2010 : 23:32:05
My son is playing 10U. We try very hard to play every other weekend. It just gives the whole thing a bit more sanity. I also suggest going a watching a few teams at a tournament. You can learn a lot by watching the kids and the coaches in action. |
| atlbaseball |
Posted - 06/09/2010 : 22:48:57
Talk to the coach and make sure it is a fit for you and your family. There is no need to play every weekend..only going to lead to burnout and overuse/injuries. We try to take at least one weekend off every month but always get grief from those parents that are gung ho and dont ever want to take a break.
As far as family time..it is those teams that create a balance that will be in it for the long haul. It is about development, not about being a superstar at 12/13. Be VERY afraid of the coaches/teams that dont believe in taking a break! |
| ingasven |
Posted - 06/09/2010 : 19:37:43
I will tell you sincerely that how much your team wants to play many times is determined by how they are performing. I know people will lash out at me for saying it this way, but the truth is winning hides a lot of problems and losing creates a whole bunch that are usually ignored when things are going good.
What I mean to say is if you try to set a COMPLETE schedule, in stone, before the season and then say it can't be changed, it really leaves the team at the mercy of their performance. Personally (just my opinion for Loveforthegame) I think you pick the "big" tournies you want to play and "fill in the gaps" along the way making sure to schedule some time off. There are always tournaments that cancel as well as those that weren't on the radar that become must plays.
If you decide at the beginning of the year, while everyone is an eternal optimist, we're going to play "X" number of games you may be disheartened if that number is too high if you're team is underperforming or if that number is too low and the team is exceeding expectations. The key is having a group that is flexible...if you need every other weekend off don't join a bunch of gung-ho folks.
Personally speaking,I have never understood the "we need to have family time and don't want to play too much" if someone is signing up for competitive travel baseball.
Good Luck |
| bmoser |
Posted - 06/09/2010 : 16:19:11
Every player is different, but for us, 2 weekends in a row is okay, but 3 is pushing it. I've also found that my son's fine with baseball 4 days a week, but 5 or more and he starts pushing back on the practices. Knowing your sons comfort zone, and respecting it is key.
Choose a team that matches his comfort zone.
Unless your a top 10 Major team, I dont see much reason to leave the Metro area, but the kids love the hotel pool scene now and then.
Good luck, and choose carefully. |
| 6bomber |
Posted - 06/08/2010 : 22:26:01
our boys are 12 this year and have played tounaments since 8u. we normally play 10 tourneys
a year. we are lucky that we can play events close to home, but we have always tried to play
the best competition. usually half our tourneys require motel rooms.
it does help to get a weekend off every now and then. especially with
league ball all week. |
| AA17Dad |
Posted - 06/08/2010 : 18:20:07
I agree completely. Some times the Kids/Families/Coaches/Team all beneifit from a weekend off. There are different oppinions on how much to play and when to take off. Some folks want to play 7,8, weekends in a row without an off weekend. Others will play 2 or 3 and then take one off. This is a GREAT question to ask a coach before you commit to THEIR team. Along the same line of questioning, some teams play alot of local tournaments, others will spend a lot of nights in hotels. Talk to THE HEAD COACH and hope he keeps his word. |
| mrbama31 |
Posted - 06/08/2010 : 17:28:17
Most teams will not take much time off in June. Alot of big/good tourneys to be played during this month. I like the idea of finishing up early to mid July so that the kids have a break b4 school starts back. |
| SSBuckeye |
Posted - 06/08/2010 : 17:10:15
I agree. Most kids will hit a wall if you do that. Plus, you risk burn-out if you go overboard. Some kids can take it, but I don't think it's worth the risk to play 3 months in a row. |
| ecbinsider |
Posted - 06/08/2010 : 16:45:54
Many teams play every other weekend and rarely do they play every weekend in a month. Most seem to play between 10-13 tournaments a year and that starts around March 1st, that's every other weekend.
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