| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| momshell |
Posted - 07/08/2011 : 19:44:47
Well moms,
Here we we are at the end of a season and a month away(give or take) from the tryouts for the 2012 season. What is your player doing? Staying put or moving on? How many teams will your player try out for if you are moving on? What are you looking for in a team moving forward(even if you are staying)?
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| baseballdandy |
Posted - 02/24/2016 : 10:50:11
I'm sorry bbsis, I totally missed your reply above. While you do not need my response at this late date, I am going to respond for future Moms reading through and "trying to navigate" these travel ball waters. The coach communicated to us in private that he definitely wanted my son to return for the next year. Our coach did not have a kid on the team so it was not a "Dad" situation. After a lackluster season, he knew he needed to rebuild in some ways and wanted us to understand what his goals were and that my son would be one of the core players he wanted to keep. Even though the season stats were not what we wanted, my son still learned and progressed in his skills which, next to maintaining his love of the game, is most important to us. It really made us, and the other core players, want to support the coach more. That said, there is still a bit of unease in that rebuilding process as to what the quality of the "New" team will look like. I could say a lot more about our personal experience but I'll keep it brief and say that I think the parent has to do what's in the best interest of your child, follow your gut and do your homework. If you feel comfortable that the team is moving in the direction that is best for your son, then you would be in a great spot. If you begin to have too much uncertainty regarding the status of the team and/or the rebuilding process, I think you owe it to your son to explore his options. At least then you have choices and can feel better about your decision, whatever that ends up being. |
| bbsis |
Posted - 07/18/2015 : 19:50:53
dandy, awesome to have a spot (and your son must like the team to be staying). how do you/your son know that the spot is a sure thing besides possibly dad being the coach? and if that is the case, how does the coach convey that information to the 3-5 players? are those players satisfied enough to stay that they will not be attending tryouts elsewhere? |
| baseballdandy |
Posted - 07/18/2015 : 13:52:16
I can say our team has only a few core players (3-5) that know they have a spot on the team. My son is one of those. I do feel it is important for him to go to the tryouts to 1) show his support for his team and coaches 2) Represent what the core talent looks like to those new players looking at the team and 3) There are other returning players trying out who like to see and know the players they enjoyed playing with will still be on the team with them. I have other strong feelings about why my son should try out but those are in response to your scenario, at least I think they are. The big difference is, however, our tryouts are free this year. |
| bbsis |
Posted - 07/18/2015 : 10:55:07
rumor (and truthfully i might add) has it most of the teams only have a few openings. would like to know how many returning players know FOR SURE that they are still on the team but must attend tryouts anyway. or would knowing that you made the team in advance ruin the sham of paying a "tryout" fee for all the others who would like to earn one of the few remaining spots on the team? |
| bfriendly |
Posted - 07/18/2015 : 09:35:50
And as another year goes by, this thread comes back into the reality that is travel ball in July.........
This is a first for me as we have simply "Walked-On" after the first workout the last 3 years and "Committed".....Even though we had fun and our son grew and got better. We were Overall disappointed in the performance of the teams we were on. This years approach will be different. We are somewhat Shopping and I am not too concerned if we get call backs or not. Every year there seem to be teams adding players in the late fall and even Winter.......I feel like an Agent |
| Ballpark_Weenies |
Posted - 07/22/2014 : 23:13:56
Even though these posts are a couple of years old, they are still helpful. Thanks for the insight. |
| bbmom2 |
Posted - 08/04/2012 : 19:47:56
quote:
Originally posted by b@s3b@11
quote:
Originally posted by bbmom2
With the money we are about to shell out - our son had better get a phone call!!
We feel good about where we've ended up. While it was tempting to go for the most elite team, we knew the right fit wasn't there yet. I kind of felt like we would get eaten alive. I'd rather have a good experience all around and I think we've found it.
Enjoy and have an awesome year!! |
| b@s3b@11 |
Posted - 08/03/2012 : 17:02:38
quote:
Originally posted by bbmom2
With the money we are about to shell out - our son had better get a phone call!!
Right?! I've already figured out that there are just as many flaky coaches out there as there are flaky parents (or almost as many). Our first tryout season has been a good experience though. I did my homework too (I'm just one of those OCD information freaks!) so we knew what we were walking into with each team my son worked out with.
We feel good about where we've ended up. While it was tempting to go for the most elite team, we knew the right fit wasn't there yet. I kind of felt like we would get eaten alive. I'd rather have a good experience all around and I think we've found it.
Now I'm ready to play some baseball! |
| bbmom2 |
Posted - 08/02/2012 : 14:53:39
quote:
Originally posted by b@s3b@11
I asked this on the age board too but should've come straight to y'all.
Do coaches generally call or email with offers?
And what's the etiquette as far deferring an answer for a few days?
With the money we are about to shell out - our son had better get a phone call!! LOL! Seriously - we've only gotten phone calls. First couple of years they talked to parents - last two years it was to our son. We talk extensively as a family about choices and priorities and coaches and other players. We do our homework long before the silly season begins so we are prepared.
As others in the main forum post said - just be honest. It's too small of a baseball world to be dishonest. Coaches know who is trying out where. By starting out with an honest relationship, it sets the stage moving forward. Last year we delayed an answer for several weeks but told the coach why we needed to do that. He was fine with it and "held" the space for our son. We felt no pressure to answer as we had been up front. This team was our first choice anyway we just had a tryout commitment we had to fulfill. Both coaches knew where he stood the whole time... we would not have felt right had we not been upfront. |
| b@s3b@11 |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 21:46:36
I asked this on the age board too but should've come straight to y'all.
Do coaches generally call or email with offers?
And what's the etiquette as far deferring an answer for a few days? |
| maryland |
Posted - 09/16/2011 : 00:26:09
Maybe all you moms check out the 12U Milton Mallards, a new team in Milton, Georgia. For information go to "12u Openings and Tryouts Forum" and get information about a new approach to look at Travel Ball. No coaches have sons on this team.
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| momshell |
Posted - 08/12/2011 : 09:06:08
We have a home too!!! Crazy season is over for us and on to a new year!!!!! |
| barsred98 |
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 22:43:04
I'm dancing with ya Rippit! Sometimes you just know your kid is where he is supposed to be and we are SO excited to be there! Can't wait! |
| rippit |
Posted - 08/01/2011 : 19:24:43
quote:
Originally posted by bbmom2
Yeah- our tryout season is over. Accepted offer yesterday and all is well. Now... let's just hope all the homework and investigation and referrals and references paid off! Looking forward to starting practicing and meeting the other families.
Yesssssssssss!!! Rippit's son doing the happy dance as well!!! Feel like George Jefferson...'NOW WE MOVIN' ON UP!!! TO THE TOP!!!!"
Proud of that kid! He did what he had to do for the last 24 months, trusted his mom, and it's paying off NOW!!! |
| bbmom2 |
Posted - 08/01/2011 : 16:19:18
Yeah- our tryout season is over. Accepted offer yesterday and all is well. Now... let's just hope all the homework and investigation and referrals and references paid off! Looking forward to starting practicing and meeting the other families. |
| bbmom2 |
Posted - 07/29/2011 : 14:54:02
Big tryout weekend coming up... everyone ready?!?
Possibly 4 for us this weekend - 1 really meaningful. May blow off Sundays for a break as they are not teams on our radar at all - son just wants the workout. Depends...
Rippit- been kinda laughing for a couple of days at the "not seeing" people remark. Yup - in reality probably more that you don't want to see than do want to see! Pulled up on Tuesday night and there one sat... ugh... after our threads on this forum - trying very hard not to be someone's "ugh."
Enjoy the weekend all and good luck! |
| rippit |
Posted - 07/26/2011 : 12:32:22
quote:
Originally posted by bbmom2
Into the next week and another tryout week gone by. Good tryouts and not so good tryouts. Offers but trying to hold off and make sure we take the right one. Coaches do it - can't players? 
One thing about this year I enjoy is seeing families we haven't seen in a while -other than opposite bleachers during tournaments - this is a small world we participate in and when you've been around a while - you get to know a lot of people.
Hope everyone is having a good tryout season and your player finds the team for him!
It's funny you mentioned seeing families you haven't seen in a while. While that can be a good thing, it can also be a bad thing - LOL.
Truth be told, we've not gone back to a couple because of who we saw there. Too bad you can't get a list of who all has committed BEFORE you make your final decision.
Also, is it just me, or does anybody else feel like it's WAY too early to stress over the final roster for games that won't be played until March? A lot of these daddies are all talk and no action. They are playing a game with their son as a pawn trying to feed their own giant egos.
Unless you're up there with the Astros (and even then you run the risk of getting knocked off down the road), nothing is final until the fat lady sings where rosters are concerned. There are well run/well coached teams out there who haven't made any noise yet about tryouts for their spring teams. Everybody coming back??? Well, that's what they think. Wait till all the dominos fall and spots open up. |
| bbmom2 |
Posted - 07/26/2011 : 07:46:07
Into the next week and another tryout week gone by. Good tryouts and not so good tryouts. Offers but trying to hold off and make sure we take the right one. Coaches do it - can't players?
One thing about this year I enjoy is seeing families we haven't seen in a while -other than opposite bleachers during tournaments - this is a small world we participate in and when you've been around a while - you get to know a lot of people.
Hope everyone is having a good tryout season and your player finds the team for him!
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| bbmom2 |
Posted - 07/21/2011 : 11:01:48
quote:
Originally posted by Bball11
Hi All, I'm new to this forum and getting very anxious as I read. My son is new to travel as well and looking for a 14U team. He has 10 years under his belt. I don't know how to find the "pre-tryouts" and am fearful that I'm starting too late. How do I get him in front of some teams before they are all full? Please help!
BBall11 - don't sweat it - but easier said than done. Look further down in the age appropriate category - many teams post there. Or, if you know the teams you are interested in, email the coaches directly. Sometimes this takes a little undercover work via Google to find a team's site - especially if they are not part of an organization.
From our experiences - some things I've learned and learned the hard way. As much as you want to teach your child about commitment and honoring obligations, we've discovered this is an "industry" that doesn't really support that as you get older. We stayed with a team this year that we should have left long before the end of the season, son wasn't developing or learning or being challenged but felt we should stick it out and not be a "team jumper." Coming back to bite us in the butt. (I figure if Rippit can say blow I can say butt! ;-) There are postings ALL YEAR long for players so don't get nervous or feel you have to make a decision NOW that you have to live with. Any team that says they won't give you a refund or wants ALL the money up front, don't do it. I heard of players that were stuck last year - after a hefty up front fee to play - team was a wreck and no one could leave without threats and wasting quite a bit of money.
If it feels wrong it is wrong. Pay attention to those "mommy warnings" we have built in and make sure it's good for all of you- player and parents. This group becomes your second family and you need to be comfortable. (probably another whole new thread here.)
Good luck!! |
| Bball11 |
Posted - 07/21/2011 : 08:14:50
Hi All, I'm new to this forum and getting very anxious as I read. My son is new to travel as well and looking for a 14U team. He has 10 years under his belt. I don't know how to find the "pre-tryouts" and am fearful that I'm starting too late. How do I get him in front of some teams before they are all full? Please help! |
| rippit |
Posted - 07/20/2011 : 08:30:56
quote:
Originally posted by momshell
What we're finding is that a lot of coaches are trying to get their team set for the most part before tryouts. They're not taking any chances. I'm thinking that they only want to have to fill 1 or 2 slots from open tryouts.
I have read the posts about the bad tryouts. I hope we don't have to go through one of those.
I think they do this because basically, tryouts blow. (Can I say that here??)
I think I'd rather put a team together based on who everybody knows, but I guess that really only works in the older age groups after they've all been around a while. Of course any super elite team will want only the best, but based on the age specific discussion boards here, there are only about 5 of those teams in the entire state of GA and the rest of us are just scenery.
We've been to 5 tryouts (14U A, AA, AAA and Major plus 15U AAA) and 3 were pointless. The other two moved quickly, were instructional, fostered competition and were fun to watch. Have 5 more we want to go to, but the call backs are starting to overlap some of the others. Since one of those teams we've been to is very well liked by my son, it may be time to just focus there and cross fingers.
Or, all y'all with 14U players can email me and we'll just form our own team. Who has a field and who wants to coach? |
| cubs12 |
Posted - 07/19/2011 : 20:19:45
quote:
Originally posted by rippit
Gus: touchemall mentioned the sales pitches - I just said if I ever heard one I'd run. I think some businesses try to sell memberships or something. No personal experience there.
The money grab - there are several kinds in my opinion. Some are teams just trying to fill a roster because they want the money. But what are you getting for the money? I'm not saying the coach is grabbing money. If he's a paid coach then he's a paid coach. I think in the situation I mentioned he was just an innocent bystander.
Parents who "pay to play" can fall into a trap. Sure travel ball costs money. Be mindful that there are parents out there who demand field time because they paid "good money". What they are doing is trying to buy a spot on a team for their kid. I probably shouldn't mention this because somebody out there might have a stroke, but in the DISTANT past I've been aware of parents trying to bribe coaches for more playing time and higher batting order spots and the coaches accepted. All this in detriment to other players AND the team . But back to the original topic...
This (parents with the pay to play mentality) becomes problematic when half the team wants to win by putting the best 9 out there on any given day and the other half just wants to play and whoever put the team together didn't consider that fact when filling the roster. Find out what the goal of the team is by discussing it with the coaches - before the season starts - because they won't change things half way through. And see if the team has a code of conduct available for everyone to sign. And find out if it will really be enforced. Good luck. After all that this early in the AM I'm not even sure why we put ourselves through this!
Good post! This is all very common and unfortunate. In the end, I think it only hurts the child because they are not playing based on talent but on the pockets of their parents. |
| Gus Ball Still Wins |
Posted - 07/19/2011 : 09:05:42
Got it. Thank you. |
| rippit |
Posted - 07/19/2011 : 07:25:34
Gus: touchemall mentioned the sales pitches - I just said if I ever heard one I'd run. I think some businesses try to sell memberships or something. No personal experience there.
The money grab - there are several kinds in my opinion. Some are teams just trying to fill a roster because they want the money. But what are you getting for the money? I'm not saying the coach is grabbing money. If he's a paid coach then he's a paid coach. I think in the situation I mentioned he was just an innocent bystander.
Parents who "pay to play" can fall into a trap. Sure travel ball costs money. Be mindful that there are parents out there who demand field time because they paid "good money". What they are doing is trying to buy a spot on a team for their kid. I probably shouldn't mention this because somebody out there might have a stroke, but in the DISTANT past I've been aware of parents trying to bribe coaches for more playing time and higher batting order spots and the coaches accepted. All this in detriment to other players AND the team. But back to the original topic...
This (parents with the pay to play mentality) becomes problematic when half the team wants to win by putting the best 9 out there on any given day and the other half just wants to play and whoever put the team together didn't consider that fact when filling the roster. Find out what the goal of the team is by discussing it with the coaches - before the season starts - because they won't change things half way through. And see if the team has a code of conduct available for everyone to sign. And find out if it will really be enforced. Good luck. After all that this early in the AM I'm not even sure why we put ourselves through this! |
| Gus Ball Still Wins |
Posted - 07/18/2011 : 22:02:36
quote:
Originally posted by rippit
Quick check in: things going well, just busy. How about the rest of you?
EVERY coach says they are preparing the kids for high school...in reality, few actually do. Been to 2 awfully terribly handled tryouts and turned them down as a result and one was going to be coached by a 9th grade high school coach. Money grab.
The other 2 were exceptionally well run and have call backs - no taking the kids after one go see. Both went great.
If anything, it's fun to go for the experience if you have the time. Turns out it's a small world after all.
Sorry for the naive questions, but we are just starting out in the travel ball world. What do you mean by referencing a sales pitch? What should I look out for, and how do you spot reality from fantasy? Also, as far as the 9th grade coach, how is that a money grab? Was he a paid coach?
Thank you for the benefit of your experience. |
