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bmoser
1633 Posts |
 Posted - 08/04/2011 : 12:19:55
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Parents,
If your son is trying out for an Independent travel team not sanctioned by a City/County Park, or trying out for a Pro-Coached team/program...before committing...PLEASE:
Insist upon seeing a written budget of costs. Ask what items might be additional. How many tourney's are included? Uniforms? How many indoor sessions are included? Get the details.
Take the time to check out the Coaches credentials and style. Call past or current players parents for referrals.
If the teams is claiming to have field access at a City or County Park, call the City or County to confirm.
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rippit
667 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2011 : 20:58:53
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| Took me 2 days but I deciphered this one. Nice job!! |
Edited by - rippit on 08/05/2011 21:33:45 |
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Shut Out
512 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2011 : 08:24:04
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| Rippit; that makes 1 of us. little help |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2011 : 09:25:46
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Let me simplify this. When trying out for a new team, ask a lot of questions, and verify all claims through a third party. Don't be too naive and believe everything you are told.
quote:
Originally posted by bmoser
Parents,
If your son is trying out for an Independent travel team not sanctioned by a City/County Park, or trying out for a Pro-Coached team/program...before committing...PLEASE:
Insist upon seeing a written budget of costs. Ask what items might be additional. How many tourney's are included? Uniforms? How many indoor sessions are included? Get the details.
Take the time to check out the Coaches credentials and style. Call past or current players parents for referrals.
If the teams is claiming to have field access at a City or County Park, call the City or County to confirm.
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rippit
667 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2011 : 09:43:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Shut Out
Rippit; that makes 1 of us. little help
Sorry - we've run into just what he's talking about on a couple of different levels. Somebody rents a park for tryouts and tries to pass it off that they "play out of that park". And they don't. They have it for a day or two tops. Or, they advertise "pro coaching" and in reality once practice starts the "pro" is nowhere to be found. And, huge conflicts of interest where a baseball business is concerned in relation to the teams they may try to be forming and folks that work there who actually coach outside teams that aren't related to the business. Thinking that one turns into a money cluster. The list goes on and on and on. |
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baseball papa
123 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2011 : 10:15:18
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| I know that this type thing exists and I am so grateful that I have missed most of the bad experiences. My grandson's have played for the greatest organizations and Coaches that I could have asked for. For the most part the group of parents have always been top notch and for the most part what was promised has been delivered. I know that I am one of the lucky ones and I have heard much about the things bmoser brings up. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2011 : 14:52:59
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Problem is, the culprits never really get called out by name and unsuspecting parents aren't in short supply.
I don't know what the solution is, but I've seen the (small minority) of coaching staffs that do this kind of thing continue to get teams and continue to get full rosters.
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2011 : 10:28:17
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I've considered printing hundreds of business cards with the URL for this web site on one side and EVERYTHING YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT TRAVEL BASEBALL on the other. Then, passing them out to everyone I see at games/tryouts.
If everyone knew about this site, and went to ck it out, we'd all be better off for it.
quote:
Originally posted by AllStar
Problem is, the culprits never really get called out by name and unsuspecting parents aren't in short supply.
I don't know what the solution is, but I've seen the (small minority) of coaching staffs that do this kind of thing continue to get teams and continue to get full rosters.
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sportsman
37 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2011 : 16:40:11
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| bmoser I think you are on to a great idea. Most people have not been through this stuff and end up in bad situations. |
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Hyde
8 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2011 : 19:54:48
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Things could change soon! Fair warning given.
quote:
Originally posted by AllStar
Problem is, the culprits never really get called out by name and unsuspecting parents aren't in short supply.
I don't know what the solution is, but I've seen the (small minority) of coaching staffs that do this kind of thing continue to get teams and continue to get full rosters.
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2011 : 08:14:29
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They are most vulnerable when they explore newly formed teams, or consider playing for unfamiliar Coaches.
That is NOT to say EVERY newly formed team will become a bad situation, or that EVERY unfamiliar Coach is bad.
I'm saying that these 2 situations carry the most risk, and if both circumstances are present, verify EVERYTHING you are told and EVERYTHING you read.
quote:
Originally posted by sportsman
bmoser I think you are on to a great idea. Most people have not been through this stuff and end up in bad situations.
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sward
369 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2011 : 14:42:55
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Not all people who post are/nor should be considered "experts" in knowing what is good or bad. Or what is good information. Half of everything on here is a form of entertainment.
This site is a great resource, but I dont think everything you need to know about travelball can be found here. JMHO. |
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2011 : 07:42:47
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| sward: I agree that a lot of what is written is an opinion and many of the opinions are just from the average everyday baseball parent, grandparent etc. that watch the games and most are not even close to being an expert. I also agree that this site or any site like it for that matter is not a baseball bible that must be read and applied. I think that we all should take what we can use from the posts and leave what we can't use on the post. I am sure that most of the stuff I write is useless information but it comes from a good place an I just hope that 1/2 of what I write can be enertaining but you must admit that this site is read by many and gets much information out to the baseball public that would not be there if not for this site. |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2011 : 11:35:18
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SWard,
Point well taken. I did not mean "everything" literally, but I could have chosen my words more carefully to avoid confusion.
This site creates awareness of more travel baseball issues than any other single resource I have ever come across.
Maybe I print on the back side of the cards "Travel Baseball...Eyes Wide Open!"
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DecaturDad
619 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2011 : 13:13:38
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bmoser,
I think that is a great idea. Even in the off season, I try and read up on this site every day. My son is a multi sport kid, and none of his other sports have this kind of information. |
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RRKnights
16 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2011 : 13:27:09
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| A big problem that I see in travel ball is when parents that are new to it, fresh out of rec ball, that assume it's the same thing when it's not. In rec ball Johnny gets equal play time, in travel play time is earned. Sometimes Johnny was an ace pitcher and SS in rec but plays Outfield in travel and gets pounded on the mound. When this happens it's always the coaches fault and parents don't concider that it might just be a much higher caliber of compitition. My point being, it's not always the coach, but sometimes the situation. |
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rippit
667 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2011 : 14:58:06
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There are also things beyond everyone's control - like the weather. Trite sounding, but true. Planning 10 tournaments this season? Well, if it rains 6 weekends out of 16, throw in 2 dead weekends for spring break, cater to every little whim and wish about Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day and the 4th of July - then you don't have too many weekends left to play tournaments.
Back to my point - things happen. Companies make promises, sponsors bail, and even full teams disappear overnight after holding multiple tryouts that draw kids and keep them from attending other tryouts - then next thing you know the team you THOUGHT your son was playing on next spring just folded...already.
Back to the drawing board for some folks I guess.
Another vent then I'll go away: it takes two sides to tango. How many times do you hear that "Johnny won't play on a daddy ball team" only to find out that the team Johnny ended up on has 4 coaches with 5 kids amongst them?? Some folks never learn I guess.
This is why I am not a believer of commitments in July/August for teams that won't play a game until March (if the annual monsoon stays away - lol).Make a commitment for fall and go from there. Please don't rush it. If Johnny is good enough for team 2 now, he may be good enough from team 1 in 6 months...just keep working hard! |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2011 : 16:41:17
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All great points. I love how we get Coaches, Dads, Moms, and even Umpires point of view on this forum. I wish I knew of this forum back in 8U before making the leap into travel ball with my son in 9U.
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