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Krisb1219
3 Posts |
 Posted - 05/16/2012 : 23:30:05
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I have a 9 year old that loves baseball and is very competitive. For the last couple of years, we have just played at the park close to us. But lately I just feel that it is not helping to maximize the potential he has. He is a very small 9 year old and has played 3rd base for the last 3 years and is able to throw someone out at 1st with no problem. I would also like to see if he has any potential to become a pitcher but his last coach never gave him a chance. This was his first year in kid pitched. He could have done better, but I do feel that he was one of the better players on the team considering it was his first time playing kid pitched. He was usually the 2nd batter in the line-up. I think he is just naturally a good ball player but he needs a team that is competitive and has some good coaches that will challenge him. Anyone know where I can find that?
Thanks,
KB |
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Coach Pete
33 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 08:34:54
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Kris,
You've come to the right place. Look on this forum, you'll see posts about teams all over the place. You can look at the tryouts pages if you scroll down on the NWBA forum page. Depending where you live and how far you want to drive would be the main thing. But there are literally dozens of teams all over the Atlanta area.
Before getting into travel though, has your son played All Stars through his park? Might be a real good experience for he and you to see the difference between rec ball and all star tourne ball. Good luck. |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 08:50:06
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KB,
I think you need to consider another path first. Given your assessment of the past season, I would HIGHLY recommend that you seek some professional lessons, specifically centered around pitching and hitting during the off-season.
You could jump directly into travel ball now and find yourself in the exact same situation you described, except you'll be paying $1,200+ to do it. I think by pursuing lessons during the summer and fall will do two things. Give your child FAR more focused attention and development on two specific skills that may help him, and get you a "second opinion" on where you child skills currently lie individually, and in comparison to some of his peers. If you seek lessons from one of the "academies" out there (ECB, 643, Elite, etc), or even one of the fine individual teaching coaches on this forum (search the forum for key phrases like "lessons" and you'll find a ton of personal references), you'll get someone with experience working with players your son's age as well as a person who can be honest of how he stacks up.
I think that this would be a great first step and will also provide the most immediate path toward improving those specific skills.
Realize that if you jump onto a travel team, there is no guarantee that you'll necessarily get great pitching instruction (so you'll need to be prepared to augment that with lessons) or hitting instruction (ditto). Take that money and jump into some lessons and you'll learn a few things about your son.
1. How he responds to higher level instruction (is he coachable)
2. Is he willing to work and put forth a higher effort (he'll need to practice between lessons)
3. Does he enjoy it? Is he playing now to play with friends, will he want to start an unfamiliar venture?
Also, I assume he's playing Rec ball today. Did he make is all-star team for the summer? If not, why?
Get the lessons and work with the instructor to get a good assessment. Then, if you make great progress over the summer, he'll be prepared to tryout for some travel teams in the fall. The more prepared and talented your son is, the more options you'll have with respect to selecting teams. Prepare now and then see what you want to do in a few months. If you don't tryout this fall, there are always openings come spring, so don't sweat it.
I'm sure you'll get a lot of differing opinions from mine, but I think that this would be the best value for your money since you're not locked into anything at this time. |
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Mad Scientist
92 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 12:40:32
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| Take him to some tryouts |
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hshuler
1074 Posts |
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Coachof3
97 Posts |
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Krisb1219
3 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 16:27:24
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Thanks so much for all the different opinions. The park my son played at didn't have all stars. I guess I'm at the wrong park all together or maybe it's just the area I'm in. Not sure but I will definitely get him into some lessons. A couple of years ago he was taking lessons but we never put him back into it, he just played ball and my husband practices with him all the time. I live close to the Hiram area...where is a good competitive park in that area? I am just a competitive person...my daughter has participated in Allstar Cheerleading since she was 5 years old and she was on undefeated teams. I know that it takes hard work and dedication to be good but it also takes that child loving that sport. I would love to get him in lessons and maybe just take him to a try out just to see where he stands. I know I'm prejudice because he's my son, but I personally think he's just a natural. Thanks again for all the info!!! :)
Kris |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2012 : 17:48:44
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| GPA Hooks, California Park and Oregon Park are the first that come to my mind closest to that area. |
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bigmcbb
46 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 09:54:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Krisb1219
Thanks so much for all the different opinions. The park my son played at didn't have all stars. I guess I'm at the wrong park all together or maybe it's just the area I'm in. Not sure but I will definitely get him into some lessons. A couple of years ago he was taking lessons but we never put him back into it, he just played ball and my husband practices with him all the time. I live close to the Hiram area...where is a good competitive park in that area? I am just a competitive person...my daughter has participated in Allstar Cheerleading since she was 5 years old and she was on undefeated teams. I know that it takes hard work and dedication to be good but it also takes that child loving that sport. I would love to get him in lessons and maybe just take him to a try out just to see where he stands. I know I'm prejudice because he's my son, but I personally think he's just a natural. Thanks again for all the info!!! :)
Kris
Kris, check out Strike One Sports (one of the NWBA sponsors). Chris Cumberland is a fantastic instructor. His facility is brand new and is in Hiram. Chris was a professional pitcher and is great with kids. I take my son there twice a week and I have to drag him out each time. He loves it there because Chris works him hard but makes it fun. I believe Chris will have some summer camps too. |
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Krisb1219
3 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2012 : 17:16:49
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| Thanks!! I will check it out!!! |
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