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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
 Posted - 08/28/2009 : 09:07:19
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Papa could not stand the thought of this age group not having any topics and thought it would be nice if some of us old timers could give some encouragement and add some excitement to this group. Papa might just adopt a team here if he can find one that has the right ingredients.
What I want us to help the Coaches in this group do is to realize what the ingredients for a great team in this age group is.
What are the goals of this group. How do we bring them along and get them ready for the next steps in their baseball lives.
Let's help them out guys. Start posting your advice to these Coaches, Let them know what to be looking for, where their challenges will be. Remember if you Build it and they will come |
Edited by - baseballpapa on 08/28/2009 09:07:59 |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2009 : 09:30:02
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| Play rec ball for the next three years. |
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Phattso
143 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2009 : 12:41:34
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quote:
Originally posted by AllStar
Play rec ball for the next three years.
Must be coming from someone that hasn't been in the rec ball "arena" in a while.
I have been coaching for the past 5 years and the last 2 have been with the upcoming 8U age group. The years previous to that were with the upcoming 11U age group. And I am still very much involved with the 11U age group. I can tell you that this age group is as talented as the 11U age group.
You wouldn't believe the type of baseball these kids can play at such a young age. The problem is that these kids are hungry for better competition. During their rec. seasons they may only have a kid or 2 on the team that they can throw the ball to. So, when summer comes around and it's time to be competitive again, it takes time for these kids to step it up a notch like they know how.
8U travel ball provides a foundation that allows these kids to play ball as a team, year round. Some of our kids are playing football and some are playing rec. fall baseball. But, on Sundays we get together as a group and continue to lay that foundation to get better. We may end up playing in a fall tourney, but most likely we will just be scrimmaging other 8U teams in the area. Spring and summer is where we will get cranked up and see what we are made of. Travel ball allows for us to make our own schedule, allows for more time for fundraising and it keeps this dynamic group together as a team year round.
I look forward to playing some new teams out there and battling against some more recent foes like the Boynton Buzz and Hobgood Heat. We've had some incredible battles over the last 2 years and I look forward to more in the future. We've loaded up, so they better come ready
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bambino_dad
119 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2009 : 14:36:35
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quote:
Play rec ball for the next three years.
Ha. Rec ball isn't for everybody - even at age eight. Some kids pick up skills and develop faster at that age for reasons unknown. The ability to hit, catch, and throw with velocity and accuracy are difficult skills but kids at that age can and do master them.
As for rec ball, it can get dangerous out there. When your kid smashes yet another line shot that whistles past the 3rd baseman's ear without the fielder even knowing what just happened - it's time to find that travel team. At least that was our cue.
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ATURNER
84 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2009 : 18:57:07
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The #1 CHALLENGE (Papa asked for them) is NO SUPPORT from local parks becuase these players should "STAY IN REC" as AllStar said.....at least that's the majority opinion. Eventually it WILL become the norm as parents figure out there IS an alternative to rec. Just may take another few years.
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Edited by - ATURNER on 08/31/2009 20:43:21 |
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LeftyBat
160 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2009 : 20:23:50
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Well my thoughts are that the 8U travel season was one of my sons BEST baseball experiences. We had just finished playing up 8U as a 7 year old and it was clear that my son no longer wanted to play baseball on a team that had 4 players who could or would take the time to comprehend the rules and master basic skills like throwing, catching and hitting. Got tired of the boy in right field playing in the dirt because his parents wanted him to play baseball. Got tired of sacrificing 5 weeks of REC ball out of the park, just to go through a highly politicized process to get picked on an all star team so our son could play with 7 kids who could throw, catch and hit and then go to the Dizzy Dean or Little League world series and get smeared by teams of little boys who were either travel teams, all star teams from one town instead of one park, or maybe just plain better than his team. Bottom line is as all stars, our sons team was not competitive. But at least we got a glimps of what could be....
So when we asked to start a travel ball team at 8U we were told a big NO by our county parks and rec team and the local park. (Believe at least three of our original 11 came out of your park Angie...) It was assumed that when we were told no, that we would just fall in line with the powers that be. Instead we became the first 8U travel ball team out of our county. This meant the wrath of our county parks and rec. Our taxes no longer mattered, we could not get a field EVEN if it was open. We were banned from the county parks.
No matter, we found fields outside of the county and we had a blast. Took 11 of the best boys we could find from all over the county and made our own team with our own coach. Made the championship of our last five tourneys, won disney memorial day blast to end our season. Little did we know what was to come... It was a shame the local park and the county was protective of their players, thought they could keep us in our place. We would have much preferred to do it within the parks and rec system.
My two cents is that 8U is not too early for some boys to play travel. True, it is too early for most, but if your child stands out from a skill standpoint, understands the rules well, and is competitive and WANTS to play on a better team, its probably a good idea to let him.
Find a team with a good coach. With some baseball experience. With a positive coaching style. Audition him just like he auditions his kids. Be prepared to spend a lot more money, but trust me, as a parent might have a lot more fun and think it was the best entertainment money could buy.
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Around the Horn
39 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2009 : 09:43:30
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I agree phatso. I don't think you can detemine if a player is ready for travel ball based on their age. I have had the experience of having great spring seasons in rec ball only to have to start over in the fall because inevitably you find a few players that are behind on the fundamentals. When a player is no longer challenged and the teams are not advancing at the pacee he needs, its time.
I have been amazed at the level 8 yr olds are now capable of playing at. Now granted, we have gotten our butts kicked a couple times in all stars but you could see it in the players that they realize they have to work at this. A lot of what separates travel from rec is a desire to improve. I have always liked the saying that you are only as good as your opponents. If you play less devolped teams it is much more difficult for you to improve. If you go out and play on a team where everyone understands the game, can throw, catch and hit and are playing teams of equal and better caliber, the players feed off of this. The confidence factor goes up, the skill level improves, and the kids are enjoying what they are accomplishing. |
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cop311
44 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2009 : 00:11:05
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| Very true. Rec ball just isn't worth anything for some kids past maybe 6-7. My youngest just turned 5 and is playing Fall Rec. My oldest plays 11u travel but this fall his team has mixed into a rec league with other rec players of the same age on the team due to football season. Many rec players are so far behind that its almost scary to watch. I foresee a substantial injury coming. You can tell the frustration is already setting in with the 5 year old because of the kids who are only out there because they are being told to. Pretty sad when a 5 year old can tell when a kid is just out there to play in the dirt. Definitely wish there was a way to separate the kids who want to play without playing "travel" at this young. |
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clarkdawgs67
87 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2009 : 14:23:51
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So was it ever determined what the official pitching distance is for 8U? I would assume it is 40'?
Does anybody have any radar numbers for 8U? I know at this age its about instilling good mechanics and location but I was just curious.
I agree, rec. ball is not neccessarly good for some players but is perfect for others. |
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lottapop
257 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2009 : 08:39:13
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| Back in June we attended a baseball camp put on by Faulkner University, my son was clocked @ 46mph, he was 7yo at the time. |
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Phattso
143 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2009 : 11:57:10
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quote:
Originally posted by clarkdawgs67
So was it ever determined what the official pitching distance is for 8U? I would assume it is 40'?
Does anybody have any radar numbers for 8U? I know at this age its about instilling good mechanics and location but I was just curious.
I agree, rec. ball is not neccessarly good for some players but is perfect for others.
I've had a chance to clock the kids on my team (8U) and we have a lefty that is @ 50, a couple that are 47-48 and another 3 or 4 that are 45ish. I would say AVERAGE is in the low 40's...
But, none of that matters without LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!! |
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coachdan06
433 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2009 : 00:08:17
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for yall new to the travel prospects and for purposes of this subject allow an old boy like yours truly give ya the honest 411 :
NO ONE knows at ages 11 on down who as a player is going to even be a high school prospect - yes I said High School .
So many years we have watched the so called "studs" of 8 9 10 U quickly disappear from teh travel circuit once 11 12 and beyond realities set in
Those are :
big kids of 8 9 or 10 are not the big kids any more sometimes theyre now the little kids
big kids get even bigger and the larger field requiring speed and more quickness openly disadvantages them amongst the faster and quicker kids
dad cant or doesnt coach them anymore and the new coach doesn't judge them like dad did so theyre not batting cleanup every game and heralded as the stud
they lose interest
My strong reccomendation after watching all this for 3 decades is to let them play park or what some call rec ball, let them learn to love the game , and then you put them in a travel or competitive situation about 11 maybe 12 years old - even then they may quit after a couple of years if too much pressure to perform rather than PLAY THE GAME ive seen that too
just my observations and my very best to all ! |
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PumknHead
81 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2010 : 22:29:15
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| I say play Coach Pitch and play lots of it! The boys learn how to play defense and they build their confidence at bat. |
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