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rippit
667 Posts |
 Posted - 07/03/2012 : 14:06:25
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"What level is this team playing at?"
Why does every parent (almost every parent) over estimate the ability of their player?
I'd seriously like to know what the guys here think. We've had topics like this before. Coaches say they want to win 50% of their games. Some parents want their kid to be the stud of the team and others want their kid to be on a winning team REGARDLESS of how much playing time the kid gets or doesn't get.
If you have been asking this question, WHY? Afraid he'll be too good for everybody else? Or are you afraid he can't keep up? |
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Spartan4
913 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 15:47:55
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| Maybe people just want their kid to play against the best available competition around?!?! |
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OldeTymer
42 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 16:31:11
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| When I have heard it asked, it was out of respect to the coach's time. If you know your player is a good AA player but the team in question is a AAA or major, why not be respectful of the coach and figure out ahead of time if your player stands a shot at making the team? |
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BaseballMom6
233 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 16:31:59
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| I would ask because my son will be looking to play his first year of travel ball next year and I don't want him to play on a team that is too far above his level where he will watch more than play. 2 sides of every coin. He may be better than I think he is, but we are trying to be reasonable with our expectations. I am not looking for him to be the best, I'd be dissappointed if he was, he will learn and grow more if he is in the middle of the pack. |
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mdschert
47 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 16:49:37
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| As a parent that question is very important. My son hit over .500 average this past season. I want to make sure he is challenged to his ability so going a level up makes sense. |
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excoach12
159 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 17:38:16
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My kid has now been on 3 travel teams and has never failed to be the leader in offensive stats and is the kid the coaches say they want at the plate or on the mound when the game is on the line.
This does him no good.
I want him on a team where he will be the 3rd or 4th best at the plate and will be pushed by the others to be better. I want him to fight for his position and to have to continue fighting to keep it.
So I ask the question "Are you playing Major or AAA and how strong are your core players" so I can gauge if my kid will be pushed by his peers to get better and work harder.
Below the age of 14 I don't care how many tournaments are played or how many games are won. I want my kid to be coached by the best I can find for him and I want him to learn how to maximize his practice and playing time so he continues to improve. Being stagnant does him no good. |
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peashooter
297 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 22:37:21
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I have seen time and time again parents think Johnny is a AAA or major player. They forget that baseball is 90% mental, and their kids can't show up when it counts in a game. Then they don't understand why. He is great at practice....bla bla bla.
BP All-American...thats what we called them. |
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PerfectGame
55 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2012 : 00:34:48
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How about coaches who won't take a second look at a kid who's been playing AA and is ready to move up to AAA or Major? Just because a kid has been playing AA doesn't mean he's a AA player. Just like a kid who has been playing AAA or Major doesn't mean he's a AAA/Major player.
Way too many overinflated egos in youth travel baseball ... and I'm not talking about the kids. |
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excoach12
159 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 09:56:07
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I'll stir the pot with a tangential point...................
I have seen 20 or 30 very strong AAA players who could easily hold their own against any of the current Major or elite players but play AAA because their families can't afford the big trips these teams make to all the out of state tourneys. Or can't afford the ridiculous team fees charged simply because of the name on the front of the jersey.
I said it 5 years ago and I stick by it today- Being a Major level team does not mean you have all Major level players. It means you have several Major level players and others who can write the checks.
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Mad1
252 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 12:59:18
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quote:
Originally posted by excoach12
I'll stir the pot with a tangential point...................
I have seen 20 or 30 very strong AAA players who could easily hold their own against any of the current Major or elite players but play AAA because their families can't afford the big trips these teams make to all the out of state tourneys. Or can't afford the ridiculous team fees charged simply because of the name on the front of the jersey.
I said it 5 years ago and I stick by it today- Being a Major level team does not mean you have all Major level players. It means you have several Major level players and others who can write the checks.
Totally Agree with excoach12. We have 3 current Major level players that contacted us and are coming to tryouts for our AAA team for next year for that very reason. |
Edited by - Mad1 on 07/05/2012 14:29:56 |
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diamonddad
59 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 15:50:08
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quote:
Originally posted by peashooter
I have seen time and time again parents think Johnny is a AAA or major player. They forget that baseball is 90% mental, and their kids can't show up when it counts in a game. Then they don't understand why. He is great at practice....bla bla bla.
BP All-American...thats what we called them.
In the BIGS, they would call him a "five o'clock hitter." In other words...he kills it in BP before the game, but never delivers when it counts during the game. I also agree that the biggest difference at the high-major/elite level baseball isn't the skill of the player so much as how they respond mentally to the pressure situations when the game is on the line. |
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ramman999
241 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 16:48:48
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a few things on this topic.
#1 A "major" level player can be a standout on any level team. For the most part, the difference between competitive AA and AAA teams might be just a player or 2, same goes for AAA and Major - I am not talking top 25 in the nation level, but just a quality top level team. Asking a coach about the level just really establishes the level of competition to expect - no shame in a team not being a major level team if the instruction and coaching is good - I'd rather my son play AA or AAA with coaches that get it, then play Major with coaches that don't have a clue.. There are more local tournament options with AA and AAA anyway...
#2 - Nowadays, parents use the level as some sort of status. Used to be you would overhear "oh, your son plays rec ball, well we play TRAVELBALL"....
Today, it is "oh, your son plays AA ball, well we play MAJOR".... Travel ball has gotten watered down over the years, and the politics are no different there than in the various rec leagues across the country
At the younger ages, I've seen AA teams give AAA teams a run for it's money on a regular basis, and I've seen AAA teams that can beat some Major teams one on one, but don't have the pitching depth to compete over the course of a weekend against several in a given tournament - a lot of time the difference isn't so much talent as it is depth..
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Edited by - ramman999 on 07/05/2012 18:28:33 |
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excoach12
159 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2012 : 17:48:37
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Good point diamonddad,
I have explained to my wife that our son is not an elite level player because he shows too much emotion when struck out and if balls/strikes don't go his way he carries too much anger into the next pitch. When he matures mentally he will be highly competitive with elite players. |
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Outsider
7 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2012 : 15:57:22
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| You all need to realize this is youth baseball. The goal should be to find a team / coach that your son enjoys playing on / for. Not whether he is playing AA / AAA or Majors. The next goal should be your son making his high school team. Which many travel ball kids won't. After high school very few will be good enough to earn a scholarship to college. So enjoy it now while your kid still likes playing and has many options in Georgia. Don't get caught up worrying about the level he his playing, his batting average or ERA because for most of you it will be over before you know it. |
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