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lal
4 Posts |
 Posted - 07/18/2009 : 18:38:13
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| Greetings. I am new to the forum and a parent of a soon to be 12U player. He has played rec ball since he was 7 and the last two summers has played summer all star ball. He would like to play full time travel but we are not sure if he is ready. How does one decide? How does one choose a team? What do coaches look for in a player new to travel ball? We do not want him to burn out - he absolutely LOVES the game - and is a good player - probably the best player on his summer team this year. I've been impressed with a the answers on this forum to the general discussion questions and I am looking forward to your thoughts on this. Thank you coaches. |
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dblinkh1
39 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2009 : 09:27:32
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I would suggest you start at your home park for information. If you have travel teams at your home park contact one of those coaches. They don't have to be the 12U coach but they will be familiar with travel baseball in general and can probably offer good advice.
Secondly teams are looking for players now for next year so contact teams that are within the area you are willing to drive. Attend a few tryouts and ask lots of questions of the parents who are at the tryouts. You will find parents who stay with the same teams for years and others who jump around but they are a great resource for information.
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743
215 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2009 : 09:37:03
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If he is the best player on his summer team he will probably be a 7th or 8th player on a Major travel team, be ready for that, sometimes kids can't handle that.
I would let him tryout for some 12U teams and you and him and see how he compares to the other players out there. May want to start with a nearby rec park that formed a travel team at his age group first. If he makes that team then tryou East Cobb and see if anyone over there is interested. Dont commit to any team until you have decided what is best for him. Ask parents about the coaches and really watch how they work with the kids how organized their tryout is etc etc. If he doesn't make any teams that he tries out for then he probably isnt ready. Most coaches will tell you why he didnt make the team and it will give you some things to work on. Go by word of mouth first on people whos son has played for a coach first, but get more than one opinion if you can. Travel baseball is a crazy monster and I have seen some crazy stuff. Seen great coaches one year become ego maniacs the next. You just never know what you might get from one year to the next. |
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gabulldogs
29 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2009 : 10:32:51
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| I can give a little insight to what your asking, but there is a lot to travel baseball. I have seen it a thousand times that a parent who has little Johnny playing in all stars suddenly thinks he should play travel. Well let me tell you, the level of play there is a lot more advanced than you may think. The kids that think they are ready fail miserably and the whole experience for the child and the parents are terrible ones. So please make sure he and you are ready for long schedules and a lot of practice and money. I have had parents say they did not know it would be this involved. We also have parents sign a form letting them know that if their child makes the team they are not guaranteed to play at all not like rec leagues do so if they have problems with that they may need to stick with rec. Find coaches that are reputable and have been around awhile. There are a lot of teams out there and many not travel ball caliber. So be aware that they may make a travel team and end up losing most of the games because they do not recruit the caliber of talent that the more reputable coaches do. I do not want to discourage you at all by my answers, I just do not think that people are aware of the commitment it takes by players and parents to play travel ball and want all to have a great experience for it is a terrific time if done right by the coaches and researched right by the parents. Hoped this helped and good luck at this exciting level. |
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clg003
79 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2009 : 11:03:33
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The decision to play travel ball is one that has to be made by both the player and the family. For the family it can really be a life changer over the course of the season. Travel is typically involved and the costs are heightened. To be a travel ball parent you have to be prepared to spend your weekends at the park. Whereas in rec and all star ball you have a game or two at the local park with travel ball you could be play up to 6 games in one weekend and you could be playing four weekends out of the month and travel is often involved. You could literally have a game at 8 in the morning on Saturday and then one at 8 at night on the same day. You could even follow that up with back to back to back games on Sunday. To me thats the biggest decision to be made.
For the kid involved the decision has to be made because he is looking to become a better player. If he is only looking at it because he thinks it will be fun than I would discourage it. Rec ball can be just as fun as travel ball and takes a lot less money and dedication from the family. The idea of 12U travel ball is that he is ready to put the work in and is ready to fight for a position.
My suggestion would be to go try out for some teams and talk to the coaches and ask them to give you their honest opinion of where he might fit in. If not on that team then at what level they think he should be trying out for. Ask them if they know of any teams that he should try out for. Anyone can play travel ball but not everyone can play in the major classified division. I think the discussions that you have with the coaches will help you evaluate whether or not he will see a lot or just a little bit of playing time. Many first time travel ball players and parents find a lack of playing time a hard pill to swallow. If you make the decision to take on a team be sure to do your homework and find out as much as you can about the coaches, how they practice and how they reward playing time. If playing time is reserved primarily for starters then it’s a must that they have productive practices and the kids have a chance to win a starting position as they improve over the season.
Good Luck
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Dr. Old School
314 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2009 : 15:01:02
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You have answered two important questions when assessing moving to travel travel ball:
1) Does your son love playing baseball?
2) Is he one of the best players where he plays now?
Now, where I see some make the mistake is trying to jump on a team at a higher level than they are ready to play at. There needs to be a transition into travel ball and the difference it presents. League ball is always at the same park. Travel ball is usually not at the same park. Find a team where he can be somewhere in the middle of the pack. That will make the transition easier. |
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loveforthegame25
448 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2009 : 16:20:20
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| lal, you said the magic word in my opinion (see screen name) If your son loves the game he deserves a shot at Travel Ball. Arrange for some tryouts, take him to the East Cobb Tryouts next month. Alot of the kids have been playing travel since they were 8 so dont be surprised if your son is a little behind the others. Then again maybe not. Give him a shot. If he loves the game he wont get burned out. Good luck |
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itsaboutbb
164 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2009 : 19:33:09
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| lal, Another thing you can do as far as research a team is to go to USSSA.com and look at the rankings of teams in all 4 categories for 2009. You have Majors,AAA,AA and Single A. Single A is typicaly out there for Allstar teams that want to play in USSSA tournaments. Look in the 11 year old Georgia categories. There are plenty of teams at levels such as AAA and AA that a good allstar player would fit right in. Good luck |
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gasbag
281 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2009 : 20:02:35
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Be aware that there are varying levels of "Travel Ball". There is the major category, AAA and AA. Each offer great opportunities if you match your son / daughters skill level appropriately. Many folks think that because your son/daughter is great at Rec Ball that they are ready for all Travel Ball. Just remember to do what is best for your son / daughter and you want them to be challenged but still maintain some degree of success so that they keep the "will" to play going. Overwhelming them and always having them being the worst player on the team because you selected the wrong category can be a very negative experience for your son/daughter.
Make sure to honestly match the level of "Travel Ball" to your athlete and check your ( parents ) ego at the door. I always think it's better to err on the side of conservative and have them be the best at one level, then maybe move them up a level the next season. This brings their confidence along as their skills grow. |
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loveforthegame25
448 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2009 : 20:03:07
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| I didnt read all the replies in depth, did anyone mention COST. 100 bucks or so, NO HOTELS. 2000 base with hotels, gate fees, gas, going out to dinner etc etc etc. We cant forget the financial obligation. |
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loveforthegame25
448 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2009 : 12:12:07
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| After reading my last post it kinda didnt make sense. The 100 dollars with no hotels was the Rec ball price. The 2000 etc was the travel ball cost. |
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12uCoach
357 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2009 : 14:34:21
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Be careful when talking about tryouts, each coach has their own idea of what they want. We have taken a number of kids on what we believed to be a huge up side, some worked out some did not. I have seen players I thought were the best at their position ignored the next year because they don't meet those coaches expectations on how a kid should play. I have also seen kids ignored one year, learn from a good coach (or reach puberty) and be recruited by everyone the next year.
I have had parents call me after the ECB tryouts asking why their All-Star was not called when he was obviously the best during the "Insert best at here" part of the tryouts, and most of the time I have to dig up my list and ask what number? and I don't even have complete notes because I was that unimpressed.
Take the reponses with a grain of salt, most coaches have been SCREAMED AT after giving truthful answers to parents and will be vague in the future. Ask after a year or two, or over some beers, then you'll get the truth. |
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Infinity
33 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2009 : 17:20:38
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quote:
Originally posted by 743
If he is the best player on his summer team he will probably be a 7th or 8th player on a Major travel team
are you serious with that response? |
Edited by - Infinity on 07/20/2009 21:04:25 |
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743
215 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2009 : 13:09:28
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| Actually it will depend on where he played rec allstars and what team he is playing on in 12U Travel. East Cobb 12U Astros then yeah serious. If he plays on the Acwpark WestSide team Red #2 travel team then no. Go to the east cobb tryout for 12U this season and see how he compares to those kids trying out, then you can gague where he will fit. There are always exceptions but not many. |
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oldmanmj
191 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2009 : 21:48:42
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I think we have all touched upon the many varying ways to look at "moving up" in the baseball community. I think we all agree that putting these young men in the best place to improve is important. Sadly there is not a book on how to do it and have a young man improve and not get lost in the Travel Ball shuffle.
Every parent that has only played league ball and all stars need to do some homework before they jump into the frying pan. #1 attend as many tryouts for travel ball teams in their area. You can evalute your son's abilities compared to those already playing at that level. East Cobb, Kennesaw, Sandy Plains, Mill Creek are all good places to start. #2 Evaluate your financial status and know you are going to be paying no less $1,000 plus travel expenses for playing travel ball. Be prepared to fund raise, what ever it takes to help offset those costs. 3# Ask around about coaches in your age group and find out what they bring to the table. Sadly a team full of dad coaches can be just as bad as it is good.
#4----ASK YOUR SON IF THAT IS WHAT HE WANTS.. HE may not like that coachs style etc. But use this opportunity to help him get ready for High School ball if that is what he wants. This is a really short version for an important decision. |
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itsaboutbb
164 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2009 : 09:18:57
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| One last thought for the financial part of it. If it cost $1400 for a season, which is what we paid last year 11U you need to add the cost (as a 12U) Cooperstown. Each Kid cost $750 +. That's why when you evaluate the team you are trying out for ask if they are active in holding fund raisers ie; Golf tournaments, candy sales etc to help offset the costs. |
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Master C
2 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2009 : 15:37:20
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| Travel ball has a very demanding schedule and is also very costly. Definately make sure you do your homework. Don't settle for the first team you find. Look at the various web-sites for the teams your interested in. Do they travel alot? Do they fundraise? What is there goals? What is their philosophy on coaching? Look at their record and ask questions. Most teams have a Finance/Manager that can answer and show you the breakdown on cost and expenditures for the season. Most importantly what do you want to get from this experience? It is a big step and if it's more skill you want I say definately do it. Good Luck to you and your player. I wish you all the best! |
Edited by - Master C on 07/23/2009 09:28:28 |
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lal
4 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2009 : 09:39:37
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| Thank you all for your great responses. We took advice from everyone here - did our homework and attended several tryouts for a variety of teams. He must have been ready as he received an invitation from all teams we tried out for! We are excited about the team we are part of and look forward to our next year of travel ball - fully prepared thanks to the answers and advice we received here. Thank you. |
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Ready for full time travel ball?
