Besides traveling to tournaments, this baseball format also includes harder and more frequent practices. Jan 25, 9:37am. If thats the case, the league they participate in doesnt matter that much. Thank you! My husband also was a quarterback at a Big 10 university, and my dad was a football coach, but we both chose to direct our son away from football and into other sports because of the enormous risk of injury, especially head injury. Thanks for posting this. We have made this decision for the past three years and been ridiculed for it and told we are not being fair to our son. With this comes the COOPERSTOWN TICKET. Here in our area not so much. I think Jesus said it best when He said, What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?, Thank you sir for thisI wrestle with this issue a lot as our older children (3 boys/12, 9, & 8) are starting to get to the age where this is a possibility. Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League. Growing up I loved baseball. Lets think about two sports; Golf and NASCAR. We still put prior commitments first and the coach understands that we cant make all games/practices as a result. AAA Evaluations - 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. Thank you for speaking out and I hope people will take these comments seriously. He understands that Braxton, Paxton, and Laxton, all have to go to at least 5 World Series every summer. Totally agree with your article. I recognize that although it isnt common for kids to be offered college scholarships for sports, it obviously isnt impossible. I have a neighbor who constantly pesters me about our childrens sports involvement level-rec. The costs of travel baseball often put a serious strain on the family budget. But a story did cross my timeline about something near and dear to my heart: baseball. In 2002, Havenwood Little League merged with Riviera Beach Little League and two other local baseball programs in Pasadena and became the Pasadena Baseball Club. featured all American teams. I simply have to go find the people that need Jesus. When people refer to travel baseball, they typically mean a team of higher-level athletes who play in competitive tournaments and probably work out at their own facility. You can argue all you want and say you go to church when you travel, but the first time you skip church because it interferes with game time, you have taught your child that a game is more important than worshipping God. Just like you, he burned out after two years and transferred so he could pursue his other passions and, more importantly, gain much-needed work experience which benefited him tremendously when he graduated from college and was looking for a job. And there are eight Urban Youth Academies. The group that split from us is the same group that has ruined our little league. The Holy Spirit leads us all differently. They did not come out of the womb knowing about baseball. This is a straw man argument that has nothing to do with the very valid points the author makes. Honestly, in the sport of football, it may be most perpetuated by mothers, though from the . http://kristenanneglover.com/my-kids-dont-play-sports/#comment-6411. Extend your season, make sure that all teams are drafted equally. If youre not ready to make certain sacrifices, then this form of baseball is probably not for you. Probably the biggest advantage of travel baseball is the exposure young players get. He played Little League all the way through age 14 and has wonderful memories of playoff games, sometimes leading all the way to state. For some may not even be an issue. It always seemed the season ended right about the time we got to know everyone. However, as parents now of three young adult children we handled sports for them in a much different way than the current culture dictates. Do the social aspects improve their values and stimulate great discussions at home, or lead them away from family?). . Any player or team that does so may be declared ineligible for further participation in Little League for that year, by action of the Tournament Committee or Charter Committee in Williamsport. Baseball is the greatest game ever, it is exactly that, a game. Manage Settings I've seen and heard stories about parents who spend thousands of dollars to get their kids on the best travel ball squad in their areas. Today, that role has been mainly overtaken by travel baseball which has become the basis for young players looking to build a baseball career. Confused! They also have T-ball divisions. I wrote about this for Camden Chat in 2016: Orioles baseball will not be the most important thing that we teach our daughter about. He has a decent arm but has never pitched in travel. Turn your focus and see a different view. My arm hurt all the time, and I wasnt a pitcher. Id venture no but the travel ball experience can be quite beneficial to that pursuit can it not provided travel ball doesnt become a means to an end which, unfortunately, it often is. . Thanks to all who replied. For additional information please contact Tony Carter 615-202-9606. Never played fall ball, never took private lessons, and never played on a travel team. NASCAR started as bootleggers in the 1940s and 1950s trying to see who had the fastest car. Because COVID, This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Your email address will not be published. Also, parents may not have a realistic view of how talented their son or daughter is in sports, often over or underestimating their abilities. But I say be wise. Often, teams participate in the tournaments that take place in a city other than their own or even in another state. You need the church, and the church needs you. This is related to the previous: the best players leave the rec league for travel ball, and then the mediocre players get tempted to do so, and then all the kids get burnt out and stop playing baseball. Too many surgeries, other arm problems, leg issues and other health issues that kids at that age shouldnt have to endure. The Little League has dominated youth baseball for years, but today its unable to provide the satisfying level of coaching and skill development. They sound the same. If youre in Louisville, come check us out at www.KenwoodBaptistChurch.com. Not one. Im coming at this topic from a multi-dimensional approach. Member since Aug 2014. Because COVID, America sold out Little League through the widespread adoption of high-dollar travel baseball, Major League Baseball has its RBI Program, providing year-round instruction in the game, I wrote about this for Camden Chat in 2016. Players invest a lot of money and energy into it. The gods of baseball punished me for my lack of devotion. Other parents might be emboldened to speak up. I have a feeling you may not describe yourself as so Dr. Hamilton (humble?) In volleyball and soccer, maybe cheer, but most other sports they don't. FieroCoug. Well, this certainly diverged off the main topic of traveling versus rec sports, but I hope it provides a little more to talk about, especially among family members. The pitchers pitched far more balls than strikes. They chronicled 850 baseball deaths in Death at the Ballpark, spanning professional, amateur, Little League, and even backyard pickup games. Brewers pitcher Andrew Kim (10) throws a ball towards the plate and a Giants batter during a game versus the Brewers for a Summerlin Little League North majors game at Trails Park Little. This is the one your wife wants you to care about. The coach was great! If you forego travel for these right reasons then you should challenge yourself and those in the league to make it the utopia described here (I believe it should be). Please dont mortgage your home on a dream that your kid might be good enough to go pro. Im betting you would be better off saving your money to help him with college expenses. Fall 2022 Season Focus. Listen to baseball experts'. While my son made a ton of new friends and had fun, I felt he needed more. This upcoming spring season will include some division changes we have made to improve the experience for players at all levels. I had worked with him quite a lot prior to that. Thank you for writing this. He followed the Coach Pitch program, which focused on fundamentals fundamentals I felt my son already had. A job is not a game. Thus the rec league dries up. Falls Church Klwanis Little League. Its better to honor God than to win, and its better for your kid to enjoy the game than for him to play at the highest possible level. "We spent days, months, years . An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Providing evidence of insurance to field owners and tournament organizers can consume a team manager's life and drain the budget without the right insurance program. There have been times when our kids insisted that the entire family wear Orioles stuff. Thanks, Roy. Were enjoying the homeschool league to which we belong right now, but also realize that our daughters team is not a highly competitive team, but the JV/Varsity teams are a bit more competitive. Theres also the matter of synchronizing tournaments with kids school commitments and parents jobs. Most professional golfers look the same. This question reveals how far our cultural worldview has intermixed with a Christian one. This is the saddest quote of the entire piece, one I mentioned earlier: Alas, the father refused to make him work on defense, explaining: I am not a fielding dad., Is there a sadder quote? Copyright 2003-2023 We have had a sub par experience, and I have that guilt every Sunday that we are at a tournament instead of honoring God in His house. Its about the fact that fewer and fewer kids are playing baseball every year. My son (now aged 26) was approached from age 10 on to play travel ball, but we declined year after year because it would pull us away from church plus cost us a small fortune. , weakening volunteer-based programs that promise affordable sports for all children. Without a worldwide draft, teams are free to throw money at international prospects, Teams spend more money building academies in the Dominican Republic than they invest in their own backyard, where at minimum the next generation of fans live. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a 96-mile (154-kilometre) border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, the North Sea to the northeast and east, and the Irish Sea to . All 9YO players. 12YO & 11YO players who are trying out for the National League. So, teaching them the core baseball concepts is more important than competing. It has been somewhat successful in some respects in that some of its alumni like Carl Crawford, C.C. These are good thoughts. Dont sacrifice your sons childhood on the altar of the hope that hes the next Derek Jeter. (No wonder God calls us to pray without ceasing!). I think "specialization" is killing certain sports in local markets, it depends. Thats why Im writing this post. Give MVP, Player of the game, most improved player of the game.. As one who has three sons, two of whom played travel ball for part of their youth, and one who didnt, I can affirm everything you say here. I pray that God keeps me humble and rightly focused. Let kids be kids. We invite you take just a few moments to browse our ever expanding list of teams below. Wr had to travel 3 ours to find a competitive travel team. 2021 featured all American teams. When my life ends, I will have to give an account to my Lord as to whether I obeyed the command in Matt28:19 that says Go. It was time for him to play real baseball! Golf attracts high dollar, high roller sponsors. The Little League embodies traditional youth baseball where children have fun rather than become engulfed in the tough training world of more "serious" youth baseball environments (like travel baseball). Then again, some games I find my older daughter listening to her ipod while we watch the games. He did see some development as a player, but nothing major. Ive also heard more than one parent tell me that after a few years of travel ball, in some cases only one year of it, their son decided he didnt want to play baseball anymore. blair and son funeral home smiths falls / top of the world patty griffin meaning / travel ball killing little league. Additionally, every local Little League program in the United States with a team that travels 150 miles or more per one round trip to a section, state, and region level tournament receives a reimbursement from Little League Baseball of $1 per mile for one round trip to each tournament site, to help offset travel expenses. My son had the same coach as the year prior. If you are traveling every weekend, or most of them, for a Friday, Saturday, Sunday tournament, what happens to non-sport family time? While I wasnt thrilled hed be hitting off a tee because he could already hit a pitched ball, I figured we had to start somewhere, and Tee Ball was all that was available. And at best a professional athlete might play into his late 30s or early 40s, then what? I found a local travel ball organization that was offering tryouts for several 10-U teams. The best coaches and the best players stop playing rec ball in favor of travel ball, leading to fewer teams and a lower level of competition in the rec league. Late-stage capitalism is a Marxist construct used by socialists to explain away capitalism and the failures of socialism. As recently as the 1990s, travel baseball was a niche experience limited mostly to elite players in baseball-rich areas like Texas and California. Archived post. For every 10 players that are forced to play at the highest level for their age, 6-8 will quit by the time they get into high school. Of course our children have bents that we want to nurture, encourage and help them develop, but lets make sure we arent pursuing our own agenda. My concerns in the post are directed not at adults pursuing excellence in their callings but at parents of kids in the 714 age range . For years, the Little League has been the stepping stone for kids between the fun youth play and the more serious high-school and collegiate baseball leagues. I was impressed when we showed up that the Varsity girls took a little time to welcome her and get her situated before the coaches were ready. +233 24 519 7792 / +23333 2096418; claptrap voice changer Facebook-f data center technician i microsoft salary Twitter gamefowl farms in usa facebook Youtube motorcycle rental newcastle Linkedin A travel team can be started by anyone. Do I think you are sinning if your kid plays travel ball? Posted on May 21, 2022 by . Since tournaments and games are. I support you with useful and actionable information about softball and baseball. While you make some great points, let me provide an alternate perspective, even if I appear at present to be the lone dissenting voice. They use evangelism as a spiritual reason for not being in church. Think brands like Mercedes-Benz. I know that may sound weird working with a kid at such a young age, but his older brother played baseball, so he was always around. Answer (1 of 41): Probably not as the holes in the ball create air resistance that increases as the speed of the ball increases which limits significantly the distance the ball can travel. Travel Ball Travel ball softball is the next step up from recreational softball. Baseball cant raise the dead, but Jesus will do just that when he returns to make this world into the new heavens and new earth. In raising our children in a world where developing a one-sport athlete is pushed to the extreme, we both were counter-culture, and we have happy, well-adjusted kids now, all of whom continue to pursue fitness as a lifestyle. Gallatin WAVE Baseball League This is a travel baseball league for teams only. He didnt make the middle school team as only travel ball kids only made it. Truthfully, we have gotten better instruction and development at a Rec ball/All Star level. Is Travel Ball killing little league and organized baseball? I am confident that there are better ways to steward those thousands of dollars. Messages conveyed: We parents need to pray daily about what messages we are sending our children by the sports or other activities we have them in. Heading back to Little League! Motivations: Just because you liked something as a kid, or were good at it, it doesnt mean your child will or should be. I started my son in the Little League Tee Ball program when he was four. Following the tryouts and evaluations, the Managers will select their teams and you will be contacted on or before March 15 th. Operating Policies and Position Statements, Little League - Character, Courage, Loyalty. She excelled once she wasnt under my leadership and under the leadership of a professional. And you are right about MLB not being all its cracked up to be; several of my sons college teammates were drafted in the top 10 rounds (as high as supplemental 1st round), and with only one exception, they all complained about the grind and monotony (not to mention extremely low salaries) once they entered the minor leagues. Don't cause the rec league to dry up. The sport came natural to him, and he loved it. I appreciate that. Additionally, they will probably have fewer injuries and enjoy the competition more. But it also comes back to another thing: family and community. I got an education, got married, we started having children, and now I get to coach my kids. I have seen it just recently in the church Im attending now. Usually, coaches in travel baseball are more experienced and competent than their counterparts in the recreational leagues. Voddie Bauchams Family Driven Faith. The focus of the Little league is mainly on kids developing baseball fundamentals and having fun without too much competitive pressure. Batting cage time and sessions with the pitching coach came with additional costs. If youre a non-Christian reading this post, dont you want to live for something more than baseball? She does it for fun and its not overwhelming even though its a little more competitive than a local rec league. Build this league and you will have travel on the decline. Travel/Select Ball Montgomery County Little League (MCLL) is a recreational baseball program by definition of being a chartered affiliate of Little League International. Dont let one child be turned away because they cant afford registration or equipment. There are other times even on Sundays to play just as there are many different times that people worship. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. "Everyone's selling 'the dream gonna happen,' and people are making a. This post seems a departure from your normal posting and writing. Help your kids find the joy of learning in areas other than sports. We may be the exception along with the league in which we play. (Explained In Detail! Golf has, traditionally, been a sport played by upper-class white guys. Second, recreation leagues can be just as competitive and demanding as travel ball, but doesnt have the same season length. After college, my husband played pro baseball for a while and I played on a national team. And if I had any skill to make some of that money working in baseball, I wouldnt have a day job. Ive seen a couple of families fall into the travel ball trap. He politely said there wouldnt be. Website: . I think this is an important topic that needs to be discussed. Participating in travel baseball will likely eat most of your free time. I know families whove mortgaged their homes so their kids can play baseball, he said. And something that we will continue to do playing baseball, watching baseball, playing catch, playing wiffle ball, etc. Here, the kid can learn the value of teamwork, play baseball in a relatively stress-free environment, and make new friendships. Our time in sports opened up a world of opportunities, and more importantly taught us much about life, ourselves and God, so we are very pro-sports. It's a vicious cycle. The following year was about the same. Families who thought the Sunday game was no big deal slowly dropped out of church because sports came first. Now, this doesnt mean that her coach and teammates like it, but we have found that our commitment has opened the door for spiritual conversations. My sons high school teammate played in the minors for several years before being cut and at age 26, he is just now finishing college and trying to figure out what to do with his life. But over the years, the cost of entry has become more and more expensive. In the end, it should all come to what the kid wants. Nor am I categorically condemning their decisions and choices. We have truly enjoyed getting to know our travel team family! Awards. There are many benefits of pursuing sports excellence, travel like any other passion filled event children can participate can be an extremely beneficial. Teams advancing to the regional level in the U.S. receive an additional $200. He pulls down honor roll at school and is in band. Not posting some long winded bs. A lot of teams are started by parents, but some are run by former high school and college coaches. Let kids be kids, they and their bodies will decide what they can and cant do. AVONDALE LITTLE LEAGUE 10720 W Indian School Road, #19 PMB-137 Phoenix, Arizona 85037 Email: registerinfo.avll@gmail.com Al Mohlers Culture Shift For us, the Orioles will always be a family affair. For one thing, their bodies just arent developed enough to handle the strain. Well, at registration, I learned my leagues Board of Directors decided to use a pitching machine for 7-year-olds, and that MAYBE toward the end of the season, there MIGHT be some kid pitch. Until more teams see value in helping the game at home, this problem for the entire sport will continue. The guy running the program told me he was going to have a 7/8-year-old team. General Pitching Topics. Looking for a deeper, more forceful argument, the dad added: This team is our community.. But if you don't make it into your dream team, the loss is much heavier on people's pockets as well as their minds. Here are 10 reasons I think you should keep your kid in the rec league rather than quitting it for travel ball. It is a trend mirrored by our schools, hospitals and military. Our eldest, now six, is in her second year of playing though she has moved over to softball. We have commodified the play of millions of children intoa $19.2 billion business, weakening volunteer-based programs that promise affordable sports for all children. They want to stay together early, and with Little League, if they re from different towns, they can t do that. Little League enrollment has been suffering in the past decade (down approximately 16% between 1997-2010) and while travel ball isn t fully to blame, it s definitely a major culprit. Thanks for sharing them. LSU Fan. They have grown together, developed rapport and strong friendships. When we read books about how it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert on anything, it may wrongly motivate us to try to create little experts out of our kids by the time they graduate from high school. Skip to main content Toggle navigation menu. Do you want to miss the younger kids games and practices? It is no wonder so many of our children leave the church when they go to college. But most of them still play, in one way or another. When comparing travel baseball vs Little League, each of the two has its own advantages and drawbacks. studente lavoratore unipd, ole miss baseball roster 1990, burbank high school famous alumni,