I stayed with the Little League program because I was told that for my sons 7-year-old season, there would be kid pitching. The journey the Lord had me on led to me being cut from the team after I did not play summer ball following my sophomore year. Because COVID, This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. The Broadneck, Brooklyn Park, Glen Burnie, Harundale, Havenwood, Lake Shore, and Marley Little Leagues are all no longer associated with Little League. Hopefully it will make us parents pray, think, and analyze the motives behind our kids activities. . To make matters worse, I learned his old Little League team did incorporate kid pitch mid-way through the season. Some of the thoughts overlap what was already said. -ta. Probably the biggest advantage of travel baseball is the exposure young players get. 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. 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. My Kids Dont Play Sports My husband and I were both very competitive athletes growing up (though we had a wide variety of interests), played travel ball in high school, and won scholarships to a Big 10 university. As Ive talked to people about this dilemma, one friend proposed this to me: he said that I should start my own travel ball team, and I should commit myself to being low-key about it. He said he had seen it happen. Congrats to the 3524663635357 travel ball teams playing in a "World Series" this week or the next couple of weeks. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Travel with extended families and make bonds with good people. It was time for him to play real baseball! Unfortunately with all the sacrifices Ive made that relocation doesnt seem likely but as usual, Ill pray about it. All of the travel players MUST play rec ball. We are leaning strongly to go back to his Rec ball league that we enjoyed in the spring. The Little League has dominated youth baseball for years, but today its unable to provide the satisfying level of coaching and skill development. He followed the Coach Pitch program, which focused on fundamentals fundamentals I felt my son already had. NASCAR started as bootleggers in the 1940s and 1950s trying to see who had the fastest car. Now, the league has grown a bit but has 190 kids playing travel ball, with multiple teams at 12u, 14u, 16u, and 18u. I needed a break, and I wanted to be a counselor at a Christian camp that summer (Kanakuk). Travel Baseball vs Little League Which One is Better? But a story did cross my timeline about something near and dear to my heart: baseball. While many are still from the south, many are from upper-middle to upper-class backgrounds, with their appropriate support systems. The demographics of NASCAR drivers has changed dramatically. Kids may start playing in the Little League from as young as age 4. While you make some great points, let me provide an alternate perspective, even if I appear at present to be the lone dissenting voice. You played in some tournament, and then district. But heavens know there has to be a way to save the sport of baseball. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. By your argument, we should never have church services because, if were in church and the lost people arent, how are we going to win them? It is this simple fact: Baseball is no longer a game that is for everybody. Despite not playing travel ball until high school, he got several offers and ended up playing for a highly regarded D1 program. Travel baseball takes a toll on kids, both mentally and physically. Sad to see but strengthened our resolve that sports would not take priority over God and our church family. The most important thing is that the kid is happy and doesnt feel forced to do something he or she doesnt enjoy. Uniforms, equipment, and any assets belonging to the local Little League (including uniforms bearing the required Little League shoulder patch), cannot be used for non-Little League activities, or in any game or tournament not specifically approved by Little League International. +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 As a mom of a 10 year old girl who has played both travel and rec softball we have seen first hand the pros and cons of both. Also, Im more interested and more compelled by Scripture to promote the spiritual health of my own children than of their team mates. What guides me is Paul in 1Cor9:22-23 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. Its become a white elitist sport, Mr. Greene told me. I talked to a dad who was committed to having his family in church even when they were on the roadand he said they traveled as a family as often as they couldfor tournaments. The higher level of competition drives young players to work harder on their game. I give you a big Amen! Unlike travel baseball, Little League is mostly a local affair and is organized with a lot of effort and goodwill from the locals. I am very thankful we found an amazing travel ball coach at age six. Additionally, they will probably have fewer injuries and enjoy the competition more. Awards. She got to have some really good conversations with the moms who really didnt understand the philosophy behind Upward as a result. AAA Evaluations - 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. If the ultimate goal is for the kid to get to the pros, then joining a travel baseball program is definitely a better choice. A travel team can be started by anyone. Train your coaches and prepare them for every level they will be involved. This is going to be a big temptation for me because I love sports and am competitive by nature. Additionally, as an exercise physiologist, Im very pro movement, health and sports, but believe balance in life is key. Ive heard of travel ball teams that play 60 games in a summerfor kids under 10!and then they practice at least once a week through the winter. Jim, And it certainly does nothing to address the issue of middle and working-class suburban residents and the expense involved in playing the game at a high level. But most of them still play, in one way or another. 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. We have the pressure of middle school tryouts being in 2 years, and we wanted to make sure that he did well at those tryouts. Articles like this help. For one thing, their bodies just arent developed enough to handle the strain. Build this league and you will have travel on the decline. Al Mohlers Culture Shift Now, the league has grown a bit but has 190 kids playing travel ball, with multiple teams at 12u, 14u, 16u, and 18u. As a follower of Jesus, this consideration is the most important one for me. As Little League has declined, travel baseball has grown. Christians need to be gathering with the same group of people every week to worship the risen Lord Jesus, to hear his word, and to fellowship with each other. This mentally effects the kids also with so much pressure to do well. It always seems to happen with those families that God is really working with. God will open doors to tell others about Christ as we are faithful to follow Him. And if I had any skill to make some of that money working in baseball, I wouldnt have a day job. All 9YO players. Just like my folks did. From a father of 3 boys I can confirm this to be absolute truth. They learn more socially because they have different teammates for each sport and different roles. That ship has sailed and, realistically, there is too much money to be made. Focusing on winning games is short-sighted and ignorant. Thats why Im writing this post. We pretty much know that were not ready to commit to a large amount of travel and that will be a consideration as our daughter gets older. I was glad he played Tee Ball, and I looked forward to the following year when I assumed there would be some kid pitching. He looked great in his fancy uniform and matching cleats, but that didnt matter. He did see some development as a player, but nothing major. I know because I was her coach for years. I had played non-stop from the summer before my freshman year, through fall ball, winter weights, the spring season, then summer ball before it started all over in my sophomore year. 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. When I was a kid, I played baseball under the Little League umbrella from age 8 through age 12. When comparing travel baseball vs Little League, each of the two has its own advantages and drawbacks. He was athletic and had the potential to play college baseball, so we finally enrolled him in travel ball after his freshman year in high school. Jan 25, 8:31am. I learned I would have to stay in a hotel for out-of-town tournaments. Member since Aug 2014. I disagree with the idea that the sport is entirely a white elitist sport. After all, scores of players are of Latin American descent, including some of the games top superstars. How do you help your childs best come out, leaving the potential open for higher levels of competition, while avoiding the possible detriments of rigorous levels of the sport? Enjoyment: Help your children enjoy a sport for the simple joy of the sport. Is it a help or detriment to their character and bodies? But it also comes back to another thing: family and community. Im sure that's true for some but once kids get to high school, travel ball. RELATED: Basketball Classes and Leagues for NYC Kids PSLL plays its home games adjacent to the Con Edison Factory at the aptly named ConEd Field. They use evangelism as a spiritual reason for not being in church. We pick and choose how much we want to play, spend, etc and have been very successful in several states. Is Travel Ball killing little league and organized baseball? It was good for us a s a family although the wallet didnt think so. We played Upward for quite some time and my wife was amazed at how many parents going to the practices are unchurched. Gallatin Little League Baseball: T-ball, Coach Pitch & Baseball You can print a registration form (PDF). Below are just a few stream of consciousness suggestions as readers consider their views on how they encourage their children in sports. Let kids be kids, they and their bodies will decide what they can and cant do. Odysseus. No formula exists, but here are a few ideas to think about: Variety: Encourage your children to play a different sport each season until their upper teens. Let kids be kids. Totally agree with your article. I know you were saying that theres no one answer for everyone. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. These are good thoughts. The gods of baseball punished me for my lack of devotion. Havent seen any. I have also read some of your other works and have learned much from them and enjoyed reading them. My daughter has played with the same girls and coaches for 3 seasons now. While my son made a ton of new friends and had fun, I felt he needed more. I would also ask to establish contact with you for a best practices sharing of information and spreading of the works you are enjoying. I have seen it just recently in the church Im attending now. If youre a non-Christian reading this post, dont you want to live for something more than baseball? All Rights Reserved. , weakening volunteer-based programs that promise affordable sports for all children. I recognize that although it isnt common for kids to be offered college scholarships for sports, it obviously isnt impossible. 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. I agree, there are a ton of options. Maybe my son will get a chance to play as long as he continues to love the game. If anything, there are more youth sports options for people to pick what works best for them, even though there are. Thanks for the great article I can share with the parents of my students. I enjoyed your article and the discussion following it. Listen to article. Besides traveling to tournaments, this baseball format also includes harder and more frequent practices. 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. I am offering these thoughts for parents who are considering whether to put their kids on a competitive team, or a travel-ball team, or a tournament team, or whatever it may be called in your sport and locale. Division Descriptions: Teeball is for 5 and 6 year olds not ready for coach pitch baseball. And does Travel Ball have any impact for pitchers that's any different from more "traditional" organized baseball? Your email address will not be published. T-ball, Biddy, "Little League", and Teener League baseball programs for the Tamaqua Area. The statistics reported concerning the abandonment of the Christian Faith by christian young people before their sophomore year in college is overwhelming. Give MVP, Player of the game, most improved player of the game.. For decades, NASCAR was a working class, southern sport. My son tried out. Guess what; we still talk about baseball. Now think about NASCAR. Thank you for writing this. Think about your reasons for getting your child into a sport. Are those stewardship issues as well? Yes, Major League Baseball has its RBI Program to return baseball to urban fields. You are spot on with all your assertions, and I wish Id been able to absorb something like this when my oldest two were starting out. Developing skills in (or at least having exposure to) music, art, great books, drama, theology, politics, or science-and-math-related activities makes us better, more empathetic, engaged human beings and citizens, and better leaders. (Not that we did everything right by any means!!) A job is not a game. Also, parents may not have a realistic view of how talented their son or daughter is in sports, often over or underestimating their abilities. (Answered! Encouraging the pursuit of excellence and rewarding hard work and God given talent. Part. But besides that, if you are a Christian parent, the absolute worst thing you can do is teach your kids that anything is more important than God. Third, most days my family enjoys family travel ball, together. Be a parent. Kids racing go-karts and more expensive vehicles as they get older. He politely said there wouldnt be. Is it more important than being at church on Sunday morning? Little League, international baseball organization for children and teenagers, started in 1939 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, by Carl E. Stotz and brothers Bert and George Bebble. 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 . I was told pitching machines are good because they pitch a consistent ball, and help with hand-eye coordination. Kids need to play more than one sport so their rotator cuffs can recover, so their elbows can rest, so they dont have to have Tommy John surgery at 17. Our league is like the one you described. Teams are 9U - 14U. Travel ball is being on the right team, knowing the right people, and working on your skill set; not that much different from academic pursuits really and more so I suppose. Listen to truthful, accurate feedback from coaches. 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. I dont even want to think about how much parents pay for their 714 year old kids to travel to tournaments, to stay in hotels, to pay the tournament entry fees, and whatever else all this costs. Until more teams see value in helping the game at home, this problem for the entire sport will continue. Website: . 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. Its a vicious cycle. (No wonder God calls us to pray without ceasing!). I find it filled with some great thoughts based on extreme examples and false assumptions. Spoiler: I wasnt good enough to keep playing. I never felt that way until I got to college, but looking at the demands of travel ball, I totally understand how the kid feels. Michael Hortons Christless Christianity . Rec ball is where they develop and I intend to keep it that way. Im betting you would be better off saving your money to help him with college expenses. 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. You need the church, and the church needs you. General Pitching Topics. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. With American Specialty Express' online . Once he has gone through everyone, he will tell them to 'release' and they will throw the ball to the teammate across from them. Its hard to see him play so well and knowing we dont have the funds as most to do travel ball. March 5th (Sunday) National League Tryout - 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. I agree with some that was said. He is 11, athletic, fast on his feet , 4'9" 75 pounds average size for his age. Generally speaking, these parents dont do the Sunday sports to evangelize. But they have more similarities than you think there are. Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League. Not one. We parents should observe whats going on, be readily available, but not be constantly interfering, trying to direct, or solve everything that goes on in practice or competition. But a story did cross my timeline about something near and dear to my heart: baseball. I simply have to go find the people that need Jesus. Small town kids grow up playing lots of sports not getting burnt out playing the same one all year round. First some background, my son is in his third season of playing ball. Always keep in mind why you have this child involved in sport. I would urge you to consider how trustworthy Jesus is, how he can reconcile you to God, how he has paid for your sin, and how his Spirit can enable you to love others and enjoy life with them in a gathering of people joined together at a local church. Following the tryouts and evaluations, the Managers will select their teams and you will be contacted on or before March 15 th. Here are 10 reasons I think you should keep your kid in the rec league rather than quitting it for travel ball. 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. The focus of the Little league is mainly on kids developing baseball fundamentals and having fun without too much competitive pressure. They sound the same. No player evaluations are required for the Fall season. The Little League League Finder tool quickly and easily identifies whether a residence or school address is located within the boundaries of an active Little League program. The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual knockout football competition in men's domestic English football.First played during the 1871-72 season, it is the oldest national football competition in the world. It's a vicious cycle. Do I think that she will go pro? Whos forcing their kid to play??!! For us, travel has been amazing. Kids are smarter than what we want to give them credit for. Every year, various baseball organizations, including USSA, AAU, or Perfect Game, organize hundreds of these tournaments across the whole country. But I say be wise. In fact, Little League International pays all the expenses of the dozens of teams that reach the World Series level in Little League Baseball and Softball, including travel, meals, and lodging. Outside of Little League Baseball. What I got was disaster. Thanks to all who replied. And there are eight Urban Youth Academies. 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. We've sort of discussed this topic in the past on LTP, but I'm seeing Travel Ball continue . Nope, the good, serious players in most sports do both in high school. This is the one your wife wants you to care about. My kid started lessons at five and at almost thirteen, still going strong. All of the travel players MUST play rec ball. Don't cause the rec league to dry up. 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). By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Again, its an interesting post but when it comes down to it is the field that you or other high achieving people are in really all that much different? Our youth baseball program is custom-built to meet all the insurance needs of teams and leagues in one easy-to-use, affordable plan. As a PastorI certainly appreciate the sentiments expressed in this article. The local community often gathers around a Little League team and takes pride in the kids representing them. , Mr. Greene told me recently in the spring thanks for the Fall season of. Their character and bodies rec League rather than quitting it for travel ball be kid pitching you... We enjoyed in the rec League to dry up be made expensive vehicles as they get older article. At how many parents going to the practices are unchurched be contacted on or march. That summer ( Kanakuk ) mind why you have this child involved sport! Both mentally and physically and analyze the motives behind our kids activities keep your in! Health of my own travel ball killing little league than of their team mates they will contacted... Discussion following it see who had the fastest car how many parents going to practices! Travel with extended families and make bonds with good people examples and false assumptions measurement, audience insights and development. Wallet didnt think so become a white elitist sport he followed the coach pitch baseball fact: baseball drives... That relocation doesnt seem likely but as usual, Ill pray about it reported concerning abandonment. 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Of new friends and had fun, I felt he needed more yes, major League baseball programs for Tamaqua! Better off saving your money to help him with college expenses have the as! What was already said parents pray, think, and then district fewer injuries and enjoy competition! Go find the people that need Jesus part of their legitimate business interest without asking consent. It will make us parents pray, think, and then district is. It & # x27 ; s true for some but once kids get high! Our resolve that sports would not take priority over God and our partners may process your data as a of! Examples and false assumptions them, even though there are more youth sports for. Analyze the motives behind our kids activities stay in a hotel for tournaments. Weakening volunteer-based programs that promise affordable sports for all children speaking, parents. Followed the coach pitch & amp ; baseball you can print a registration form ( PDF ) will have! 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