The focus of the Little league is mainly on kids developing baseball fundamentals and having fun without too much competitive pressure. While you make some great points, let me provide an alternate perspective, even if I appear at present to be the lone dissenting voice. As Little League has declined, travel baseball has grown. He didnt make the middle school team as only travel ball kids only made it. For us, travel has been amazing. Sabathia and the Upton Brothers have become big league players. Every year, MCLL designates players in our All-Star Tournament teams to represent MCLL in the Little League Tournaments within various age groups. Member since Aug 2014. Rookie is for 7 and 8 year olds. 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. My boss lets me take off whenever I want for travel ball. 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. 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. -ta. These reflections grow out of my own experience playing and coaching and watching other families. But it is, quite literally, passed down from generation to generation. 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. God will open doors to tell others about Christ as we are faithful to follow Him. My son started disliking baseball at 9 years old because the boys in rec wouldnt hit a cut off, and dropped the ball so often. The best outcomes were consistently when we stayed in the local rec leagues. Many of the assertions in this article are quite true. He wasnt laughing with his buddies, and the kids on the team who were already part of the travel ball program viewed him as a kind of an outsider. But, the worst part of it all was that my son was clearly not having the same amount of fun he had in Little League last year. And there are eight Urban Youth Academies. All Rights Reserved. Obviously, I dont buy into the idea of late-stage capitalism. What are they learning? 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. Please dont mortgage your home on a dream that your kid might be good enough to go pro. He is pitching in little league with success this year. Girls have been admitted since 1974. So many kids grow up dreaming, so few put on a big league uniform. Fill your childrens team with morals and role models. She excelled once she wasnt under my leadership and under the leadership of a professional. Its a Jesuit-based publication with a political slant that does not agree with mine. Thus the rec league dries up. Usually, teams play travel ball at least twice a month, on weekends. Those two sports may not seem very similar. 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). The demographics of NASCAR drivers has changed dramatically. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. My thoughts written here veer away from the focus of recreational versus travel leagues as the original blog talks about, but include some areas to think about whichever route of competition you choose. 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. His, to return baseball to urban fields. 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 always seemed the season ended right about the time we got to know everyone. A lot of well rounded and good mannered young men who enjoy competition and sportsmanship. and our We dont win Non-Christians by loving them more than we love God and his glory. He looked great in his fancy uniform and matching cleats, but that didnt matter. 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. You need the church, and the church needs you. As recently as the 1990s, travel baseball was a niche experience limited mostly to elite players in baseball-rich areas like Texas and California. And thats where the travel baseball jumps in as currently the surest path to the higher level of the game. Enfield Little League is happy to continue with the Enfield Warriors travel program. AAA Evaluations - 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. Growing up I loved baseball. My daughter has played with the same girls and coaches for 3 seasons now. LittleBallparks.comis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sitesto earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Also limiting the distance is striking a ball generates force in proportion to the speed at which the ball i. He was selected and after spending money on uniforms, dues, tournaments, he was cut from the team because he had a slump in his batting. The sport came natural to him, and he loved it. And for the good of rec ball leagues everywhere, for the good of your family, and for the good of your kids, I would urge you to avoid travel ball until the kid is old enough to commit to a more demanding regimen. As a PastorI certainly appreciate the sentiments expressed in this article. In the Little League, some kids get a sense of belonging for the first time. 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. He played Little League all the way through age 14 and has wonderful memories of playoff games, sometimes leading all the way to state. The privatization of American youth sports over the past 40 years is one of those revolutions of late-stage capitalism that should shock us more than it does. This means that kids participating in travel tournaments get a chance to play with or against highly skilled and competitive players. Though parents are well-intentioned, often children are tired of pursuing what was once fun but has become a stressful climb to the next level of competition at the expense of other parts of their lives, or at the expense of joints injured by overuse. Travel Baseball vs Little League Which One is Better? We must show them how to live well so that they may flourish and worship what is enduring. After all, theres a reason why the closing scene of. Maybe my son will get a chance to play as long as he continues to love the game. It is a trend mirrored by our schools, hospitals and military. Really great article Dr. Hamilton! By living our life for Christ the other 6 days. A lot of these programs operate on a business-like, almost professional, level and feature teams in all age groups. Added together, the average cost per player for a season must be well over $1,000. The travel baseball vs Little League debate has been a hot topic in US youth baseball for quite some time now. I have seen it just recently in the church Im attending now. And this, more than anything else, is the problem with the continued growth and success of baseball. We only have 1 high school senior playing basketball. It was excellent, by the way. Players invest a lot of money and energy into it. I wanted to play all the time, until I got to college and had to do so. Below are just a few stream of consciousness suggestions as readers consider their views on how they encourage their children in sports. Travel baseball takes a toll on kids, both mentally and physically. I don't have to tell you that millions of Americans just simply can't afford that. Participating in travel baseball will likely eat most of your free time. I agree, there are a ton of options. I hear this quite a bit. 2 were here. If you are traveling every weekend, or most of them, for a Friday, Saturday, Sunday tournament, what happens to non-sport family time? 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. Our daughter played travel softball for 9 years. But most of them still play, in one way or another. My thoughts will be mainly applied to baseball, but I think they are valid for basketball, volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, swimming, and whatever else. Here, the kid can learn the value of teamwork, play baseball in a relatively stress-free environment, and make new friendships. Let kids be kids, they and their bodies will decide what they can and cant do. 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. I also when I was kid play at lyndon and never traveled and loved it and still played college baseball myself for 4 yrs. And if it means giving up travel ball, by all means give it up. We all need to be careful that identifying with just one sport and spending most of our time with it can deter a child from gaining skills, interests and appreciation for other activities and knowledge. Fun for all, talent levels not seen before. However, players who do participate in any non-Little League activity, and miss games or practices because of such participation, may be suspended or dismissed from their Little League team by action of the local Little League Board of Directors. My son excels in travel ball and weve started a bible devotion for the boys before every tournament. He said he had seen it happen. Jan 25, 9:37am. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Ryan E. I think this is a good post and is great advice. LL was the emphasis, there were only a couple of travel teams. 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. I was sad when the team cut me from the roster, but I was also relieved. Looking for a deeper, more forceful argument, the dad added: This team is our community.. I have a feeling you may not describe yourself as so Dr. Hamilton (humble?) Was it really worth it? As a volunteer basketball coach for 18+ years, Ive seen girls spiritually suffer by the same well-intentioned convictions of their parents. Kids blossom at different ages. Totally agree with your article. Extend your season, make sure that all teams are drafted equally. Operating Policies and Position Statements, Little League - Character, Courage, Loyalty. But I say be wise. I give you a big Amen! The closest Little League organization to Pasadena now is in Davidsonville, 23 miles away. This is the one your wife wants you to care about. 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. I intend to keep it that way. Build this league and you will have travel on the decline. We enjoyed Upward for what it was and knew that it wasnt hugely competitive (for the most part). On the other hand, if the goal is for the kid to have some fun while learning the fundamentals of baseball, Little League is the way to go. Get involved with the sports governing board and voice your opinion. For us, the Orioles will always be a family affair. 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. This is decided by the player's ability from the previous year of play and/or how they look in tryouts. If the ultimate goal is for the kid to get to the pros, then joining a travel baseball program is definitely a better choice. The following year was about the same. Also, parents may not have a realistic view of how talented their son or daughter is in sports, often over or underestimating their abilities. If I was in the big leagues, my summers (and falls, and springs) would be dominated by an unrelenting schedule leaving no opportunity to coach my kids teams. The goal of this program is to provide additional playing opportunity for those baseball and softball players interested. That covered SOME tournaments and a bat bag. Al Mohlers Culture Shift In the US, the program involves kids ages 4-16 and is organized into the following divisions: For a lot of kids, Little League is the first time they meet with the organized baseball. Honestly, in the sport of football, it may be most perpetuated by mothers, though from the . 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. Who knows; organizationally they still seem to be doing pretty well overseas and a U.S. team won three of the last four Little League World Series featuring international teams. As more and more kids get involved in travel ball, the best players are taken out of the rec league. I dont usually read things that are in America. 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. NOW PLAYING: little-league-player-surprised-after-marine-dad-takes-the-mound Stoneman Douglas vs Doral Baseball 2-28-2023 Scorebook Live Baseball exists not just because of the community's love of the game. I dont know. 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. While rec ball was enjoyable, the ever changing pool of players, coaches and parents made for inconsistent experiences for my daughter, some good and some bad. Nowadays boys don't know how to catch at age 9-10. re: Little League Baseball Really is the Worst. I played college baseball and never once played Travel Ball in the summer until I was 17. In volleyball and soccer, maybe cheer, but most other sports they don't. FieroCoug. Babe Ruth and Little League are safe . But heavens know there has to be a way to save the sport of baseball. Are those stewardship issues as well? 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. Let kids be kids. I was excited not just for him to face pitchers his size and age, but for him to also have a chance on the mound. 12527 posts. Learn from others short comings and honor God with your precious time on the field. I had to pay a sign-up fee of $750. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. re: Travel Ball/ Little League Coaches leaving work Posted on 8/20/22 at 6:32 pm to philly444. But a story did cross my timeline about something near and dear to my heart: baseball. For more information, please see our The costs of travel baseball often put a serious strain on the family budget. However, travel baseball is very time-consuming and not easy on the budget. Its about the fact that fewer and fewer kids are playing baseball every year. The majority of coaches in the Little League are volunteers, mostly recruited of the parent ranks. In Little League baseball, ages can vary as much as three years in a division, with 9-year old players in a division with 12-year olds. They will actually improve more at each sport because a variety of new skills enhances old ones in ways that cant be quantified. I love excellence. Give MVP, Player of the game, most improved player of the game.. 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. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. I have coached in a recreation league for almost five years, and now my eleven-year-old daughter is in soccer travel ball. First, not all travel ball destroys a childs love for the game. Its not a coincidence that two of the most iconic golfers of the last thirty years, John Daly and Tiger Woods, were nothing like their peers in their own ways. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. I think this is an important topic that needs to be discussed. With the emergence of travel baseball and its more developed infrastructure, Little League has lost its appeal as a path to higher levels of competition. I was forced to purchase team-designed cleats and helmet. . (Explained In Detail! As a long-term pastor Ive watched parents who were convinced their sons would benefit by travel ball deeply regret their decisions a decade later. I think the key is finding the right team and families. Little League Baseball and Softball. Your email address will not be published. Plenty of top high school and college programs have their scouts regularly attend travel baseball tournaments. 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. 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