I have a 7 year old and twins that are 5. All in baseball and they love it. Mainly because rule at our house is you have to go to bed at 8:00 unless watching baseball then you can stay up till end of game

My 7 year old has been asked to be on two separate "academy" teams. Here in KC it's "Mac/Sietz" (Mike Macfarland and Kevin Sietzer) or "Building Champions". One of them is a 9U team that saw him play when he subbed on an 8U team.

I find this all rather ridiculous and when I asked my son if he wanted to play, all he said is if all his friends were on the team. Needless to say, we said no.

My question and potential concern is about the future. If these "competitive/super" teams are being formed now (which they clearly are), will my kids be at a disadvantage for not jumping on now? If we try to jump on at say 10-12 years old, will my kids be the outcast or relegated to outfield because the teams core group is set?

When can we expect a non Dad to coach? I have lots of friends who coach and in very candid conversations, they coach in order to put their kids in best positions.

I try to assistant coach on each kids team...o don't want to commit to a particular team because I want to give all three kids equal time.

Just looking for thoughts based on experience from you guys...especially a "non Dad" coach like Brauny.

That's what I'm thinking. Only concern is getting "left out" on some of these teams when they are older because they are set with a good core.

My kids love football, baseball and basketball and will continue to play each unless they don't want to. I hardly see that happening as they pretty much play in the driveway or backyard every day. Their current game consists of tennis ball homer in derby all day.

I could tell a significant difference in how my 7 year old threw the ball after football and basketball season this past year. He dramatically improved with the baseball....literally couldn't recognize the difference he threw so much better. He claims it was a lot easier because after playing with larger football and basketball for so long, the baseball felt like a toy.

A lot of older athletes have said that focusing on one sport is harmful for athletes. Harold Reynolds and Dan Plesac were talking about it on MLB Tonight a few weeks ago. Let the kids build their athletic abilities in various sports and they will improve in the other sports they play. Plesac mentioned his basketball skills improved his bunt defense skills as a player.

My youngest daughter only participates sportswise in Softball but she is also on a competitive dance team. It has definitely helped her to become more limber and she runs better/more fluid than before she was on the dance team. It could also be age.

I don't want my daughter playing select/travelling right now. Maybe not ever. We were actually discussing this with her coach yesterday, whose daughter is on the team, and they felt the same way.

I have a 13 year old and a 9 year old. Both play select baseball. My oldest also played seventh grade football and will play again in 8th grade this fall. I encourage them to play what ever sport they want to. He also shows commercial heifers. My 9 year old will show his first set of heifers this year. It can be time consuming for sure but some of our best friends we have met because of select ball. Who knows maybe they get good enough to play some ball at a small school one day. If not they will have memories and buddies the rest of their lives.

Question is not about playing multiple sports. I definitely think that is best and more fun!

Question is about waiting to get on "competitive teams". By not doing it now at 7,8 or 9 years old, will my kids be left out at 10-12 when we do feel it's more appropriate. Will these competitive teams asking us now, be set with their core group and relegate new kids to outfield? Will these teams be full and not accept new guys?

Quito said:

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Question is about waiting to get on "competitive teams". By not doing it now at 7,8 or 9 years old, will my kids be left out at 10-12 when we do feel it's more appropriate. Will these competitive teams asking us now, be set with their core group and relegate new kids to outfield? Will these teams be full and not accept new guys?

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At 10-12 years old who cares ?
Outfield? Sorry is that not a position in baseball anymore?
Coach Robe said it best. Select model is a bad model because nobody learns how to sit the bench.
Nobody learns how to be a teammate
Now just playing time is not enough?... but it's gotta be in the infield?

I'm just gonna stop here

More in relation to Dads calling the shots regardless of talent level.

Yes, outfield and any other position is great (and fun).

Simply referring to Dads getting together and putting their kids in prime positions regardless of talent.

Quito-
Good to see another KC area resident on the board (OP near 119th/Switzer here).

My kid is only 18 months so I've got a long ways to go. BUT... I am a child psychologist with interests in physical activity engagement and pain rehabilitation.

If your kid isnt interested, then thats it for right now. Period. A lot of parents get so wrapped up in trying to think about what is best for their kid that we forget our kids often have a good idea of what they want to do too. Now, dont get me wrong - this does not mean they always get to call the shots. =)

What I hear is that you want to make sure that his options stay open in the future. Yet, as many posters have also stated, at his age there is so much more benefit to doing multiple things. Use the activities right now to foster work ethic, teach patience, and how to be a team player. If he is good, then teach him leadership --- instill the value of helping to work with his team mates and elevate them.

If he has talent and the work ethic, when hes 14 there will still be options. From my understanding, these leagues are stupidly cliquey, full of the little league parent stereotypes. But ultimately they want the most talented players they can get - if thats your kid a few years from now, then he will have the opportunity at that time.

But I am doomed to come down on the side of what I think is best for a child's over all development, even if that may not be what is best for their baseball/sports path. (Sorry!)

[EDITED ADDITION]: Also, if these leagues are just dads playing favoritism (as you seem to indicate), then F that. You and your son dont need that crap.

You aren't far from me...I'm at 148th and Nall.

My boys love sports, but know school and church come first (don't even get me started on how much emphasis folks place on sports rather than school and Church.

They will continue to play and they love it...so much so, he subs on other teams when needed.

I'm proud he wanted to play with his friends rather than a super team. Just hoping this is correct decision in a couple years...I know he will eventually want/need to play with better players. At that time, my hope is that kids all get a fair shot vs, clique daddy ball teams.

This is a common question, both verbalized and one I have asked myself at least 500 times in the last 5 years. From the get go I will say I despise the travel/select set up in any sport, and in saying that I will say that my only daughter has been and is hip deep in travel softball since age 9. She is now 13.

I won't address the technicalities of Baseball as I really don't know that much about it. But in general terms I will note the following about getting involved in travel sports as we have seen it. From friends and teammates that have boys playing BB a lot is shared in the overall experience. The benefits of playing on a select/travel team as I see them is it keeps kids off the phone for a period of time and emphasizes some other important things that a lot of other kids don't get, same for the video games and fortnight or whatever it is. Participation teaches responsibility and commitment and from an early age teaches or forces the decision of going to a birthday party or sleep over versus going to practice or going to a game. Those responsibilities come at us big time as we become adults. I find that my daughter can handle these decisions or sacrifices much better than her friends that do not do select/travel/club sports.

I do not know about baseball, but the one big advantage that I see in girls that play select as opposed to those that don't is that their knowledge of the game is far superior. Athleticism and technique can be taught to/absorbed by a talented athlete, but knowledge of the game (and in BB and SB it matters) there is no substitute for experience. The other thing I believe it helps is with confidence and in being able to "handle" pressure.

My daughter is a good player, solid and good, but not exceptional. Currently, besides her normal team(s) she is playing with one of the local high schools offseason team, she is going into 8th grade, and the difference in her abilities and knowledge of the game is glaringly obvious in girls going into 11th and 12th grades with varsity letters. There are better athletes and stronger girls on the team, they are basically women whereas my daughter is between a girl and woman, but her smarts about the game are far beyond the girls that have not played travel. I don't know if that is the case in Baseball, but I imagine that it is similar.

At the young age that your boys are you should be able to find what I have coined as a "logical" travel team, and they do exist. One where the emphasis isn't on winning at all costs (that is coach ego and the most sinister thing about the travel/select deal asides from the fleecing of money) but on keeping a group of kids together and making it a positive and fun experience while learning the joys of victory and the agony of defeat. Any travel team that does not encourage or allow for their members to play other sports, especially at your kids age, shouldn't even be considered. Nor should one that has a "balls to the wall" schedule of tournaments and practices and is focused on going hither and yon to national tournaments.

"Daddyball" is a real deal and when coupled with the win at all costs egos of some of these coaches it is just off the hook stupid. Do not get caught up in that situation. I do not believe that a true athletically gifted kid would be truly hampered by not playing select/travel, as they will over come it with determination and skill. But the path will be harder.

I have talked to some HS coaches, and college coaches, and the one thing they say is that they find that the select/travel experience, for those that make it through and do it correctly, enables a kid going into HS to be more prepared mentally for the commitment necessary to truly be elite. I have also seen some exceptional girls burn out and flee from the overbearing situations that over eager parents and coaches have put them in.

If you can find the right situation and your boys enjoy it, I would give it a whirl.

ta93e said:

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And not for nothing, the best all around players in high school end up in right field. It's a tough sell to the young kids (I remember well) but there are 3 OF positions and just the 1 kid who gets to play SS.

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Most everything you said was correct but I'm just trying to make sure what you're saying here is what you believe?

My advice is to put your boys in the most competitive situation possible without sacrificing reps. Also, get them on a team with a paid coach at some point before high school. Paid coaches are uncommon at their age, but will be more prevalent as they advance. After all, the goal is to one day (beginning with high school) play for a paid coach...and playing for paid coaches usually brings about better instruction and less parent BS.

Quito,
Just be patient. Your kids are not going to be left behind. Play multiple sports for fun now and watch many of those other young kids on select teams burn out and disappear because super comp dad burned them out. I see it a lot. I can't speak for your recreation league dad coaches situation. Some coaches may have actually played advanced ball, but some are just being an involved dad that don't know crap. Play in the most competitive leagues around you which may or may not be LL. Invest in private lessons so you know he is getting good instruction, especially hitting. As said above, you will eventually need to play on a team with paid coaches if they want to play competitively. Look for a team where a dad is not managing the team. Good luck.

One more comment - regarding the "friends" aspect to it. Just make a conscious effort to have his friends over to play. Select ball is a terrible reason - and expensive one - to keep a kid near his buddies.

Good advice. For those of you that live up the state in more "civilized" areas there are several variations of "select" teams that are basically rec teams, and that continue to play rec, that started together and have a much more logical and sensible manner of playing together. If one of those were an option I would strongly recommend it.

On the girls side the best select teams I have seen, aside from some outright hard recruiting teams, through the 14 year age group are ones that started playing together at a young age and have kept he bulk of their make up the same. And they do not do the crazy travel schedules. I know of a couple of BB teams that are similar as well. The kids enjoy the hell out of it.

For what it's worth, I recently listened to a great podcast related to this very topic from David Epstein on his new book: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.

https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/fool/07_05_2019_Motley_Fool_Money.mp3?dest-id=13195

RGLAG85 said:

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ta93e said:

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And not for nothing, the best all around players in high school end up in right field. It's a tough sell to the young kids (I remember well) but there are 3 OF positions and just the 1 kid who gets to play SS.

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Most everything you said was correct but I'm just trying to make sure what you're saying here is what you believe?

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I absolutely believe it. Any player who is good at their position is JUST as valuable as any other player, save maybe for pitching.

I remember watching Cory Patton when I was in school. Guy had a CANNON and it really limited what other teams were able to do on the base paths --- he played right field. It really wasnt until watching him that I appreciated that outfielders could absolutely be weapons too.

Come chat with me when you get ready for select ball. I'm a coach with one of the winninest premier select clubs and we have a branch in Austin

BurnetAggie99 said:

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Come chat with me when you get ready for select ball. I'm a coach with one of the winninest premier select clubs and we have a branch in Austin

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no wonder Burnet HS baseball is so good, and Marble Falls is so bad!

I'm also on our local Pony & Youth baseball board and have been for many years. So also volunteer there and alot of the kids that play Select for us, also play league for additional reps and the games are during the week. Pony has Pony Select now as well so it allows local leagues to field teams looking for a more competitive play and keeps kids involved still in the local leagues.

Yea for the most part I have alot of the local Burnet and surrounding area players playing for me in the the Select club I've been with. Same for the HS age kids as well. We also do Fall Ball just enough to stay active and not interfere with football and have a few Fall Ball Showcases for the HS age guys.

We don't get everybody in the area as you have some competition with Canes, GPS, Hurricanes and so forth but most see how we develop all kids, what the organization has done as a whole and we have great relationships with the HS coaches in the area.

At their ages let them play multiple sports. As they get older (7th-8th grades), if they want to continue to play baseball at a high level, then I'd suggest getting them involved with a select baseball organization. In this day and age they would be competing for h.s. starting time with fellow Summer ball participants. There are organizations that emphasize development of fundamentals, but you will need to be vigilant with finding them. If your kids look like pitching talent, then search for individual pitching instruction. Also, if they look like they may want to play college, then summer ball will be the primary path towards this goal. College recruits, for the most part, don't care about high school performance.

Some kids and parents are blown away when they find out and hear it from scouts themselves that high school performances don't mean anything and you don't see scouts flock to high school baseball games like you do for say football. Now they will show up in the playoffs.

They always at the Select Tournaments I'm mean here at the WWBA right now every scout under the sun is here and they always stay in touch with the select coaches at big organizations asking what you got coach. Also we host big time scoutdays held on major universities like A&M and invite all the scouts to attend. We feed them, take care of them and then they see all our players starting from the incoming freshman age through HS.

Preciate it. Send your contact info to nwenso @ gmail_dot_com when you have a moment.

Sent you a email.

My son was finishing Little League when select teams were getting started in the 90s so I missed that decision. However, I was active in coaching until he got to High Scool. First, as I cautioned my fellow coaches and parents in Little League they have not discovered girls that changes everything lets just keep them all interested in all sports Until they get to High School. Second, it is the High School coach and program that matters. The HS he attended had 5 baseball teams 2-fres, 2 Soph the HS teams played fall, spring and summer baseball 10 months. On those teams the coaches batted the line up. My son played in a smaller little League only 1 player in his age started for the Varsity HS team the field narrows as they get older. Keep your children involved in extracricular activities through HS it keeps them active with other students who are doing positive things. My thoughts play as many sports as they want where the all around experience is positive to your child. I believe in repetive stress injuries are an issue with just one sport year round. Think about Karate or Judo it teaches agility and a code. When they get to middle school some track coaching or camp will help all sports. If you know where your children are going to HS send your children to their camps or schools if they have them. Some children are a great players at 12 and then don't grow much in middle and High School while other children are akward in early years and in high school grow into athletes. Most of all enjoy the time with your children before they get to high school. Do as many family activities as you can together. Once they get to High School every thing changes the foundation you helped your children developed will be critical. Also, those four years past at a very rapid rate one day the are entering as freshman the next thing they are graduating. This was told to me by another and it proved to be so true!

I coach HS fastpitch, inevitably, the new kid (9th gr) that shows up in the Spring & played volleyball or basketball seems to be coachable & has an interest to learn the nuances of the game (prob because she's not playing sb year round). I vote for multiple sports, but it's not an easy way to go. Good discussion!

My 2 cents from what I've experienced so far. My kid has enjoyed the game and has a desire to work at it. He plays at a competitive level for his age at the moment. Only thing I've tried to do is surround him with kids that enjoy working and putting extra time in as well. He has the chance every season to change direction if he so desires, it's his choice.

One other thing. As far as coaching, don't get caught up in teams that push paid coaching. I've seen "coaches" with pro ball experience that simply can't teach. Sit back and watch how they interact with the players. Can they really see a kids swing and help that individual player, or are they simply "coaching" the kids by regurgitating the same instruction over and over. Good luck an enjoy it. By the way, the worst part of all this can actually be the parents!

Sorry to chip in so late, I wouldn't stress it too much now. The coaching your kid will get in on of those major programs is not going to lead to a lot of improvements that you and local coaching can't provide anyway. Even when they are older, being involved in a huge program isn't necessary, but I would have to recommend it once they start about 8th grade if they have the skill and desire to play baseball. For now, have them play another sport or 2 in addition to baseball to help develop them as an athlete.

I'm just 20, i seem to remember all the programs that take kids from age 5 through high school becoming extremely widespread when I was about 10, but I never played with one. My team consisted of about 12 guys from a couple towns (populations 400 and 7000) but some of this guys were great players and we won several SS and USSSA tournaments and had the opportunity to go play in tournaments for showcase programs and get the kind of exposure major programs get. About 5 of those guys are still playing today, one who was two years younger than the rest of us was recruited by A&M but turned down the offer to go to play and study at Brown.

If you want your kid to get good coaching and development, you don't need to get involved in a major program right now. The biggest recommendation I could give you, what I wish my parents had done with me, is have them play up at least a year, maybe 2. This helps a lot when they get to high school and they've already been playing summer ball with 15 year olds