These reflections grow out of my own experience playing and coaching and watching other families. Check out: The Nehemiah Institute (nehemiahinstitute.com) Well, the genie of privatized baseball cannot be put back in the bottle. There may be instances in which its the right thing, and when a kid gets to be 15 to 16 years old, its understandable that commitment levels and demands are going to rise and choices are going to have to be made. 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. BE INVOLVED , VOLUNTEER, ATTEND MEETING AFTER MEETING, FUND RAISE, HOLD ALL ACCOUNTABLE FOR TIME, HONOR, COMMITMENT AND GET ALL THE KIDS TO ENJOY THIS LEAGUE YOU ARE A PART OF. re: Travel Ball/ Little League Coaches leaving work Posted on 8/20/22 at 6:32 pm to philly444. I wanted to play all the time, until I got to college and had to do so. 6 year olds should play a season of teeball before signing up for Prep. I just watched a program not too long ago on the rise of Tommy johns surgeries. Kids are smarter than what we want to give them credit for. NOW PLAYING: little-league-player-surprised-after-marine-dad-takes-the-mound Stoneman Douglas vs Doral Baseball 2-28-2023 Scorebook Live Its apparent that wegenerally speakingspend more time encouraging our children to pursue athletic excellence than we do in developing a Biblical Worldview in them. Identity: Think about how your child views his or her identity. 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. Car pool or fund transportation for those who cant get their children on time. (Explained In Detail! We have expanded our season to now include winter training, a competitive league spring travel schedule, tournament season as well as a competitive league fall schedule. I also need it every day of the week. I hear this quite a bit. Unlike travel baseball, Little League is mostly a local affair and is organized with a lot of effort and goodwill from the locals. Generally speaking, these parents dont do the Sunday sports to evangelize. Little League wants parents to understand the potential dangers of allowing a child to participate in programs in which limited rules and regulations may exist - while recognizing our program's rules that are designed to protect players from injury, such as Pitch Counts and equipment rules. That means that even if your kid is the best thing since Babe Ruth, if he goes off to play major college baseball, the baseball team isnt paying all the expenses. foster a love for the game. If youre exalting baseball over all these other things, areyou serving a false god, an idol, that is going to use you and then throw you away? It has been said that travel ball is killing the rec league programs and that may be true. Which we gladly did because we got to see our daughter develop into a top notch softball player, which would not have happened here. And I want to provide the best competitive opportunities I can for my own kids. I was sad when the team cut me from the roster, but I was also relieved. Kids need to see that Jesus and his church are more important to their parents even than baseball. . Travel baseball goes by many names; select, club, premier, elite, and so on. 2 were here. And something that we will continue to do playing baseball, watching baseball, playing catch, playing wiffle ball, etc. I appreciate the article. Do not tolerate conduct of the weak and uneducated. Our eldest, now six, is in her second year of playing though she has moved over to softball. Thank you! I agree, there are a ton of options. Give your kid the chance to be a great person and cultivate that through sports. They dont need to have baseball practice every week all year long, and you dont need to be their taxi for that every week all year long either. Again, like you said, church should not be sacrificed by families of 8, 10, and 12-year olds, and oftentimes not even by families of high-schoolers. Truthfully, we have gotten better instruction and development at a Rec ball/All Star level. sacrifice your sons childhood on the altar of the hope, each team is allowed a maximum of 11.7 scholarships, Dont Play Travel Ball: Stay in the Rec League | For His Renown | Pastor John Reading List, http://kristenanneglover.com/my-kids-dont-play-sports/#comment-6411, 6-String Salvo, February 12, 2016 Mike Lee, The Daily Discovery (February 12, 2016) - Entreating Favor, More Great Reading | Second Chance Pastor, Todays Links // 4 Free Kindle Books, Worship Songs, Socialist Millennials, Buy a Friend App, Freedom from Anxiety | Word + Life | KevinHalloran.net. The following year was about the same. Those two sports may not seem very similar. 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. So many kids grow up dreaming, so few put on a big league uniform. LL was the emphasis, there were only a couple of travel teams. 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. 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. Id bet if you polled the MLB players the vast majority of them would agree. Thanks for sharing them. Travel baseball may be making people a lot of money but, in the long run, it may be killing the golden goose. 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. I want your son to love baseball, to have the opportunity to be a kid, and to play the game as a kid. Consider D1 baseball: each team is allowed a maximum of 11.7 scholarships, and those scholarships can be divided up between players. The best outcomes were consistently when we stayed in the local rec leagues. No one should expect to make the show. For one thing, their bodies just arent developed enough to handle the strain. If dads still took their kids to baseball games, played catch with their boys, played wiffleball and played baseball video games most boys would be competitive at baseball. Once-proud public institutions are being privatized, with many unintended consequences. Participating in travel baseball will likely eat most of your free time. As expected, my son got limited playing time during the season. They sound the same. And man (probably some do) dont evangelize. I love excellence. The Broadneck, Brooklyn Park, Glen Burnie, Harundale, Havenwood, Lake Shore, and Marley Little Leagues are all no longer associated with Little League. It is called Daddy Ball but it is perpetrated by way more than daddies. Small towns breed professional athletes, and the reason seems to be that kids in small towns arent over-coached, over-organized, and over-specialized by the travel ball opportunities found in larger cities. and our Once I got to be 13, we left Havenwood Little League to create our own team and I played with that team through age 15, when I stopped playing. Eternity is at stake. The majority of coaches in the Little League are volunteers, mostly recruited of the parent ranks. Mid-way through the season, I asked the coach if there would be an opportunity for some kid pitching. The percentages are outrageous. The local community often gathers around a Little League team and takes pride in the kids representing them. Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League. 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. I have seen it just recently in the church Im attending now. In volleyball and soccer, maybe cheer, but most other sports they don't. FieroCoug. Applaud effort and celebrate results for both dugouts. Since 2015, it has been known as The Emirates FA Cup after its . I understand that now I may be bringing up an exception to the norm. I also grew up watching sports slowly take over Sundays as the team practices/warmups got earlier and earlier until they happened during church times. I grew up wanting to be a major league baseball player, and Im so glad I never even got drafted. Dont get me wrong: I love competition. ), What is the Easiest Position in Baseball? When comparing travel baseball vs Little League, each of the two has its own advantages and drawbacks. looking over our back," John DeMasi told ABC News' "20/20." Little League - Character, Courage, Loyalty. Usually, coaches in travel baseball are more experienced and competent than their counterparts in the recreational leagues. The latest Arizona headlines, breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, and local community stories that matter to you. "We spent days, months, years . Nope, the good, serious players in most sports do both in high school. And thats a problem for baseball at every level, all the way up to the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. No player evaluations are required for the Fall season. However, many people believe that the Little League better cultivates the true spirit of baseball as opposed to the sometimes too professional and competitive approach in travel baseball. 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. Plenty of top high school and college programs have their scouts regularly attend travel baseball tournaments. It also has a successful 18u rec program. He has a decent arm but has never pitched in travel. I look at another coach who is seeded number one in the league and am very glad my kid isnt with him as I can only imagine the sort of character theyd be building. In my experience as a recreation coach, I found the rec league filled with as much politics and drama and team stacking as travel ball leagues. I appreciate that. 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. 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. Set the example for the kids. Listen to truthful, accurate feedback from coaches. The higher level of competition drives young players to work harder on their game. Member since Aug 2014. 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. There doesnt have to be a life lesson constantly pointed out. 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. -ta. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Extend your season, make sure that all teams are drafted equally. Also, parents may not have a realistic view of how talented their son or daughter is in sports, often over or underestimating their abilities. Those conflicts are becoming more common with the increasing secularization of our country. Usually, teams play travel ball at least twice a month, on weekends. I spent my 20s laying the foundation for what Im doing with the rest of my life, not bouncing around in the minor leagues. #momof3boys. We love them by showing them that God is infinitely more valuable than all else. Very few will walk in my church doors on Sunday. Once he has gone through everyone, he will tell them to 'release' and they will throw the ball to the teammate across from them. 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. A jury convicted three men of murder in the 2017 death of a beloved Little League coach who was fatally stabbed over a confiscated driver's license while working security at a downtown bar. Keep him in rec ball, where he wont get burnt out because hes a kid facing the demands of a profession. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Travel Ball "World Series". Jan 25, 9:28am. Likewise, I appreciate the voices of parents who have been there on both sides. The closest Little League organization to Pasadena now is in Davidsonville, 23 miles away. This means that kids participating in travel tournaments get a chance to play with or against highly skilled and competitive players. Dads get into it for a little better competition not meaning for it to take over their lives, and the next thing they know their schedule and wallet are dominated by travel ball. Thats fine for an 18 year old on the cusp of adulthood, but theres no reason to put a 714 year old through that kind of rigor. How does a big leaguer have a family? Think brands like Mercedes-Benz. Yes, I need Sunday fellowship and worship. But it is, quite literally, passed down from generation to generation. Girls have been admitted since 1974. Dont let one child be turned away because they cant afford registration or equipment. Written on their website was High Level Competition For Competitive Kids. Teen suspect in shooting of 15-year-old NYC boy caught upstate after months on run: sources 12-year-old NYC boy was shot while playing with other kids in apartment lobby Harrowing video footage. As of now, we do believe that we are pursing the wisest course. Its not for every child or family, but we have enjoyed allowing our child to play travel ball, at least today. It always seemed the season ended right about the time we got to know everyone. Our son never felt like he missed out on anything; he was too busy playing other sports and doing other activities. Part. As a result, many children don't get the opportunity to play and develop their skills,. Wow this article really spoke to me. little league field, killing 1 . Hello, Im Paul, a 45 year old passionate baseball fan and the owner of this website. So much time was freed up by not having to go to practice. (Answered! "Everyone's selling 'the dream gonna happen,' and people are making a. In Pony baseball, players are put into divisions by age groups of two years. The Little League has dominated youth baseball for years, but today its unable to provide the satisfying level of coaching and skill development. So we are playing upward thru our church. Covering Phoenix, Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Gilbert, the valley . 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. Additionally, they will probably have fewer injuries and enjoy the competition more. It is this simple fact: Baseball is no longer a game that is for everybody. Every year, MCLL designates players in our All-Star Tournament teams to represent MCLL in the Little League Tournaments within various age groups. For millions of American families, paying private for-profit clubseuphemistically termed travel teamsthousands of dollars a year to organize athletic games for their children is now an unquestioned way of life that shapes family routines, work schedules and commutes. AAA Evaluations - 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. 2021 featured all American teams. Late-stage capitalism is a Marxist construct used by socialists to explain away capitalism and the failures of socialism. A lot of teams are started by parents, but some are run by former high school and college coaches. Kids may start playing in the Little League from as young as age 4. We come together as believers to worship and encourage one another then we go out into the world to reach people in the name of Christ Hebrews 10:25 is just one example of the Bible reminding believers that its important that we not throw church out the window to do other things. Rec ball in many places is competitive. This post seems a departure from your normal posting and writing. Editor's note: This is the first story in a four-part series examining the pros and cons of youths playing extensive travel baseball versus Little League, or a combination of the two. 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). We dont have Sunday games and Id venture that shes in the lower end of competitive teams. Learning that excelling takes commitment, hard work, loyalty. I dont usually read things that are in America. Really great article Dr. Hamilton! It also has a successful 18u rec program. I pray that God keeps me humble and rightly focused. 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. It was good for us a s a family although the wallet didnt think so. Archived post. Do the social aspects improve their values and stimulate great discussions at home, or lead them away from family?). A dad refusing to help his son become a baseball player because hes not a fielding dad?. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Its a fading game. In Florida, some high-level programs now cost over $10,000 a season. Please dont mortgage your home on a dream that your kid might be good enough to go pro. Obviously, I dont buy into the idea of late-stage capitalism. Dont sacrifice your sons childhood on the altar of the hope that hes the next Derek Jeter. But it also comes back to another thing: family and community. I played two years of major college baseball at the University of Arkansas, and Ive been coaching my sons in baseball and basketball for the last 7 years or so. We pick and choose how much we want to play, spend, etc and have been very successful in several states. . She does it for fun and its not overwhelming even though its a little more competitive than a local rec league. Most professional golfers look the same. Its about the fact that fewer and fewer kids are playing baseball every year. But we have had a great experience with travel ball and have been able to balance our commitments to both Christ, his church, and our family. Nowadays, a lot of young athletes choose other sports over baseball and a lot of communities are experiencing a sharp decline in baseball participation. I dont believe in definitive s. Thanks, Roy. Awards. The low-end travel teams can be local teams going to a few tournaments outside the region. 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. And at best a professional athlete might play into his late 30s or early 40s, then what? Is there a solution to all of this? Little League Baseball and Softball. 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.
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