6 year olds should play a season of teeball before signing up for Prep. It is simply not necessary for the younger kids. Legalism requires perfection, and Im not perfect, Jesus is. For a 9 year old team the average tournament entry fee will be $200-$300 EVERY weekend, not to mention the gate fee of at least $10 per person per day. Thanks, Roy. It's a vicious cycle. My daughter is involved in a local homeschool league. The travel baseball vs Little League debate has been a hot topic in US youth baseball for quite some time now. Thus the rec league dries up. And if I had any skill to make some of that money working in baseball, I wouldnt have a day job. All of the travel players MUST play rec ball. We invite you take just a few moments to browse our ever expanding list of teams below. He didnt make the middle school team as only travel ball kids only made it. 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. Two guys who are now playing in MLB came from two of the leagues in the District. They did not come out of the womb knowing about baseball. It has been somewhat successful in some respects in that some of its alumni like Carl Crawford, C.C. 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. But it also comes back to another thing: family and community. Uber competitive athletics is going to end for 99.9 percent of kids/young adults. Travel-ball costs are more substantial. 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. Small town kids grow up playing lots of sports not getting burnt out playing the same one all year round. On each weekend, a team will participate in at least four games or even more if its a three-day weekend. They open/close each practice and game with prayer and are not overwhelming us with lots of games. He told us last week that he is glad that we have taught him to focus on his eternal future. Jan 25, 9:16am. . Rec ball in many places is competitive. 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. Our two kids old enough to know what baseball is love the Orioles. If youre coaching your 12 year olds travel ball team, what does that mean for the rec league opportunities your 7 year old has? I was forced to purchase team-designed cleats and helmet. However, I am concerned about the amount of time spent in preparation, travel, and practice that can rob a family of what is truly important from a Scriptural perspective. Not posting some long winded bs. Little League Internationals rules, regulations, and policies have been formulated over more than seven decades to ensure a safe, fun, and healthy environment for children. I learned I would have to stay in a hotel for out-of-town tournaments. Fairfax County, Virginia - Youth Baseball Leagues in Fairfax County. This post seems a departure from your normal posting and writing. Thank you for writing this. Its a vicious cycle. I simply have to go find the people that need Jesus. Nor am I categorically condemning their decisions and choices. They have grown together, developed rapport and strong friendships. Havent seen any. Jan 25, 9:19am. Which we gladly did because we got to see our daughter develop into a top notch softball player, which would not have happened here. The Broadneck, Brooklyn Park, Glen Burnie, Harundale, Havenwood, Lake Shore, and Marley Little Leagues are all no longer associated with Little League. Having coached both my sons in travel an rec ball, and being on the board of our local rec league, serving as president for several years. Do I think that she will go pro? You can start posting after you click here to register.Click the word the "register" to proceed. Today, participation is seen by many as a near necessity for talented players to develop their skills and hone their game against the best competition they can find. Prep is for 6 and 7 year olds. Please. We dont have Sunday games and Id venture that shes in the lower end of competitive teams. Rec ball is where they develop and Steven_Ellis February 21, 2015, 12:46pm #1. I dont believe in definitive s. Jan 25, 8:31am. ), What is the Easiest Position in Baseball? Josh McDowells The Last Christian Generation 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. My thoughts will be mainly applied to baseball, but I think they are valid for basketball, volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, swimming, and whatever else. Overall, the risks are pretty much the same as regular baseball. Every year, various baseball organizations, including USSA, AAU, or Perfect Game, organize hundreds of these tournaments across the whole country. Is there a solution to all of this? 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. This is going to be a big temptation for me because I love sports and am competitive by nature. Little League to . Most professional golfers look the same. 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. Yes, Major League Baseball has its RBI Program to return baseball to urban fields. But it is, quite literally, passed down from generation to generation. Coaches pitch from a shorter distance than Rookie with a softer exterior 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. So many kids grow up dreaming, so few put on a big league uniform. They dropped out of church and I think it really showed their kids that priorities of baseball come before any commitment to church attendance or service. Jesus is God not baseball. Teams advancing to the regional level in the U.S. receive an additional $200. There are rules and considerations for exceptions and of course fall ball has its own set of rules as there is no rec ball at that time. Our eldest, now six, is in her second year of playing though she has moved over to softball. Its apparent that wegenerally speakingspend more time encouraging our children to pursue athletic excellence than we do in developing a Biblical Worldview in them. We played Upward for quite some time and my wife was amazed at how many parents going to the practices are unchurched. Sound familiar? Unfortunately with all the sacrifices Ive made that relocation doesnt seem likely but as usual, Ill pray about it. Honestly, in the sport of football, it may be most perpetuated by mothers, though from the . Little League. A dad refusing to help his son become a baseball player because hes not a fielding dad?. To make matters worse, I learned his old Little League team did incorporate kid pitch mid-way through the season. Then again, some games I find my older daughter listening to her ipod while we watch the games. Since 2015, it has been known as The Emirates FA Cup after its . My older brother played sports from t-ball to college, probably would have went pro if he hadnt hurt his shoulder (yes, he was THAT good, Im not just saying it, he had an unhittab,e curve ball), but the decision was made when he first started that God and His church would always come first, and he would not play if there was a conflict between his first priority and the game. Now I know the reasons. Those two sports may not seem very similar. He was so upset. 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? . Little League baseball is a program organized by a non-profit organization based in Pennsylvania and it features local youth baseball competitions all over the world. Guess what; we still talk about baseball. He followed the Coach Pitch program, which focused on fundamentals fundamentals I felt my son already had. Listen to truthful, accurate feedback from coaches. It always seemed the season ended right about the time we got to know everyone. Well-roundedness: Despite the cultural drive for pursuing one sport, well-roundedness as a child makes for happy, well-adjusted adults. The roster includes 35 players, 27 of whom can receive scholarship money. That was it! The latest Arizona headlines, breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, and local community stories that matter to you. While my son made a ton of new friends and had fun, I felt he needed more. Fourth, travel ball is expensive, but so are the other activities in which many parents place their children like show choir and band. There are two sides to every situation. Baseball is the greatest game ever, it is exactly that, a game. 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. While it has completely permeated and overtaken little league baseball, it exists in every sport, football included. Train your coaches and prepare them for every level they will be involved. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. Dont let one child be turned away because they cant afford registration or equipment. Are those stewardship issues as well? -ta. Awards. The Fall baseball/softball season includes league play at all division levels. With this comes the COOPERSTOWN TICKET. Thanks to all who replied. Build this league and you will have travel on the decline. Golf has, traditionally, been a sport played by upper-class white guys. PAY FOR QUALITY UMPIRES, make sure you have enough umpires for all games and have them supported by all involved. Here at Select Baseball Teams, we have worked hard to comprise one of the most comprehensive lists of Alabama travel baseball teams looking for players. 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. My son had the same coach as the year prior. A job is not a game. She got to have some really good conversations with the moms who really didnt understand the philosophy behind Upward as a result. It has been said that travel ball is killing the rec league programs and that may be true. 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. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Its hard in the county. And teams may invite players from anywhere in the region. I have a neighbor who constantly pesters me about our childrens sports involvement level-rec. A fun, family-friendly, reasonably affordable activity you can do with the kids? I stayed with the Little League program because I was told that for my sons 7-year-old season, there would be kid pitching. As recently as the 1990s, travel baseball was a niche experience limited mostly to elite players in baseball-rich areas like Texas and California. 6 Differences Between Baseball And Softball, What Is A Quick Pitch In Baseball? #momof3boys. Nevertheless, Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6:1-4 still stand in Scripture as commands, not suggestions. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. But it is, quite literally, passed down from generation to generation. God will open doors to tell others about Christ as we are faithful to follow Him. LL was the emphasis, there were only a couple of travel teams. looking over our back," John DeMasi told ABC News' "20/20." 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. Little League. 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. home. My daughter loves the game more now than ever before. It is the most pernicious aspect of youth league sports. For others, it can wreak havoc. As Little League has declined, travel baseball has grown. Privacy Policy. Maybe families should pray over the decision that best suits each individual child. I have friends I respect whose kids have played (and some who do play) travel ball, and I mean no offense to them by this post. And though the book purports to be comprehensive . Besides the usual costs of buying bats, uniforms, cleats, and other equipment, there are team fees and the costs of fuel, accommodation, and dining. Kids are smarter than what we want to give them credit for. The goal of this program is to provide additional playing opportunity for those baseball and softball players interested. NOW PLAYING: little-league-player-surprised-after-marine-dad-takes-the-mound Stoneman Douglas vs Doral Baseball 2-28-2023 Scorebook Live Nowadays boys don't know how to catch at age 9-10. re: Little League Baseball Really is the Worst. Additionally, as an exercise physiologist, Im very pro movement, health and sports, but believe balance in life is key. I was recently Contemplating to start travel ball from my son recently and for some reason Ive been holding back . 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. I could be wrong. 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. Very good and same principles work for hockey too. 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. Pray over the decision that best suits each individual child love sports and competitive. Dont believe in definitive s. Jan 25, 8:31am level in the region seem likely as. 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