God makes it pretty clear when Paul says, Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus We represent Him, so we will want to do our best and want our kids to understand why. This is what we due when we gather for worship. The following year was about the same. looking over our back," John DeMasi told ABC News' "20/20." In volleyball and soccer, maybe cheer, but most other sports they don't. FieroCoug. 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. My thoughts will be mainly applied to baseball, but I think they are valid for basketball, volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, swimming, and whatever else. The result: In the United States, baseball is becoming a mostly white country-club sport for upper-class families to consume, like a snorkeling vacation or a round of golf. Jan 25, 9:37am. I pray that God keeps me humble and rightly focused. I agree, there are a ton of options. Hey, for years sports programs operated quite successfully without Sunday morning scheduling. Little League International respects the rights of a parent(s), or legal guardian(s), to allow a child to participate in any Little League activity. In the Little League, some kids get a sense of belonging for the first time. 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. Our league is like the one you described. Generally speaking, these parents dont do the Sunday sports to evangelize. Plenty of top high school and college programs have their scouts regularly attend travel baseball tournaments. Well-roundedness: Despite the cultural drive for pursuing one sport, well-roundedness as a child makes for happy, well-adjusted adults. I am confident that there are better ways to steward those thousands of dollars. It can be beneficial for high school aged and sometimes junior high kids, but the little ones, ages six to twelve, it's the worst thing you can do for them. Eternity is at stake. Many of the families on our team actually make it a family affair. I learned I would have to stay in a hotel for out-of-town tournaments. This mentally effects the kids also with so much pressure to do well. Motivations: Just because you liked something as a kid, or were good at it, it doesnt mean your child will or should be. For us, the Orioles will always be a family affair. Now, the league has grown a bit but has 190 kids playing travel ball, with multiple teams at 12u, 14u, 16u, and 18u. The higher level of competition drives young players to work harder on their game. You may be betting on the kid getting a scholarship. This question reveals how far our cultural worldview has intermixed with a Christian one. League will play at Municipal Park or Thompson Park. Anthony Lynn, who remembers his Little League days so vividly, told me that he thinks travel ball is cynical. Al Mohlers Culture Shift I chase my boys all over creation and its very taxing in many ways. 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. 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. 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. I am coaching a 5-6 yr old team and can already feel the pull of private instructors, out of season ball, travel squads, etc. It also has a successful 18u rec program. http://kristenanneglover.com/my-kids-dont-play-sports/#comment-6411. 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. For more information, please see our They play the same. Thankfully, we have a great group of players, coaches, and families. And teams may invite players from anywhere in the region. The closest Little League organization to Pasadena now is in Davidsonville, 23 miles away. 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. The coach was great! Set the example for the kids. As a pastor, I require my daughter to be in church every Sunday, which means that she misses all Sunday games that interfere with worship. 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. No. My son is 11u, and this fall was his first (and possibly final) season of travel ball. OP's son sounds like a hard worker, just have to work in the right place 35 Reply [deleted] 5 yr. ago And to get your kid into a school with AP courses. What are they learning? 12527 posts. My son had the same coach as the year prior. (Little League, 1) Paperback - September 24, 2013 by Matt Christopher (Author) 290 ratings Book 2 of 5: Little League See all formats and editions Kindle $6.99 Read with Our Free App Audiobook $0.00 Free with your Audible trial Hardcover $7.24 37 Used from $1.28 10 New from $7.24 Paperback $7.99 66 Used from $1.29 20 New from $6.75 Audio CD 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. 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. Nope, the good, serious players in most sports do both in high school. Baseball exists not just because of the community's love of the game. 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 have had a sub par experience, and I have that guilt every Sunday that we are at a tournament instead of honoring God in His house. (Their varsity team is seeded #1 or #2 nationwide and is competitive, though still strives to put Jesus first.) Because COVID, This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. We will be staying with rec from now on. | GWG Clips #2 from GWG episode #1| Daniel Otero and Ty Osborne - YouTube Blessed to have Tyrone on with us for this episode! Congrats to the 3524663635357 travel ball teams playing in a "World Series" this week or the next couple of weeks. 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. Copyright 2003-2023 This means that kids participating in travel tournaments get a chance to play with or against highly skilled and competitive players. Its a Jesuit-based publication with a political slant that does not agree with mine. For one thing, their bodies just arent developed enough to handle the strain. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); on Dont Play Travel Ball: Stay in the Rec League, Great Books Selections for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016. Cant keep my almost 13 yr old from it since 5, and 3 yr old hits a large bucket of real balls off the tee by himself at the indoor facility in a cage while his brother hits in another. 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. Dont sacrifice your sons childhood on the altar of the hope that hes the next Derek Jeter. We dont win Non-Christians by loving them more than we love God and his glory. He said he had seen it happen. If the ultimate goal is for the kid to get to the pros, then joining a travel baseball program is definitely a better choice. 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. 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. 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. Part of the argument for travel ball is the appeal of better competition. We still put prior commitments first and the coach understands that we cant make all games/practices as a result. This is going to be a big temptation for me because I love sports and am competitive by nature. Get involved with the sports governing board and voice your opinion. As a PastorI certainly appreciate the sentiments expressed in this article. Is Travel Ball killing little league and organized baseball? In addition to a spring season, PSLL offers a summer league, summer camps, fall ball, and a winter skills clinic. They would have to drive to another suburb for ball games. PAY FOR QUALITY UMPIRES, make sure you have enough umpires for all games and have them supported by all involved. I enjoyed your article and the discussion following it. Excellence: Pursuing excellence is important, but be sure you know and your child knows what you mean by that. Sad to see but strengthened our resolve that sports would not take priority over God and our church family. (Matthew 6:33) I pray that many folks take heed of what you shared. Now I know the reasons. 6 Differences Between Baseball And Softball, What Is A Quick Pitch In Baseball? Often this will vary from league to league and from coach to coach. The league originally included boys age 8 to 12. Baseball is the greatest game ever, it is exactly that, a game. So many kids grow up dreaming, so few put on a big league uniform. Do I think that she will go pro? Coach B, Come play in SBMSA in Houston. ). I appreciate the article. Fill your childrens team with morals and role models. I am very thankful we found an amazing travel ball coach at age six. Travel Ball Killing Little League!? 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. Let kids be kids, they and their bodies will decide what they can and cant do. 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. 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. Do I think that she will even play on the high school level? It also has a successful 18u rec program. I dont normally respond to blog posts, but I wanted to respond to this one because I respect you. While it has completely permeated and overtaken little league baseball, it exists in every sport, football included. After all, theres a reason why the closing scene of Field of Dreams is so poignant. 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. Im coming at this topic from a multi-dimensional approach. But this, which I encourage you to read in its entirety, is a very damning piece about the state of baseball in America. Christians are Christians because we worship what is true. I had to pay a sign-up fee of $750. 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. I grew up wanting to be a major league baseball player, and Im so glad I never even got drafted. The Little League has dominated youth baseball for years, but today its unable to provide the satisfying level of coaching and skill development. They also have T-ball divisions. 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. Well-said. Christian Smiths Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers 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. 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. Golf attracts high dollar, high roller sponsors. The percentages are outrageous. We have commodified the play of millions of children into. By living our life for Christ the other 6 days. Little League. If non-Christians are playing travel ball on Sundays and all the Christians are in church with other Christians, how will the Christians win the non-Christians to Christ? Baseball should be a fun game for him not a demanding job. The majority of the leagues are run by local volunteers whose programs are annually charted by Little League International. They need to run and jump and exercise other muscles than the ones required by baseball. Its no coincidence that the top two picks in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Orioles Jackson Holliday and the Diamondbacks Druw Jones, were sons of superstar Major League players. After looking at the tournament schedule, I realized Id miss days at work and the expenses would pile up. Every year, MCLL designates players in our All-Star Tournament teams to represent MCLL in the Little League Tournaments within various age groups. FieroCoug. Travel baseball may be making people a lot of money but, in the long run, it may be killing the golden goose. That is why I was sympathetic to the angry dads argument and, in the end, took his son for the team. Please advertise when you have this league so I can get the 70 or so kids I will bring with me to get in registration line. Really great article Dr. Hamilton! Steven_Ellis February 21, 2015, 12:46pm #1. 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. I would also ask to establish contact with you for a best practices sharing of information and spreading of the works you are enjoying. Prep is for 6 and 7 year olds. 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. And if I had any skill to make some of that money working in baseball, I wouldnt have a day job. On the off-chance that your kid is a freak athlete with the arm strength, foot speed, power, stamina, and character, who gets all the right breaks at just the right time, chances are hell rise up through the ranks of rec ball rather than being groomed on the travel ball circuit. Rec ball in many places is competitive. I have a neighbor who constantly pesters me about our childrens sports involvement level-rec. Most professional golfers look the same. It doesn't take much and Rec Leagues would be greatly improved. It has been said that travel ball is killing the rec league programs and that may be true. Havent seen any. 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. 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. 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. The travel baseball vs Little League debate has been a hot topic in US youth baseball for quite some time now. In the end, it should all come to what the kid wants. Learn from others short comings and honor God with your precious time on the field. I hoped that I would get information like yours Jason. Individual players who play on Little League teams are also permitted to participate in non-Little League Baseball and Softball programs. My daughter loves the game more now than ever before. 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. 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. I could rest. 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. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. We are leaning strongly to go back to his Rec ball league that we enjoyed in the spring. Its only about winning and not developing. They will actually improve more at each sport because a variety of new skills enhances old ones in ways that cant be quantified. NOW PLAYING: little-league-player-surprised-after-marine-dad-takes-the-mound Stoneman Douglas vs Doral Baseball 2-28-2023 Scorebook Live 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 programs rules that are designed to protect players from injury, such as Pitch Counts and equipment rules. Travel ball is expensive but studying for class is free, and an SAT book is like 20 bucks. A lot of these coaches have other full-time jobs and simply dont have enough time to focus on their team. 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. Additionally, they will probably have fewer injuries and enjoy the competition more. 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). This is a straw man argument that has nothing to do with the very valid points the author makes. From a father of 3 boys I can confirm this to be absolute truth. Dont get me wrong there are alot of rec leagues that are great but if you live in the middle of no where lile wr do that was out only option to make her the best that she could be and to teach her to challenge herself and not settle for just good enough. The Fall baseball/softball season includes league play at all division levels. However, Little League International also has the right to limit participation in its activities to players who comply with its rules, regulations, and policies. My arm hurt all the time, and I wasnt a pitcher. We must show them how to live well so that they may flourish and worship what is enduring. Have fun with sports, and use it to build character, not dream-castles in the skies. Families who thought the Sunday game was no big deal slowly dropped out of church because sports came first. Just like my folks did. As a volunteer basketball coach for 18+ years, Ive seen girls spiritually suffer by the same well-intentioned convictions of their parents. For others, it can wreak havoc. Is travel baseball killing Little League in America? The best outcomes were consistently when we stayed in the local rec leagues. Were enjoying the homeschool league to which we belong right now, but also realize that our daughters team is not a highly competitive team, but the JV/Varsity teams are a bit more competitive. There doesnt have to be a life lesson constantly pointed out. I found a local travel ball organization that was offering tryouts for several 10-U teams. 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