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. Spoiler: I wasnt good enough to keep playing. I grew up wanting to be a major league baseball player, and Im so glad I never even got drafted. 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. Second, recreation leagues can be just as competitive and demanding as travel ball, but doesnt have the same season length. and our And if I had any skill to make some of that money working in baseball, I wouldnt have a day job. Listen to article. Providing evidence of insurance to field owners and tournament organizers can consume a team manager's life and drain the budget without the right insurance program. But if missing church on a Sunday for travel ball is condemning, then missing church for family vacations, work, sickness or any other reason is the same. For millions of American families, paying private for-profit clubseuphemistically termed "travel teams"thousands of dollars a year to organize athletic games for their children is now an. By your argument, we should never have church services because, if were in church and the lost people arent, how are we going to win them? Its apparent that wegenerally speakingspend more time encouraging our children to pursue athletic excellence than we do in developing a Biblical Worldview in them. For additional information please contact Tony Carter 615-202-9606. It is evangelism that is not solely dependent upon our efforts, but on the power of the Word being preached, loved, and then given to others. A lot of these coaches have other full-time jobs and simply dont have enough time to focus on their team. Which we gladly did because we got to see our daughter develop into a top notch softball player, which would not have happened here. 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. 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 find it filled with some great thoughts based on extreme examples and false assumptions. Every expert agreed that kids are being played too hard and too long. 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. But it is, quite literally, passed down from generation to generation. D.A.s or District staff are encouraged to work with the leagues in their district to provide combined district travel teams, establish player pools, and find ways for all players interested to have an opportunity to . 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. 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. . I do not feel we will ever look back on our decision to say no to travel ball. Two guys who are now playing in MLB came from two of the leagues in the District. Identity: Think about how your child views his or her identity. (He never would have been able to do this had he continued playing in college as all of the players were expected to play in a summer league each year.) vs. travel. 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. Website: . I enjoyed your article and the discussion following it. Rec ball. All your doing is increasing the strain and the chance of injury for no appreciable gain. I agree 100% with your article. There are no playoffs unless otherwise noted. If thats the case, the league they participate in doesnt matter that much. Our youth baseball program is custom-built to meet all the insurance needs of teams and leagues in one easy-to-use, affordable plan. If his 10-year-old son did not make the team at the $2,500-per-season private baseball club where I coached, the boy would lose friends and the familys routines would be upended, he argued. As a PastorI certainly appreciate the sentiments expressed in this article. What better way exists. I dont usually read things that are in America. It is no wonder so many of our children leave the church when they go to college. Thanks to all who replied. 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. I am very thankful we found an amazing travel ball coach at age six. I had played non-stop from the summer before my freshman year, through fall ball, winter weights, the spring season, then summer ball before it started all over in my sophomore year. I hope my article could help to answer your questions. Thank you for writing this. 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 I wasnt thrilled hed be hitting off a tee because he could already hit a pitched ball, I figured we had to start somewhere, and Tee Ball was all that was available. Once he has gone through everyone, he will tell them to 'release' and they will throw the ball to the teammate across from them. General Little League to Travel Ball and Back Again February 7, 2017 I started my son in the Little League Tee Ball program when he was four. I was forced to purchase team-designed cleats and helmet. Travel is not glamorous but grueling. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. That was it! So many kids grow up dreaming, so few put on a big league uniform. Truthfully, we have gotten better instruction and development at a Rec ball/All Star level. Rec ball and travel ball can coexist, BUT, it has to be done with the kids as the foremost priority. My 5 year old has peers that are playing baseball year round already! Encouraging the pursuit of excellence and rewarding hard work and God given talent. Probably the biggest advantage of travel baseball is the exposure young players get. After college, my husband played pro baseball for a while and I played on a national team. . Build this league and you will have travel on the decline. Travel with extended families and make bonds with good people. It can be a huge change in commitment, skill level, and dedication depending on the type of team and price you go into. 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. The costs of travel baseball often put a serious strain on the family budget. That would inevitably awaken the competitive impulse, leading to more practices, more effort expended, and the gradual creep to a higher key. 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. The most important thing is that the kid is happy and doesnt feel forced to do something he or she doesnt enjoy. Is it any wonder that race sponsors like Goodys and Virginia National Bank have been replaced by Bluegreen Vacations, Ally, or Bank of America? Do not tolerate conduct of the weak and uneducated. Confused! On the contrary, travel baseball is pure commitment! Individual players who play on Little League teams are also permitted to participate in non-Little League Baseball and Softball programs. 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 had my schedule back. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. All of the travel players MUST play rec ball. What will travel ball mean for your marriage? Players invest a lot of money and energy into it. However, they are much more severe. For some may not even be an issue. We love them by showing them that God is infinitely more valuable than all else. As recently as the 1990s, travel baseball was a niche experience limited mostly to elite players in baseball-rich areas like Texas and California. 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. Train your coaches and prepare them for every level they will be involved. Fairfax County, Virginia - Youth Baseball Leagues in Fairfax County. Do they enjoy it or is it a drudge? Cookie Notice If the ultimate goal is for the kid to get to the pros, then joining a travel baseball program is definitely a better choice. Your email address will not be published. Fill your childrens team with morals and role models. Christians are Christians because we worship what is true. 2021 featured all American teams. Non-Christians exist because what they worship is false. And you should. Jan 25, 9:16am. 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. I love excellence. I think "specialization" is killing certain sports in local markets, it depends. But today, Havenwood Little League does not exist. In fact, most experts believe that if your goal is for your child to go pro, the worst thing you can do is overplay them. . The kids were really good, but he made it! In Pony baseball, players are put into divisions by age groups of two years. Are those stewardship issues as well? The closest Little League organization to Pasadena now is in Davidsonville, 23 miles away. We invite you take just a few moments to browse our ever expanding list of teams below. So much time was freed up by not having to go to practice. Think about your reasons for getting your child into a sport. I could now study what I wanted to study, and my classes were no longer determined by baseball practice. Is there a solution to all of this? Registration is quick, easy, and FREE. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. However, the main reason weve stuck with travel is the consistency that it offers. He was so upset. Jan 25, 9:37am. How does a big leaguer have a family? Manage Settings Not necessarily, but if your kid is in the 714 age range, I will suspect that you might not be pursuing the wisest course. My daughter has played with the same girls and coaches for 3 seasons now. 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. For decades, NASCAR was a working class, southern sport. Golf attracts high dollar, high roller sponsors. Little League Baseball and Softball. We dont win Non-Christians by showing them how little we care about worship and the assembly of believers, we win them through honoring God as better than all other appetites. Waiting lists for leagues. Scotland (Scots: Scotland, Scottish Gaelic: Alba [alap] ()) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Jan 25, 9:19am. Sound familiar? 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. ). Travel/Select Ball Montgomery County Little League (MCLL) is a recreational baseball program by definition of being a chartered affiliate of Little League International. Dont let one child be turned away because they cant afford registration or equipment. Nowadays boys don't know how to catch at age 9-10. re: Little League Baseball Really is the Worst. 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. But this issue goes far beyond Little League Baseball organizationally. Once-proud public institutions are being privatized, with many unintended consequences. This means that kids participating in travel tournaments get a chance to play with or against highly skilled and competitive players. If anything, there are more youth sports options for people to pick what works best for them, even though there are. Too many surgeries, other arm problems, leg issues and other health issues that kids at that age shouldnt have to endure. We practiced a lot, doing as much as the NCAA allowed, all year long, in season and out. T-ball, Biddy, "Little League", and Teener League baseball programs for the Tamaqua Area. Personally, if I could have done things differently I would have kept my child in the rec leagues but I guess Im not sure if she would have learned to pursue excellence in the manner she did had she done so. 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. Give MVP, Player of the game, most improved player of the game.. 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