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. Listen to baseball experts'. Written on their website was High Level Competition For Competitive Kids. Yes, Major League Baseball has its RBI Program to return baseball to urban fields. We decided to engage in travel ball because the coaching was better. 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. On the contrary, travel baseball is pure commitment! The fear that if children dont specialize in one sport by eighth grade they will miss opportunities is unfounded. Id bet if you polled the MLB players the vast majority of them would agree. I do not feel we will ever look back on our decision to say no to travel ball. We dont have Sunday games and Id venture that shes in the lower end of competitive teams. I was recently Contemplating to start travel ball from my son recently and for some reason Ive been holding back . This means that kids participating in travel tournaments get a chance to play with or against highly skilled and competitive players. A lot of well rounded and good mannered young men who enjoy competition and sportsmanship. The latest Arizona headlines, breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, and local community stories that matter to you. My thoughts will be mainly applied to baseball, but I think they are valid for basketball, volleyball, soccer, lacrosse, swimming, and whatever else. Second, recreation leagues can be just as competitive and demanding as travel ball, but doesnt have the same season length. I could now study what I wanted to study, and my classes were no longer determined by baseball practice. 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. 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. 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. Legalism requires perfection, and Im not perfect, Jesus is. This is going to be a big temptation for me because I love sports and am competitive by nature. They had to draft 8th graders to play for the high school JV team so the others could step up and play the Varsity. "Everyone's selling 'the dream gonna happen,' and people are making a. Small town kids grow up playing lots of sports not getting burnt out playing the same one all year round. Jan 25, 9:37am. 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. Do they enjoy it or is it a drudge? AVONDALE LITTLE LEAGUE 10720 W Indian School Road, #19 PMB-137 Phoenix, Arizona 85037 Email: registerinfo.avll@gmail.com 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. My son excels in travel ball and weve started a bible devotion for the boys before every tournament. Our children assume that Sunday morning is time to worship with our church. We still put prior commitments first and the coach understands that we cant make all games/practices as a result. Without a worldwide draft, teams are free to throw money at international prospects, Teams spend more money building academies in the Dominican Republic than they invest in their own backyard, where at minimum the next generation of fans live. We are certain you will find a team that fits you and your youth baseball players' needs perfectly! I also when I was kid play at lyndon and never traveled and loved it and still played college baseball myself for 4 yrs. It is this simple fact: Baseball is no longer a game that is for everybody. As one who has three sons, two of whom played travel ball for part of their youth, and one who didnt, I can affirm everything you say here. Let kids be kids, they and their bodies will decide what they can and cant do. I learned I would have to stay in a hotel for out-of-town tournaments. 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. It is a trend mirrored by our schools, hospitals and military. Additionally, as an exercise physiologist, Im very pro movement, health and sports, but believe balance in life is key. Coaches pitch from a shorter distance than Rookie with a softer exterior ball. Congrats to the 3524663635357 travel ball teams playing in a "World Series" this week or the next couple of weeks. 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. Train your coaches and prepare them for every level they will be involved. 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. Im coming at this topic from a multi-dimensional approach. I know families whove mortgaged their homes so their kids can play baseball, he said. For additional information please contact Tony Carter 615-202-9606. I agree 100% with your article. Playing baseball is a nice extracurricular to put down on applications. The roster includes 35 players, 27 of whom can receive scholarship money. It is no wonder so many of our children leave the church when they go to college. 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. I think it does need to be approached carefully and prayerfully, especially with the demands on the family and commitments that call us away from the church. Then again, some games I find my older daughter listening to her ipod while we watch the games. 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. It will look different for each family and each child. 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. For some may not even be an issue. The Holy Spirit leads us all differently. League will play at Municipal Park or Thompson Park. Is the travel ball opportunity your 714 year old kid has more important than Friday nights and Saturday mornings at home with the family? Let them play the game. Lesson learned. Little League also hopes that parents understand the costs often associated with Travel Ball may be prohibitive. While it has completely permeated and overtaken little league baseball, it exists in every sport, football included. Thus the rec league dries up. When comparing travel baseball vs Little League, each of the two has its own advantages and drawbacks. Baseball exists not just because of the community's love of the game. In the end, it should all come to what the kid wants. 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. 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. Despite the beautiful fields the travel ball team played on, the grass wasnt greener. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. All your doing is increasing the strain and the chance of injury for no appreciable gain. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 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. Is there saving Little League? Baseball exists not just because of the community's love of the game. With the emergence of travel baseball and its more developed infrastructure, Little League has lost its appeal as a path to higher levels of competition. Its a Jesuit-based publication with a political slant that does not agree with mine. As a long-term pastor Ive watched parents who were convinced their sons would benefit by travel ball deeply regret their decisions a decade later. Besides traveling to tournaments, this baseball format also includes harder and more frequent practices. When comparing travel baseball vs Little League, each of the two has its own advantages and drawbacks. What Is Travel Baseball? 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. 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. Fall 2022 Season Focus. Dont get me wrong: I love competition. This is the one your wife wants you to care about. It also has a successful 18u rec program. Kids are smarter than what we want to give them credit for. Check out: The Nehemiah Institute (nehemiahinstitute.com) Kids blossom at different ages. The group that split from us is the same group that has ruined our little league. I give you a big Amen! Rec ball is where they develop and While many are still from the south, many are from upper-middle to upper-class backgrounds, with their appropriate support systems. 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. Because COVID, This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. I was forced to purchase team-designed cleats and helmet. We have the pressure of middle school tryouts being in 2 years, and we wanted to make sure that he did well at those tryouts. Website: . He didnt make the middle school team as only travel ball kids only made it. Kids racing go-karts and more expensive vehicles as they get older. It is other worldly, it is unlike anything the Non Christian can imagine, to deny ourselves something the world says is a must and do something the world sees as foolish. And that can, partially, explain Major League Baseballs lack of investment in the game in America. If the ultimate goal is for the kid to get to the pros, then joining a travel baseball program is definitely a better choice. I could rest. We have made this decision for the past three years and been ridiculed for it and told we are not being fair to our son. little league field, killing 1 . However, Little League International also has the right to limit participation in its activities to players who comply with its rules, regulations, and policies. 2021 featured all American teams. I grew up wanting to be a major league baseball player, and Im so glad I never even got drafted. Almost every parent volunteers. But, the worst part of it all was that my son was clearly not having the same amount of fun he had in Little League last year. Most professional golfers look the same. They sound the same. FieroCoug. Confused! ). However, the main reason weve stuck with travel is the consistency that it offers. But I say be wise. Do I think that she will go pro? Late-stage capitalism is a Marxist construct used by socialists to explain away capitalism and the failures of socialism. I have been wanting to put my son on a travel team. Our two kids old enough to know what baseball is love the Orioles. Some of the thoughts overlap what was already said. (This, too, however, isnt a litmus test. In general, most of the Little League tournaments are organized in the local area and involves teams from the same city or community. I am very thankful we found an amazing travel ball coach at age six. With this comes the COOPERSTOWN TICKET. For years, the Little League has been the stepping stone for kids between the fun youth play and the more serious high-school and collegiate baseball leagues. Its a fading game. In Florida, some high-level programs now cost over $10,000 a season. 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. Two guys who are now playing in MLB came from two of the leagues in the District. The way its going, all pro players are going to be rich, white kids from the suburbs, or [they will be] Dominican or Venezuelan, one major league front office analyst told me. Think brands like Mercedes-Benz. AAA Evaluations - 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. And thats a problem for baseball at every level, all the way up to the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. 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. 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. 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. I agree with some that was said. Participating in travel baseball will likely eat most of your free time. There have been times when our kids insisted that the entire family wear Orioles stuff. Looking for a deeper, more forceful argument, the dad added: This team is our community.. All Rights Reserved. This is decided by the player's ability from the previous year of play and/or how they look in tryouts. 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. But over the years, the cost of entry has become more and more expensive. I do wonder though as a parent of a child who did play travel ball and also ended up as a D1 athlete if we arent typically just exchanging one pursuit of excellence for another. Always keep in mind why you have this child involved in sport. Really great article Dr. Hamilton! I chase my boys all over creation and its very taxing in many ways. Bud Norris, who pitches for the Houston Astros, played in Novato North LL, from Tee Ball through seniors. My Kids Dont Play Sports He was so upset. The three year old is already all in and ready to play. The Little League League Finder tool quickly and easily identifies whether a residence or school address is located within the boundaries of an active Little League program. And something that we will continue to do playing baseball, watching baseball, playing catch, playing wiffle ball, etc. Jesus is God not baseball. But today, Havenwood Little League does not exist. And does Travel Ball have any impact for pitchers that's any different from more "traditional" organized baseball? Part of the argument for travel ball is the appeal of better competition. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a 96-mile (154-kilometre) border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, the North Sea to the northeast and east, and the Irish Sea to . Today, that role has been mainly overtaken by travel baseball which has become the basis for young players looking to build a baseball career. He told us last week that he is glad that we have taught him to focus on his eternal future. The privatization of American youth sports over the past 40 years is one of those revolutions of late-stage capitalism that should shock us more than it does. A job is not a game. I started my son in the Little League Tee Ball program when he was four. 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. What better way exists. Educate them. Very good and same principles work for hockey too. What will travel ball mean for your marriage? I have a neighbor who constantly pesters me about our childrens sports involvement level-rec. In Pony baseball, players are put into divisions by age groups of two years. 12YO & 11YO players who are trying out for the National League. But they have more similarities than you think there are. Maybe families should pray over the decision that best suits each individual child. And there are eight Urban Youth Academies providing year-round instruction in the game. Little league teams have pulled out of the North Carolina state championship tournament after gunshots erupted during a weekend game, their organizers said Monday in social media posts. Sabathia and the Upton Brothers have become big league players. 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. But a story did cross my timeline about something near and dear to my heart: baseball. Ive alluded to this somewhat above. I got an education, got married, we started having children, and now I get to coach my kids. Never played fall ball, never took private lessons, and never played on a travel team. Travel ball is being on the right team, knowing the right people, and working on your skill set; not that much different from academic pursuits really and more so I suppose. He said he had seen it happen. My boss lets me take off whenever I want for travel ball. Baseball is the greatest game ever, it is exactly that, a game. Truthfully, we have gotten better instruction and development at a Rec ball/All Star level. However, travel baseball is very time-consuming and not easy on the budget. Is it more important than being at church on Sunday morning? In addition to a spring season, PSLL offers a summer league, summer camps, fall ball, and a winter skills clinic. Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League. A 51-year-old woman struck and killed a man after driving her car onto a field in Maine during a boys' baseball game. Turn your focus and see a different view. Eternity is at stake. Certainly, both travel baseball and Little League proponents have some valid arguments and Ill try to dig a little deeper and explore the advantages and drawbacks of both systems. Often, teams participate in the tournaments that take place in a city other than their own or even in another state. 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. Manage Settings We invite you take just a few moments to browse our ever expanding list of teams below. Once we knew about travel ball there was no going back. (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 There are other times even on Sundays to play just as there are many different times that people worship. Have your church thru fellowship and reach others who may be lost. It always seemed the season ended right about the time we got to know everyone. I spent my 20s laying the foundation for what Im doing with the rest of my life, not bouncing around in the minor leagues. 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. Hey, for years sports programs operated quite successfully without Sunday morning scheduling. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I just watched a program not too long ago on the rise of Tommy johns surgeries. The team brings the kids together and provides a common ground upon which they can build lasting friendships. Following the tryouts and evaluations, the Managers will select their teams and you will be contacted on or before March 15 th. Thank you for this. Despite not playing travel ball until high school, he got several offers and ended up playing for a highly regarded D1 program. Awards. In the US, the program involves kids ages 4-16 and is organized into the following divisions: For a lot of kids, Little League is the first time they meet with the organized baseball. Harford County Travel Baseball League: Sports league web site provided and hosted free of charge by LeagueLineup.com - The Youth and Amateur Sports Portal! A fun, family-friendly, reasonably affordable activity you can do with the kids? They have grown together, developed rapport and strong friendships. But besides that, if you are a Christian parent, the absolute worst thing you can do is teach your kids that anything is more important than God. My concerns in the post are directed not at adults pursuing excellence in their callings but at parents of kids in the 714 age range . . The sport came natural to him, and he loved it. Is Travel Ball killing little league and organized baseball? Listen to truthful, accurate feedback from coaches. This is what we due when we gather for worship. Our youth baseball program is custom-built to meet all the insurance needs of teams and leagues in one easy-to-use, affordable plan. 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. Ball opportunity your 714 year old is already all in and ready play. My timeline about something near and dear to my heart: baseball is love the.... And play the Varsity: this team is our community.. all Rights Reserved publication with a softer exterior.! A problem for baseball at every level they will miss opportunities is unfounded be involved a nice to! On his eternal future longer a game that is for everybody, got married, we started having children and... When i was kid play at lyndon and never traveled and loved.! A nice extracurricular to put my son in the Little League already all and... High school JV team so the others could step up and play the.... 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