- Jun 12, 2014
- 9,063
- 32,693
Founding Member
The thread on Tim's attempt at pro baseball made me think of what baseball at the high school and sub-levels has become these last several years and I'm curious to know what those on here who have had experience with a younger player during the development stages thinks about travel ball, one-sport athletes, and playing the same game year around.
Most know that I spent a long time coaching HS ball, so I have that bias. I think that when travel ball (in its infancy) was kind of an extension of a summer high school or rec program, it may have been at its best. Now, however, I see hundreds of kids in my area that play only baseball and do so 9-10 months out of the year, all in search of a college opportunity. Sadly, many of these kids will get to their 10th or 11th grade year and just become sick of it and/or develop overuse injuries. Either way, they're out of the game and as they look back, many will realize they missed opportunities that being a multi-sport athlete would have provided (e.g. developing a different skill set, keeping a consistent fitness level from sport to sport, interacting with a greater variety of teammates, etc.). I hate to see so many kids like this due to the belief, true or not, that there is a scholarship at the end for them when in a lot of cases that just isn't so. But that happens when the belief is bolstered by a lot of $ that is ultimately invested.
My own son is playing for a small JC in South GA. The only way he got there was as a walk-on/red-shirt and he was a little behind developmentally due to the fact that he went to a small HS and played three sports and we never bought in to a lot of the really extensive travel stuff. He'd have rather played football a little longer, but as it stands, he's glad he's able to play something beyond HS and some of the things he learned playing the other sports made up for what he lacked in pure baseball skills. He'll have the opportunity to play this year, but he knows that when it's over, it's over and it will have been a great experience for him. If I had it to do over, I don't think his mother and I would do it any differently. He did play a little travel ball these last few years, but they didn't go all over creation and break us and the guy in charge put more into practices, individual workouts, and overall player development than simply seeing how many games and tournaments they could play in.
I appreciate any of you sharing your opinions. Thanks a bunch in advance.
Most know that I spent a long time coaching HS ball, so I have that bias. I think that when travel ball (in its infancy) was kind of an extension of a summer high school or rec program, it may have been at its best. Now, however, I see hundreds of kids in my area that play only baseball and do so 9-10 months out of the year, all in search of a college opportunity. Sadly, many of these kids will get to their 10th or 11th grade year and just become sick of it and/or develop overuse injuries. Either way, they're out of the game and as they look back, many will realize they missed opportunities that being a multi-sport athlete would have provided (e.g. developing a different skill set, keeping a consistent fitness level from sport to sport, interacting with a greater variety of teammates, etc.). I hate to see so many kids like this due to the belief, true or not, that there is a scholarship at the end for them when in a lot of cases that just isn't so. But that happens when the belief is bolstered by a lot of $ that is ultimately invested.
My own son is playing for a small JC in South GA. The only way he got there was as a walk-on/red-shirt and he was a little behind developmentally due to the fact that he went to a small HS and played three sports and we never bought in to a lot of the really extensive travel stuff. He'd have rather played football a little longer, but as it stands, he's glad he's able to play something beyond HS and some of the things he learned playing the other sports made up for what he lacked in pure baseball skills. He'll have the opportunity to play this year, but he knows that when it's over, it's over and it will have been a great experience for him. If I had it to do over, I don't think his mother and I would do it any differently. He did play a little travel ball these last few years, but they didn't go all over creation and break us and the guy in charge put more into practices, individual workouts, and overall player development than simply seeing how many games and tournaments they could play in.
I appreciate any of you sharing your opinions. Thanks a bunch in advance.