I personally think it is awful the way the high school coaches treat the boys in our state over the issue of travel ball. My son ws forced to make a decision between travel ball or high school ball. He chose to play high school ball because he wanted to be able to play with his friends his last year in school. He had already caught retribution over the travel ball issue once--sat the bench almost the whole season due to it (until playoffs came around and then guess who the coach turned to?) His dad and I did not think that choosing to play for his high school over travel ball was in his best interest but the final decision had to be his. The American tradition has always been to strive to be the high school star--pull it through for your community. In the end that won out in his heart.
Travel ball is better competition, coaching is better, and exposure is better. High school coaches are intimidated by it. Kids come out being the losers due to coaches attitudes and desire for control.