Our Fall Ball started last week. In our area the better programs have school teams, coached by the school coaching staff, that play spring summer and fall. Most of the time they play other schools and other fall travel teams. The teams are split into 15U freshman, 16U JV teams , and 17U varsity teams. The best kids also play on showcase teams.They can choose to play another sport if they like but most just play baseball and a few play basketball.
My kid played football last season along with baseball but this year is concentrating on baseball only.
The school coaches use this time to help evaluate players and predict teams for the spring. In the spring there is very limited time for tryouts. We work on skills and fundamentals and kick off the spring season quickly.
The Fall Ball season is relatively short compared to the spring and summer seasons.Just tournaments and double headers on weekends and very rarely during the week.The HC will move kids up and down in an attempt to gauge the placement of certain kids. The season for us is very competitive because our program is large and successful, winning the league most years and a good number of kids going on to play in college. Also the kids know they are being watched by the staff as to placement on next years rosters.
A lot of fun for the parents to watch weekend tournaments against good talent and doubleheaders that mean you are at the field most of the day. I miss a lot of college football games but the season is short lived and my son gets to play with his friends from school while we hang out with parents we have hung out with all year. There is a lot to be said about playing with the same kids year round.