We tried to improve the product of what was an entrenched parent coached winter ball program (we have weather that permits year round play), grounded on the hypothesis that quality coaching in a pressure free environment (no scores were kept in winter ball) would (a) improve the kids and (b) keep those kids for the spring program.
We "tendered" the idea to several local baseball guys/companies (local bating cage which ran a summer camp program, successful travel ball coach, and a local NAIA college assistant, and a few more).
The NAIA coach won. We ran his "academy" program simultaneously with the parent run program (same amount of practice, same winter league). His program took advantage of his access to his players who were paid to coach the kids. The cost of the academy program was fairly low - kids who couldn't pay were scholarshipped - but more then the parent coached program.
By the second year,the parent run program had all but disappeared; players from other spring leagues flocked in; the coaches developed a following (kids started showing up at their spring games to cheer). Many kids stayed to play spring ball - even though they were out of district (if a player wasn't all-star quality what difference does in district matter)(parent coaching in the spring for most teams; although some teams did bring in former college players as assistant coaches).
After the first year, we took a look at the players who were not playing rec ball and instead choose travel ball. So, the academy developed a low keyed travel ball option to augment the pure skill development original concept. It played only locally (30 minute drive), was coached by current college players, with a curriculum designed to build skills and not care about winning. Many star 10 - 12 year olds declined to play - and instead pursued their travel programs which aspired to national greatness, competing at Cooperstown, Steamboat, even the DR. However, many of the in district kids who were good enough to play on those teams but we're not interested in those national aspirational programs did join up.
Both programs were complementary. Both were very successful and increased both enrollment and retention.
The coach who stepped up in the beginning has now advanced and is the HC of a national D1 powerhouse. He was a good man, interested in teaching baseball and brought in his players who were like minded. The league has since abandoned the academy and parents rule. The league has shrunk back to its original size.
Of the fifteen players on that original low keyed travel team, over half played in college; three are playing pro ball. Causation? Who knows. But the boys did enjoy the coaching.