14U travel team tryout question

Personally, I wouldn't do it.

It's not fair to waste the time of coaches for a team he has no intention of playing for.

Plus, no matter what you say to his current coach - he probably isn't going to believe you. I wouldn't.

I agree with this.

Agree with above and not sure what is to be gained by attending the try-outs if there is no interest in joining other teams.  Go to a good camp.  Get the same type of workout with more reps and better feedback at the end.  If the current team is competitive, he will see these other players when he plays against them.  What else are you trying to accomplish?

Agree with the above.  I would not do it.  Take him to a local college summer camp (no downside at all at this age) or even a  USA Baseball NTIS tryout (may be too late in the season for this, but that is where my son started/got feet wet with workouts/tryouts and it was great experience).

B. As a coach I wouldn't believe you. I would start looking for a replacement for your son. I'd figure if it isn't this team there will be another coming along that will tempt your son to leave.

Let me give a different perspective.  My son went to a showcase/tryout just a couple of weeks ago and benifited greatly.  He was already scheduled to play Legion Ball with his school team but was looking for a weekend gig for the summer also.  He did not show well during the tryout and was very dissapointed that he did not get a call to play for the team.  His hitting coach, who is a major league scout as well, was at the tryout/showcase  and during our next workout pointed out what he noticed about my son's showing.  Since that time my son has been playing with more effort and desire than I have ever seen.  He sprints to and from his position every inning, sprints back to the dugout after making and out or a K.  He is an absolute joy to watch and people are coming up to me after games and commenting on how they hope he rubbs of on their kid.

I believe it is not a waste of time to go to these tryouts and that you are not wasting a coaches time by doing so because you never know if there isn't a better situation out there for your son.  Afterall if your goal is for your son to play College Baseball you must do whatever you can to help him make it if you can.  Is you son happy with his current team for the right reasons - winning - friends - coaching, if so that doesn't mean that you can't benefit from attending tryouts.  Remember camps cost money and tryouts are usually free.

I'll add $.02.  First, I agree don't just go to try out if you have no intention of playing for the team.  IMO, it's not respectful of the coach.

Second, as for the current team how "secure" is your kid's spot?  Could he get "cut" and have missed opportunities from other teams?  Team loyalty and commitment is a two way street.  But I have experienced coaches who "preach loyalty" and end up as d-bags.  They'll lie to your face and your kid will suffer. 

So in the end, make sure you protect your kid.  Nothing wrong with having a backup plan if you coach turns out to be one of the d-bags.  Good luck. 

Although this is my son's first season with the team I am certain his spot is secure so I'm not worried about him getting cut.  The coach is a great guy and has been loyal in the past with the other players. 

I agree with the above.  Don't do it.  I know of kids being cut from their travel teams for going to other teams tryouts.

As far as the loyalty thing, if I was the coach and had been loyal it would end when the kid told me he is trying out for other teams.  No mater how much you tell me he is staying the possibility of him leaving would be in the back of my mind.  On our team, unless a kid is not keeping up with the rest of the team, we don't churn our players if we see better ones at  tryouts.  We are loyal to those on the team, but if a kid let me know he is trying out elsewhere and I see someone who is better I am going to go after them.

You are a rare breed.  I have seen too many "coaches" fake loyalty. 

I've taken my son to a few tryouts for teams that he was *probably* not going to join, if offered, but never to a ttryout where he would not join no matter what. I've also had him tryout (and pay a modest fee to do so) for a few elite teams that I suspected he would not get an offer for the experience.

I cut a pretty good ballplayer because his dad kept bragging to all the other parent's about how every team in town was calling him wanting to know if he was gonna stay or go somewhere else, I didn't like the way he was acting as if they might be making a change so I helped them with their decision. Nobody was calling my other parents so he was either looking for attention, sending out signals, or stupid!