My 2020 had to come up through the School of Hard Knocks...daddy ball style. LOL
Came up through local rec ball program and his all star team won the 8U Dixie Youth state 'ship. Shout out to rec ball because that was fun for all involved.
9U season at the park was not good from a development standpoint.
Started 10U travel team with some now lifelong friends from a couple of other all star teams from the county.
11U - I thought my son was done with baseball. The best thing I did for him that year was let him fail.
About halfway way through the 12U season he started to figure things out again. I was really reluctant to move him up in the lineup because I never wanted anyone to accuse me of daddy ball.
Last year at 13U other coaches recommended that he move up so he did and hasn't looked back. It hasn't been easy for him to play for me because I required him to (overly) earn everything. No regrets because he knows why I did it that way and he is no stranger to competition, which is all I can ask of him. Obviously, there are other things that I require but he has to compete.
The old (fat) ball coach has retired and he is in a great organization and has primarily played outfield instead of first base. His team has lots of talent so he has to compete for what he gets but I wouldn't have it any other way.
He'll play in the largest classification in GA next year so we'll see where he lands as a freshman.