Curious – Definition of Select Ball

Dave17,
VERY good question. Select baseball used to be easily defined because there were only a few teams. Ironically they weren’t even called select teams, they were first called “travel” teams because they traveled around to play other “travel” teams. As their reputations and success grew, other youth coaches wanted some of the respect and attention these travel teams were getting so they started other travel teams. The number of travel teams exploded and the original teams, which were usually the better travel teams, had to search out a new identity to separate themselves from the multitude of travel teams that were cropping up everywhere... so the “select” label was born. Travel teams coaches took notice of the success of the “select” teams and all the attention they were getting so guess what... now most of the travel teams are marketing themselves as select teams when in reality they CAN be an average, what most people used to call a “recreational” team. So how do you separate the wheat from the chaff? I’m not sure I can give a definitive answer. In my opinion the real select teams are those teams that have the best reputation within the area you would be willing to travel. Depending on the area this could be one team or it might be a dozen. For us it was a team out of Memphis, Dulin’s Dodgers. In our town (90 miles from Memphis) we probably have 10 teams (of all ages) that probably claim to be select teams but in my opinion we don’t have ANY that would fit MY criteria as select.
Dave, Since you live in Georgia, a good place to see some great select teams would be The East Cobb Complex in Atlanta. They historically invite and draw a lot of what I would call select teams from all over the country.
Fungo

In our neck of the woods, it was somewhat the opposite with the younger ages (10-14). The first "non-rec" teams were travel teams that were often referred to as "AAU" teams.I imagine that this was due to the fact that AAU tournaments were the most available venues for the travel teams to compete in state wide.
The bigger local rec. leagues, trying to keep their better players from leaving, began putting togather "select" teams that played double headers on weekends with other select teams in the area. These teams were basically the all-star teams of the rec. leagues.
USSSA tournaments then began to grow in number as more travel teams were formed. This is when the "AAU team" and "travel team" labels became a destinction of better teams vs. average teams. Being an "AAU team" usually ment being one of the better teams in the state. The AAU tournaments were held on better fields, had better umpires, and were better organized.
I'm glad my son has "aged out". I'm not sure if I could keep up with the heirarchy out there these days.
Once high school ball/legion ball starts there is a big drop off in the number of travel teams. Fall is really the only time travel ball would be possible. In the Raleigh area, we have a fall "try-out" league that is for players 12 and up. It's divided up by age and ability (A,AA,AAA,majors). At the majors level, most games will have college coaches and scouts present.

Just to confuse you more,

Around here this is the definition

Rec - Everyone who signs up makes a team, play other rec teams with in the community. Typically play 10-20 games

Select - Have to try out to make these teams. Teams made up of players from ONE community. Typically play other Select teams in southeastern Wisconsin. Plays some tournaments. Typically play 35-50 games a year.

Travel teams - Have to try out for these teams too. Teams are made up of players from multiple communities. Travel most every weekend (often quite some distance)to tournaments. Play many more games. Some teams have their players play on a rec. or select team for league games, others don't play league, they just pick up games during the week.

This is at the Pre HS level. At the HS level it blurs a bit. But the select & travel definitions are pretty much the same, just no rec leagues.

I believe you need to blur the distinction even more.

Select: BigWI did fine
Travel: Ditto
Elite (or Premier) Travel: Think of East Cobb, Dulin Dodgers, Team Florida USA, NorCal, Midlands.

Back in the 60's I played for teams that had tryouts over 100 kids at times. Age groups 14-16 16-19. We traveled all over. It was not called select or travel it was just a team from a certain community. So maybe the saying there is nothing new under the sun applies here?

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So maybe the saying there is nothing new under the sun applies here?

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Probably not that much different. Probably just more prevalent then back then.

Also they may not have existed in some parts of the country.