Curious

I know lots of kids who have played up. Most often, it is not of much benefit, unless it is only on an occasional basis. My own view is that it is far better to be star in your own age group than be an average or even above average player among the older group for so many reasons, only some of them involving baseball.

And then of course there is the transition to the bigger field and "real" baseball when the game changes for all. It's tough enough at the proper age and probably destructive if attempted too young.

TPM and Jemaz,
I stayed down and it has done wonders. Like many people say about Michelle Wie, you have to learn how to win and dominate.

When my son ('06) was 11, he played up a year in AAU. Gained the confidence of knowing the older kids didn't have much on him. Payed dividends years later when he got to high school. Almost every '05 teammate was on that AAU team.

By the time boys hit the varsity level of high school, they should endeavor to play against the best talent out there, IMO. If that means playing up (i.e. 16 year old on 18U scout team) and they can carry their own load, then let them do it.

Playing up as I know it applies to individuals and not teams. My son always played up since he was 11 and I felt this was one of the factors that pushed him to be better. As far as a team playing up I guess it would be beneficial to the team as long as they could compete. If they could not compete, the players would become frustrated or they would accept losing as the norm. I would think this would have to have an adverse effect on the team.
Fungo

My son has played up on older teams several seasons. It has helped him tremendously and he absolutely loved it. He tends to play better in those situations. Guess he likes the pressure.

TPM

In our area, it is pretty common for the better travel teams to play up during the season to see stronger competition in preparation for state championship tournaments and national qualifying tournaments. If you check the USSSA site and look at specific teams, you will see that many of the better teams play up. It is pretty common practice.

None of my sons has ever played up until they got to HS (e.g. varsity as a sophomore).

Occasionally their travel team has played up, but they have not played up onto a team above their grade level.

Played "up" when asked, but never pushed it. As a pitcher he always had the advantage of being a "gun for hire" and he enjoyed playing "up" in quality as much as "up" in age.

In local tournaments we play up every other year. When the kids were 11 they were playing 12u. When they were 13 they were playing 14u or playing against strong competition in 13u.

We've tried to avoid over doing it. You have to be realistic about your son's playing ability and not push them to a level where they just can't compete. You want them at a level where they are challenged but will still have enough success to enjoy the game. If that happens to be with their own age group then accept it and just try to find the proper level of play within their age group.

This year as he is about to turn 14 and will be going into freshman ball we're going to mix it up. He'll play in tournaments and possibly fall ball with the other kids his age and he'll also go to some of the college camps for HS kids so he'll be out of his league in those.

I ran into a MLB pitcher on a plane to Tampa a couple years back and it turned out he used to live near where I do as he heard me talking about where we live and then asked about someone he used to know from the area. We ended up talking about someone else he played with that I knew slightly and then he gave one piece of advice for the kid - play up. He attributed much of his success and his brother's success to playing up.

Ours starting playing up when he found out in t-ball that most of the players looked dumbfounded when asked "what do you do if there are players on 2nd and 3rd and the ball is hit to deep left". Those were his favorite topics.

He played up from that time on. In the beginning it was to play with other kids who understood the game. After that he simply wanted to keep playing with the players he'd been playing with for years.

I too believe that playing up did him a lot of good. I also believe it had a second very important benefit. His size had never kept him from being one of the best players when he was younger than the others, so therefore when he got older his size (or lack thereof) didn't become a huge issue for him.

Mine played up as a 10 year old on a 12 year old travel team. He was lucky to have a great coach that knew how to use him. He eventually played as a 12 on that team. The coach took that travel team through 14 years old with great success.

He then played varsity as a freshman and the 10 year old experience proved to be very valuable indeed.

While in HS he played summer travel with his age group at 15 and 16. At 17 he played with an outstanding national 18 year old travel team.

The opportunity to play up at 10 and in HS led to leaving HS early and playing at one of the nation's finest program's as a freshman.

Playing up is imo, good for every above average player (assuming the coaching, expectation's and talent level is taken into consideration)and I think it is a huge plus for the outstanding player's....as long as it is "fun" in thier mind.

Heres my opinion. My son asked to play up. When he was 11 he asked to play on a 12u AAU team because he said the competition at 11u was not challenging him. He played up and did very well. He liked the challenge of playing against the older kids. From then on he has played up. This year as a Freshman he played varsity and started. This summer he was asked to play on a 18u Showcase team. He is 15. It was a great experience for him. Out of the 14 players on the team 11 had already signed D-1 including the catcher that he was backing up. He started everyother game and they split each game in half. He hit every game because of the extra hitter used in showcase ball. It is the best he has ever played this summer. I believe because he knew that he had to step up everytime he got on the field because of the level of competition. In my opinion if your son can handle playing up it is a great benefit. If he cant then by all means do not. I dont think kids get better by beating up on weaker competition. I believe that kids get better by having to battle to prove themselves everytime they step on the field. Another benefit for him was being around the guys that had already signed to play in college. He saw the work ethic and desire that they had. Could he have hit .500 playing against 15 year olds this summer. Probaly yes. Would he have been one of the stars. Probaly yes. Would he have learned to be a better hitter facing kids that could not challenge him. NO. Would he have been a better catcher catching guys that throw 75-80 vs guys that throw 85-93 NO. He hit well around .300. He allowed only one stolen base throwing out three guys. He did not commit an error in over 25 games no passed balls. This was a great accomplishment playing against the best 18u teams around including the PG tourney at East Cobb. Would he have gained as much playing against 15 year olds. I dont think so. Just my opinion it doesnt mean that I think others are wrong if they leave their kid down so he can dominate. It was my sons decision. He just would rather face the best players possible. He would rather catch the best and hit off the best. To him 1-3 against and 18 year old stud throwing 88-90 is more of an accomplishment than going 3-3 against a 15 year old.

I'm with Coach May.

My son last year was the only 13 year old on the 14U team, and did very well. Caught nearly every game and led the team in batting average by more than 75 points.

He got much better by seeing better pitching (both as a hitter and as a catcher.)

His goal is to be the starting catcher on varsity next year as a freshman. Working toward that goal will make him better.

Aside from trying to determine whether a kid 'can handle' playing up, and by that I assume most people are referring to the mental aspect.......you must determine whether or not they can handle it physically. Some kids are 'early maturers' and some are 'late maturers'......terms from growth and motor development texts.........early maturers are more likely to be able to taste success by playing up.........my son was always smaller than the rest, and his muscle development was slow, too........he had the skills to pitch with older teams, but lacked the physical strength and foot speed to compete as a hitter or position player........once he matured he was 6'3" and ran a sub-7 sixty........he is now a pro prospect, but when he was 15 you wouldn't think he ever would be.

Playing up

My son always played up...when he was 8yo he played with the 9-10's during the season

He played up last season at his college as he was the youngest player on his team.

This summer we allowed him to play with his age group 18U for the first time in his baseball career....where we told him he could play just to have fun, and he did.

The difference between playing at your age and playing up is coaching and learning how to deal with pressure.

I don't know if that is good or bad, but even though he is the youngest player on his college team he acts alot more mature because of it.

Son has played up for the most part having just concluded his first Connie Mack season at 16. As far as school ball, JV as frosh and Varsity as soph. I also feel size is a factor in a kid playing up.

TPM,

Our 11U travel team played up all year to face better pitching.

Thanks for the answers.
Ours played many years on a team that usually played "up". If not then we sought our leagues with teh best competition in our area. He didn't always win, he didn't always lose.
However, the experience of playing against older competition helped to prepare (IMO) him for the level he is playing in now.

Redbird, do you little guys still go out and stretch in between innings?

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
Redbird, do you little guys still go out and stretch in between innings?

When it is cold...yes.

We have 2 things we picked up from Clemson that our kids still use today:

1) On every flyball, they run it out and touch 2nd base EVERY TIME.

2) In between innings, our IF groundballs are crisp like the Tigers. Our boys were impressed with that and our 1B implemented it.

Let Coach know!

Redbird,
Tigers have to go out in between innings when it's hot and cold!

TPM,

I know but I only carry 10 kids and the 1 who is sitting out is usually my next pitcher.

Redbird,
Uh, forgot about those days!

My son was also asked to play up when he was 10 on a 12 year old team. He felt that he was not prepared and played for a quality team at his age. When he turned 13 he played for a national level team and the cofidence he gained by playing his age has aided him in getting where he is today. I think that it is important for you to "read" your son and do not only what you think is best but what he is most comfortable for him as well. Playing up is great if your son is ready however it can be a disaster if he is not. Let your son contribute to the decision is the best advice I can give.