DABA vs. TCL vs. 18U Club team vs Other

My son played for his club team the summer after hs graduation and it was the most fun ever. Great group of kids and parents and most of us had been together for 3 years prior. They went something like 35 and 5 for the summer and had a blast. It was pricey, but not anything we hadn't done before. They didn't play a the high profile tourneys because most everyone was committed already, they just had fun and played a lot of games.

He has some friends that played DABA the past few years and the competition was really good some nights and not so good on others. I do think that the competition has increased every summer the passed three years. The expense was minimal because everything was local, but don't know what team charges were.

The summer after his first year of college he played for the TCL there were 8 teams that year and he got to live at home so the cost was virtually nothing. It was great, at that point you had to be finishing your first year of college, but maybe that has changed with "renewed" league and incoming freshmen are eligible?

This past summer he was shut down for the summer and did not get to make the trip to the Northwoods League. His college roommate did play for TCL Copperheads this summer and had a hard time staying enthusiastic with the travel and with lack of variety in competition since there were not as many teams but did have a great host family. There is usually no expense associated with TCL for the player other than extra food and gas. They are so busy with games 6 days a week there is no time for entertainment.
Just make sure that he is on a team that has enough players to make sure he doesn't show up in the fall worn out.

2009 players headed to be college freshman cannot play in the TCL - only players who have completed a year or more of college.

18 U priorities are much different than earlier years. Little need to travel the country and spend a lot of money as the college choice has been made. Number one priority should be to prepare yourself for fall ball at the college of your choice.

Since he is already committed the number one priority should be spending a little extra time with his high school friends, brother or sister, and yes even his parents. Do some things that maybe he couldn't do before due to baseball committments.

If he wants to play baseball over the summer tell him to have some fun with it. Baseball at the D1 level is a lot of work. He might not have the opportunity to just be a kid again for awhile.

Iluv,

I agree with a lot of what you said but if a D1 signee decides not to play the summer going into his freshman year he might as well stay home because he will be so far behind. I have never heard of a D1 signee that did not play in the summer before his freshman year. I would find it hard to believe his college coach would allow that, I know he would not want that. It also shows very little commitment on his side. If you are going to play D111 or something else that is one thing but D1 is another. Anyway just my 2 cents..

Keep the feedback coming. I think it's a good and viable topic during these slow times.

KCR - I absolutely agree. Not playing is not an option nor is it in the best interest of either party. Do you have any other comments on the competition, convenience, cost or other items of these many programs that could enlighten us?

KCR,

I agree with what you said about D1 but I think it applies for Juco, DII, NAIA, and DIII. If you are going to play sports in college, you need to play some type of organized ball in the Summer. My brother plays at East Texas Baptist, a DIII, and his coach wants his players playing for some type of Summer Team.

quote:

Originally posted by Lamar Fan 08:
KCR,

I agree with what you said about D1 but I think it applies for Juco, DII, NAIA, and DIII. If you are going to play sports in college, you need to play some type of organized ball in the Summer. My brother plays at East Texas Baptist, a DIII, and his coach wants his players playing for some type of Summer Team.

Agreed!

I have a question. If your son is a Senior and has his scholarship in hand. Where did he play in the past? Is it not an option to continue to play with that program that has quit possibly helped him?

quote:

Originally posted by Old School79:
I have a question. If your son is a Senior and has his scholarship in hand. Where did he play in the past? Is it not an option to continue to play with that program that has quit possibly helped him?

He was very happy with the program he played for, however that team has dissolved. Due to this dissolution, we're trying to weigh the benefits of changing teams and what type program would best suit a player in his situation.

He has many standing options (DABA, local club, travel and scout) and we're just wanting to make an educated decision based on feedback from those who have traveled down this path before.

KCR,

Completely agree with you. Spend the summer focusing on getting prepared for college fall ball. Start lifting per your school's weight training program. Practice playing the position your college wants you to play - if you play ss in high school but are projected at 1st in college then get summer innings at 1st, etc.

KCR,
I agree with a lot of what you said too. I do know several pitchers and a few position players committed to D1's who have either taken the summer off or at least reduced their workload the summer before going to college for a number of reasons. I think this is sometimes the reason why the 17 year old group for some organizations is stronger than the 18 year old group.

Maybe I should have said wherever he decides to play baseball have some fun with it. I would agree that he should probably play ball somewhere I just don't think where he plays is that important. There are plenty of ways to work on his skills outside of playing 5 or 6 days a week.

For most high school players we are talking about an 8 week timeframe for summerball at most. If he can't play at the D1 because he played less the summer before then maybe he shouldn't have committed to the D1. I also know several players playing at the D1 level who take the summer off to take classes, work on school, recover a little from the season grind, etc. that seem to do fine when fall practice comes around.

TCL is not anoption being he's still a high school Senior. DABA is a good option, quality league. If you feel that he can "compete". Please.... PM ME.

quote:

Originally posted by Old School79:
TCL is not anoption being he's still a high school Senior. DABA is a good option, quality league. If you feel that he can "compete". Please.... PM ME.

You have a PM.