Finding the balance between "Too Much" and "Not Enough"

The best way to find the balance is let the kid decide what is too much. I never made my kid go to the field. In high school we did discuss goals. Infrequently I asked him if he could reach his goals from the couch. But putting in the work was on him. He knew I would always go to the field to pitch BP or hit balls to him when requested.

Getting to college ball was a year round effort starting in high school. It was when he started playing fall ball and working out all winter. This was despite playing another varsity sport.

Kids have to have a life too. When my son graduated from college I asked him what he was going to do that summer. He said he was going to the Shore and party. He said he rarely had the time in high school and college. He said in his more sober moments he would create a plan for a job hunt starting in the fall. What he kept to himself was he already had leads from an internship.

IMHO, it's almost always too much.

I would do a lot of things differently. Off the top of my head:

- go to church more. Skipping that for all the out of town tournaments and practices and training benefited no one  

- eat dinners as a family.  Always.

- make my boys hold jobs outside our home and pay for their own day to day extras.  They didn't learn a day to day work ethic (outside of baseball and training) or how to manage money early enough...or maybe yet!

- volunteer as a family

- encourage them to play multiple sports and/or be involved in other extracurricular activities at their high schools

- blow up (well, severely limit more than we did) the gaming systems

- spend more time with my wife. And not at some Comfort Inn at a baseball tournament. We allowed our lives to revolve too much around the boys' baseball. 

I could go on and on I'm sure. 

The fact that you are asking is telling in itself. Three months off from baseball in the fall should be the rule. If the pros do it, so should youth players. That doesn't mean stop all activities, work out, play another sport. Maybe spend the extra time in the fall to become an academic athlete. Great grades /scores will take him way farther than most baseball scholarships.

I know of many, many kids that burned out, were told they had what it takes to get scholarships, that never saw the collegiate field, except from the bleachers.

Travel ball, tournaments and showcases are for the most part just money makers. Consider that 5-6% of HS baseball seniors go on to play at the NCAA level. Add another 3-5% in JC and NAIA.

I appreciate the replies already.   A few things:

We live in Wisconsin.  Zero outdoor Baseball in March.  April is usually a sloppy mess with lots of rainouts and even snow outs.  So around here, high school games are mostly in late April through May only, Travel is June/July.   Without Fall Ball it ends up being not much Baseball.   I agree wholeheartedly with 3 Months Off from Baseball, just think it makes more sense for it to be Oct 15th-Jan 15th than skipping Fall Ball.

We've been told by a few D3 coaching friends that he'll at least play D3 Ball if he keeps working at it, I suppose they could be wrong.  Obviously injuries or simply quitting the game would be a detriment to playing higher than HS.  Thus the need to try to find a balance.

My son basically played year round....though he also played varsity soccer so it was a little less baseball in the fall.  I never had to ask him if he wanted to take BP or throw.....I had to ask him if I could have a day off from pitching lol.   You mentioned kids being burned out.  If they are burned out or claiming they are, they probably weren't going to make it as a college player anyway.  If they think they got burned out in HS, they have no idea what they were going to run into in college.  As RJM said, let your son decide, as long as it fits in with what you need to do (travel, $$$, etc). 

3and2Fastball posted:

I appreciate the replies already.   A few things:

We live in Wisconsin.  Zero outdoor Baseball in March.  April is usually a sloppy mess with lots of rainouts and even snow outs.  So around here, high school games are mostly in late April through May only, Travel is June/July.   Without Fall Ball it ends up being not much Baseball.   I agree wholeheartedly with 3 Months Off from Baseball, just think it makes more sense for it to be Oct 15th-Jan 15th than skipping Fall Ball.

We've been told by a few D3 coaching friends that he'll at least play D3 Ball if he keeps working at it, I suppose they could be wrong.  Obviously injuries or simply quitting the game would be a detriment to playing higher than HS.  Thus the need to try to find a balance.

 

 

Thanks for the regional clarification. Playing fall ball makes more sense now.

If DIII ball is truly his slot, great grades will take him along way.  

Everything that BransonBaseball said plus.....do not let school work/academics suffer due to too much baseball. At some point 99.99% of them are all going to need to fall back on their education!

Branson Baseball posted:

IMHO, it's almost always too much.

I would do a lot of things differently. Off the top of my head:

- go to church more. Skipping that for all the out of town tournaments and practices and training benefited no one  

- eat dinners as a family.  Always.

- make my boys hold jobs outside our home and pay for their own day to day extras.  They didn't learn a day to day work ethic (outside of baseball and training) or how to manage money early enough...or maybe yet!

- volunteer as a family

- encourage them to play multiple sports and/or be involved in other extracurricular activities at their high schools

- blow up (well, severely limit more than we did) the gaming systems

- spend more time with my wife. And not at some Comfort Inn at a baseball tournament. We allowed our lives to revolve too much around the boys' baseball. 

I could go on and on I'm sure. 

Agree with everything, but especially the "spend more time with my wife."  I let baseball be a little too much of the determining factor in what we did as a family.  I was a little out of balance in that regard.  Much better now, and it definitely worked out for Ryno, but I think it would have even if we had spent a little more time to smell the roses.

3and2Fastball posted:

One of the things my wife & I discuss frequently is trying to find the balance between "Too Much Baseball" and "Not Enough Baseball" for our 2021 son.

He recognizes how much time he needs to put in on the game and he loves doing just that.  He'd like to play more games, travel more, get more lessons, lift weights more often etc etc

As parents though, we (obviously) need to set limits.  We hear from friends of ours who have kids that are 2017 Seniors, turning down college offers because they are just mentally & physically burnt out.

At the same time, he recognizes (as do we) how much time & reps one needs to put in, in order to achieve his goals of playing after high school.

For those who have already been through it, how do you find that balance?  What would you do differently if you had a "do-over"?  There is a thin line between obsession & burnout, and every UCL has only so many bullets.

We make him take a day or two off from Baseball every week in season, usually the Monday after tournament weekends.

He has 7 Tournament weekends coming up in June & July.  Now he was invited to be in a Varsity Legion Double-Header league this summer too on Tuesday nights.  And he wants to do it.   It would be excellent developmental experience, playing up against good competition.  He doesn't pitch, so there is less concern about his arm, but still just one day off from making lots of throws on Sundays to 2 games Tuesday.

Then there is the issue of Fall Ball & Winter Training.   He is trying out for and will likely make one of the better Academy teams that start winter practices in November in preparation for 15U Baseball in 2018.  Fall Ball ends Oct 15th or so.  I'm a big believer in taking time off from Baseball every year to let the body heal.   At least 2 months from throwing, preferably 3 months off from throwing, and a month or two at least away from any Baseball activity.

How do you balance that?  Skip Fall Ball?  Accept the spot on the Travel Team but don't attend practices until January?

High School winter workouts begin in January, and the coaches expect players to come in right away in January looking great, which really means getting started in December.  Between the High School practices and once a week Travel Team practices, January looks like Baseball 3-4 days a week.

Where do you draw the line between too much and not enough?

 

I'm a stones throw south of you, so here are my thoughts. 

First, spring and summer play as much as possible.  Don't worry too much about the arm etc. as they can sit out a few games if needed.  My kid has done a full travel season - generally Thursday-Sunday.  And them played HS summer ball on Mon, Tues, Wed.  It's a lot, but it works. 

He skipped fall ball his soph year, knowing that it would be a sprint to the end. 

When you get to winter and indoors, hopefully your organization gives the arms a rest when starting in Nov.  Kid's program focuses a lot on strength and conditioning in Nov and December.  They'll do some skill work, but very limited throws.  Throwing will amp up in late Dec and Jan to get ready for spring.   

Now doing both travel and HS, watch out for duplicative things.  My kid basically prioritized his travel workouts as they where better organized and harder.  So if he was doing velocity work in travel, he would skip that session for HS.  HS was more about weights and conditioning so he did those sessions.  Most importantly, when he needed a break he took one, especially to study.  And sometimes to go to the basketball game.   

3and2Fastball posted:

One of the things my wife & I discuss frequently is trying to find the balance between "Too Much Baseball" and "Not Enough Baseball" for our 2021 son.

He recognizes how much time he needs to put in on the game and he loves doing just that.  He'd like to play more games, travel more, get more lessons, lift weights more often etc etc

As parents though, we (obviously) need to set limits.  We hear from friends of ours who have kids that are 2017 Seniors, turning down college offers because they are just mentally & physically burnt out.

At the same time, he recognizes (as do we) how much time & reps one needs to put in, in order to achieve his goals of playing after high school.

For those who have already been through it, how do you find that balance?  What would you do differently if you had a "do-over"?  There is a thin line between obsession & burnout, and every UCL has only so many bullets.

We make him take a day or two off from Baseball every week in season, usually the Monday after tournament weekends.

He has 7 Tournament weekends coming up in June & July.  Now he was invited to be in a Varsity Legion Double-Header league this summer too on Tuesday nights.  And he wants to do it.   It would be excellent developmental experience, playing up against good competition.  He doesn't pitch, so there is less concern about his arm, but still just one day off from making lots of throws on Sundays to 2 games Tuesday.

Then there is the issue of Fall Ball & Winter Training.   He is trying out for and will likely make one of the better Academy teams that start winter practices in November in preparation for 15U Baseball in 2018.  Fall Ball ends Oct 15th or so.  I'm a big believer in taking time off from Baseball every year to let the body heal.   At least 2 months from throwing, preferably 3 months off from throwing, and a month or two at least away from any Baseball activity.

How do you balance that?  Skip Fall Ball?  Accept the spot on the Travel Team but don't attend practices until January?

High School winter workouts begin in January, and the coaches expect players to come in right away in January looking great, which really means getting started in December.  Between the High School practices and once a week Travel Team practices, January looks like Baseball 3-4 days a week.

Where do you draw the line between too much and not enough?

 

This is what we did with our 2018:  Mondays after tournament no ball.  Mon & Wed get an in-season lift in to keep the strength and help prevent injuries.  Tues and-or Wed play a legion game to get some swings in to keep the timing to prepare for the weekend tourney.

After summer tournaments are done, one complete week of rest, no baseball...then allow him a week or two to ramp back up to prepare for fall ball.  It's amazing how a full week off of doing nothing, or being on a family vacation will re-energize him and avoid burnout.  As a freshman don't worry about camps or showcases... enjoy the fall to play more games, then shut it down after early October.  As a position player with plenty of growth left make sure he takes 3-4 weeks off from throwing, allow the soft tissues heal.  Nov through Feb great time to get strong....  He can start to throw again in December, slow ramp up....

As a freshman hopefully he's still playing another sport, football, or basketball...  But it gets really challenging focusing on baseball development while finishing the football season.  And good luck trying to get strong and add weight if he's playing hoops, he'll lose weight...

My son stopped football after 8th, played basketball freshman year, then stopped.  By soph year son knew he really wanted to play baseball in college, so he committed the off season to getting stronger and fine tuning his skills...  

Forcing shut downs are essential, it will re-energize him and help avoid burn out....  This worked for my son....

Threeandtwo - during his HS years our son played JV/Varsity from February to early June, Legion from June through late July, and then a mix of travel ball / HS fall ball league through late October/early November.  We live in VA so the weather doesn't get real cold until November.  No ball whatsoever from November through mid-February.  Yes, he did workouts, and limited throwing/skill work, but no games.

Branson Baseball posted:

IMHO, it's almost always too much.

I would do a lot of things differently. Off the top of my head:

- go to church more. Skipping that for all the out of town tournaments and practices and training benefited no one  

- eat dinners as a family.  Always.

- make my boys hold jobs outside our home and pay for their own day to day extras.  They didn't learn a day to day work ethic (outside of baseball and training) or how to manage money early enough...or maybe yet!

- volunteer as a family

- encourage them to play multiple sports and/or be involved in other extracurricular activities at their high schools

- blow up (well, severely limit more than we did) the gaming systems

- spend more time with my wife. And not at some Comfort Inn at a baseball tournament. We allowed our lives to revolve too much around the boys' baseball. 

I could go on and on I'm sure. 

- go to church more. Skipping that for all the out of town tournaments and practices and training benefited no one

As a pastor who has to deal with many people sitting at soccer and baseball fields on Sunday mornings, I'd like to hear more about this one.  You can pm. 

PM'ed

I typed a long post and was simply too embarrassed to post it. How I got where I am today with what I did yesterday is a miracle. Balance. If you find yourself wondering if your spending enough time with your wife and family then you have the answer. Your not, fix it. Your first job is to be a Husband, Father, Leader. There is one verse that would say it all for me. Branson, thanks.

John 3:30

Like FoxDad, we live in Virginia.  All three of my kids (pitchers) stopped playing Nov1 and did not get on a mound until mid-January.  Two of them also played positions in high school, and they only hit balls off tees as far as baseball activity goes.  They hit the weight room with their high school teams and did some cardio work on the side 

Like RJM, we let our kids figure it out how much baseball was too much.  They could do as much baseball as they wanted.   As they got older, we helped them monitor the number of innings they pitched but it was up to them.

100% agree with Louise that schoolwork must also be a focus.  This was something we also let our kids determine.  Two of my sons were fortunate to get a unique high school experience through a magnet high school.  They picked their high school and career path at a young age.  We gave them "a lot of rope" (responsibility) to figure out how much time was needed for school work, and to figure it out on their own.  This "laissez-faire" approach worked for them and for us.   I realize this may not work for everybody but our approach of giving the son the responsibility of handling his business first then stepping in when needed by taking priviledges away is how the world works. Most of my mentors and bosses have operated this way.   For many of the talented and recruited college players, academics is every bit as important as baseball.

Good luck!

rynoattack posted:

Branson Baseball posted:

IMHO, it's almost always too much.

I would do a lot of things differently. Off the top of my head:

- go to church more. Skipping that for all the out of town tournaments and practices and training benefited no one  

- eat dinners as a family.  Always.

- make my boys hold jobs outside our home and pay for their own day to day extras.  They didn't learn a day to day work ethic (outside of baseball and training) or how to manage money early enough...or maybe yet!

- volunteer as a family

- encourage them to play multiple sports and/or be involved in other extracurricular activities at their high schools

- blow up (well, severely limit more than we did) the gaming systems

- spend more time with my wife. And not at some Comfort Inn at a baseball tournament. We allowed our lives to revolve too much around the boys' baseball. 

I could go on and on I'm sure. 

Agree with everything, but especially the "spend more time with my wife."  I let baseball be a little too much of the determining factor in what we did as a family.  I was a little out of balance in that regard.  Much better now, and it definitely worked out for Ryno, but I think it would have even if we had spent a little more time to smell the roses.

I agree here, let your family help determine what is "too much".

When my son was younger and on a travel team (for about five years...spring/summer and fall seasons) and I was one of the coaches, we were gone almost every weekend. At the time it seemed kind of hectic and "too much", but over the years since that phase ended we all miss it...even my non-baseball/lacrosse playing son. We had so many close friends on that team that it was our social circle. We created a ton of memories on the road with those families that were truly some of the best times we ever had as a family.

From a "burnout" perspective, I know one summer my son did too much. He was playing on a showcase team that was gone most every weekend somewhere. He also wanted to play Legion ball with his friends and a coach he liked. This often meant baseball seven days a week (he was a catcher)...after finishing a long high school season. By the end of that summer, he was physically spent...just in time for fall HS ball to crank up. Fortunately our HS fall season is pretty relaxed, so he was able to recuperate and have a good season...but the next summer we backed off a bit.

RJM posted:

The best way to find the balance is let the kid decide what is too much. I never made my kid go to the field. In high school we did discuss goals. Infrequently I asked him if he could reach his goals from the couch. But putting in the work was on him. He knew I would always go to the field to pitch BP or hit balls to him when requested.

Getting to college ball was a year round effort starting in high school. It was when he started playing fall ball and working out all winter. This was despite playing another varsity sport.

Kids have to have a life too. When my son graduated from college I asked him what he was going to do that summer. He said he was going to the Shore and party. He said he rarely had the time in high school and college. He said in his more sober moments he would create a plan for a job hunt starting in the fall. What he kept to himself was he already had leads from an internship.

I think everyone has to find their own way in this baseball world.  Some kids want to play every day of every week of every year....that's my kid and I won't stop him.  Could he over do it and become burned out, yup, but he will have done it to himself and it will be his decision to quit.  I do find him specialized training to attempt to keep his health in the best condition he can be in, but I don't tell him when to practice and I don't tell him when to take a break. This is his journey, all I can do is monitor his grades and his health, after that it's his call.

Coach_May posted:

I typed a long post and was simply too embarrassed to post it. How I got where I am today with what I did yesterday is a miracle. Balance. If you find yourself wondering if your spending enough time with your wife and family then you have the answer. Your not, fix it. Your first job is to be a Husband, Father, Leader. There is one verse that would say it all for me. Branson, thanks.

John 3:30

 

I'd like to hear this one too. 

Coach May's keyboard should not have a delete or backspace key.

There are things I wouldn't change in a million years. There are things I would change if it took me a million years.

Nothing is more important than your personal one on one walk with God. Nothing is more important than their personal one on one walk with God. He will be there when everything is gone. They need to see that. They need to know that. They need that example.

She was here first. She will be here when you are gone. Nothing is above her in our home. They need to see that. They need to know that. They need that example. That's what I want in their home.

You are my son first and foremost. My job is to set the proper example as a father. What is most important to me will be reflected in the life I live. Where I spend my time. Where my true passion is. How I love. They need to know that. They need to see that. They need that example.

Baseball is a game. It can be used to learn valuable life lessons. I love the game and those that play it. But without the proper balance it can throw everything else out of balance. I was fortunate. In spite of my lack of balance God allowed me to find it.

I can not post about this and leave God out. It is impossible for me because he is my all in all. So for those who are offended I am sorry. For those who feel this post has no meaning to them ignore it. If it needs to be deleted I will not be offended. But I had to post it. Both of my son's turned out to be outstanding men. One coaches in college and I love his balance. They are both better men than I will ever be. And I thank God for that every single day.

I can't tell you OP what to do. I can't tell you how much or how little. I can tell you that what kind of man he is will trump what kind of player he is when it's all said and done. You will never regret doing the things that help him become a better man. The way you live your life.

Coach you said it better than I did.  Thank you!

Must admit... I am guilty of too much baseball.  However, I enjoy getting away from it at times.  Two of our kids loved the game and couldn't get enough of it.  They weren't told to stay away and take time off.  Our other two kids liked baseball but they liked other things much more.  I never told them they needed to take time away from the things they loved.  But all four on their own figured out when to take time off.  No one was pushed to do too much or too little when it came to sports or other activities.  The only pushing came towards academics, behavior and honesty.  It is well worth it if you have to help/push someone to be a good person.

So I see this as non issue.  So what if someone burns out, why be fearful of that.  We all burn out from different things.   Usually when something is no longer fun or you can't be successful enough.  I believe burnout exists, but if it happens it happens.  If a young baseball player burns out on the game, I would think he would have burned out later on anyway.  There are millions of people working who were burnt out on their job a long time ago.  There are others that absolutely love what they do every day.  Nothing to worry about, sometimes changing interests ends up being the greatest thing that's ever happened to a person.

Everyone knows this... There are many much more important things in life than baseball.  Does anyone get concerned if their kid gets burned out at skydiving or playing checkers?  Anyway, IMO, it's possible that you could cause a child to get burn out by forcing things, but you can't stop someone that loves it and isn't burnt out.  They're usually the ones that hit it big.

I will elaborate further when I have more time, but I think allowing a Baseball crazed teenager to work on Baseball as much as they want is, in general, not a good idea for mostly physical/long term durability reasons.  Kids need limits.  

3and2Fastball posted:

I will elaborate further when I have more time, but I think allowing a Baseball crazed teenager to work on Baseball as much as they want is, in general, not a good idea for mostly physical/long term durability reasons.  Kids need limits.  

I think I get where you are going with this.  It depends how far the kid wants to go in the sport.  If he's telling you he's doing HS, then college, then MiLB, then MLB....well if his body can't take it best to find out now.

Now that's not to say you allow him to pitch or catch 100 innings a week...but batting practice, running, sprints, bunt work, weights, throw downs, pop up drills, scooping at 1B, core training....etc...I wouldn't limit my kid on any of that stuff.

If a kid truly has a passion, and their health/grades/attitude are good I don't know how you would stop them without some major fights.

The typical teenager without limits is going to throw too many days in a row, lift before they hit, not take enough time off per year, not think anything is wrong with pitching & catching in the same day, etc etc

The big thing is arm care.   Tommy John is happening more than ever.  Today's youth is being trained at a much more elevated rate than ever before.   We're seeing growth plate injuries in some of the most explosive youth.

3and2Fastball posted:

The typical teenager without limits is going to throw too many days in a row, lift before they hit, not take enough time off per year, not think anything is wrong with pitching & catching in the same day, etc etc

The big thing is arm care.   Tommy John is happening more than ever.  Today's youth is being trained at a much more elevated rate than ever before.   We're seeing growth plate injuries in some of the most explosive youth.

Some of that I disagree is a problem and some of that goes back to health. Health I can, and have, overruled him. The bottom line is you don't know what a body is capable of until you try.  Now, if you try and there is a glitch that should be openly discussed and addressed, but I can't fathom not letting him try to get to his potential.  No one ever got anywhere playing it safe. If he wants it, he's going to have to figure out how to get it. If a glitch develops he better figure out another way.

Here's my two cents!  Both of my sons will be playing college baseball next year.  My oldest will be a redshirt senior and my youngest graduates from high school tomorrow night so will be a freshman.  We have been a family on the road for the last 9 years.  Both sons played on a high level select team (numerous trips to Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Missouri, etc.)  Both were all state in football and baseball.  That's a pretty big deal considering football here in Texas.  One played in the state championship in football the other in baseball.  Both will be playing again this summer.  One on an 18U team, the other in the Pacific Collegiate League.  There is a fine line between doing too much or not.  Several times we had to drive all night to get back to Texas for 7 am and the first day of 2 a days football practice to start the year.  Our family will never forget the times we spent on the road.  Lots of good times.  Also, have attended church in lots of different states.  We always tried to make time to attend church wherever we were.  So, it can be done.  I've always told mine that when it isn't fun anymore, we are done.  My oldest is nearing the end of his career and it's been a fun ride.  Keep in mind that most will not play this game to earn a living.  My oldest is taking his Optometry School entrance exam today.  I'm very proud of him.  Keep everything in perspective and realize that when it's done, they are your kids and not a 'college prospect or major league prospect'!  The older I get, the more I realize how unimportant this game is in the big picture.  I read on here every day and can see examples of the the parents and kids we've seen along the way.  Remember that your KID, is just that, a kid!  Don't get in a big hurry to make him or her a baseball machine.  Let them be kids.  By the way, we never went on a trip without a fishing rod packed somewhere in the car.  Baseball is over when the last out is made and can't do anything about it until the next one.  

I was never really worried about Ryan burning out.  He loved the game, and truthfully, I knew that when he was 2.5 or 3.  He used to wait 'til I got home so we could hit with the fat, little, red, plastic bat, and the fat, little, white, plastic ball.  We had a yard that was only about 10 yards across, with a short little fence.  (Probably 3' high).  I would pitch it to him, he would hit it over the fence, and then circle the bases like he had just hit a home run.  The kid LOVED to play, and he never lost that love. 

All those times hitting, I would have him switch hit, and he was good from both sides of the plate.  However, when he was 5, he didn't want to hit lefty anymore.  I would pitch to him righty, and then I'd tell him to switch over to lefty, and he did not want to do it.  Why?  I have no earthly idea.  The funny thing is, he does everything left handed.  Blew me away.  Most people want their kid to hit lefty, and I definitely wanted him to keep switch hitting.  The problem was, Ryan is someone who knows what he wants, and I cannot change his mind when it is set.  Those who know me, know that I am a person who likes to persuade, but I could tell that if I insisted, it was going to be an issue.  I decided to drop it, and let him make his own way, for fear of "burning him out".  In retrospect, I think that was absolutely the right call.  So now I have a right handed hitting, LHP! 

Personally, I love football, and I believe Ryan was a very good QB. If I had my choice, he would have become a QB, and even with never showcasing, being from Idaho, skipping his Jr. Year, and getting hurt summer before SR. year, he had several DII offers, and a preferred walk on to a major D-1.  The issue here was that Ryan didn't love football.  As much as I love football, it is just not what he loves. 

Baseball is his passion, and I never tried to hold him back for fear of burning him out.  The only thing that I ever stepped in and told him not to do was skiing.  He loves to ski, but I was afraid of him getting hurt. I've always told him that he'll have plenty of time to ski later in life.

Speaking one day to a kid who is very very near the top of PG rankings for his class and a no doubt millionaire once his draft comes up I asked him...  what separates you?  I mean obviously much is God given and I am sure you were far better than the rest from day one of tee ball but what took that God given talent and made you the player you have become?  His response was ultra simple. "I make the commitment to do SOMETHING every single day without exception to make myself a better player"

Greatness does not rest. Time off is for those who are not committed to greatness.  My son certainly falls in the category of not committed to greatness. I also agree with what a couple others have said about if you get burned out you probably were not cut out for higher level baseball in the first place.  Life is full of choices. I have a blast spending time with my son during travel season. No regrets. I don't need an assigned time at church at an assigned place to examine my life.  I am already dreading the end of travel ball.  Will probably shed a tear or two when he's off to college. So 3and2 there are no limits except the limit of love for the game. That's up to you and your son. Life is full of regrets and is no matter what path you take. Some dwell on regrets others pretend they don't have any. I can be a dweller - don't like that about myself but it's true.  I am admittedly irritated by the liars who claim no regrets in life - that's just not possible.  Key (wish I were better at this) is to accept regret as just another part of life. So certainly don't fret early about POSSIBLE regret - follow your collective conscience that's all you can do. 

rynoattack posted:

I was never really worried about Ryan burning out.  He loved the game, and truthfully, I knew that when he was 2.5 or 3.  He used to wait 'til I got home so we could hit with the fat, little, red, plastic bat, and the fat, little, white, plastic ball.  We had a yard that was only about 10 yards across, with a short little fence.  (Probably 3' high).  I would pitch it to him, he would hit it over the fence, and then circle the bases like he had just hit a home run.  The kid LOVED to play, and he never lost that love. 

All those times hitting, I would have him switch hit, and he was good from both sides of the plate.  However, when he was 5, he didn't want to hit lefty anymore.  I would pitch to him righty, and then I'd tell him to switch over to lefty, and he did not want to do it.  Why?  I have no earthly idea.  The funny thing is, he does everything left handed.  Blew me away.  Most people want their kid to hit lefty, and I definitely wanted him to keep switch hitting.  The problem was, Ryan is someone who knows what he wants, and I cannot change his mind when it is set.  Those who know me, know that I am a person who likes to persuade, but I could tell that if I insisted, it was going to be an issue.  I decided to drop it, and let him make his own way, for fear of "burning him out".  In retrospect, I think that was absolutely the right call.  So now I have a right handed hitting, LHP! 

Personally, I love football, and I believe Ryan was a very good QB. If I had my choice, he would have become a QB, and even with never showcasing, being from Idaho, skipping his Jr. Year, and getting hurt summer before SR. year, he had several DII offers, and a preferred walk on to a major D-1.  The issue here was that Ryan didn't love football.  As much as I love football, it is just not what he loves. 

Baseball is his passion, and I never tried to hold him back for fear of burning him out.  The only thing that I ever stepped in and told him not to do was skiing.  He loves to ski, but I was afraid of him getting hurt. I've always told him that he'll have plenty of time to ski later in life.

My son snowboarded all through high school. He wore roller blading wrist guards. Broken wrists are the most common snow boarding injuries. He gave up skate boarding after getting in a collision with a car. He discovered putting football shoulder pads over a scraped up shoulder was not very comfortable.

I believe my son loved/loves basketball as much as baseball. Ironically, he was cut from basketball not due to lack of talent. But lack of attendance at off season training. The coach didn't like having multi sport athletes on his team.** My son was already playing two. 

** The only one was 6'7" and now in the NFL

FWP posted:

Speaking one day to a kid who is very very near the top of PG rankings for his class and a no doubt millionaire once his draft comes up I asked him...  what separates you?  I mean obviously much is God given and I am sure you were far better than the rest from day one of tee ball but what took that God given talent and made you the player you have become?  His response was ultra simple. "I make the commitment to do SOMETHING every single day without exception to make myself a better player"

Greatness does not rest. Time off is for those who are not committed to greatness.  My son certainly falls in the category of not committed to greatness. I also agree with what a couple others have said about if you get burned out you probably were not cut out for higher level baseball in the first place.  Life is full of choices. I have a blast spending time with my son during travel season. No regrets. I don't need an assigned time at church at an assigned place to examine my life.  I am already dreading the end of travel ball.  Will probably shed a tear or two when he's off to college. So 3and2 there are no limits except the limit of love for the game. That's up to you and your son. Life is full of regrets and is no matter what path you take. Some dwell on regrets others pretend they don't have any. I can be a dweller - don't like that about myself but it's true.  I am admittedly irritated by the liars who claim no regrets in life - that's just not possible.  Key (wish I were better at this) is to accept regret as just another part of life. So certainly don't fret early about POSSIBLE regret - follow your collective conscience that's all you can do. 

YES FWP!!!! There is something every kid can do every single day...and it could be running, speed drills, weights....it doesn't mean he has to pick up a baseball....it doesn't mean he has to do something dangerous/unhealthy....he just has to do something.

Specifically summer travel ball speaking. We would always ask our boys if they still wanted to play. They both of course, said yes. However, I think my oldest obliged,  not so much for his love or passion, rather more so for us as parents and his coaches. They (coaches) depended on him and I believe he didn't want to disappoint them, as well as us. I would advise all parents to make sure they want to do it for themselves. If they tell you yes, and they don't seem convincing, you may want to dig a bit deeper. Maybe ask them why they want to play. Even play the advocate and ask them about other things, that you think they may want to do instead. You may just get a different answer.