Getting over the top - 6u travel?

bballman,

 

It very funny and very sad at the same time for our society.  For some reason today's parents think little Johnny is missing out on an opportunity to get drafted by the Yankees out of tee-ball.  They are delusional, ultra-competitive helicopter parents.  

 

Nothing you can say or do will convince them otherwise as I've tried talking to them (people I know or neighbors!).   After a while, I realized I was the fool by wasting my time and energy.  In the words of John Lennon....."Let it be".

If I didn't have some sort of moral code, I would be making a fortune off of all the delusional parents I see with younger kids who think their child is some sort of special talent and just needs the right coaching to make it to the pros.

 

Wonder how you go about finding the best 6 year old players In the country? How would anyone know if they are the best?  Do you just go with size?

 

If there were a game with the very best 6 year olds, I would enjoy watching it.  That would be interesting to see and even more interesting to look back at after 10-11 years.

It's very localized. I ran a youth action sports photography business for years. I actually did one of the USSSA 5yo World Series. The term is a little deceiving. There were six or seven teams in it and not one was even from out of town, let alone out of state. No one was really over the top and I don't think anyone saw it as anything but a fun way to end the season. Having said that, I have seen over the top at this age and that was 14 years ago.

 

I was photographing the Georgia State T-ball championships (that's right) and they were WAY too serious. Two incidents almost made me laugh out loud while on the field (would have been very bad for business):

 

Right in front of me, a parent confronted a coach during the game about playing time by screaming that his kid hit .750 during the season and should be starting. I did everything I could to hold my tiongue and not say, "Dude. It's T-ball. Everyone hits .750."

 

The second was a coach telling his third baseman that a groundball between his legs likely would cost the team the championship (well, that one didn't necessarily make me want to laugh).

Believe me, I am making no more comments about this over there.  Here's another comment from the same guy about my interest in baseball:

 

"Nothing is wrong with it but don't knock those who are passionate about 6U ball! I live by a general rule... If I don't have a dog in the fight, I don't knock those that do! Also, My son has been those ages you're talking about and when I leave those ages I don't comment on them unless I'm tied to them some kind of way!"

 

And when someone else made a comment about being pretty much astonished about 6 year olds traveling nationally (I believe he's a poster here as well), here is the response he got:

 

"Yes sir @Tribe the World Series will feature teams from Cali, Texas, Miami and Tampa. It's a reason why all these teams are coming up here and paying $$$$ to come and I guarantee you there not banking there season on what happens next year. These kids put in hard work and a lot of hours to call themselves the best. These rivalries will follow some of these kids all the way up thru the ranks. With our Yard dogs team last year we had the opportunity to play Puerto Rico last year at 8 and that was an experience of a lifetime for them to compete and beat them and that memory will follow these kids for the rest of there lives!"

 

I just worry about the potential overuse of some of these kids by the time they get to HS.  I'm not sure when kid pitch starts, but based on how serious these guys are with 6 year olds, I would not be surprised to see pitchers being over used because it's SO important to win at this young age.  It's actually kind of scary, to me anyway.

 

Its just really sad to me.  Really sad.

 

Back in about 2000, our older son was the only kid in a 1,000 kid rec league (5-14) playing any kind of 'travel ball.'  He was 13/14 at the time.

 

Today, there are about a dozen kids at every single age level, 8 and above I'd say.

 

Are there more college players coming out of our town than back then?  No, I'd say maybe less.  Are there more HS players?  Doesn't seem to be true either.

 

The parents at the local public HS just banded together to get the HS coach fired after 1 year.  This coaching history at this HS is that a coach lasts an average of less than 2 years over the past 15 years.  Are they converging to a better program?  No, not at all...worse.  More college players getting produced?  Absolutely not.

 

So what in the world is this all about?  I have no idea and I have a feeling the parents don't either.

About every year this comes up - I typically republish the PG Toddlers, but I will just let it go for now. 

It's about the proliferation of ex pros going into the baseball business and selling a dream to delusional parents. I don't blame the ex pros. They're trying to earn a living. They need to expand their market. Many do so selling a dream to delusional parents of young players. I blame the gullible, delusional parents. What little kids need more than paid professional instruction is time on the field with dad and an ice cream afterwards.

 

I got into it with a travel tee ball dad on Eteamz several years ago. The team played 75-80 games per year. They practices for two hours four days a week. The good tried to convince me how good they were. I ticked him off by responding, "Relative to what?"

 

I would imagine if five and six year olds are driven to focus and work hard on nothing but baseball for every kid who's into it three will hate the game by age eight.

 

When I was commissioner of the 7/8 rec league in our town we had 144 kids playing. I told the parents probably five kids in the league will play high school varsity. But there's an opportunity to turn all 144 into lifelong baseball fans. So lighten up and let them enjoy the game.

The ex-pros  trying to make a living is part of it.   But you know it's not just baseball or other sports where there are a cadre of former professionals driving this.  It has also happened in sports like wrestling.   My nephew starting wrestling in state and national tournaments at the tender age of 6.   Trains year round with an elite club.   parents are basically broke,  but spend tons of money they don't really have, chasing the dream of his  eventually getting a scholarship in wrestling and (before the IOC screwed up) maybe wrestling in the Olympics some day.  No dream of turning pro there.  No cadre of former pro's driving this.  But it still happens and in a big way.  Kid wrestling turns out to be HUGE in the midwest -- which is the wrestling hotbed in this country.  

I struggle with this with my brother.  The one with the 6 year old playing.  He's talking about his son's swing and ways to get his mechanics better.  He's kind of obsessed with it.  It takes everything in me to not just tell him to back off and let him get out there and just have fun.  There is plenty of time for working on mechanics down the road.  I just say little things and non committal type comments.  I am very tempted to send him a link to that video on another thread about "Why my son will never receive one ounce of hitting instruction".  Haha.  I'm afraid that will offend him as well though.

 

Actually, my son put things in perspective for me a couple of weeks ago.  We were at the field watching my nephew (his cousin) play.  I said something to him about how obsessed my brother was about this whole thing.  He said, "dad, it's his first kid doing this.  He's going to be into it."  I understand being into it and being passionate - to an extent.  I guess I'm just a little taken aback by the seriousness of the parents.  Trash talking about 6 year olds???  Really??  That's all I can say.  

 

I am going to keep my mouth shut, tell my nephew how great a job he is doing every time I see him play and maybe inject just a little bit of reality when I can, without dousing the passion.  I'm certainly not making any more comments on the 6u message board.  

BBallman - I know that site.  I have read that thread - thank you for letting me know it had updated - needed a laugh today. 

 

It is getting worse around here in the great state of Georgia.  We are now seeing traveling All star teeball teams out of our park.  I was at the park Tuesday night and one of my sons team mates saw I was watching the Teeball game - I was bored - and he told me one of the kids was swinging a particular bat.  I got the impression it was very expensive.  I kinda chuckled. 

 

The best thing I heard from a gentleman I was talking to - was that there was some real talent in the teeball league.  At first I thought - talent = hot teeball moms - nope he was talking about players.

Kids playing baseball.  And traveling.  Gasp! That is scary. 

Bob Bigelow, former NBA player and youth sports advocate on travel tee ball ...

 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MPzQQLJsYA8

Traveling T-ball???  That may be the funniest thing I have every heard....but if it's big money, I'm all for it.  I'm officially announcing the creation of the Midwest T-Ball Association....and I'm the founder/president. 

 

We'll play 52 weekly tourneys throughout the midwest....yes, I know it's cold...so we'll play indoors in October-February in some of the nicest elementary school gymnasiums available and then head outdoors March 1 when the weather is better.

 

You must commit to playing all 52 tourneys....cost per tourney is only $350/team for a 3 game guarantee.  Each team supplies one umpire and 3 game balls (Diamond or Rawlings only...not those cheap ones from Walmart.  Your team is also responsible for broken windows at the indoor games.

 

There will be a minimum of 36 teams in each event...and really, really nice trophies (minimum 6" high) will be given to first and second place.  Third place will get an Ice-ee....except in the winter...they'll get a coupon for a hot chocolate at McDonalds.

 

Teams must provide a roster (including a pic of each kids mom) before they can enter a tourney.  Once the pics...I mean rosters...are verified you can pay your entry fee and you're in.  The entire $18200 yearly fee is due by August 1 of this year....tourneys will start in January....weather permitting.

 

At the end of the 52 weeks, the Champion will advance to the World T-ball Association Championship held every April in Seoul, South Korea.  All expenses associated with that trip will be covered..........by the parents.

 

Please email me with questions    initforthebenjamins@mwtba

 

Thank you

I think parents going all out can be a product of many different things. Sometimes, it is the parent living through the child wishing they had been able to have the same experience as a child or it is the parents needing their child to succeed for the parent to feel successful.

I also think there are parents that take the kid to lessons at an early age because they lack the ability, time or desire to teach him how to play.

My son did rec ball from 5 to 12 years old. He just started travel a few seasons ago and that was only because he expressed a desire to play high school ball. I figured travel would help him prepare for the team. It has  and his skill set has increased.Starting at 12 might have been cool for some of the tournaments that offer a "once in a lifetime" experience.

But reading on this forum, it seems that there are plenty of that type of tournament. I am just glad he and I will have this time together, no matter how long he gets to play. 

But as I look back at the team pictures, so many of those rec kids have quit. I only see about 20% still around playing some sort of ball, rec or travel.

To me, travel at 6u seems a good way to burn a kid out, JMO.

Couldn't agree more. IMHO, looking back on my experience, I think this is the way to go. 

Oh man.  Now I feel bad.  I stopped my kid from playing T-Ball in a local rec league because they decided to keep score and invite the top team in each of the 16 divisions to a world series like play off tourney (best 2 of 3 to advance and best of 7 for the championship round).  I mistakenly thought the competition between the adults to win games was unhealthy for my child. I guess he won't become the next Jeter.