How much is too much and who really cares?

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pirateradio...

I think you see that rural areas will be the least affected by the trend, but we now have local kids driving 2 hours both ways once or twice a week and pretty much giving up community ball.

To be even handed it has not all been bad...

The advent of outside ball has forced local community ball to rethink it's misssion,it's dedication, it's methods, it's personnel...something that is VERY healthy.

I know JB's Community program has done a great deal of soul searching and come up with some progressive thinking....JB?

There were heated discussions in our community baseball board meetings regarding what we would and what we would not, let our players participate and and even if we had the right to. We discussed how to compete. We discussed adapting and adjusting our leagues and if we wanted to.

One of the best things that came out of this was our Pony leagues (13-14) got together with all the other leagues within an hour radius and we put together a "travel" schedule. We played the out of town teams once and the in town teams twice and included a regional playoff system just before all stars. The change was very popular and was a preview of the high school ball of a few years later.

I do believe strongly that there is a need, and a place and room for everyone. But think to date that community ball has gotten the worst of it...

44

observer,

We discussed some negatives on the youth scene.

On the positive side - IMO - I think that the Showcase concept has been a very good thing for the youth player.

It is efficient for all involved - and fun as well.

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Itsinthegame...

We agree.

Though I might take it step farther...I think outside ball is a great development...just not at the expense of community ball. There is a positive place for all and a way for all to prosper.

In fact I would contend that right at this point in time (outside of the inner city situation which needs to be seriously addressed) youth baseball is as healthy as it has ever been. The opportunities for players to excel, the level of coaching, the access to college programs, the developmental opportunities, the enthusiasm for the game, the knowledge, the acess are at an all time high. The balance between inside and outside ball is nearly ideal...but my crystal ball sees it edging over too far unless we are carefull, smart and clear on our big picture objectives.

44

Check the Media folks. The Media and the NBA have gone to great lengths to sway young minds into believing that the coolest thing on earth is to dunk a basketball while wearing an expensive pair of sneakers. Thats not just inner city either, it seems like everywhere. Heck, kids now jump off ladders to dunk, which proves that if you can get to the rim, its the easiest thing to do in sports.

I'm late to this discussion but I'll put in my 2 cents worth....

I've got a son playing D-1 college football, a Junior in high school who is being recruited to play baseball by most of the Big 12 schools as well as others, and a 7 year old to boot.

I never payed a dime for any lessons for any of my boys. The son that plays baseball only started playing in the "elite" select basball in the DFW area this past summer.

Now to be perfectly honest my two older sons are very good "natural" athletes. My oldest son is 6'7" 270 pounds and has natural speed and strength. My Junior in HS is 6'3" 210 pounds and has always been able to pick up a baseball and throw it for strikes since he was 7 years old. He just has always had that knack.

I see parents all the time force feeding baseball lessons on kids that no matter how much time and money you put into them just do not have "it". Still, I think lessons can be beneficial. For the first time I am seriously considering hiring a pitching coach for a few sessions for my son. Also, do not be mislead - he has had excellent coaching from his high school pitching coach (who pitched at a very high level himself) and from his summer coach. It's not like he has not had good coaching - it's just that I haven't paid "extra" for it.

Still, like I said I am seriously considering hiring a local ex MLB pitcher who recently retired to work with my son.

Lessons do have their place. Just make sure that you are doing it for the right reasons and I think that kids younger than 10 should not be put through a "Major League" regemin. Don't forget about hunting, fishing, and camping during those younger years. To this day my sons enjoy hunting and fishing because of all the time we spent doing that when they were younger instead of spending every waking hour playing sports.

Anyway, that is my honest opinion - sorry it was so long.

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Coachric...

Gonna go out on another shaky non PC limb here...

Yep, Coach I agree that the media plays a big part in the rise of hoop. I believe that it is wildly popular in the suburbs...but not like in the inner city.

At the risk of overstating...

I would contend that from an outside perspective, basketball in the inner city has become cultural. I believe that youngsters there see it in many cases as who they are, they believe it belongs to them.

I believe that baseball has become to the suburban kid what basketball is to the inner city kid, theirs.

My boys...6'6" 225 and 6'6" 205...both play(ed)high school hoop, loved it and excelled at it (MVP's, All counties, All Leagues, triple doubles, yada, yada, yada..) but gave little realistic thought to playing in college.

While in high school they faced 90+ MPH hour pitching and high school all-americans, and while not always successful, came away very impressed but thinking that they could and were built to compete.

While I AM NOT saying that basketball players are neccessarily better athletes.....but that are uniquely built externally the way that manybaseball players are uniquely built internally...and watching a 6'9" human being FLY before your eyes (be he black or white) changes your perspective very quickly.


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quote:

Lessons do have their place. Just make sure that you are doing it for the right reasons

Good point, also you could add in addition to the right reasons make sure you find the right instructor.

I do believe in instruction in many cases. However, I've seen people pay for instruction that actually took the player backwards.

Couple years ago we saw a sophomore pitcher who had a great body and nice fluid arm. He threw 85-86 mph and we thought he projected out of site! A year later we saw the same pitcher. He grew another inch or two (now 6'5") once again he was mid 80s, but he now had a herky jerky delivery and stiff arm action.

He went from being real smooth and effortless to being stiff and mechanical. I suspected that this kid had run ascross an instructor! We have seen this many times before. We called the kid over and asked him if he was getting pitching lessons or seeing an instructor. He said yes, he started working with *** ****** about 6 months ago. Obviously *** ****** is an instructor we would not recommend.

To think some people actually pay money to go backwards in their development, is disappointing.

My advice is to make sure you are comfortable with the knowledge and experience of any potential instructor. Always ask who they have worked with and then contact that reference to confirm. Then... Good luck... There are a lot of great instructors out there... Make sure you find one of them!

Observer, points well taken. I do believe inner city kids identify with basketball. Players are also extremely athletic, but I think baseball is a more skilled sport, so much more to learn. I don't buy into the flying, thats only evident in slow motion and its so overplayed.

PG...

GREAT POINT...

Mechanics should not be mechanical...

Kinetic chain, and flow and timing are Dance...

Mechanics are Choreography...

FAR too many mechanical teachers out there who do not understand Kinetic chain/Dance...

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Coachric...

Agreed. (except the flying...though I agree it's overplayed in the media.. )

I put sports into a Mental/physical continueum.(sic) Rugby at one end, Golf at the other. Baseball is such a great combination...

44

44:

quote:

I put sports into a Mental/physical continueum.(sic) Rugby at one end, Golf at the other. Baseball is such a great combination...
44

Yeah...I agree. From the scrum to the sand trap!

woody,

Welcome back from the Karma Blackhole! I will cancel the strike team I sent in to get you out!

T-Bird Dad:

Thanks.

About that strike team...either you cancelled it too late or they need to brush up on their understanding of military hierarchy...they, mistakenly I was told, fed me a stun grenade for lunch...wasn't too bad...I managed to get it down before it did it's thing...itsjustagame's Shea bernaise sauce helped it a bit...but I've got a serious case of karmagestion! .

Woodman,

Get you some Karma Seltzer and you will feel better.

T-Bird Dad:

I jushh dish shtake a Shkarma Sheltsher shtablet...itch bubbshling all over thush shplace...arsh yoush shuppossed to shtake itch wish shwater? Pleesh shlet meesh know...phast!