Is it getting to be too much?

06, I know the young player, but at 17 a youngster needs guidence, and when he is playing in the fall with a groin and hamstring injury, then the parents need to take over and send him to rehab. I have two sons, and at 17 they fell under my guidence. I also know the HS coach, and like him a lot.He helped me with my Area Code team for about 7-8 years.

Hirrel

Used to fish it regularly when I lived in Westchester County

Used to fish the REDMAN Circuit events there as well--great bass lake when the water skiers arent there

06catcherdad ...

quote:

My kid would love to play in the Alaska league some summer if he's lucky enough, as much for the fishing as for the baseball.

Our son thought it was great when he went in '02 ... came back with over 50 pounds frozen salmon from Kenai. Made memories for a lifetime ...

TR-
(Sorry)Was that you,when i was water skiing that day. soon it will be time for ice fishing to start at 430am with my boy.nothing like it.

bbscout
mine played with a nagging leg problem all year and I never stepped in and shut him down. As a result, he played poorly to our (his and mine) expectations. We felt a burden to the team to keep playing and "work through it". We've been under intense rehab with great people and are starting to see the results.

Good advice. Parents need to step in when anything affects their kids play-- mental or physical-- we know them best.

As has been said here many times already, it depends on the kid: why are they doing it? Are they having fun?
At the really young ages (before high school), I think many of the travel teams take it too far. Young kids don't need to play 50 games a summer to be good players...those of us over 30 didn't and we had great careers. Kids should still be allowed to be kids, enjoying the summer with friends, taking family vacations, etc. I think we as coaches (and I'm guilty of it too) need to be aware of our own ego and make sure that all the work is with the right intentions!

FBmom, I took mine to Alaska when he was 11, on a fishing trip. We staying in Soldotna, and all we did for four days was fish for salmon and halibut. Since it hardly gets dark, I couldn't convince him it was time to head back to our cabin to get some sleep. A couple of the days, we'd be out till 1:00 am fishing. Of course, his batteries did eventually run down, but he sure had a blast. We caught fish till I thought our arms were going to fall off, and he caught a couple kings bigger than I've ever caught in my life, including one of 53 lbs. That's still way bigger than my biggest.

I agree completely Coach Knight - individual choice for each player and family. This isn't meant to argue or change opinions - just sharing. I sent my son an email on this thread. He's a college freshman and I can tell you that there are very few kids who have played more baseball at his age than he has. His reply to me was "No, I wouldn't do anything differently" "I don't think you can play too much baseball". This is one of those issues that I think is similar to beauty - it's in the eye of the beholder.

Coach Knight and lafmom:

Very good thoughts. I agree with both of you.

This topic has been kicked around a long time. It's funny how most of the parents say that it is up to their sons if they play year round. That may be true but it is the parents who have dreamed up 6 year old World Series games and year round leagues and tournaments for 6 year old kids.

The only reason I can fathom doing this is because you've got parents who will do anything they can to give their 6 year old a chance to get a "head start" on his upcoming competition. There are absolutely no 6 year old boys begging to go to a World Series 500 miles from home. This craziness is dreamed up by parents.

This year round baseball stuff is driven by parents - at any age. And for what it is worth the worst parents in regard to pushing their boys to play all the times are usually parents who have little or no playing experience themselves. I find this not surprising when you think about it.

crawdad

What you say is very very true but I do not find it surprising that parents who never played the sport are the driving force--they are trying to find in their offspring what they were not able to do but wanted to do themselves--now their kids pay the price

I am sorry but 6 yr olds don't need the Tournament or Championship scene-- let them be little boys

Tom, I'd go so far as to question whether 10 or even 12 year olds need any of that stuff. Once they are of high school age, I'm fine with it, but before that I just don't see it. It might make mom and dad feel good, but I can't recall the last time I was at a younger age group game (Man, has that ever been a long time), where there were scouts with Stalkers behind the screen (pardon the sarcasm) . I'm certainly in the camp that says to wait a few extra years. Until not too many years ago, they didn't have much of a choice.

06catcherdad
well don't 11 or 12 yr old boys need the tournment championship in order to build up to that high school level and from that high school level go to college level and from there maybe even pro.

11 and 12 year olds do have a championship.....it is called the Little League World Series.

Well what i'm trying to get at is from modified ball to high school ball from high school ball to college ball...

quote:

Originally posted by Hirrel 13:
06catcherdad
well don't 11 or 12 yr old boys need the tournment championship in order to build up to that high school level and from that high school level go to college level and from there maybe even pro.

I know you directed this question to 06, but the answer is no!

TPM-
Ok,then why no.

Maybe this is stuff for another post, but recently had this conversation with the "better half"... 17 year old son closed a game on Friday (2 innings), Sat. (1 inning), started Sun. (5 innings). Everytime, asked/begged the coach for the ball wanting to face some former teammates...Husband unhappy with the number of pitches thrown because of "Diamond Club" Pro Scout Tourney coming up in 3 days and wanted him to be sharp.
IMO, his love for the game and desire to win and carry his team is more important that how he "shows" at a big showcase game. It is what got him here in the first place. Comments?

I wouldn't worry about being sharp or the next event because he wont be sharp with only three days to go after this -- but what about his well being and his arm???

Lots of things involved here--not black and white !!! And all HS players think they are invincible.

Got a "rubber arm". Only threw to 6 batters in first game, 9 pitches the second game and about 60 pitches the third.He's a big strong kid that just loves to play. Threw 3 innings at D.C. and did OK...shutting down after Jupiter.

puma1:

I suppose that's alright...just make sure that his sacrifice (not showcasing well) is not for naught and that his contribution to the team is not taken for granted.

As you said...this is what has gotten him here in the first place.

TPM and BBscout beat me to it. NO, they don't need all these championships type events. The Little League World Series is fine. I do have a problem with the others, as at that age more of it is about money than it is about the kids.

SHEESH, whatever happened to kids playing all day in the park? Now, they have to consider their tournament/showcase/clinic/camp/league/private workout/offseason conditioning/etc./etc/etc. schedules before they're even going to Jr. High dances. They've never kissed a girl, but they have that championship ring! Perspective is getting lost, as far as I'm concerned.

Have heard that "rubber arm" phrase before just as the kid was taken into surgery---

Thanks Tom. They forget that rubber bands (arms) snap, don't they.

06catcherdad:

Junior high dances?...really?

I never noticed...must have missed the flyers that came home with the kids! Too busy packing all that Gatorade on ice and tucking the cooler in the trunk!


Seriously...I agree with you.

Baseball obviously is important to those that love the game...but you grow up only once and have only one shot at these events that you mentioned. Players must find the time to live life away from baseball on occassion.

Their "invincibility" is part of the passion that they play with. Much rather have to say "Whoa" than "Giddy-up", but appreciate the advice and concerns for son's arm.

puma

So do I with regard to slow down or giddy up but sometimes we dont