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KD,
Just an additional comment to your post. I would do the same again. The money and time has been well worth it.
The only thing I recommend to some who think they need to get into a select program when their kids are 6 years old, take your time and let them learn how to enjoy the game. I don't know the magic age to enter select, I'm sure it differs for each individual. I've just seen so many flame out because someone convinced them that they had to start them early. Baseball is not the only culprit (basketball, s****r, etc.)
I cannot tell you how many "can't miss" prospects at 12 are no longer playing the game.
Just an additional comment to your post. I would do the same again. The money and time has been well worth it.
The only thing I recommend to some who think they need to get into a select program when their kids are 6 years old, take your time and let them learn how to enjoy the game. I don't know the magic age to enter select, I'm sure it differs for each individual. I've just seen so many flame out because someone convinced them that they had to start them early. Baseball is not the only culprit (basketball, s****r, etc.)
I cannot tell you how many "can't miss" prospects at 12 are no longer playing the game.
Good advice Longtoss. I don't think kids should even start organized sports until 9YO. Before that, just let 'em be kids and play.
I would do the same thing over again, but We've learned alot.
a. The most important thing is to make sure your kid learns sound fundamentals at a very early age - 7-8 year olds can learn the correct way to throw and hit. Correcting mechanics is almost impossible past 12-14 yo. Try to keep it fun.
b. You don't have to go out of state for more competition in DFW/Houston/Austin etc. No need to spend the $$ on pseudo baseball vacations if it's not agreed upon by the whole family.
c. In the old days (50's-70's) there was 2-3 kids who didn't know how to throw and hit in the very young age groups. Today, there's 2-3 who do know the basics - you can't/shouldn't hold the good young players back in rec ball - the only choice is select, but keep the number of game to a sane level - whatever that is.
Good post.
a. The most important thing is to make sure your kid learns sound fundamentals at a very early age - 7-8 year olds can learn the correct way to throw and hit. Correcting mechanics is almost impossible past 12-14 yo. Try to keep it fun.
b. You don't have to go out of state for more competition in DFW/Houston/Austin etc. No need to spend the $$ on pseudo baseball vacations if it's not agreed upon by the whole family.
c. In the old days (50's-70's) there was 2-3 kids who didn't know how to throw and hit in the very young age groups. Today, there's 2-3 who do know the basics - you can't/shouldn't hold the good young players back in rec ball - the only choice is select, but keep the number of game to a sane level - whatever that is.
Good post.
Simple Question--how do you have a "select team" for 6 year olds?
The "norm" for "select" teams is 9-10. Not sure I've heard of select 6 yo teams, but I wouldn't be surprised these days.
There are now "World Series" for 6 year olds. It is insane but it is increasingly happening.
This is a parent driven thing not a kid driven thing. I have a 7 year old - he has yet to ask me to let him play in a select national tournament. He does ask me to hit in the cage, play catch, go camping, and go fishing.
This is a parent driven thing not a kid driven thing. I have a 7 year old - he has yet to ask me to let him play in a select national tournament. He does ask me to hit in the cage, play catch, go camping, and go fishing.
crawdad
sounds like a normal kid to me
sounds like a normal kid to me
Crawdad - now I've heard it all - they barely know which way to run at 6 years old. I sit corrected.
HS baseball is what it is. Great experience for some, unsatifactory for others.
The select baseball memories are mostly great. The financial cost was high (no news there). And it was the best thing I could have done for my son.
I believe that Select baseball will likely have a greater effect on your player. The select coaches my boy played for (tribe (way back!!)Mustangs, Redhawks (Marshalls), and Knights) helped him earn a college roster spot.
Shayne Currin's recommendation letter combined with 2 years of Mustangs baseball earned my son an invitation to the Stanford Camp. And when Dartmouth called around looking for 3rd party scouting opinions they called Sam Carpenter. Sam could have been less than magnanimous since by then we left the Mustangs for the Knights, but he gave a professional (and apparently positive) report & opinion on my son. John Fuqua carried my son on his roster while he recovered from a broken wrist & surgery after his senior HS year.
All of these organizations deserve some credit and acclaim, and each contributed to my son's success in baseball.
The select baseball memories are mostly great. The financial cost was high (no news there). And it was the best thing I could have done for my son.
I believe that Select baseball will likely have a greater effect on your player. The select coaches my boy played for (tribe (way back!!)Mustangs, Redhawks (Marshalls), and Knights) helped him earn a college roster spot.
Shayne Currin's recommendation letter combined with 2 years of Mustangs baseball earned my son an invitation to the Stanford Camp. And when Dartmouth called around looking for 3rd party scouting opinions they called Sam Carpenter. Sam could have been less than magnanimous since by then we left the Mustangs for the Knights, but he gave a professional (and apparently positive) report & opinion on my son. John Fuqua carried my son on his roster while he recovered from a broken wrist & surgery after his senior HS year.
All of these organizations deserve some credit and acclaim, and each contributed to my son's success in baseball.
I anticipated resounding results from this poll ----- there they are! 
The Select experience, thus far, has been great for our son and our family, that is except for 1 summer. One summer out of 6 isn't bad and looking back on that situation I can say that it was due in part by a poor choice on our part (we didn't do our homework).
The experience my son has had is invaluable. From learning how to adapt to new/different coaching styles, having the opportunity of playing with players of different backgrounds, earning the right to play at larger venue's all over the country and most of all learning how to compete under various types of pressure.
For our family some of our best memories are of road trips to qualifiers, national tournaments like Cooperstown tourney and the CWS tourney. The friends and people we have met during these summer's together remain very important parts of our lives...
I highly suggest select baseball for players seeking a higher level of play. It usually is a big committment in time and money but in the end you usually get back more than what you put into it..............
The experience my son has had is invaluable. From learning how to adapt to new/different coaching styles, having the opportunity of playing with players of different backgrounds, earning the right to play at larger venue's all over the country and most of all learning how to compete under various types of pressure.
For our family some of our best memories are of road trips to qualifiers, national tournaments like Cooperstown tourney and the CWS tourney. The friends and people we have met during these summer's together remain very important parts of our lives...
I highly suggest select baseball for players seeking a higher level of play. It usually is a big committment in time and money but in the end you usually get back more than what you put into it..............
In a word, YES!
Preach it ob-n!!
Yes, I believe we would make the same decisions. The memories have been good and not so good, but we were together. Would we have all been together otherwise? Hard to say.... It's been worth it, some day Fast Ball Son will be gone and we'll remember.
It's good to hear FB mom put it in perspective. One day they will be gone, and enjoy the time you have left.
No doubt that some of the best memories I have with my sons have been with them on the baseball field.
However we also have had just as many good memories from being out in the woods together shooting a variety of animals or on the lake catching fish.
If only I could figure out how to set up a deer stand on a baseball field. I think that would be the ultimate - actually shoot something from a baseball field.
I am sorry, a tear is coming to my eye....
However we also have had just as many good memories from being out in the woods together shooting a variety of animals or on the lake catching fish.
If only I could figure out how to set up a deer stand on a baseball field. I think that would be the ultimate - actually shoot something from a baseball field.
I am sorry, a tear is coming to my eye....