Legion vs. AAU

Legion ball varies in talent strength from region to region, even state to state

Thank you so much for your response. The only thing that I really know about this years legion ball is that they will be playing sanctioned tournaments for the first time. Not certain what that means though. The good side of playing legion is that it is cheap and we won't be traveling, and they will be with their HS coach. My concern really is that I am reading so much here about how important it is to play on the travel teams. Their AAU team plays in Atlanta and Florida, etc, and will be in some very competitive tournaments. Also, the coach for their team picks up most of expenses (registration fees, uniforms, and even hotel costs when the kids travel without parents). He also knows many many folks in baseball and I am reluctant to have to make the call saying they cannot play. It will certainly make life easier to stay local but not certain it is the best thing. Do other coaches dictate what they want their players doing during the off season?

What are the goals? Exposure? If that's the case, then Legion does not get much exposure since the 19 year old college freshmen can play. We made it to the regional tournament this year, and only saw 1-2 college scouts all summer up to that time, then perhaps a dozen the first day of the regional.

Pawismom, Welcome to the HSBBW! This is a great site,and there are many people here who can provide answers to lots of different baseball related topics.

Your situation is more common than you might realize. Many high school coaches don't want their players to be involved with summer teams outside the ones they coach themselves. I think experience will show that high school coaches who don't also coach in the summer are much more supportive of students playing with "travel" teams than those who also coach legion or high school summer league baseball. There probably ins't an easy answer to your dilemna, but I wouldn't rush to drop off of the AAU team just yet. Many of the boys who play summer baseball in our program here in California also play for their high school's legion team in the summer, it just takes an understanding travel team coach, and some flexibility and dedication on your part to make it all work. Out here, it is a violation of rules for high school coaches to dictate what the players will or won't do when not involved in their regular seasons, but many coaches ignore the requirements unless they are brought to the administration's attention. That is something you might consider as a last resort, but not before trying to make it work with the coaches involved. I'd suggest you talk with the coach and explain what your boy's have been doing and let him know that you'll support his program but also wish to participate in baseball outside of his program. Any coach worth his salt should support your boys in their desire to play more baseball.

I don't think in Illinois the high school coach is allowed to coach over the summer. Not sure about that, but it seems to come to mind.

Thanks Old Timer for your response to my post! This may sound really dumb on my part for really not thinking about this, but, what you asked "what are your goals", is very profound. You are making me think. Let's see, this would be my oldest sons second year on the AAU team and I really do like the core group of players, their parents and the coach. This is a somewhat successful team so there is a certain amount of presitige, at least in my sons eyes, that they do not want to give up. On my part I am not sure I want to give up the ties to the coach. He knows what he is doing in the arena of baseball, scolarships, etc.. The level of competition, even among the players of the team, is intense and I think makes them all better players. There is also good team attitude here and the players all have fun. Can't say that for all AAU teams. There are five other players on the team from this county, and they are some of the best in their age group. This is what has our High School coach somewhat upset, it is bringing down legion (which he coaches) play to have so many players spread out in AAU. That said, I do like him alot and would be happy to have him continue working with them during off season. They would play mostly locally and with players they know. Their coach is also concerned about fostering a sense of community by playing for legion. It might make more sense to spend the money and time spent on AAU going to some camps. Well, it is somewhat a non-issue though as our High School coach said that they have to play legion; he is going to require it of all his vasity players; he even jokingly asked if I was planning on changing schools if they played AAU.

I can't really say I know for sure, but it sounds like a crock of s*** about 'requiring' them to play Legion. Legion has nothing to do with HS. Since your boys are obviously talented enough to make varsity as Fresh/Soph I can see why he'd want them on his Legion team, but he seems more selfishly motivated than thinking about what's right and what has worked for your boys up to now. And if they don't play Legion, would the coach go so far as to hold it against them next year for Varsity, shooting himself in the foot in the process? I don't really like the undercurrent of intimidation here.

I think the opportunities are more prevalent with AAU. maybe someone else can clarify the whole "Legion requirement" issue, but it sounds like the coach is making stuff up for his own ends.

Anyone want to clarify the Legion thing?

Yes the coach has a vested interest in coaching his players.I have a son that plays HS ball in SC ,AAU Fall ball and American Legion ball in summer.The AAU scene is somewhat newer than legion ball.Our legion team / coach is A1 and we were well pleased with season.That being said in a nutshell AAU is NOT more prestigious
just costs more than legion.look at your return on investment of the 2 programs.In my experience all things being equal I always rate cost& coaching highly.Bottom line talk w/kids and see what they feel and rely on gut instincts.

He might have a vested interest in his varsity players, but I'm not sure that it equates to 'requiring' Legion play. I'm not about to argue in depth the relative merits of AAU/Legion, but pawismom did say that the AAU team plays many competitive tournaments (presumably against some of the best teams) and is coached by a guy with good baseball contacts. While the legion team is just now getting into some vaguely-defined tournaments.

averner3,

Your points about return on investement are good ones. The thing about Legion ball that I've found is that it is very inconsistent from area to area. Some very strong teams out there, and some very weak teams. The same can be true for AAU. The difference is that the player gets to decide from the outset which AAU team he wants to play on. Whether he makes that team is another issue, but he at least gets to choose a strong team to try out for. You really don't have that choice with Legion (with very minor exceptions like the parochial school waiver), you basically have to play on the team that's based where you live, which may or may not be worth it.

Great point dad10 I fully agree.We are lucky to have a strong region for Am Legion and a top level coaching staff(3 coaches).I'm sure AAU has some equally fine staffs.

If the coach can say to your face that he wants the best for his players. Ask him.......

Is the legion ball as talent strong and competitive as AAU?

Will my son get X number of abs or ip'd as he would playing AAU?

Can Legion guarantee the "exposure" factor?

If you trust the fact that my son will become a better player if he played AAU is he cheating a younger HS player from playing time on the Legion team?

If everything comes out a wash then you maybe it is best that the HS team sticks together over the early summer. If it becomes apparent that the coach is doing this selfish reasons, now you have a problem.

I think the HS coach has a vested interest in his kids playing at the highest possible level during the summer......

That said the local HS teams that don't have a summer team (Legion/Joe D)seem to be the most succesful.....Those that have a summer requirement aren't as successful and I don't see many if any of their kids playing ball in jc/college.

In our area Connie Mack is the affiliation that many of the kids going onto college play.

Not sure about SC, but the rules governing HS athletics here (Mass) state specifically that "a coach may not directly or indirectly require an athlete to participate in a sport or a training program outside of the MIAA defined sport season."