Legion Waivers/Release

Coaches like that give the rest of us a bad name. Not like that hear. If we have a player in that situation we would release him to play with the other team. The way iI look at it is why have a kid play were he does not want to. Just my opinion.

I don't know if this has anything to do with it but my understanding is that once you are released to play for another legion program and once that other program accepts you, then you can not ever return to the original program during you're remaining years of eligibility. Perhaps they expect him to be a valuable part of the team in the future but just don't have a spot for him this year and they want to see him come back next year.

Legion baseball is much more structured with many more rules and regulations.

In some cases this is a very good thing for young kids to experience and something that travel ball lacks for the most part. It's also something that hurts Legion baseball at times when comparing it to club type baseball.

IMO Legion baseball needs to have younger executives and a much more progressive way of operating. The strictness in Legion Baseball works both positively and negatively for the players. It should always be about the kids that play.

Rather than join the crowd they continue to live in the past, back when they were the best amateur baseball organization.

Legion Baseball is still an excellent program, but I truly believe they need to modernize or I fear they will be gone some day. Being a long time old Legion Baseball booster, I'd really hate to see that happen.

U13 playing Legion? And his buddies? I'm pretty sure Legion doesn't allow Jr. Legion player transfers.

I'm going to assume you're talking about Jr Legion - not that it matters i suppose. I went thru this so i'll tell you what i learned. 1st off , if the kid tried out for the team and was cut they HAVE to let him go. They cannot cut a kid and stop him from playing. In addition keep in mind legion ball is not enforcing most of their own rules - i posted about this on another thread. Anyone can move , and move back if they want ,regardless what the "rule book" states. It happens all over the country. I would NOT accept the word of the coach who cut him. Not for a minute. Let him know , the post know ond anyone else that you aren't dropping this. If they let one kid do it they have to let all kids do it. It's happening all over the country. Their so called rules can't be applied whenever they want.I could write all day about legion ball and the countless problems they have. As PG wrote , they were once a great organization. Their response to travel/showcase ball is to try to stop players from playing. This and many other reasons is why Legion ball will be gone in a matter of a few years. Don't back down. Checkout the local teams and see what players have moved out of their district. There are sure to be several.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Legion Baseball is still an excellent program, but I truly believe they need to modernize or I fear they will be gone some day. Being a long time old Legion Baseball booster, I'd really hate to see that happen.

That will never happen IMHO.

Check out this sports segment on DC's CH9:

American-Legion-Baseball-is-an-Affordable-Option-for-Young-Athletes

around here legion ball is much akin to slavery----the players have no freedom to attend showcases

Well, the kids have choices to make, to play ALB or attend showcases.

IMHO, folks forget about what American Legion Baseball is all about, it's team first, working together and about making a commitment to the team at a very, very affordable cost.

If you cannot commit to a legion team, then there are other options for you.

WELL I HAVE INSTANCES WHERE EVEN ON OFF DAYS THE AL COACHFORBID THE KIDS ATTENDING---IN FACT IT COST A PLAYER A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP

Here is a story about a "great" Legion player that made that commitment and went unnoticed until almost the last moment.

Legion Player

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by PGStaff:
Legion Baseball is still an excellent program, but I truly believe they need to modernize or I fear they will be gone some day. Being a long time old Legion Baseball booster, I'd really hate to see that happen.



That will never happen IMHO.

Check out this sports segment on DC's CH9:

American-Legion-Baseball-is-an-Affordable-Option-for-Young-Athletes


"Hustle, it costs you nothing, but gains you everything"

I played legion and currently field a legion team and IMHO this will happen due to policies that go on within the legion organization. From a player stand point there could be instances in which playing for a legion team could cause him from missing a major event that would help him get a scholarship or drafted. If a kid wants to go to the event and not play in a game that should be up to him and his coach, not legion.

From a team stand point take a look at the CA state playoffs. A player from Merced got caught using an illegal bat during a game. The other team caught it and it was thrown out. The game continued, Merced won, and 20 minutes after the game the State Legion Board threw Merced out of the playoffs. Now the National board reinstated them approx. 5 days later but both teams had to go back to Yountville to play for the championship. How does it even make sense to kick a team out of a tournament for an illegal bat? Especially the state tournament.

I think Legion is a great thing, I have been to Yountville as both a player and a coach and I would not trade those days for anything. However I do believe if Legion does not update their thought process it is only a matter of time before they are forgotten about and that will be a sad sad day.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Here is a story about a "great" Legion player that made that commitment and went unnoticed until almost the last moment.

Legion Player

Sorry, if you are a legit player, one will not go unnoticed because there is just TMI been circulated as it can be easily transmitted via Twitter, Facebook, e-mail and other outlets to shared the 411 on anyone.

Please reference, he was playing legion baseball during 2000-2001 timeframe and it's August 2011 now. Over the last 10yrs, times have certainly changed as the means of sharing information has evolved as it's available to the world within a blink of the eye.

Sorry, this example is just too old.

AND

I can bet you the bank, that if he came through the ALB system today that he would be on everyone's radar.

in oyur region the playewrs have to sign a contrract

TCW,

This is all very easy to figure out.

Take the top few rounds of the draft last year. Check and see where all the high school players that were drafted played in the summer. Check to see if they attended any showcases or travel tournaments or if they played elsewhere.

Once that is researched, one of two things will be very clear. Either many Legion players are being overlooked or there isn't a lot of high level talent playing Legion "these" days.

Back many years ago, Legi9on players actually were scouted much heavier. Most all the top picks came out of Legion programs. So it certainly can't be said that things are better now than they were in the past.

The sooner people realize this and admit it, the sooner Legion might adjust. Facts are hard to argue against.

To this day, I'm a big supporter of Legion Baseball. There are many great things about Legion Baseball. But covering up the facts isn't going to improve the situation. Changes are needed! Some of the changes made over the past several years were not positive IMO.

Just wanted to share, the 2011 American Legion World Series had 86,000 paid attendance.

All 15 games of The American Legion World Series were aired live on ESPN3.com. And the number of fans who came out to Keeter Stadium to support the eight regional champions created history.

During Game 9 on Sunday, the Legion World Series reached a record total paid-attendance crowd of more than 60,000, beating the record established 75 years ago in Spartansburg, S.C.

But after the championship game Tuesday evening, the number of fans soared another 26,000 for a total of 86,000 paid-attendance.


Check it ...
http://www.legion.org/baseball...-legion-world-series

Interesting thread...our son (2012) played on the American Legion National Championship team this summer-Eden Prairie, MN. The stadium, crowds and atmosphere in Shelby, NC were incredible. The entire Shelby community did a great job. All the games broadcast on ESPN3.

I do agree it is tougher to get exposure playing AL than Showcase circuit. Our son had a lot of interest from local schools but national interest came after HeadFirst in fall 2010 and Stanford this summer. AL coaches were not excited when he left team for a few days for Stanford All Star Camp, but understood it was something he could not pass up.

Great news is he's committed to play for Coach Bradley at Princeton beginning fall 2012. Probably does not happen without the additional exposure gained at the showcases.

Btw, big thanks to AL as they hosted the Eden Prairie Legion team at the first 2 World Series games in St. Louis. Introduced on the field, Joe Torre,etc. Memories our son will have for a lifetime!

Nationals championships may get great exposure but most teams don't set that far.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Here is a story about a "great" Legion player that made that commitment and went unnoticed until almost the last moment.

Legion Player

Scenerio:
2013 plays for AL team in the Summer. Coached by same H.S. Varsity Head Coach. Parents & Players have to sign AL contract, that they won't play for other teams (ie: Elite Travel). Although, former board members son, was allowed to previously play for both. That son got a D1 scholarship. AL Varsity Legion's game / tourney schedule, last year were entered in 3 tournaments, all within a daily drive in state. Requiring no overnights. 1 tourney cancelled due to rain & not rescheduled. Allowed to attend showcases. Made the mistake of playing for for a LC Summer team in Summer before 7th grade. Had a great season. But, almost didn't make Jr. High team, because of it. Coach even asked player about it. Made the cut, but pretty much rode the bench & made the B team, even. Had / has always been a starter...except that year. Last year - BA: .500 & ERA: 1.50, but he's had to fight for it ever since.
Invited to play for 4 Elite 18U Summer travel teams, this Summer, that play in, place or win, National Tournaments with big exposure. Had to pass on them...
Frustrating! Doing what he can on his own. Attending quality, reputable Organization's Showcases & Camps. Ranking in Top 10 at showcases. Listing verified stats on recruiting sites, with evaluation & video. Just got email invite from PG, to request an invite to one of their events. Plan to follow up with that & attend some Multi College Coach Skills Camps & showcases this Winter. Continue with private lessons, group workouts, strength & conditioning program. Letting schools that he has been in contact with, know of High School & AL Season's upcoming schedules. Hope it'll be enough.