Loyality to travel team or move on?

He should play the highest level team he can get playing time On.  Hi level on the bench is not worth it.

Don't think playing time will be an issue. He's picked up with some pretty good teams in the past & stacks up well.

IMO, any time you have the opportunity to play better competition, go for it.  It will not only make him better, but the higher competition also draws more exposure.....seems like a no-brainer to me

you got to look after #1 and you can still be loyal to any team...

+1! 

Billy19,

 

I think I understand your loyalty to the current team.  My son played with an average team while recovering from an elbow problem.  He batted clean-up and played first base until he completed a long rehab and throwing program.  The higher level teams weren't interested in a catcher who couldn't throw and had no guaranteed timeline.  After a full season and a successful recovery, it was time to move on.  I did feel some remorse about leaving the team that gave him a chance to play, but I thanked them and was honest about my son's situation.  He needed to play higher level ball.

 

If you're convinced that your son will become a better ballplayer by playing with the new team, and your son wants to make the move, then I suggest you talk to the current coach.  If he has your son's best interest at heart, and your son has a realistic goal of playing college ball, then the coach should understand.

 

Bum, Jr. also faced such a dillema.  In the end, he joined up with the finest travel team in the area and made tons of new friends and contacts.

 

His loyalty to the team ends at the end of the season.  Play with the best.  It's a no-brainer.

Billy,

It's hard to leave a team and coaches who have been good to you, and where your son has thrived.  Sometimes it's the right thing to do, and many will understand your motivations.

 

We found ourselves in a similar situation where we wanted more.  We were open with the coach, and told him why we were considering a new opportunity - more competition, more depth in coaching, higher level of competition, and therefore more development.  Coach happened to have 3 older sons who have all played at different levels, and he listened carefully, recommended another program where a friend of his coached (which we talked to and didn't end up joining), wished us good luck, told us to keep him posted and let us know that we'd always have a place if we decided to stay.  We didn't tell any other parents until we committed to a new program, because we did not want to affect morale or make them reconsider their spot.  Many other kids who have left teams did so in the dark of night, so to speak, and left coaches and kids hanging.  I don't like that, and we have tried to be as transparent as possible as we've gone through my son's baseball career.  The fact is that many kids won't play in high school, much less in college, and each family has different goals and personal situations.  You need to make the best decision for your family.

 

Baseball is often a metaphor for life, and this can be a great way to show your boy how you move through life with authenticity.  You can show him how to deal with change, how to remain friends with those whom he's left (if he wants to), and how to act with good character.  Life lessons, for sure.

 

Best of luck to you, keep us posted.

Billy: Do what is best for your son, whichever it is. Friends are great, but at some point they are secondary to his goals and possibilities. Best of luck.

It's time to be looking for the best training and the best connected (with college coaches) travel programs with exposure. It's where your son needs to be by summer after soph year.

No wrong answers here.   He is a high school freshmen.   What does the your son want to get out of baseball?  This is the age when baseball begins to weed itself out, and it is no longer a little boys game.  If your son wants to compete for high school and travel team playing time he should play at the highest levels possible.  If college baseball is even a remote possibility the same holds true.   If this is about being with longtime friends then stay the course.

Move on

while baseball IS a team sport u have to do what's best for your kid. Don't stay with team that is not advancing to next level. My son was on team w nice kids but most did not have same commitment as my son-they rarely did any outside work to get betteR, and a few even didn't show up for games with various excuses. It gets old. Son is now on more competitive team and having a much better experience. Time will go by quickly-before u know it he will be looking at colleges to play for if that's his goal. He needs to play the best teams and be in tourn where he can be seen. Don't be a SR and wonder what if. Good luck

If the desire of your son is to play baseball beyond HS, then in my mind, it becomes very simple.

 

• HS - where friends are loyal throughout their four years of competition
• Summer Travel Team - where they develop their skills to gain college exposure

 

I have told our kids in our summer program, that the competition is not only across the field in the opposing dugouts, but in their own dugout....The higher end summer club teams exist for the sole purpose of exposing their players to the best competition that will provide the greatest exposure.  In youth select (up to 13u) you still have the "team" feeling...however at the HS club team level (Freshman - Senior) the players are all competing against each other. 

 

If his desire is not to play beyond HS, then be loyal to your current travel team.  If he wants to play beyond HS - move to the better team (provided his skill level will earn him playing time).

As someone who has his kid's loyalty betrayed, I appreciate your concern about loyalty.  In today's world it is a scarce characteristic. 

 

Sounds like you are in with a great group of players, coaches and parents.  Hopefully they stay that way.  I think you need to treat this as honestly and openly as possible.  Discuss the situation with the coach, in private, away from the field. If your coach is as good as he sounds he will be disappointed but thrilled for your kid. The fact is that without the current coach's help when the kid was struggling, he may never have been given the opportunity he has now.  My guess is your kid will always identify part of himself as part of that team. 

 

You have to do what is best for the kid.  If he wants to play at the next level, then playing up in competition is for the best.  However, remember that the grass is always greener.  The fact that you are familiar with the coach and some players certainly helps.  Good luck. 

The choice for everyone is different, some players don't like the elite travel and others truly thrive under it.  I agree 100% with back foot slider above...

 

"If his desire is not to play beyond HS, then be loyal to your current travel team.  If he wants to play beyond HS - move to the better team (provided his skill level will earn him playing time)."

 

To each their own, as for the loyalty to a team that is definitely something that you do not see these days.  College baseball recruiting is so competitive and unless you can put your son in front of the right coaches some will never even know that he wants to play college baseball.  

 

Ultimately go with what's in your heart and you'll make the right choice.

 

Good Luck!

Thank you all for some great replies. Golfman; you hit the nail on the head. I give much credit of his development to his current coaches. He'd just come out of a bad situation when he joined. He didn't lack talent but lacked confidence. I suspect he should move on; may have a tough day occasionally but mostly dominant against current competition. HS coach has told him if velocity is near 85 as a Soph he'll likely play varsity next year, now hitting 80 with good stuff. Very competitive HS program where Soph's seldom play on varsity. A year of better competition should help. I'll approach him again & tell him to weigh the pro's & cons. Think his reluctance now is influenced by my wishes in the past.

I would give him a timeline to make a decision.  He may just want to put it off because he's scared to disappoint the current coach.  Let him know that the team needs a decision by X time frame.  Let him know the benefits and pitfalls of each decision he might make and let him know that it is totally up to him, but he needs to decide.  This is a big step for him emotionally and will certainly build his maturity level.  I know for my son, when faced with the decision of what team to play on always told me "I want to play on whichever team is best".  That may be the case for your son, or he may just want to keep it fun and play with his friends, but that is entirely up to him.

 

Good luck with which ever decision he makes.

You've received good advice, Billy19.  The fact that your son would feel comfortable playing for either coach is certainly positive.  I agree with bballman, give your son a timeline to make a decision.

What are your son's goals?  If it's to play at the next level, will his current travel team give him the opportunity to be seen by the right people? He's obviously happy where he's at, but the new club could be more beneficial.  My son wanted to play with his friends, however, he understood the importance of playing with and against the best competition, so that's what he chose to do. The baseball world becomes smaller & smaller as your son takes each step up the ladder & amazingly the friendships are broadened as well.  Best of luck to him!

Would any of the above responses change if you were also taking private pitching and hitting lessons from the coach of your son's current team; and he really likes the instruction he is getting?

I believe it wouldn't matter, although you are really talking about three separate skills that you should look for.  Very few instructors/coaches have the ability to do all three of these skills.  Even fewer want to give the effort necessary to successfully relay it to your son.

 

Instruction, Managing a team and Recruiting / Showcasing

Interesting question & does apply to us. My son's been with pitching instructor for around 4 years with no intentions of changing. Current coach has facility; although he's a hitting instructor pitching coaches are under roof. Same situation with prospective coach. Neither have condition we use them & neither have a problem we don't. They don't expect my son to change instructors to play for them. To answer the question; would not give up instructor to change teams.

If you sons current instructor has the skill set to get him to the next level, stay with him  ans since both coaches are fine with whomever you choose for instruction, play for the for the better team.  The current coach probably would take it as a compliment that he progressed a player to a higher level

Went back & read what I wrote & noticed I wasn't clear. Sons pitching coach is in a totally separate facility than either coach. Both coaches have facilities, neither has requested he make a change of instructors. If it came down to it we'd keep PC regardless.

So glad my sons hitting/pitching coaches only give lessons and do not coach teams. Can be a conflict of interest. I saw guy who gave lessons try and form team-they were really bad. He should have cut them but how do u say kid you have been working w for 6 months is not good enough for your team? 

Go to the new team.