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Hi all,

New to the forum, but not new to baseball. My son is a 13U AA LH pitcher, so I guess I'm in my 8th season as a baseball mom.

We are in our second yr with a team, and it looks like the head coach is quitting after the summer season. My husband is the assistant coach/catching coach. He wants to take over the team, cut half the kids and play next yr as a 14U AA team.

Meanwhile, my son is being recruited by a AAA coach that we know. (Is it okay to brag here?) He also just went to a HS camp and got a lot of interest from the HS coaches. He's interested in playing in college & I think he could if he continues to put in the work. My husband likes the AAA coach, but he doesn't want to go AAA. My husband worries that our son will get burned out in AAA.

I have a hard time with this, since I'm pretty type-A. In my mind, why wouldn't you do anything at the highest level you could succeed at?

Any thoughts? Would you stay AA or go AAA if you could? Does a AA player have much chance at a large high school or college level?

Thanks,
AB
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quote:
Originally posted by ABmom:

since I'm pretty type-A. AB


Well, it's a good thing you're a pretty type-A and not a ugly one. lol. I HAD to take it ladies.

In regards to your concerns about AA and AAA at your sons age, burn out can occur at any level of youth ball if there is just too doggone much of it. It's not so much the "level" of play that makes them want to put down the glove. It's the "number" of games, practices, travel, et al. that does it.

Also at this age, the "level" at which he plays will have no impact whatsover at how he will do once he reaches high school. Kids mature completely different and at different rates. Some will find that the "fumes" disease is something they cannot defy, i.e. car fumes and perfume once they hit driving age. So as you can see, what level he plays at now is really not so important.

I also think that when your son begins to see other kids at equal or better talent than him he will then begin wanting to play at that same level.

Hope this helps.

YGD

(writing with all this pink around makes me nervous. lol)
quote:
Originally posted by YoungGunDad:
Also at this age, the "level" at which he plays will have no impact whatsover at how he will do once he reaches high school. Kids mature completely different and at different rates. Some will find that the "fumes" disease is something they cannot defy, i.e. car fumes and perfume once they hit driving age. So as you can see, what level he plays at now is really not so important.




I never heard of "fumes" disease! Wink
I agree with YGD. My son is almost 17, and I'm seeing some of the hot stuff 13/14s fade into the background or lose interest. Fumes disease in some cases, or kids who were led to believe that they had it all figured it 14 don't like being on the bench at 16. Don't know to fight for it.

It is one heck of a rollercoaster -don't sweat it too much. I worried about it too much when my son was the same age as yours.
Thanks for the comments. I appreciate it. It's funny. . .I tell my son the same thing about academics. The schools push "advanced math" etc. I told him it doesn't matter. You want to be an engineer, you can be an engineer (or whatever you want) whether you took algebra in 6th grade or not : ) (From a mom who is an engineer, and did take all the advanced classes.)

I'm still not so sure we wouldn't be better off on the AAA just b/c our team's talent is thin & I'm not so sure they'll be able to recruit well. . .

As for fumes disease...he already suffers. Just upgraded his dirt bike to a YZ125 & looking forward to the learners permit in September. On the other kind of fume, he was burned by a couple snotty 7th grade girls last year, so for now he wants to stay away. Unfortunately puberty is actually starting to kick in so his mind may not be able to overpower the hormones next year. (Help poor mom survive).

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