Need some advice...

Without a doubt, I would allow him to play for the older team. Just being surrounded by older ballplayers, he will mature faster and depending on the atmosphere, will develop faster as a ballplayer. If it a very positive atmosphere, playing with older guys would be the way to go even if the playing time is slightly less than playing for the younger team. Better competition is more important that more innings versus lower competition (unless he is developing a new pitch or something to that effect).

If you think he will have a fair shot to earn playing time, go with the more competitive team. This has worked very well for my son.

I would go with the older team. I was in the same boat last year with my son. He was 16 and we chose to put him on a 18 yr old team for the better competition. I believe he worked harder just to prove to himself he could do it and compete at the higher level. The thing I worried about the most was the social aspect of it, but the older boys treated him very well so it was a wonderful experience. If you think your son can socially fit in with the older boys then you should go for it--your son will drive himself to compete at improve at the higher level and probably will get better and possibly correct coaching. As the saying goes--You do get out of it what you put into it. STAY POSITIVE..

Must be some confusion here.

He is not playing on an older team. It's a better team, with better competition. What I meant was his "old" team (like in last years team), isn't as good as this "new" team that he could play for next summer.

But I understand what all of you are saying though.

Thanks.

I agree with the above, with the same caveat that it makes sense only if he will get playing time.

My freshman son recently joined a fall team in a wood bat league where he is the youngest player. Almost all of the other players in the league, I believe, are juniors and seniors. He has to step up and learn to catch and hit the better pitching, and doing so has been very positive for him.

I'm a pretty strong beleiver in the notion that if you want to get better you must play against better competition.

That does, however, omply that you will be playing!

What is the coaches history in playing his roster? If not good, I'd rather play.

Why all is well and good to step up and play on a better team. He surely can better himself by playing more than sitting.

Would you rather sit on the bench for Varsity or play on JV knowing you will be much better next year for the varisty team.

This is no different than all the other posts about sitting on a D-I team or play JC/DIII and getting better.

RobV,
I think all give good advice. My son had the opportunity to play up when he was 11 years old with older players (13 years old). I understand this is somewhat different than your son’s situation but the challenges (and the opportunities) are the same. I’ll tell you what I told my son at that time ... “If you think you can hang with them then you need to go for it.”
Fungo
Challenges bring out the best in all of us!

When you put in all the behind the scenes stuff on varsity, just to sit, why wouldn't you want to play? Showcase your skills and you might get moved up. You can't have a whale of fun when you're sitting on the pine.

Play him up!! If the coach gives you ANY assurances whatsoever that he will at least give him an opportunity, he will benefit for all the reasons everyone else gave. Our related experience:

A coach from a team in a local college level [23 and under] wood bat league invited Junior to pitch for his team this past summer, after seeing him at a local showcase over the winter. We cleared it with him, that Jr would still be on the Legion roster, in case he wasn't getting enough innings, or wanted some ABs, since that part didn't look likely with the college team [he was still 17 YO, only HS kid on his team, only 3 in the league]. Decided to basically forego Legion, for many reasons [weak league, even weaker team, many of his friends not playing, etc]. Result: ended up pitching regularly in the college league, was the team's most consistent pitcher [not best, mind you, (they had a kid that has been drafted 3 times) just consistent: 6-8IP, minimal ER each outing]. He pitched a CG 9inning shutout, pitched 6 innings of 2R relief for the win in the first playoff game, and started the 3rd playoff game 3 days later, losing 1-0 [all this in the span of 8 days, with 4-5 pitchers with college experince on the team]. Several college coaches that were in attendance to watch some of their own players, saw him pitch and are now in regular correspondence with Jr about going to their school. The team that won our league picked him up for the NABF World Series in Toledo, and he pitched equally effective out there - a great experience for him, all the way around. This would NOT have happened if he had played Legion ball.

Due to some injuries, poor attendance by some guys, etc, he ended up playing a LOT of 3B, too. Got a decent number of ABs, which was an added bonus.

Our thought process was that he would be challenged, and he would learn from guys that are playing in college.

If your guy is good enough to make the team, let him go -- the challenge will benefit him, IMHO.

RobV: Confidence, in my opinion, is any ballplayer's most valuable asset. If your guy makes a move to another, more competitive, team is his confidence likely to go up? If yes then make the move. If its likely that it will go down then stay put and make the most of it. It will be difficult to know in advance which way his confidence will go but remember this asset is valuable so its important to make the right choice. I wish you much success!