Playing HS Ball & Club/Travel Ball At Same Time

Would not let my pitching son to do this, but sure it's ok w many parents.

How many have you seen a kid play for more than one summer team At same time?

I know of a 15u player who rotates around to three.  One is his primary, and he " fills in" on two others. One 3 day when'd he played 6 games, including some pitching(not his primary position). After that weekend he played a few during week in local league. He's also had arm issues-which didn't seem to slow him down.

so, I guess there r all types out there.

surprised 26 states allow it.  Any stories from those that do? ... either good or bad?

Where the heck would you find the time?  When my son played HS baseball (graduated in '12) they had practice or games 6 days a week and by league rule (VHSL) could not play/practice on Sunday.

 

Consider on average school day is 6-6.5 hours, then 2-3 hours practice plus any homework once they get home.  If it's an away game it was 1/2 hour to an hour travel time, 3 hours game and travel time home.  Game time for varsity was either 6 or 7 pm depending on the host school.  Home games were usually at 7 pm.  If it was a home game, the players had to field maintenance to do before coach released them for the night.

 

Plus he had a part time job he worked on the weekends.

 

Yeah, one could do a club or travel team on the weekend, but IMHO that would be pushing it just a bit too much.

I knew a dad that would get done playing on a travel team, and load his kid up and take him to pitch and catch meaningless games several times a week. After a few years he left our program, and from what I hear he may never throw a ball again after 2 arm surgeries his Freshman year.

Actually I don't think this is such a bad idea. Obviously there is risk of overuse, so parents and coaches will need to stay on top of that, and any player who is getting innings on his HS team  shouldn't need or want to play for a club or travel team as well.  But what about the kid who loves baseball when he gets to HS but spends his Freshman year riding the JV pine?  A good percentage of the time that experience is going to kill his passion for the game and he won't even show up for Sophomore year.  Maybe if he can keep playing for his old AA travel team on weekends he'll keep having fun and want to keep playing.  If so that would be a good outcome to this proposed rule change.

Looking at it from a different reason.  What would be the point of having a travel season the same time as college ball is being played.  Isnt that why baseball players get on good summer teams?  Same with basketball playing AAU in the summer?  Same with football having all kinds of 7 on 7 stuff in the summer. 

 

Play during the summer so coaches that cant see you during their college season can come out and watch you when they arent playing.

 

IMO you get better by practicing not playing more games. If kid is riding pine as Freshman he should use HS practices to get better, then move on to good Summer team w coaches  that dev players. If he loves baseball and needs more help improving then go find Fall leagues which r usu more instructional.

Things are always changing.  And your answer may depend on your situation, school or org/travel team.

 

Does HS or Organizations develop players better? 

 

Consider the academies in the Dominican, Venezuela, (and now the Korean Red Sox affiliation).  Or think about the basketball/football private academies in the US that have sprung up in the last decade?  Just looking for opinions.

I was thinking of the vast majority of players who will never play competitive ball past high school.  The rules, schools, and leagues need to serve them, not just the few kids who might play pro or college.   Anything that keeps more kids playing deeper into their HS years is a good thing, IMHO.  Once teens stop playing sports they find other outlets for their energies. And I'm not talking about chores and homework.

Did some research.  Virginia is one state that does allow participation in an independent team.  From the VHSL handbook:

which is independent of the school's control during the sports season for the relevant sport

 

So, yes, in Virginia you can play on an independent travel/club team, but its activities cannot interfere with or conflict with the school team.

Yes, JCG, but wouldn't those kids be more inclined to play rec ball (i.e.- Babe Ruth, Legion) than travel/club ball?  I don't think there would be much rec baseball during HS baseball season. 

 

Cabbagedad, exactly -- if you can find those programs. Where we live there used to be a vibrant LL Seniors league -- 8-10 teams that played after the HS season.  Lately that number went down to zero. This  year it'll be one.   But travel orgs do have 14U and sometimes 16U tournaments during the HS season, and I can see my hypothetical JV benchwarmer getting some playing time on the weekend that way if it was allowed. I would think HS coaches would support it.  A JV team playing 2 games a week can only get so many innings for so many guys, so if a school doesn't have a Frosh team, this would be a way to develop some arms for next year or an emergency this year.

 

May have problems IMO w pitching. If HS throws kid on a Wed/Thurs and wants him again for following Mon game they would not want him to pitch for another team on weekend. As a HS coach I would want player to be ready when I need him esp during tourn time and couldn't care less about his travel team. You would have stupid parents that would allow son to over pitch esp if they think he is being watched. 

Loyalty issues can come into play. Which team comes first-HS or possibly a more competitive one that plays more in front of college coaches. 

Without having read the thread at all, I must say this strikes me as a colossally dumb idea. I cannot imagine any benefit at all and a lot of harm.

Well I for one am glad my state doesn't allow it. If my son got to choose between his middle school team and his travel team there is no way he would play for his school. His travel coaches are all ex pros and his middle school coach is an english teacher who first touched a baseball when he first picked up his equipment from the school. I want him playing for the school. There's more to it than just the coach in my opinion. It would defiantly be a long conversation if there was another option.

There's no way in the world I would support this - heck no.  It's the spring and that means it's time for HS baseball.  Not HS baseball and whatever else you can get on.  That is 3 maybe four months out of the year - that's it.  I'm not asking for more.  You won't find me demanding my guys play on my summer team.  I'll offer one because some will play on it but I want you to play on the best team you can get playing time in the summer and fall.  The summer and fall gives you about 5 to 6 months to do whatever other team you want.  

 

Does overuse or just being plain tired not figure into the equation?  Yeah I know anybody can get hurt crossing the road but think of it like this.  I cross the road once a day the chances of getting hurt are very minimal. But each time I cross that road the chance of getting hurt go up with each time I cross that road.  So the more you do the more likely you are to get hurt.

 

When do they get a chance to be a kid or do homework?  Like someone said above there isn't enough time in the day or week to do all this baseball, get good grades and hang with his friends.  

I just don't get the whole concept of playing travel / showcase / whatever during the spring.  Just don't get it.

I would never let Bum, Jr. do this.

 

Do I think it should be allowed?  Yes, why not?  I'm not for any laws, rules, regulations, or executive orders for that matter that interfere with the parent-child relationship.

 

I think everyone has the right to be dumb.

I'm with you, Bum.  I don't like the idea of both but trying to regulate/legislate usually complicates the matter further.  Live your life, make your decisions, and deal with the consequences.

 

BaseballByTheYard.com

Before we go and criticize the ruling, I think we need to ask why it was even put on the table?  I have an idea about that.  From what I understand kids in CA are opting NOT to play HS ball.  Instead they are engaging in showcase and developmental organizations.  So this is an attempt to get those kids back on the HS field.  It all makes sense.  I'm sitting here in NC and wishing we could do the same.  We're not allowed to choose which HS coach we'd like to play under.  And, even if we could, the HS coaches, for the most part, have nothing to add to the level of play and skill these kids are experiencing in showcase ball.  There are no requirements to become the baseball coach.  Maybe the guy played ball in HS?  Maybe he has time to fill in his schedule.  With all of the outside training athletes are able to acquire right now, the kids are schooling the HS coaches.  Kids aren't getting better on the HS baseball fields here.  Instead,  parents are supplying highly skilled players that the coach gets to move around like chess pieces. Would we opt to play only in a developmental  organization with good coaching, instead of spending time otherwise.  Yes.

 

Want these kids to play more HS ball?  Hire real coaches.

** note: Im not saying all HS coaches in NC are this way....but .....