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playing time

M MIFMomMember
My son is on a 18u select team with 24 kids. His coach has the top eight play their position nearly every game and doesn't rotate other players into the games at all. There are players who sit on the bench game after game with no opportunity to get in, even in non-league, non-tournament games when it doesn't matter. It is heartbreaking for us as parents, feeling helpless at changing anything. My son is devastated at not being able to get in many games and play. When he does get in, the expectation to perform is tough to live up to. Even if he has a good game, it doesn't matter, the starting team has been set. Our number four hitter went 0 for 30 and still played every game in the four hole, and was allowed to work it out. The list of grievances go on, but with this being my son's junior year there's no where to go and nothing that can be done for now. My son is an excellent fielder and is a good contact hitter. He goes in and tries to make the most of his opportunities, but its hard to stay confident. His other coaches have always liked him as a player. He tried talking to the coach and the response was this is how he runs the team. I am not expecting him to start, just have the opportunity to play a bit more. This keeps me up at night and it's hard to even go to games and be supportive and want to pay for away tournaments. How is this a developmental program? Is this typical? Any advice?
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M MIFMomMember
There were two teams that collapsed into one late in the spring. It seemed too late to find another team for the summer season and honestly, I had no idea it would come to this for my son. He's a varsity player that has started on every team he's been on. Some of the players are pitcher only. We thought we knew what we were getting into as it's a small community without many options.There's only a month left so I guess my need to write is to get ideas on how to help my son be ready for upcoming showcases when he doesn't play daily and find out if this is the norm at this level. We will definitely research our options for the future. Thanks!
G gamefan100+ posts
Your suppose to have fun playing baseball !
Your miserable, your son is miserable, your wasting money and your son will not become a better player sitting the bench.
Find a team where he will play and have fun.

All of the above is true. Don't waste the rest of this summer and fall saying, "oh, well - this is the way it is." Take the financial hit if you can and get your son to every college camp he may be interested in. You can NOT count on the colleges finding him at tournaments when he is rarely playing. Even if it means you're missing a local tournament, go to the college camp (of a school he is truly considering) instead.
WklinkWklink500+ posts
Do the kids scrimmage against each other? If I had 24 kids on a team I would be playing more against each other than anything else.

I agree with the above posters. It may be too late at this point getting onto another team but I would certainly start looking around for another team for your son to play on. Everyone has to ride the pine from time to time but 24 kids on a summer league team is flat out ridiculous.
P 2013 Parent100+ posts
This post and the corresponding answers have been helpful to me.

2013 is in a similar situation with a 16U prospect travel team but with roster of 14. Four players never leave the field and are the top of the lineup (coincidentally, the three coaches' kids and one of their best friends). Consequently, the remaining 10 kids are rotated in and out of the remaining five spots with no apparent rhyme or reason. None of the players or families had any idea it would be this way, and one parent who inquired was told that his son should have expected to only be a role player. He sees about four innings a weekend.

To be fair, of those four full-time players, two are probably among the best on the team. The other two, not so much.

Our travel season is coming to a close but we are evaluating options for next summer, which by all accounts is the most critical season. We don't have other viable local options for a travel team, so there is talk of forming a team and getting a solid HS coach to help out and hit the college tournaments in our region, PG showcase events, etc.
R RedSoxFan21500+ posts
I'm sure I will raise the ire of many a poster but I don't get the logic of any travel team other than one in your rising senior summer, and fall. Legion offers much better, and cheaper, opportunities for improving your play and enjoying it at the same time. College coaches aren't spending much time looking at rising juniors unless they are absolute studs with a HS reputation that precedes them.

Unless you are a rising senior, use the money you save to attend some college camps, and a showcase that offers an evaluation.

And when you are ready to plunk down your money, be sure you know what you are getting into. If its pay to play, you better pick a team where when you pay, you play!
BackstopDad32BackstopDad325,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by RedSoxFan21:
I'm sure I will raise the ire of many a poster but I don't get the logic of any travel team other than one in your rising senior summer, and fall. Legion offers much better, and cheaper, opportunities for improving your play and enjoying it at the same time. College coaches aren't spending much time looking at rising juniors unless they are absolute studs with a HS reputation that precedes them.

Unless you are a rising senior, use the money you save to attend some college camps, and a showcase that offers an evaluation.

And when you are ready to plunk down your money, be sure you know what you are getting into. If its pay to play, you better pick a team where when you pay, you play!


I agree in theory, however in our location you don't have that option quite honestly. Kids play spring baseball for their High School teams and then branch off and play some form of travel ball.

No Rec leagues, Legion, etc that I am aware of say after 9th grade or so.

Much different than when I grew up in the Midwest where everyone still plays Legion baseball with their high school teammates all summer long.
justbaseballjustbaseball10,000+ posts
quote:
Very little viable legion ball out on the West Coast anymore. Times have changed.


More or less true, however, in each little regional pocket of Northern California there is something...Legion, Babe Ruth, Connie Mack, Palomino, etc...

MIFMom - First, welcome to the hsbaseballweb! Wink

You've received a lot of good advice in the posts above. While I won't repeat much of it, I echo nearly all of them in saying you have to find a place for your son to play in order for him to get better. I hope you can find a venue (might have to commute a little to find it) where your son can get on the field on a regular basis.

Good luck and let us know!
P 2013 Parent100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by BackstopDad32:
quote:
Originally posted by RedSoxFan21:
I'm sure I will raise the ire of many a poster but I don't get the logic of any travel team other than one in your rising senior summer, and fall. Legion offers much better, and cheaper, opportunities for improving your play and enjoying it at the same time. College coaches aren't spending much time looking at rising juniors unless they are absolute studs with a HS reputation that precedes them.

Unless you are a rising senior, use the money you save to attend some college camps, and a showcase that offers an evaluation.

And when you are ready to plunk down your money, be sure you know what you are getting into. If its pay to play, you better pick a team where when you pay, you play!


I agree in theory, however in our location you don't have that option quite honestly. Kids play spring baseball for their High School teams and then branch off and play some form of travel ball.

No Rec leagues, Legion, etc that I am aware of say after 9th grade or so.

Much different than when I grew up in the Midwest where everyone still plays Legion baseball with their high school teammates all summer long.


There is no legion ball in our area, either. We hear wonderful things from other states - it sounds like a great opportunity. Our kids play for their HS summer ball team (less competitive but the conference coaches get to watch and see what they have and what's out there) and the serious ones play travel ball as well (usually about 1/4 - 1/3 of the varsity starters).
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
Originally posted by RedSoxFan21:
I'm sure I will raise the ire of many a poster but I don't get the logic of any travel team other than one in your rising senior summer, and fall. Legion offers much better, and cheaper, opportunities for improving your play and enjoying it at the same time. College coaches aren't spending much time looking at rising juniors unless they are absolute studs with a HS reputation that precedes them.

Unless you are a rising senior, use the money you save to attend some college camps, and a showcase that offers an evaluation.

And when you are ready to plunk down your money, be sure you know what you are getting into. If its pay to play, you better pick a team where when you pay, you play!
Legion is still a viable option in New England. In many other parts of the country it isn't and hasn't been for a long time. Travel ball was late in coming to New England. Where we live Legion ball is mediocre. Most pitchers don't throw 80. Most of the the 80+ pithers have been playing travel ball since 13U.
C cabbagedadHSBaseballWeb member since 2011
quote:
Originally posted by 2013 Parent:
Our travel season is coming to a close but we are evaluating options for next summer, which by all accounts is the most critical season. We don't have other viable local options for a travel team, so there is talk of forming a team and getting a solid HS coach to help out and hit the college tournaments in our region, PG showcase events, etc.


If you go this route, I suggest you do alot of research early (like now) and try to find someone who has run a team of this age group during this time of year recently. There are many challenges and pitfalls - not as easy as it may seem. Many of the high profile tourneys have a waiting list or only invite established teams. Scheduling, HS summer ball conflict, other sports/vacations conflict, keeping numbers reasonable but having enough depth, insurance, sanctioning, travel/hotel logistics, etc. etc.
You don't want to be in a trial-and-error mode for this important year.

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