Which is better, in terms of getting better as a player I’d assume one on one training yet travel baseball offers experience.
Quick and easy question.
Thanks fellas.
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Foundational baseball skills need to be constantly developed, honed and repeated. Baseball academies and one on one training is a way to get those experienced eyes on you to make sure you are doing things right (not getting hurt) and getting better. All three of my sons went to 10-week winter camps and had personal pitching training when they needed it. As they grew older they came to understand their mechanics better and were able to make adjustments on their own. But every now and then they'd pop in to see their pitching coach to talk mechanics, grips, etc....or throw a bullpen.
Travel baseball also offers development but in the context of competition and exposure. As kids get older it becomes very important for them to showcase in front of scouts or college coaches if they want to play at the next level, but you have to have something to showcase. Some travel teams offer personal coaching to develop skills and travel baseball exposure....kind of a one stop shop. This was not our approach. We found a pitching coach, and stayed with him for many years.
Did this answer your quick and easy question?
Jordon posted:Which is better, in terms of getting better as a player I’d assume one on one training yet travel baseball offers experience.
Which is better, in terms of what? Development, exposure, experience?
In general, a player benefits from both. There are so many things a player needs to know, in game, that needs to happen with game reps to truly develop.
Game is tied with 2 outs, man on Third, and a 6.4 60 runner hits a ground ball to you at Shortstop. Can that experience even be somewhat achieved in one on one training? I doubt it.
A ton of Baseball is mental. You need the game reps to learn how to relax in big moments, learn to reset when you fail, learn to focus under pressure, learn to refocus when an ump rings you up on a pitch off the plate. Etc etc etc
First lesson of HSBBWS — no such thing as quick and easy. Good luck!
Excessive travel play/practices can not only be dangerous for a players health ( esp pitchers) but also greatly limits their time for individual development. I have seen first hand a pitcher who played on all the travel teams available each summer, thinking travel tournaments and showcases were the ticket to being "seen". But it came at the cost of never having any time for his individual development and being overused. He now sits out, second year at a D1 program, injured, and still throwing the same velocity as he was as a Junior in Highschool. What do you think he would say about all that travel ball now, which may cost him the chance to play on the D1 stage or beyond? I told him each summer he needed rest and development more than he needed a tournament trophy. Said the same thing each fall when he played in the fall leagues. Like everything in life there needs to be balance. I would err on the side of more development/rest and less travel ball.
In our neck of the woods and at our high school, I would say that if anything can be ditched, it is HS ball. I would much rather be the consumer in a capitalistic system, as in travel ball, than a consumer in a monopoly. Use the high school season for individual development.
Yeah, unpopular opinion, but that's our observation after an unpleasant season with a HS varsity coach.
catching22 posted:In our neck of the woods and at our high school, I would say that if anything can be ditched, it is HS ball. I would much rather be the consumer in a capitalistic system, as in travel ball, than a consumer in a monopoly. Use the high school season for individual development.
Yeah, unpopular opinion, but that's our observation after an unpleasant season with a HS varsity coach.
My Kid's schedule this week: Monday Personal Training session with former D1 Power 5 strength coach. Tuesday hitting lesson with Travel Team coach (former minor league player & college coach). Wednesday batting practice & defensive work/throwing followed by weight training. Thursday BP thrown by former D1 Pitcher along with batting practice & defensive work/throwing followed by weight training. Friday BP thrown by a former D1 pitcher. Plenty of time for homework. Saturday & Sunday doubleheader games in the Hitter's Spring League (in case of inclement weather games are played indoors at Hitters, otherwise outdoors at Nash Park). Saturday night weight training.
A few people have asked why my Kid chose to play in the Hitter's Spring League instead of playing for his high school. The ability to train like that during the week, along with plenty of time for academic work, was part of the reason.
You go to work to make money. You play baseball because of the fun and competition - being part of a team. The ultimate goal of playing baseball is to win. Play the games. It's a team sport. Have fun.
I ran into a guy this summer at several invitational showcases who did this experiment basically. He took his 2020 son and his nephew and trained them all summer, no travel ball. They attended invitational showcases only (Jr. National, Area Code, Underclass All american, PBR Futures Games, etc.) He said with all the travel, he felt like kids didn't get to really practice and work on skills as they should during the summer. During the week, they focused on lifting, hitting, speed training. It seemed to be working. Both performed well every time I saw them and both committed to Oklahoma State at the end of the summer.
Jordon posted:Which is better, in terms of getting better as a player I’d assume one on one training yet travel baseball offers experience.
Quick and easy question.
Thanks fellas.
You don’t necessarily need one on one instruction. Small group instruction can be just as good. And cost less.
The question is simple. The answer isn’t that simple. It’s impossible to provide an accurate answer without knowing your objective. Is it high school ball? College ball? How old are you? What level are you playing now? How good are you at the current level you play?
baseballhs posted:I ran into a guy this summer at several invitational showcases who did this experiment basically. He took his 2020 son and his nephew and trained them all summer, no travel ball. They attended invitational showcases only (Jr. National, Area Code, Underclass All american, PBR Futures Games, etc.) He said with all the travel, he felt like kids didn't get to really practice and work on skills as they should during the summer. During the week, they focused on lifting, hitting, speed training. It seemed to be working. Both performed well every time I saw them and both committed to Oklahoma State at the end of the summer.
I know someone whose father didn’t leave one dollar left unspent on training. The kid was trained to excel at showcases. He became a top PG prospect. He fooled some of the top college coaches in the country. They wanted him. Without providing my observations I asked Jerry Ford how good the kid was. Jerry raved about him. The kid never started in college. A travel friend of my son told him all his big high school numbers came against The Little Sisters of Mercy. But when this kid walked in a room anyone would think, “There’s a ball player (6’4” 215).” Obviously “when” he hit the ball it flew.
JDFarmer posted:You go to work to make money. You play baseball because of the fun and competition - being part of a team. The ultimate goal of playing baseball is to win. Play the games. It's a team sport. Have fun.
I agree with that, to a degree. If Baseball isn't fun, there is no reason to play in College. Because the amount of time, and yes, work, is significant.
There are all sorts of ways to keep playing Baseball just for fun. I know guys in their 40's who have played in the local men's league for 25+ straight summers following high school, and they have a blast.
However, if you are going to want to play in college, even in D3 or low level JUCO, it is going to take a tremendous amount of work just to get an opportunity to play (as opposed to practicing with the team and sitting the bench). And it'll take a tremendous amount of work just to put yourself in position for a Coach to recruit you....
baseballhs posted:I ran into a guy this summer at several invitational showcases who did this experiment basically. He took his 2020 son and his nephew and trained them all summer, no travel ball. They attended invitational showcases only (Jr. National, Area Code, Underclass All american, PBR Futures Games, etc.) He said with all the travel, he felt like kids didn't get to really practice and work on skills as they should during the summer. During the week, they focused on lifting, hitting, speed training. It seemed to be working. Both performed well every time I saw them and both committed to Oklahoma State at the end of the summer.
But I would wonder if they can really play the game. It is one thing to have the skills but it is a totally different thing to compete. Showcases don't teach you to compete. The difference with what you have stated is that all of those are not really showcases but games. These guys had to be studs to get invited to each of these events. To me a showcase a showcase is a where you just go through the motions of fielding throwing hitting running and as a pitcher throwing a few pitches.
the ones you mentioned are tournaments rather than showcases to me. They are just put together teams rather than brought teams. I think these are great but you have to be the studs to get invited not the average kid trying to become great.
3and2Fastball posted:catching22 posted:In our neck of the woods and at our high school, I would say that if anything can be ditched, it is HS ball. I would much rather be the consumer in a capitalistic system, as in travel ball, than a consumer in a monopoly. Use the high school season for individual development.
Yeah, unpopular opinion, but that's our observation after an unpleasant season with a HS varsity coach.
My Kid's schedule this week: Monday Personal Training session with former D1 Power 5 strength coach. Tuesday hitting lesson with Travel Team coach (former minor league player & college coach). Wednesday batting practice & defensive work/throwing followed by weight training. Thursday BP thrown by former D1 Pitcher along with batting practice & defensive work/throwing followed by weight training. Friday BP thrown by a former D1 pitcher. Plenty of time for homework. Saturday & Sunday doubleheader games in the Hitter's Spring League (in case of inclement weather games are played indoors at Hitters, otherwise outdoors at Nash Park). Saturday night weight training.
A few people have asked why my Kid chose to play in the Hitter's Spring League instead of playing for his high school. The ability to train like that during the week, along with plenty of time for academic work, was part of the reason.
How do you afford this? You are spending a college scholarship on training. I understand not playing high school but that is part of growing up and playing for your school and community.
If I was going to have this mindset, then you should do the same for college and not play college ball and prepare for the MLB draft. My son struggles with high school because it is not the level he is used to during the summer as a hitter or pitcher and definitely is not close to what he will see in the SEC next year but he loves competing for his high school and helping his teammates get better. We only had two players playing travel ball the year before we moved here and this summer every varsity player will play travel. Him being here has made baseball in this small town something to come see and exciting for the future. You can't buy that anywhere. If my son had chose not to play HS, I think he would have been ostracized in the school and community. That is why he chose to play basketball this year is to help his team and have fun. Won all-region award and didn't get hurt which was my big concern. HS should be fun. I'm not bashing you and I understand choice but I wonder if he will regret it in the long run, 20 years from now. I can't believe his friends are not wearing him out over it. But I know things are different in the south than they are up there in the frigid cold. I might do the same thing if I was up there. We don't have options here other than HS ball so it is the thing.
Things are different here. It is snowing today in Wisconsin & Minnesota. The high school season ends up being about 4-5 weeks long here, and the games in early April are often played in temps of the high 30's to low 40's. Nobody is giving him a hard time, and there are more & more kids choosing alternatives around here.
We are definitely not spending college tuition on training. There are all sorts of ways to find great deals when you buy in bulk etc, and the former D1 pitcher is barely charging us to throw to him, he's 25 years old and just happy to make a few extra bucks in between teaching lessons.
We also never spent much money on Baseball until last summer (15U) and even then it was just a few trips to out of state tournaments. Prior to that he always played on teams that stayed local and had barely any cost.
3and2Fastball posted:catching22 posted:In our neck of the woods and at our high school, I would say that if anything can be ditched, it is HS ball. I would much rather be the consumer in a capitalistic system, as in travel ball, than a consumer in a monopoly. Use the high school season for individual development.
Yeah, unpopular opinion, but that's our observation after an unpleasant season with a HS varsity coach.
My Kid's schedule this week: Monday Personal Training session with former D1 Power 5 strength coach. Tuesday hitting lesson with Travel Team coach (former minor league player & college coach). Wednesday batting practice & defensive work/throwing followed by weight training. Thursday BP thrown by former D1 Pitcher along with batting practice & defensive work/throwing followed by weight training. Friday BP thrown by a former D1 pitcher. Plenty of time for homework. Saturday & Sunday doubleheader games in the Hitter's Spring League (in case of inclement weather games are played indoors at Hitters, otherwise outdoors at Nash Park). Saturday night weight training.
A few people have asked why my Kid chose to play in the Hitter's Spring League instead of playing for his high school. The ability to train like that during the week, along with plenty of time for academic work, was part of the reason.
Honestly, this kind of intimidates me. Makes me wonder how my kid got where he is. Isn't your son a sophomore? I just feel like this is turning baseball in a job long before it has to be.
What really makes me sad about it is a few days ago I was talking to a friend with a 9-year-old grandson who told her he wants to play college baseball and wants his parents to set him up with regular hitting, pitching, throwing, etc., lessons.
I'm all in favor of giving a kid resources if they really love the game, but this heavy structure just seems like a huge weight that we put on them at a very early age.
catching22 posted:In our neck of the woods and at our high school, I would say that if anything can be ditched, it is HS ball. I would much rather be the consumer in a capitalistic system, as in travel ball, than a consumer in a monopoly. Use the high school season for individual development.
Yeah, unpopular opinion, but that's our observation after an unpleasant season with a HS varsity coach.
My son had an unpleasant season with a Little League coach. He kept playing Little League. He had an unpleasant boss at his first job in a fast food restaurant. He kept working there until he found something better.
Someday, I hope when he has an unpleasant coach in college, or an unpleasant boss at a full-time job, he remembers learning to learn from those unpleasant people where he could (sometimes on how NOT to do things) and to work with them. I especially hope he remembers it when he is a coach or a teacher and someone finds HIM unpleasant.
3and2Fastball posted:Things are different here. It is snowing today in Wisconsin & Minnesota. The high school season ends up being about 4-5 weeks long here, and the games in early April are often played in temps of the high 30's to low 40's. Nobody is giving him a hard time, and there are more & more kids choosing alternatives around here.
We are definitely not spending college tuition on training. There are all sorts of ways to find great deals when you buy in bulk etc, and the former D1 pitcher is barely charging us to throw to him, he's 25 years old and just happy to make a few extra bucks in between teaching lessons.
We also never spent much money on Baseball until last summer (15U) and even then it was just a few trips to out of state tournaments. Prior to that he always played on teams that stayed local and had barely any cost.
I responded earlier that your schedule intimidated me. This sounds much more like our experience, but I am going to say — summer baseball in high school is a good thing.
IOWAMOM - I certainly understand your point of view. Yep, he's a Sophomore. It is the schedule he set up for himself. He's a pretty driven kid, loves the game. I actually have to convince him to take time off from Baseball from time to time. 2019 will be the first year in several that we let him play Fall Ball, for instance, we've made him take the Fall off in recent years
His idea of a good time is getting 75 ground balls smashed at him. He's just wired that way. And he really loves lifting weights (which is good because he's a corners guy and developing power is likely his only chance to keep playing). Having him train with the strength coach once a week was the way for us to make sure he's learning the proper way to do each lift so he doesn't get hurt.
There are a ton of kids (including on the local high school teams) in our area doing drugs, drinking, playing video games for hours a day. Being this driven in Baseball helps a lot in keeping our kid away from that stuff and getting good grades.
From what I've seen in talking to a lot of parents of position players who have recently gone on to play college ball and especially those who are in high school with commitments right now, this schedule that my son has is actually pretty typical and in some ways is less than those other kids are doing.
I will never question the drive thing. My son is the same way and has been blessed to have the resources to do it without the high cost also. He was in the cage for 2 hours yesterday hitting off the tee by himself. I think that is how it has to be. I know if we had to choose between high school and travel in the summer it would be a no brainer, travel all day every day. I also have to remind myself that we are blessed in the south to be able to start playing early and often. This year it has been rain but we have still played a lot. We have this week and next left in regular season then playoffs start. The problem for us is the players who do not make playoffs are done after next week and travel ball really does not start until Memorial Day. A month and a half off after playing HS is tough. If you are not playing HS, you have to be doing all the things you would do in HS ball somewhere so I understand the complex schedule.
There is much more to baseball than being the best kid on the field, throwing the fastest, hitting the furthest, and such. There is definitely a need for individualized training but part of being a kid (less than 18 yrs) is being a kid. Those long car rides to games or tournaments, the disappointment of losing a hard contested game yet minutes later laughing and goofing with your teammates, the unfamiliar hotels and cities, exploring the sights, etc. Playing baseball as a kid should be about having fun, to love the game because it is a game and not a job. I know of many kids who were "groomed" with intentions to make it to college, pros, the show. A few did succeed, few still trying, many did not. The sole reason wasn't because they didn't take the correct lessons as a kid. Many lost the drive, the interest, the love for the game. Many of my fond memories of baseball involve parks/rec teams, travel teams, high school and college teams and the parents. There are so many variables which must match to permit a player to move to the next level. Some are uncontrollable, some of it even luck. Your original OP asked which was better, one on one, or travel. As you've read other posts, both has values, together (in moderation) may be additive The one I believe is "better" is the one where is you and son have fun, enjoy the ride, appreciate these interactions between child and parent, and let son be a kid in the limited remaining years. BTW, not inferring this applies directly to you, but rather as my 2 cents to others who I've probably bored. Best of luck.
Playing travel ball.
That said, when we talk about my son's path, we put a lot of emphasis on his hitting lessons. His first travel ball team went to a local hitting coach for lessons, and my son stuck with it, off and on, but pretty regularly, for several years. We had no idea at the time, and just got lucky. It was the right coach, and he did a great job communicating with my son. Unfortunately for us Georgia folks, the coach is now in Michigan, and we follow him on Instagram 
After a few years off hitting lessons, my son just started back with another great hitting coach.
Iowamom23 posted:catching22 posted:In our neck of the woods and at our high school, I would say that if anything can be ditched, it is HS ball. I would much rather be the consumer in a capitalistic system, as in travel ball, than a consumer in a monopoly. Use the high school season for individual development.
Yeah, unpopular opinion, but that's our observation after an unpleasant season with a HS varsity coach.
My son had an unpleasant season with a Little League coach. He kept playing Little League. He had an unpleasant boss at his first job in a fast food restaurant. He kept working there until he found something better.
Someday, I hope when he has an unpleasant coach in college, or an unpleasant boss at a full-time job, he remembers learning to learn from those unpleasant people where he could (sometimes on how NOT to do things) and to work with them. I especially hope he remembers it when he is a coach or a teacher and someone finds HIM unpleasant.
But in Little League, you switch coaches every season. In a fast food job, you work until you find something better. It would be insane to insist that someone play four years for this guy when there is a better alternative readily available. I'm glad your son has learned to persevere; another might learn that he has to submit to bullying behavior. I'd rather my son learn that his parents will back him up and not blindly tell him to play for this guy for three more years. That kind of attitude is actually what got USA Gymnastics into trouble.
catching22 posted:Iowamom23 posted:catching22 posted:In our neck of the woods and at our high school, I would say that if anything can be ditched, it is HS ball. I would much rather be the consumer in a capitalistic system, as in travel ball, than a consumer in a monopoly. Use the high school season for individual development.
Yeah, unpopular opinion, but that's our observation after an unpleasant season with a HS varsity coach.
My son had an unpleasant season with a Little League coach. He kept playing Little League. He had an unpleasant boss at his first job in a fast food restaurant. He kept working there until he found something better.
Someday, I hope when he has an unpleasant coach in college, or an unpleasant boss at a full-time job, he remembers learning to learn from those unpleasant people where he could (sometimes on how NOT to do things) and to work with them. I especially hope he remembers it when he is a coach or a teacher and someone finds HIM unpleasant.
But in Little League, you switch coaches every season. In a fast food job, you work until you find something better. It would be insane to insist that someone play four years for this guy when there is a better alternative readily available. I'm glad your son has learned to persevere; another might learn that he has to submit to bullying behavior. I'd rather my son learn that his parents will back him up and not blindly tell him to play for this guy for three more years. That kind of attitude is actually what got USA Gymnastics into trouble.
The difference between unpleasant and criminally abusive is so huge that I don't think you can even compare the two. Or at least you shouldn't.
I will concede that four years is a long time, but in our neck of the woods and at our high school, HS baseball is not optional for the good players.