Playing with an older team

Last year we took an entire previously high ranked team up an age group to 16U. They did quite well. They didn't win any tournaments. But they often made it to the semifinals. It helped my son along with playing 18U fall ball. Once a kid has figured out how to play on a 60/90 field he should play up to the level of his ability to compete.

Our lefty plays up 1 year and at some times of the year 2 years up. The only problem we have been warned about is be sure to have a back up plan for when the guys on the team graduate and lefty has a year or two left. Our lefty loves the competition and the more serious edge of the older players, he has learned a ton from them. Older players do bring some situations that some younger players may not be ready for however.

BOFJr played on a 16U summer team his pre-HS year as a 14U. Once I got over the "hairy men" driving themselves to the game it was OK. I was more intimidated then he was and he did fine. He pitched and played 1st/3rd. The experience really prepared him for HS ball. As an added bonus like Lefty34 boy he learned all kinds of new words...

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a 16U super elite select team

Wow! Any more adjectives that this team uses? What ever happened to having a "good" team? We once played a team in our Connie Mack league that had "ELITE" plastered across the chest of their uniforms. They were one of the worst Connie Mack teams we faced and only lasted one or two seasons before folding. Dad, I wouldn't get too caught up in how they describe themselves; but would look at the quality of coaching, the type of players and the level of competition they play. That is what matters, not what they call themselves.

If you're worried about your son 'playing up,' I wouldn't waste two minutes worrying about it if the coach thinks he can do it. I am a big proponent of kids playing up, and do it all the time with some of the younger players on my teams. Here's a quick story about having your kid 'play up.' Imagine taking a 14 year old, putting him with my Connie Mack players and taking him to play against a jr. college summer team. I did that a few years ago when California still allowed jr. colleges to field summer teams. In fact, I not only took that 14 year old, I also took a 13 year old to play in that double header. The 13 year old got a couple hits and played well in the outfield, while the 14 year old got 3 hits and threw a couple runners out on steal attempts (Yes, he was catching. In fact, he was catching a HS senior who threw gas). Those two players survived just fine, in fact they are both seniors now and the former 13 year old is going to be playing for Cal next year, while the former 14 year old will be playing for Oregon State....if he doesn't sign right out of high school.

I've already told several players from our 14u team that they'll get opportunities with our 16u team this summer if they work hard during the spring. What I haven't told one of them yet, is that he'll also get opportunities with our 18s team too. He's another player just like the catcher I described above, and will do fine despite his young age.

Your son will likely handle it just fine.

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Older players do bring some situations that some younger players may not be ready for however.

Yes, that is something to consider with some kids.

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As an added bonus like Lefty34 boy he learned all kinds of new words...

Yes, that'll happen too! Players driving themselves to games, having GFs, other things that older teens do that younger ones haven't been exposed to yet, are a consideration that both the parent and coaches should keep an eye on. I would not, under most circumstances, let your younger son ride with a 16 or 17 year old who offers to give him a ride.

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a 16U super elite select team

super elite all galaxy select team

Playing up story: Last summer my son (post high school freshman year) was asked to play in an 18/19U travel tournament consolation game. Almost all the players were heading off to college ball. My son was asked if he wanted to play infield or outfield. Without thinking he responded infield.

The first hitter smashed a rocket that exploded at his feet. He picked the ball and threw the hitter out. I'm sitting in the stands near third. He turns towards me, covers his mouth with his glove and mouths, "Holy &%$#!" It happened again in the third inning. As he's jogging back to his position after throwing the ball around he had a nervous laugh.

After the game I told him I noticed the nervous laugh. I asked him if he was scared. He said he laughed as it crossed his mind wondering who makes the world's strongest cup.

playing up story volume 2 short version-

2 summers ago left had just turned 14. Neighbor coached 18u ball. They were short 2 players so neighbor's younger son and lefty would play. They did play and the older boys were very supportive and protective of their rookies. The situations stemmed from the T & A a lot of T & A (I don't mean toast and applesauce) literally hanging out in the dugout. The summer of education! lol

I wouldn't worry at all about playing up 1 year - the age difference could be as little as 1 day or as much as two years depending upon where birthdays fall.

That difference is smaller than playing HS where you could have kids that are 13U playing with 19U (assuming one kid skipped a grade and another was held back).

I would be a little more concerned about playing up 3 or 4 years - and simply want to do a little more investigation and thinking about the non playing aspects of the team. Will they be going on road trips - and, if so, what will be the hotel arrangements. Will you be around for those away events or will your son be traveling by himself.

I agree with the comment about no riding in cars with 16 or 17 year olds. To start with, in CA, and increasingly in other states, new drivers cannot legally give rides to anyone under 25 for the first year they have their license. I happen to think that is a very good idea - especially given that we had a local tragedy two summers ago where a driver, in violation of that law, drove his pickup off a 300 foot cliff, killing himself and on passenger and seriously injuring the other two passengers.

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That difference is smaller than playing HS where you could have kids that are 13U playing with 19U

True. At 13u we played 14u tournaments. We actually won one and the 'good game' line became the '@$^* you' line...

In HS my son plays at a small HS so there is only one team. This year we have five Srs, three Jr's, five sophs and five Fr. There are sometimes four distinct groups as each class will tend to group together while getting ready to play or packing up to leave...Just looking at body development it is obvious which class is which...

It was strange last year to have my fr son mixed in with a bunch of Srs and Jrs....

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does this sound like a good opportunity for T-bone?

Yes, absolutely, if he is ready, and if he is going to get some playing time. Lots of folks here have read our "playing up" story, but I like to tell it so here is again.

2B plays at a small school, and was a varsity starter (DH) as a 13-year-old, 140 pound 5'5" 8th grader who looked so young that his nickname, "Juice Box" came from the fact that he looked like he should have been carrying around a juice box. He had an arm injury (growth plate) so wasn't going to play any defense on JV, but he has a nice contact swing, so the coach brought him up. It was really, really hard. His friends were on JV, all their parents were mad at us because he was the "favorite," he was playing with and hitting against juniors and seniors, it was mentally grueling. And he did just fine. The next year, as a freshman, he led the team in innings played, and was 4th in hitting with a .338 average. The battles as an 8th grader helped him develop mental toughness.

Last summer, at 14, he was the starting 2B on a 16U team that went to East Cobb, Jupiter, Ft. Myers, all the big tournaments. He didn't turn 15 until after the last tournament. He was not the star, but was the steady guy in the middle that always made the routine play, occasionally flashed some leather, and got a timely hit every now and then. It was a fun, fantastic summer, and it brought him a little attention from a couple of D1s. And we get to do it all over again this coming summer. He'll have time with both the 16U and 17U teams. We can't wait.

The key is that he always worked his way into the starting lineup. If he had not, it wouldn't have been nearly as much fun or as valuable in my mind - players need their reps, so they need to be at the level where they can play.

Now, as a 15-year-old 5-10 150 pound sophomore in his third varsity HS season, he is hitting a cool .437 after 6 games. The team is 5-1, 3-0 in the district. They still call him "Juice Box." He is loving it. Playing up has worked for us. When we rejoin the 16U team, I'll still be the only mom driving him to practice (he won't turn 16 until July) but that's OK because I like to watch.

Very good! Thanks again, it sounds as if he is ready to reach that next level. As I indicated in another post, T-bone made the high school team as an 8th grader. And the coaches were complimenting him again on some outstanding play he made in a situation drill today against players 3 years older than he was. Thanks again to everyone for your input.

Rain Delay,

Just wanted to add my thoughts. I agree with most of the other posts on this. If the coach thinks he's ready, and you atleast considering it, he is probably ready.

I have learned one thing for certain. A good coach that cares about teaching kids and has the "gift" is an opportunity that needs to be heavily considered.

Sure there may be older players on the team that have girlfriends, or other things going on. Talk to your son about these possibilities so he's somewhat prepared.

CWM

Thanks for your input cwm. I will talk to T-bone.

One more "playing up story". When my son was a HS freshman (14 yrs old) he got pulled up to the varsity team a few games into the season. I didn't expect him to play right away and arrived a little late to his first game, which was "Away" at an old field with a rather bumpy infield. I sat in the rickety old bleachers, looked out at the game in progress, and saw a scrawny kid playing 2B who looked a lot like my son, but had a very puffy mouth. Yup, a mom told me he had stopped a scorching bad-hop grounder with his mouth. Knocked some teeth loose and he lost some blood, but he kept playing.

Those older kids tend to hit harder, throw harder, and run faster. It can be a great learning experience for a HS player who wants to improve!

Julie