I think as select baseball matures, you will see more of a system like in Sokker or Hockey. You go play for XYZ Club and then they decide if you go on the Major, AAA, AA or A team. You still get to wear the pretty hat, but it might be on the A Ball team. Good players that were placed on lower teams are able to work their way up, non producing playes will be moved down. Everyone gets playing time.
How well is it working? There are huge multi million dollar privately funded sokker facilities going up all over the metroplex. And all the Hockey leagues are full.
With more and more teams being underwritten by baseball facilities, it's a matter of time. In fact, I think it would be good for the sport.
Now that Tommy is building Tigerland up in Lewisville and DBat's new facility, two of the well respected leaders in town, who knows, maybe they will move in that direction.
Sounds like a great plan KD. What would you think about getting rid of age divisions once you get to high school age. No more 15U, 16U, 17U and 18U. Majors would be a mix of the best players 15-18s and so on. It should be run more like high school. If you are good enough you play varsity no matter what grade you are in.
That's a good idea, but would make it hard for teams to compete in post season play.
Pretty good idea KD. There are a couple of groups at the younger ages that are trying to do something similar to this. Diamond Star in Arlington is one of them which, by the way, is where John Davis is. I think he's filling a GM type of role.
QUOTE:-----------------------------------
Originally posted by KellerDad:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by reggie-3-77:
Where has John Davis gone?
Was wondering that the other day. That guy could schedule a tournament on a rainy weekend in his sleep.
And then keep all of the entry fees when it didn't pan out! Either that or give you a bad check for your refund!
Originally posted by KellerDad:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by reggie-3-77:
Where has John Davis gone?
Was wondering that the other day. That guy could schedule a tournament on a rainy weekend in his sleep.
And then keep all of the entry fees when it didn't pan out! Either that or give you a bad check for your refund!
Whether you call them select teams or tournament teams, parents and kids are happier when they are on a team with people they like being around. Out here in West Texas, the number of kids playing ball past LL majors has probably tripled since a "select" type system has come along. Many of the kids who would have quit after their 12 year old year, play two or three more years, maybe finally get some good coaching, see some better pitching, and wind up on a HS roster. Our 4A HS has seen 90+ kids try-out in the Spring for the last two years and that never would have happened 5 years ago.