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I've read this before. Think its a one sided anti-travel ball article. Wonder if the guy has an axe to grind?
He's talking about preteen travel. I don't disagree. My son played preteen travel soccer, basketball and baseball. But it was community based travel. It wasn't about his future in the game. It was about playing more and a longer season. My son also played rec basketball and baseball. Soccer didn't allow kids on the travel teams to play rec. Because rec and travel were under the same organizational roof. There weren't any conflicts. At 13u USSSA travel became the focus and development for a future of high school sports. The team cost $500 to play ten tournaments. He moved on to a more expensive travel showcase team after soph year of high school. My son still played rec basketball. The talent level was quality ball. He played travel soccer on the weekends and football for the middle school.
My daughter started playing playing ASA softball at eleven. Girls mature sooner and talent separates. Once again a team put together by knowledgeable dads was inexpensive. But she played rec soccer and basketball through middle school. She loved the sports. Once again the red basketball program was very competitive. When my late bloomer daughter grew in 8th grade she went from being a rec player who couldn't make the middle school team to a starter on the freshman team and in the varsity rotation as a soph. She knew how to play the game. Until she grew she didn't have the strength and tenacity to execute at more than an average level. Softball took off like a rocket when she grew. Until high school playing college ball wasn't even a fantasy. she played in a travel showcase program that was inexpensive. It was heavily subsidized by a rich old lady who wanted girls playing sports.
These articles get very tiring. He doesn't agree that kids should seek higher level competition on travel teams, but somehow Little League on TV is ok - seems inconsistent. Also, would he write the same thing about kids taking Honors or AP classes, or hiring a tutor for the SATs (or something else he might deem worthy)? I doubt it. As far as travel ball being a status symbol - give me a break. Maybe 10 or 20 years ago, but not today. I don't know if the author's kid played youth travel ball or not, but my experience was not like he described at all. He seems out of touch. We had great family fun, visited some great places, and yes spent a ton of money (our choice, no regrets whatsoever). One of our sons moved on and is doing other things (again, no regrets and no one is "screaming and yelling that coach ruined baseball for him" as he suggests) and one son is still playing and loving it. Why look for something bad in that?
Obviously this guy had no skills and now his 10 year old boy throws like a girl, soooo it must be everyone else's fault that his kid is scared of grounders and prefers video games over baseball.
However there is a small group of people who are offended when kids that can catch and throw well, go and play other good teams.
However there is a small group of people who are offended when kids that can catch and throw well, go and play other good teams.