NGkid,
I was in your position last year. This is what I did....
- Found a local rec team that did not have practices during the week but came together on the weekends and played in tournaments together. We just paid the fee for the tourneys and nothing else. Was the best decision I have made in a long while as the son got his at bats and had fun all summer long. They either won the championship or got to the finals in every tourney and he had a blast! Which is sometimes rare for competitve ball. Living in SOCAL also helped as I do not know where you live.
- Be careful , pay to play is huge during this time period. I have been fortunate as my son is gifted and athletic and was chosen to play on some good teams with fair coaches. You see pay for play teams is exactly that, you pay and your kid plays. Elite Summer Teams usually play the best 9 players not whomever paid to play. I have seen many parents get frustrated as they paid some ungodly amount to have little johnny play but the coaches are playing the top 9 players.
- This summer I did take the next step as he will be playing in some good tourneys for the month of JUNE. Perfect game and also the formely names Junior Olympics. I will see how he can handle himself with some elite pitching and competition and see if he wants to continue to play over the summer. Should be a blast!
