Summer Team

What age group will you be playing?

If old enough I would volunteer to contribute money made in part time or summer job.

What is your skill level?  Around our area there is American legion and even High school summer ball.  It is not as competitive but is very inexpensive.

Don't burden your parents too much with extra costs if money is tight.

Depending on what your talent level, age, and future plans are - playing a lot of baseball may be the only thing you get out of a summer team.

If it is a summer team that has connections to coaches on the next level, and you have the talent to play at that level - then it might be worthwhile.

Otherwise you really have to look at it as nothing more than opportunity.  Opportunity to play ball.  Opportunity to maybe get some good coaching.  Opportunity to play with and against some good players.  You can't look at it as really any more than that.

Many players wrongly think that just by playing for a summer team that they will be "discovered", when it doesn't really work that way.  You need to play for the right team, in the right events, and hope you get seen by the right people.  If that is what your goal is for your summer team - make sure that it will fulfill your needs.

My son is a sophomore pitcher/catcher who has previously done well during summer play.  However, he has pretty much decided to take this upcoming summer off.  He may fill in for a couple of teams if they run short on pitching, but he doesn't want to do the whole summer circuit.  He knows the costs involved, and can't justify in his own mind having us spend that kind of money this year.  He knows the summer after junior year will be far more important, and would rather spend money then.

As mentioned above what is your age?  If you not in HS yet your parents may be right.  If you in HS it will depend on your skill level.  If you think you have a shot at playing in college, and this team will put you in the right places to be seen, then it may be something to consider.  If you don't have a chance or the team does not get you the exposure you need then they may be right.  There are other ways to get additional baseball in.  Is there a possibility to play in multiple leagues?  I know when my son decided he was done with travel ball he played in both a LL and PONY league in HS.  He did his research first and found that they did not cross over games too much.  He was up front with each coach that he was playing on another team.  He also worked out a pitching schedule with both of them.

Don't forget in addition to the $1,000 there are other costs involved.  Uniforms, equipment, additional training (??), travel, hotels, etc.  

Depending on the # of tournaments, $1000 is reasonable. You should ask yourself what are your eventual goals with baseball? Is it to play in college? Will playing on this summer team help you achieve your goal? 

While Legion is an option (ours is free), at least in North NJ, it's kind of an afterthought for many, so while it does get boys on the field, it's not going to pit most against the best competition out there. With that said, there is a sense of pride in playing for your local Legion. 2016 plays summer club ball for competitive tournaments as well as Legion with his friends he grew up with. Best of both worlds. 

And as lionbaseball points out...maybe helping out with costs with a PT job is the way to go. Shows your parents that you're committed and serious about the opportunity. Good luck. 

Now I see somebody that is hungry!  Good for you Young_Baller.

Put in the work and good things will happen.  All the best ~

Glad that you want to help, but remember cost is to play/tourn fees/coach fees. It costs hundreds of dollars for gas/hotels/food while traveling. Have you decided what schools u may want to attend and play for? Are they local schools? Your goal should be to be seen by them, however that happens.

do your parents really have the money to spend, even with your help? If not, there are still ways to play without being on a travel team. If it's just a matter of convincing them to pay and they have money that's diff.

how is your pitching? What are your numbers? You ready to be seen or will money be spent better in diff ways to help you? Many things to consider.

There are a lot of excellent points in the responses and this is a challenge for all serious baseball players. After having gone through the process for the past 20 years here are some thoughts. 

• Find a place you can play.  An elite travel team will only benefit you if your skills allow you to garner playing time, The better the team the better you need to be to get the field time needed to improve.
• The comment about other costs was right on point. The $1000 in team fee may be matched by another $1000 in expenses for practice, bats, gloves, hotels, gas, food etc.
• Consider other less expensive options like local travel teams, local leagues and if you are exceptionally good and want to play against top competition consider talking to the league about playing up one or two age groups.  A great 14 year old playing with 16 and 17 years old will be pushed physically to compete.
• Look for a team that allow fundraising opportunities to reduce costs.  My boys have raised more than 80% of there league fees some years.
• Finally have fun. Even at the best levels baseball is supposed to be fun.  Find a place that fits your capabilities, skills, and where you get along well with the team.  A season with a bunch of rude, Prima Dona's can seem like it lasts an eternity.

Have a great season and good luck!