Training for Youth Baseball Players

What ever happened to "play" baseball? Now as youths we MUST focus on WORK and SUCCESS rather than just playing for the fun of playing. Is this "driven to succeed" approach driving more people to play the game or is it driving people away from the game. I would rather spend my money on helping my child succeed academically rather than athletically which I feel will carry them a lot further in their future

quote:

Originally posted by Local8SS:
What ever happened to "play" baseball? Now as youths we MUST focus on WORK and SUCCESS rather than just playing for the fun of playing. Is this "driven to succeed" approach driving more people to play the game or is it driving people away from the game. I would rather spend my money on helping my child succeed academically rather than athletically which I feel will carry them a lot further in their future

Amen, "sandlot" baseball will never come back, IMHO.

Our local 12U baseball program is too focused on "All-Stars" as the regular season starts playing approx 1st week of April and finishes up regular season approx 1st week of June as the baseball is over for the summer unless you make one of the all-star teams

I really do not like 10U all-starts as the 7, 8, 9 and 10yr olds should be all about everyone playing the entire summer. Our local league burns kids out with all of the travel as they go at 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and once these kids turn 13 ... they recognize that they've really never had a summer to do whatever a young kid wants and they quit playing the game.

This whole darn thing is about money ... how else would you explain why the Cal-Ripken baseball has a state championship for T-Ball ... for the love of God, please quit with this nonsense.

http://vababeruth.com/tourname...ts/2012/pdf/06bb.pdf

Both of you are right about that. Although, this really hasn't changed too much sense I was a kid playing AAU ball from age 9 through age 14/15. When I say youth athletes, I am talking about those players who have made a decision to try and make it to the next level. Not the kids who are forced by moms and dads to train and work at it. My sole purpose is to give athletes the opportunity to earn a scholarship to college athletically, if academics aren't really their best asset. The money that parents will spend on their kid's athletic skills now, will pay off in the future in scholarships etc. Perfect example, I trained with a personal trainer from my sophomore year to my senior year in high school. My parents paid $400 every month or so for me to have 1 on 1 training 3x a week. It is 100% because of this that I was able to compete and be so successful in high school, and earn scholarships that paid for the majority of my college expenses. Don't be so quick to judge people's intention, as mine are extremely genuine.

In addition, I train athletes because I have a passion for performance. Not because of the money, because for one thing, it really doesn't pay that well. If you check the salaries of any college strength and conditioning coach, there are only a select few that make more than 40k a year. Training athletes and seeing their hard work pay off on the field and on the court is what it is all about, not the money. I enjoy sports. I enjoy success stories. I enjoy success stories that formulate from the sweat and tears put into achieving your goals.

I clicked on the ^^ link. There must have been lots of hollerin' and high-fivin' going on in that 43-42 game!

But back to the orinininal post, if someone is looking for sport specific training in the Tidewater area, I think they would appreciate knowing about Mr. Ellis.

After watching many baseball players get hurt over the years, pitchers as well as position players, at some point (high school? 8th grade?) you can't just "go out and play". You need to be ready to play. And that involves some sort of conditioning. And, baseball conditioning is different than football conditioning. Conditioning for pitchers is different than for position players. You have to find the right "trainer", and if you do it by trial and error, hopefully there won't be an injury along the way.

Ask around. Lifting weights at the high school may be cheap and local, but it may be worth the $ to drive a few miles and go to a professional.

This sounds like a commercial for Mr. Ellis, but I had not heard of him until this post. Keewartson has "worked out" at two different places over the years and he travels a bit further now to get proper instruction (we don't live in the Tidewater area).

Note to Mr. Ellis: Since your post was not a reply to someone looking for a strengh and conditioning trainer, it could be construed as an "advertisment". You may want to consider donating to highschoolbaseballweb or a banner on the Virginia thread. This website runs entirely on donations and advertising. Some long time members may try to slap your hand on this.

And, welcome to this site!

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What ever happened to "play" baseball? Now as youths we MUST focus on WORK and SUCCESS rather than just playing for the fun of playing. Is this "driven to succeed" approach driving more people to play the game or is it driving people away from the game. I would rather spend my money on helping my child succeed academically rather than athletically which I feel will carry them a lot further in their future

Whatever happened to just playing for fun? Wow. Live that mantra and see where it gets you if you are in the hunt for a scholarship. If you have a kid that is happy playing LL, middle and high school ball and then calling it a career, then that is a great philosophy, just have fun. How about playing for fun, and being really good at what you are doing? Oh, or how about your dream of playing for a really good D1 school or beyond? That would be fun. If you think the attitude of “playing for fun” will get you there, you are naïve. That simple thought process no longer exists. What this young man is offering is an absolute necessity to play the game of baseball at the next level. Perhaps this web site is the wrong place. But what he has to offer is what helps a make a player stand out. How about having fun while you work your butt off in order to have fun playing baseball? Well?
When I was a young man my father told me it was the extra effort that made a difference in whatever you do in life. That is what Ellis is offering. If you want to simply have fun that is great too. Just don’t be hating on someone offering up the skills and tools to help your son or daughter get to the next level.
Come to Richmond Mr. Ellis, you’d be busy!

ChestCoRules: Thank you for the back up. Sometimes people don't really understand, but that is certainly okay with me. Not everyone gets the whole, work hard play hard win championships mentality, while others do. I guess that's what separates the winners from the losers really.

Keewart: Also, thank you for the heads up. In a way I am advertising, but its more factual then anything else. I am simply trying to make sure that parents and players in the area know that the training programs I can offer are essential to a long, healthy, and successful athletic career. I didn't specifically mention my business name or what gym I work out of or anything. If you want to contact me, a private message or email is just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Local8SS:
What ever happened to "play" baseball? Now as youths we MUST focus on WORK and SUCCESS rather than just playing for the fun of playing. Is this "driven to succeed" approach driving more people to play the game or is it driving people away from the game. I would rather spend my money on helping my child succeed academically rather than athletically which I feel will carry them a lot further in their future

So you are saying that by "helping" your child succeed academically rather than athletically that you are not "driving them to succeed" as well? Or is it only a negative thing when it happens on the field of play but its normal and okay when a parent requires hours of study time for chemistry?

I know that I am not alone because my son's showcase team is made up of numerous players who have succeeded both on AND off the field. Does that surprise you? He and his fellow players take the same drive and determination that they bring onto the field to the classroom and they are successful there as well. They are competitive young men, regardless of what it is that they are doing.

I also know that I am not alone in that if my son chose to quit playing baseball tomorrow that I would support him in that decision. Over the years I have given him full support as he has chased the dream that HE has had. Not me. I am simply the accountant that pays the bills and the fan who cheers for him no matter how he plays. HE is the one who supplies the drive and ambition. To suggest otherwise in many ways demeans how he feels about the game and the work that he has put into it.

And for what its worth, I think that the drive and determination that my son has developed over the years from baseball is every bit the equal of anything gained from academics. Show me an uber-successful person and many times you will find that that person was also an athlete in some form or fashion...