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15 replies

Travel tryout

M madisonMember
My son is 10 rotten year in rec ball, zero practice etc. He was fed up with it he asked if he could find another league/team. we approached a local travel team. Set up a mid season tryout with the coaches. These kids on this travel team are great hitters, my son is a decent contact hitter, but not a power hitter. Son is a lefty, has pretty good pitching mechanics, has pitched no hitters, in rec ball so no true test of if he is good or not. He is a good all around player in any position and is willing to play any spot.
He tried out, did well, or so I thought. The manager said he would put him on the roster, but said he wanted him to practice with the team, invited him to games to warm up with them, which he did, as well as attended few practices. We have not heard anything back from the coach, one way or the other. I know they are in mid season, don't expect anything to happen for this fall. But should we take the no contact as a sign or is this how it works? Don't want to be a PIA to the coach, but my son is driving me nuts about this. Manager has the team in many local tournaments, I know they had a schedule of 35 games this summer, so I know this is a hectic season. SHould we assume it is not going to happen, or should I take my son to watch a few of the local games to show his interest?Son is a very unemotional 10 yo meaning may give the impression he is less enthusiastic then he really is which is the furthest thing from the truth(more of the don't let them know how much I want this cause its bad luck)
The other nagging thing is maybe the coach views him as a liability since he has had no formal coaching of any value and would rather not take him on. Should we move on?
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B BobbleheadDoll5,000+ posts
quote:
maybe the coach views him as a liability since he has had no formal coaching of any value and would rather not take him on.


It is very hard to break into a team that may have been together for a few years. This points out the importance of getting proper coaching and playing travel ball.
I would talk to the coach and see what he suggests. I also agree that moving on may be the best move but talk to the coach first.
B BobbleheadDoll5,000+ posts
Making the assumption that the coach knows what he is talking about ( a big assumption), the purpose of the call is to see what the player lacks and needs to work on in the coaches opinion. Could help in his development and trying out for other teams. Some times it is the simplest things that coaches don't like about a player or it could be a matter of numbers.
MN-MomMN-MomHSBaseballWeb Owner
madison,

Welcome to the HS Baseball Web!

Based on your post, I disagree with this comment:

"perhaps the young man does not have the talent that "Daddy" think he has"

It looks like you have done a good job of trying to be realistic about where your son stands for now, with your comments about the team and your son:

"These kids on this travel team are great hitters, my son is a decent contact hitter,"

"Son ... has pitched no hitters, in rec ball so no true test of if he is good or not."

I congratulate you for being realistic, because as a parent of a former 10-year-old, Smile I seem to recall myself and some other parents wearing rose-colored glasses at least SOME of the time at that age. Wink

I agree with the suggestions above, including Bobblehead's "I would talk to the coach and see what he suggests." Make it the purpose of your call to ask the coach what he recommends your son work on, and/or ask if he has any recommendations on other teams or leagues on which your son's current talent/development level might be a better fit.

Best wishes, and keep us updated!

Julie
B bbdad200710+ posts
Madison,
You need to ask yourself what value is my son bringing to the team? Without formal training/coaching - unless your son has outstanding natural talent for throwing or hitting the answer to the question is unfortunately very little value... Unless all they need is a warm body. So if the team is pretty good, chances are they are looking at new players to strengthen the team. They are not in this for public service. But don't despair! Since your son is only 10 he has time to work on his skills. Do you have access to batting cages and/or batting instruction? He will need one on one help with hitting. If he wants to pitch do you have access to help with pitching instruction? At the least do you have books or videos to help? Many of the "good" players in travel simply had more help than others through lessons and extra practice. Very few travel teams will take on a "raw" player - not when better players are also interested in playing for the team. If you are unable to work with your child to make him better I suggest you look for the best rec program you can find and hope for the best. Travel is a huge time and money commitment. Hope this helps and good luck!
Last edited by bbdad2007
M madisonMember
thanks for those that gave constructive criticism. As for the Daddy thinks he is better than he is comment, well I'll leave that one alone. No need for me to defend myself or my motives other than helping my son, hence the liability taking him on statement I made. 10-11 is a crossroads for most kids as far as choosing a sport to invest their time in, wether it be lacrosse or baseball. Before he gives up on baseball entirely(after horrible spring ball and his lacrosse playing was looking better to him), just wanted him to be able to figure it out comparing quality teams/coaching of both sports.
I'm realistic and thanks for the suggestions.
B bbdad200710+ posts
Some areas also have baseball academy teams. You pay a fee for a season that includes instruction and games. This can be an excellent option if the program is good and you can afford it. Many travel players get their experience this way and later have many more options on where to play. Anything like that in your neck of the woods?
T tfox100+ posts
My experience is slightly different.My son is one of the better (not the best by any means)kids in our area(also 10) so I decided to find him a "travel" team to hopefully get some better instruction but in our case,he recieved better training and experience with rec and all-star ball than anything recieved in travel.Turns out it was nothing but daddy ball.


The team has won 2 games in 3 tourneys.My son also played all star this year and we beat some of the same teams our travel team lost to and competed with some that run ruled the travel team.The sad part is the talent on the travel team is as good or better than the all star squad.

So we have decided to play tavel rec all star ball. Big Grin for next season.We are getting our best rec ballers together and going to travel with them while still being able to play all star in cal ripken and going for state and world series titles.They already have 1 state title as 8 year olds.
Last edited by tfox
zombywoofzombywoof1,000+ posts
At 10, I wouldn't go crazy getting a 10 yr old on a travel team. Especially one that claims it wins lots of titles and all. Those organizations would put up a red flag and begs asking the qusetions are these coaches trophy hunters and collect top players or are they developers of talent, which is what 10 yr old baseball should be. I seriously doubt the talent from a 10 yr old travel team is that great compared to a local Little League or Cal Ripken all-star team that it will stunt a player's growth.

Also, for a coach who don't return calls would be somebody I wouldn't want my 10 yr old playing for.

In the end, it has to be fun for the 10 yr old. Even if the 10 yr old made this special travel team, if he was used as an extra body, then it isn't gonna help this development in a player. You'd be better off playing for a local rec or all-star team where you could play.

My son never played travel during his little league years and the only instruction he had was from the local league, a couple of local league clinics, all-star coaches, never did formal training and wound up a starter on the varsity in high school in a large school system with a lot of competition for roster spots. Not playing travel did anything to ruin his chances to play HS.
Last edited by zombywoof
H hitenrun10+ posts
Madison -
First thing, do not listen to the advise TRhit gives you. He will offer nothing more than "the coach is always right" and "you must a have a problem". Everyone on this board knows his M.O. He defends coaches, no matter what, and has a distain for concerned parents; you, unfortunately have just received the extent of his wisdom.

Call the coach. Nothing gained, nothing lost. What's the worst he can say? No, we can't use him.
M madisonMember
Giving an update:

Coach FINALLY called, he is playing fall travel with the team, he said the pace is slower, and he can give him the time to catch him up. He said my kid has very good pitching mechanics/picks up instruction very fast as well as hitting skills, he apologized for not contacting us sooner, but to take him on in the middle of a hectic season was not fair to my son.
C cball500+ posts
sounds like things worked out and that's good but sometimes coaches will pass on a good player based on how the player fits in the already established team. He may have a specific need that the player dosen't fit or he may have several players just like the prospect and may pass even though the prospect may even be a little better than a player already on the team. And unless the prospect is an absolutley number one pitcher or tremendous hitter coaches can be reluctant to add a player becuase frankly it's harder to manage a larger roster.

I have passed on players like this in past years and tried to explain this to the parents but usually felt like they took it personally.

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