U9 Select Baseball Tryouts

U9 "Select" Give me a break

After reading the ad, I couldn't help but take a peek at the website.
Some tidbits from the site and the post...

-2012 Tryouts – private invite only (Nov – Jan)

-Each parent/player will sign a contract locking them on to the Blue Jays for all of 2012. You will play spring, summer, and fall with the NTX Blue Jays before you are free to leave the team and play for another.

-All weekends are left free for tournaments

-A very meticulously done website includes stats, player pics, videos, awards, feature articles and much more

-“we can take anyone we want from anywhere in the metro, state, or nation”

-“over 80-100 games the team will play in 2012”

-Five coaches and three consultants

-Each player must take part in private instruction lessons from a reputable instructor at least twice a month

-if your player is not advancing as fast as you think they should, more private instruction may be needed

-a minimum of two one hour lessons will be required a month with a Status Report filled out and signed off on by the private instructor and given to the coaches. SELECT BASEBALL requires an investment. If you are not willing to invest in private lessons, you will not be able to play for the Blue Jays

-We only carry 11 for 2012


REALLY!!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!!!
Prospective players are currently EIGHT YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!!!

Please tell me I'm not the only one that finds this disturbing. Sorry "Coach and G.M.". I usually stay out of this stuff but...
HOLY #$%$#$%!!!!!!!!!!

Spongebob won player of the year? Wow, I thought Bugs would be a shoe-in. What an upset.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Sponge Bob was juicing.

I always knew Patrick the Starfish was a bad influence...

Who provides snacks after games? 80-100 games...that's a lot of snacks.

Sounds like someone is trying to build a name for themselves......this kind of stuff is just ridiculous. But, I am sure their are a few parents looking for a good baby sitter....I mean team to play on

The parents are required to get private instruction before they can hand out snacks -- Two lessons a week to learn how to put juice boxes in the cooler with ice and oatmeal cream pies in the cooler without ice.

The sad thing is that these people a serious! Boy did they come to the wrong site for support. Those of us with older kids know how very ridiculous this is for this age group.

quote:

Each parent/player will sign a contract locking them on to the Blue Jays for all of 2012. You will play spring, summer, and fall with the NTX Blue Jays before you are free to leave the team and play for another.

Sounds like these kids need a Collective bargaining agreement.....

This guy has a kid in the team. he has been at it since his kids was 7, running a U7 team nder a differnet name, but probably under the same terms.

I didn't realize it was April 1st..........this is simply amazing. What a waste of time and money.

This was a joke...



Unfortunately, this is not...

http://www.ntxbluejays.com/about.html

Besides the damage to the kids from playing this many games at 9 years old, the parents should know that this is money down a rat hole. These kids should be playing a variety of sports and doing many other activities. And as far as baseball goes, when I look back at my son's 13 year-old travel team, only half are playing baseball in high school, although the half that aren't, are playing other varsity sports. And don't even get me started on having to pay for instructors beyond what the team charges. Wow!

Bolts I did this some time ago when this subject came up....Hopefully it is crazy enough to not get PG too worked up. (Sorry PG but I still think it is funny) (and satirically sad)

------------------------------------------------
December 5th 2015

Perfect Game Toddlers announced

The industry leader in showcasing and scouting of the nations top 7-11 year olds announced today a new organization for tracking and following the most critical talent pool for baseball available; kids aged 2-6 years. “After extensive studies on MLB players we have found a direct correlation between high performance baseball skills and the performance of kids games such as; duck duck goose, four square, and ring around the posey” “We have found that kids that excel in hand eye coordination games that we used to think were for fun and entertainment for our kids actually translate into high performance baseball skills at the major league level” said program director Ferris Wheeler.

‘Our research has shown that if we can track toddler’s performance and help them improve their performance in kids games then they will be able to translate these skills directly to the baseball field, abet a few years later” We have found that for instance that the Hockey Pokey is a perfect warm up and cool activity, “you can warm up and cool down by shaking it all around” said Dr. I. Ball director of physical programs for PGT.

Although tailored and directed toward identifying the top 200 Toddlers in the United States this program is by no means meant to be exclusionary. “We think all kids need to participate in dodgeball and Jacks” said Dan Saul Knight Western Director for PGT.

Said Eastern Region Director Ginger Vitus “we will be sure to make sure that there will be opportunities for kids of all skill levels to participate” “though performance testing we can easily identify the top 200 toddlers without upsetting the play yard” she added.

I.P. Daily program devloper said “we will begin introductory showcases starting next week in Florida” we will initially focus the program on the South East and then we plan on actively introducing this program to the rest of the county”

Filling out the PGT staff will be Hy Ball, Director of Hockey Pokey, Iona Frisby, Director of duck duck goose, Lois Price, Director of Jacks, Noah Lott, Director of doggy where’s your bone, Sam Manilla, Director of red light green light, and finally Sum Yung Guy, Director of Marbles.

Once successful in the South East PGT plans on opening toddler development and testing centers across the United States. “We think that that this program will dovetail perfectly with Gymboree where kids were having fun, but not developing the necessary skills to make them rich and famous like we all want our kids to be” said National PGT spokesperson Constance Noring.

########

Now that's funny!......BTW, does it come with a video performance review as well??? Plus, do I have to get my kid certified duck duck goose lessons to attend this event?

quote:

Originally posted by Just Watching:
Besides the damage to the kids from playing this many games at 9 years old,

What's the best age to start on a serious elite showcase high-profile travel team?

quote:

Originally posted by AntzDad:

quote:

Originally posted by Just Watching:
Besides the damage to the kids from playing this many games at 9 years old,

What's the best age to start on a serious elite showcase high-profile travel team?

Just the question makes me laugh. Because we are not talking about:
Just a team
or just a Travel Team
or just a High Profile Travel Team
or just a Showcase High Profile Travel Team
or just a Elite Showcase High Profile Travel Team
But a Serious Elite Showcase High Profile Travel Team.

I guess for the NTX Blue Jays the answer is 9.

A Super Serious Elite Showcase High Profile Travel Team would be 10.

IMO, just play ball at that young of an age. Where to play and how much to play will be answered as you go along, no need to put superlatives on a team name to play and learn to play at a high level as a little boy learns to love the game first and finds his way through a recruiting process later, and that answer is not 9 years old.

NTX Blue Jays you have lost your &A@#% Minds!!

quote:

Originally posted by AntzDad:
What's the best age to start on a serious elite showcase high-profile travel team?

Antzdad,
My first thought was the same as what shortnquick said. I'm guessing that was at least somewhat intentional on your part, if not the whole point of your question.
So, I'm not sure if your question was totally toungue-in-cheek but we had a good related discussion here a while back that you took part in...

http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...6002781/m/4797007116

I know there have been many others but I'm too lazy to hunt this morning.

If actually pushed to answer your question...
Every kid and every area has a different set of circumstances. IMO, as a general rule of thumb, it's OK to start with a lower key club/travel team somwhere around 11-13 y.o. if that's what the young boy really wants to do. Start with a higher profile travel team at somwhere around 14-16 y.o. if the player really wants to. Any more adjectives in front of "travel team" than that - never .
I have seen some 9-10 y.o. teams keep things low key and do things age-appropriate and for the right reasons but they are the rare exception, again IMO.

Up to 100 games...have these parents ever met their 9 year olds? They will miss every fun thing they are ever invited to and hate baseball by the time they are 10. Great program.
On a side note, what does it cost to ruin your kids life?

I agree with WarningTrack, it MUST be April 1. Who would actually put their kid in this? Where is PT Barnum?

Some very harsh judgements here. I have no idea how many games is too many, although I have gone through this three times. calisportsfan says all these kids will hate baseball by the time they are 10. I can say absolutely that is not true.

In the three groups I had (one began at 11, one 9 and one 8), all of the kids were very good athletes, most played through high school in very competitive programs, at least half played in college or professionally and one is in the Major Leagues, with more to follow. More importantly, nearly all of them are very successful at what they are doing, even if at this point it has nothing to do with baseball. Nearly every one of them would do what we did again if they had the chance.

I don't think any of these groups played as many as 100 games, but they all played at least 50 and maybe 80. A year can be a long time.

The point is to keep it organized, fun and a little exclusive. The kids I have in many (most) instances became lifetime friends -- better than a scout troop -- and did lots of things together, baseball and otherwise.

So, I would try to avoid painting with a brush too broad in either direction. Those who love it can do it; those who prefer other things are free to go their own way.

quote:

Originally posted by shortnquick:
Just the question makes me laugh.

cabbagedad is on to me. My post was mostly tongue-in-cheek.

quote:

Originally posted by jemaz:
Some very harsh judgements here. I have no idea how many games is too many, although I have gone through this three times. calisportsfan says all these kids will hate baseball by the time they are 10. I can say absolutely that is not true.

In the three groups I had (one began at 11, one 9 and one 8), all of the kids were very good athletes, most played through high school in very competitive programs, at least half played in college or professionally and one is in the Major Leagues, with more to follow. More importantly, nearly all of them are very successful at what they are doing, even if at this point it has nothing to do with baseball. Nearly every one of them would do what we did again if they had the chance.

I don't think any of these groups played as many as 100 games, but they all played at least 50 and maybe 80. A year can be a long time.

The point is to keep it organized, fun and a little exclusive. The kids I have in many (most) instances became lifetime friends -- better than a scout troop -- and did lots of things together, baseball and otherwise.

So, I would try to avoid painting with a brush too broad in either direction. Those who love it can do it; those who prefer other things are free to go their own way.

I just think that there is no "need" to do it. If the ratios you are speaking about are correct, then I would guess that those are unusually high success rates. I have know many that don't get involved at all with elite, showcase, travel aau...blah blah blah and have gone on to have the same success that you speak of.

IMO, guys that really push this type of atmosphere see that there is a very large market for this area and are taking advantage of it. Now, I am not saying all are bad or in it for some spare money, but I know some that are. Parents need to exercise their "guardian" role and do there homework and don't forget to let the kids be kids too.

quote:

Originally posted by jemaz:
Some very harsh judgements here.... So, I would try to avoid painting with a brush too broad in either direction.

Jemaz,
I was reluctant to post my initial remark on this. I know that, as a group (HSBBW), we can be quite critical at times. However...

This proposed team of 11 eight year olds has five very qualified coaches and several more consultants. Yet they still REQUIRE a minimum of two one hour lessons a month with a reputable outside instructor and a Status Report must be filled out and signed off by the instructor and given to the coaches for each player.
(BTW, what do the qualified coaches and consultants do, exactly?)

Each parent and eight year old player will sign a contract locking them on to the team for all of 2012, including play in spring, summer, and fall before they are free to leave the team and play for another.

They will only carry 11 players and those players must be available to play on all weekends. This virtually eliminates the option of participating in a family function on any conflicting weekend.

“we can take anyone we want from anywhere in the metro, state, or nation” ..so they are considering recruiting eight year olds nationally in order to compete at certain tournaments.

Cumulatively, there is something very wrong with this approach for eight year olds in just about anyone's book. Would you agree?

If I were attempting to start up such a team with these guidelines, I would hope to God that someone or some group with the collective experience of HSBBW would slap some sense into me.

I am always a big proponent of the benefits of youth sports. This scenario just strikes a nerve and depicts largely what is wrong with the direction of youth sports today.

the sad part is this is not a joke.

Glad you weren't reluctant to put up this post, Cabbagedad. It's absolutely spot-on. And it's OK to defend sanity in youth sports. It would be one thing if this organization were catering to 16-year-olds, but it's recruiting kids half that age.

Let's be honest. At this age, it's not about marketing to the players. It's about marketing to certain types of parents, who think this approach is what their children must have if they hope to have any chance of advancing in baseball. So I think it's OK for veteran parents on here to raise red flags when we see them and state without a doubt that eight-year-old boys don't need to play 80 games a year in order to play at the high school or collegiate level one day.

As I said, cabbage, what works for some doesn't work for others. I have not looked at the details of the original post, but I figure if it is too much it will sort itself out.

When I did it, the motivation was good baseball and great fun among close friends -- and many new ones along the way. It was terrific family time. No one made any money.

If this is a money-making venture, perhaps you have a point. That said, while this is a good place most of the time, I am constantly amazed at the black and white judgements and the rush to make those judgements that are so often found here -- especially among people who probably don't have all the facts. I just think most of the posts I see come down way, way too hard. I prefer to live and let live.

If it is a good situation, it will flourish, whether the group plays a little or a lot. If not, it will disappear on its own soon enough.

But, for many parents this might be the first venture into this activity for thier little one. I have to disagree with your live and let live theory, just my opinion, because I don't think enough people, with experience, get involved in a situation like this. Like you said, it may be for some but not for others. I wished I would have known about this site before I first got my oldest involved with a travel team. After I did my homework we only stayed one season and opted to work on our own. The team we got involved with turned out to be more of a money making venture the following year, shady at that, ran by a local very popular HS coach. So I think while the comments may be harsh there is nothing wrong with the experienced trying to look out for these kids.

quote:

Goal: 60-80 games in 2012 if not more

Some orthopedic doctor is going to make it big in Texas in 2012! That is a lot of baseball to be playing/pitching at 9 years old. If my math is correct 80 games x 6 innngs is 480 innings divided by 11 players on the team (assume all kids pitch) = 43.6 innings. Most college pitchers don't pitch that much. I can honestly say I wouldn't be jumpIng at this opportunity.

quote:

Originally posted by jemaz:
I have not looked at the details of the original post.

I think that is the point of most of the posters reaction, they read it and its absured.

All I can say is...oh my goodness.

quote:

Originally posted by fenwaysouth:

quote:

Goal: 60-80 games in 2012 if not more

Some orthopedic doctor is going to make it big in Texas in 2012! That is a lot of baseball to be playing/pitching at 9 years old. If my math is correct 80 games x 6 innngs is 480 innings divided by 11 players on the team (assume all kids pitch) = 43.6 innings. Most college pitchers don't pitch that much. I can honestly say I wouldn't be jumpIng at this opportunity.

Amen

This has been going on down here for quite a while. I know of a 6U (Tball) team that played a similar schedule 10 years ago.

There are enough parents out there that will fall for the proposition that this will give their sons an advantage.

Original poster has been conspicuously absent! I find it a funny post on a site called HIGH SCHOOL baseball web. It's not Crazy Parents of 8yr old baseball web!
I am curious what he has to say to the overwhelming negative responses to his business plan from people with kids older and who have been through it.

And Jemaz, honestly, I hear what you are saying but sometimes an 8 year old just wants to go to the neighbors birthday party. It's his dad that thinks the 79th game that year is more important. That's the truth. The term age appropriate is there for a reason. If you push a kid into 80-100 games a year how can they play any other sport to determine what they really love? Sometimes parents have to use their life experience to guild a child who simply doesn't yet know enough to make that choice.

Not to mention that you would be hard pressed to find a pediatrician out there that does not recommend a variety of sports over the single sport approach. Those growing muscles are easily harmed with repetitive motions that do not change from season to season, let alone doing too much in one season.

But if you look at his web site, he does preach that they will never throw a curve ball.

Further evidence that there is no sports medical authority affiliated since the proper throwing of a curve does not hurt one's arm. The challenge is in the knowledge of what is proper so yes, its better to defer to not throwing it at a young age.

But I'm waxing poetic ...

Wow...

Started a couple of these and played mostly local stuff. At 9U we played about 45 games for the whole year with about 8 kids pitching.

We got to a tournament and in the final the opposing team had a kid throw 122 pitches against us. They won and after the game when we were doing the high five thing I said to the boy that I hoped he made it through the season. The boys father over heard me and asked another of our coaches what that was all about and coach said we tracked pitches and we pulled ours at 40-50 pitches and that we thought 122 was very excessive.

Long story short...10 year old Tommy John. Three years latter at a 12U tournament our coach was talking to a man that turned out to be the boys grandfather. Coach related the 9U story to the old man. Grandpa welled up and said they it was a shame what happened to his grandson.

We did it so our kids could play a few more games than spring and fall rec ball which would have been about 35 games assuming they made all stars against a better level of competition. It's been called Daddy ball on this site but we had fun, never made a dime and put about 500 hours per year into it. The one thing we focused on was to read as much as we could on the subject of throwing and what were considered the age appropriate limits. We lost a few games along the way that had we pushed our kids arms we could have won. That was four years ago now and noone remembers those games so I am glad we had the perspective not to hurt a kid to win a meaningless game.

Agree with Jemaz (my boys experienced a similar youth path). Also strongly agree with other comments that every situation is different! N Texas youth ball experience is not that of players from up north or even two hundred miles to the west. The OP of this topic may be a little over the top with his private coaching requirements, but one can tell he's not looking for players & parents who would be better suited in a 12 game & done rec league or in a thrown together AA team that plays a few tournaments. That is one of the things that stuck out to me reading his post.

As general overview, a manager of a "select" (hate that word) youth tournament team in that geographical market, it's normal to advertise on local youth-older youth sports websites for right fit players (and parents). As a new poster on HSBW, IMHO, posting this in the General section was his his biggest gaff... maybe the Texas forum or just keeping it on local websites. The OP noted the team will be playing in a select competitive league at Railroad Park in Lewisville. My 15U played two summer games a little over a year ago in Lewisville, it was a nice experience.

For all the condemnation of number of games to be possibly played, many may not realize youth baseball tournaments in N Texas start in mid to late Feb with the first good test being the Triple Crown opener, usually played first of March. The spring weather in the S Plains & N Texas can be all over the map. It may be high 70's to mid 80 degrees for a few days in late Feb, with a nice March, then have a late spring cold front roll in spitting snow in April. Bad weather will take its toll, so penciling in a tournament every weekend will mean quite a few don't end up being played. As baseball parents, one understands that, other than Easter weekend off, it's do the family thing on bad weather weekends & boys play ball on other weekends. With a little luck from mother nature, such a team will play 2-3 weekends a month. Early on in the season, it can often be 2 tournaments a month. In the 9's, both of boys played 50-60 games in the Spring & a dozen or so in the Fall along with 12 football games, then rolled into basketball. By HS junior year for the oldest, 10 of 12 of his 9U teamates were all playing baseball in OK 6A & 5A programs. 7 played on into college, one was drafted. Of that 12, only two hung up baseball in HS and that was to concentrate on track & football. With my youngest, 8 of 11 of the core roster are currently playing ball in successful 6A programs. All of the youngest bunch played multiple sports as youth. Only now in HS with very demanding schedules, have a few decided to hang up the basketball shoes & football cleats.