My comments/thoughts really weren't for the specific situation you described. I went a little more generic.
Its been a good discussion. Interesting to me.
When I first read Tiger Paw Mom’s initial post, she might as well have been writing about my son. The only difference is that my son committed to playing on what was then a U13 travel team this past summer with a coach he really liked. The kids had fun playing together and were continuing on into this fall as a mediocre U14 team.
After seeing my son at a summer baseball camp at our local high school, the coach of a team that was going to be made up incoming freshman from the high school team asked if my son would be interested in playing up with them for the fall season. This apparently was with the blessing of the high school head coach.
We told the travel coach about the new option. He suggested that we jump at the opportunity. He specifically commented that preparing the U14 kids for high school ball was what his team was all about. He noted that if my son had a chance to jump ahead and play with the high school kids now, what better opportunity could he ask for?
We made the move after we got the U14 coach’s blessing. That eliminated any “commitment” issues.
After seeing my son at a summer baseball camp at our local high school, the coach of a team that was going to be made up incoming freshman from the high school team asked if my son would be interested in playing up with them for the fall season. This apparently was with the blessing of the high school head coach.
We told the travel coach about the new option. He suggested that we jump at the opportunity. He specifically commented that preparing the U14 kids for high school ball was what his team was all about. He noted that if my son had a chance to jump ahead and play with the high school kids now, what better opportunity could he ask for?
We made the move after we got the U14 coach’s blessing. That eliminated any “commitment” issues.
Sounds like the right kind of coach to me. 
TPM, all of those extra details you gave would have weighted my decision to stay with the old team--sounds like they were playing good ball, boy getting lots of play time, etc. Having said that, there are two local coaches in my county who require their upcoming HS players to play for their appointed Fall and Summer ball teams manned by their chosen coaches. This begins in Jr. Hi. Boys who choose to play select ball and not with these feeder teams are not chosen for the HS team. In a case like that, the choice would be more difficult. Loyalty to the old team kills HS career.
BTW, I am an analyzer, can't help it. I would never just jump at any offer without carefully considering what my son was losing and/or gaining by leaving, and the consequences for both teams should he leave. An informed and thoughtful decision is always the best one, even if it isn't an easy one.
BTW, I am an analyzer, can't help it. I would never just jump at any offer without carefully considering what my son was losing and/or gaining by leaving, and the consequences for both teams should he leave. An informed and thoughtful decision is always the best one, even if it isn't an easy one.
Quillgirl,
If I had added all of those details, it would have been a no brainer.
There have been other times in his young baseball life that he has had to make choices and live up to committments.
I kind of look back at it as a learning experience for when he was ready to make the biggest committment of his life, where to attend college.
He didn't always play for the best team or the best coach or the team that took home all of the trophies. He played where he wanted to, where he felt most comfortable and where he felt he would make an impact. I think that is important, but that is JMO.
I know there are many coaches out there who make it mandatory for their players to play on certain teams before they get to HS, or certain teams to play for while in HS (off season). I haveno problem understnading that situation.
And I agree, each decision should always be thought out carefully. As I said, it's a good experience for when the time comes that it really counts!
If I had added all of those details, it would have been a no brainer.
There have been other times in his young baseball life that he has had to make choices and live up to committments.
I kind of look back at it as a learning experience for when he was ready to make the biggest committment of his life, where to attend college.
He didn't always play for the best team or the best coach or the team that took home all of the trophies. He played where he wanted to, where he felt most comfortable and where he felt he would make an impact. I think that is important, but that is JMO.
I know there are many coaches out there who make it mandatory for their players to play on certain teams before they get to HS, or certain teams to play for while in HS (off season). I haveno problem understnading that situation.
And I agree, each decision should always be thought out carefully. As I said, it's a good experience for when the time comes that it really counts!