What Age to play?

I'd play U17 as if he plays U18 and the organization is good, meaning lots of college bound players, he won't see as much play time as he would in an age pure environment as coach needs to get his college players ready for fall ball.

Ofcourse, on the flip side, there is a lot to be said if you are one that can accept your time and learn from those around you. Great to be surrounded by guys who have what you want. There effort really shows the way.

I'm not sure how many organizations have a 17U classification. In ours (WWBA/BCS) 17U is the age but anyone that graduates from high school in 2013 would be eligible, even if they were 18 or 19 years old.

Scouting and recruiting is mostly based on grad year, not age.

Play with whatever age is the normal age for your grad year. I think most scouts will be looking at the 17 year old teams. Most 18's already have somewhere to go and 16's are just a little to young to be accepting offers - unless they are a stud. Like PG said, play with what is normally the year for your graduating class. That will eliminate any confusion.

thanks for your replies. In complete transparency, he's been offered a spot on an "18u showcase" team. There's also a well respected 16u team that is high on him but has not offered a spot yet.

I'm worried about the 18u team in regards playing time since most players will be fall seniors. That team though has stated equal playing time policies since it is a "showcase" team.

I'm worried about the 16u team from a competition stand point because son already knows he'll be on varsity next spring competing with the senior incumbent catcher. He needs the highest competition this summer.

He's pretty stoked about the 18u team but I'm just not sure.

Advice?

His goal is college ball. Does playing on 18u get you on the radar sooner or are the recruiters (for the most part) not looking at 18u now but the 16 & 17u teams? Ultimately meaning fewer recruiters seeing him.

This sounds like what you could happen?

bballman gave some great advise. To put it in perspective, your son is a 2014 so have him play with the 2014's and if he can compete, the 2013's. I would not have him play with the 2015's, unless the 2015’s were in fact playing (up) in a 2014 bracket.

~ insert XXU where necessary in order to make a decision.

Best of luck to your son this summer.

This is the summer of 2013s. A 2014 who is a stud will get followed. Studs are few and far between. Therefore a 2014 should play where he will most enjoy himself, where he will play, and where he will develop best.

Don't miss out enjoying youth for the sake of hoping to get noticed. Again, unless he is a stud who has already beaten out that year older senior, I would not get too bogged down on which team to play on.

Start thinking about which colleges he may be interested in and find out if they offer a camp, or find out what events they will be at.

Save your budget for college hunting for your 2014 until next spring.

quote:

Originally posted by calisportsfan:
I'd play U17 as if he plays U18 and the organization is good, meaning lots of college bound players, he won't see as much play time as he would in an age pure environment as coach needs to get his college players ready for fall ball.

Its been explained to me that this 18u showcase team is made up of mostly 2013 players and 1 or 2 2014's. Not college bound next fall.

quote:

Its been explained to me that this 18u showcase team is made up of mostly 2013 players and 1 or 2 2014's. Not college bound next fall.

So it's really a 17u team? Playing an 18u schedule?

We were always told to play with the graduating class, like PGstaff said.

quote:

So it's really a 17u team? Playing an 18u schedule?

Yes

Unless a 2014 is already a jaw dropping stud and ready to be noticed by coaches and scouts he should play where it sets him up to be on the best team to be seen the following year. This year it may require choosing between playing a lot on a 16U team or being a part time player on an 18U team. But if the 18U team is the one he wants to be on next year it may be worth getting on the roster this year.

Don't get caught up in the semantics of 17U or 18U. The issue is are they getting to the appropriate venues to get the players in front of the right college baseball programs.