What tournaments / showcases for a 15U Team?

What are you trying to accomplish? Play to win type of tourneys or exposure?

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:
What are you trying to accomplish? Play to win type of tourneys or exposure?

At this age? I would think a good amount of both...if that's possible.

I'm well aware of the odds of some of these kids playing ball at the next level, but I think that after their FR year, it'll mostly be geared towards exposure, besides HS ball.

Does that make sense?

Yes, it does.

At this age, their really aren't many good "play-to-win" tourneys because most of the better players are playing in exposure tourneys at colleges every weekend.

We host tourneys throughout the year on campuses. Dynamic Baseball

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:
Yes, it does.

At this age, their really aren't many good "play-to-win" tourneys because most of the better players are playing in exposure tourneys at colleges every weekend.

We host tourneys throughout the year on campuses. Dynamic Baseball

Thanks

I don't know that I agree with Redbird when he says players "at this age" are on college campuses all the time. I'm wondering if he read your original post -- 15u?

My experience was that ages 14-15 were when teams went through big sorting out process. Some kids realize, after a while of playing on the big field, that this is just not going to be their thing. Others were in it mainly for recreation, and as the focus shifts to higher and higher competition and the pursuit of college ball, they feel out of place and drop out. Others will get plucked from the rosters of your typical, local travel teams to join regional, statewide or multi-state teams as they prepare for the next step.

As a result, it is VERY hard to find good tournaments at this age, and what's more, it's not unusual to sign up for a tourney and then find when the time rolls around that a lot of the teams you thought were going to be there no longer exist.

The WWBA events are awesome, but it's a very expensive trip, too. Considering that there is no recruiting going on at the 15u level, I personally would not spend the money on it. But if you find the cost acceptable, you will certainly enjoy the event. Just don't be surprised if you pay your fee in December and then find come June that you're not sure you have enough players to field a team for the event. Meaning, I would tread lightly when it comes to laying out a lot of cash way ahead of events, because in all likelihood, when some of your kids get cut from their HS JV teams come the end of February, some of them are going to get discouraged with baseball generally, and disappear on you.

Triple Crown is not all that much of an event, which I can say given that our team won the 17u and thus, I cannot be accused of sour grapes. But it's one where openings will remain available until the very last minute, so I would suggest you keep it on your calendar and then wait to pay your money until, say, early July.

Some folks still go to things like AAU state, regional and national tourneys at that age. Personally, I've always thought AAU has an unjustified high opinion of itself and its charges and paperwork are just ridiculous. I think you could do better just setting up weekend doubleheaders against hand-picked opposition that will (a) cost you nothing more than balls and umpires, (b) play that the level you think is suitable for your team, and (c) avoid losing days sitting across the field from those teams that bring the kinds of people you don't like being around, if you get my drift.

Another option that used to exist -- not sure of its current state -- was that USSSA used to set up leagues for teams at that age to play each other. USSSA's people really got involved, did a lot of work, charged next to nothing, and made things run smoothly. If that's still an option, it's one I'd recommend.

BTW, USSSA is by far the best place to get the insurance certificate that many tourneys will require you to have, for next to nothing.

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
Another option that used to exist -- not sure of its current state -- was that USSSA used to set up leagues for teams at that age to play each other. USSSA's people really got involved, did a lot of work, charged next to nothing, and made things run smoothly. If that's still an option, it's one I'd recommend.

BTW, USSSA is by far the best place to get the insurance certificate that many tourneys will require you to have, for next to nothing.

http://www.vausssabaseball.com/

They still have a great program.

quote:

ages 14-15 were when teams went through big sorting out process. Some kids realize, after a while of playing on the big field, that this is just not going to be their thing. Others were in it mainly for recreation, and as the focus shifts to higher and higher competition and the pursuit of college ball, they feel out of place and drop out.

Couldn’t agree more; play local, for small fees, until the sorting out process has taken its natural course.

Alright I guess I should have posted more info.

The 15U team in question is the team I've coached for almost 5 years.

We went to the 14U WWBA and had a blast.

I have mainly 2015's with a few young 2014's. They all played JV as 8th graders last year or JV/V as 9th graders.

Just looking for what other events to play in come next Summer after the HS season.

We play plenty of USSSA. In fact a person very involved with them, his grandson his on my team, has been for several years.

I guess I should have been more detailed on my original post.

As far as HS ball, the 'sorting out' process has pretty much run it's course for my guys. We don't have anyone struggling on the big field.

The 15U WWBA at East Cobb is a given. Parents / kids alike, we had a great experience there. Plenty to do around games, and we got lucky with a GREAT hotel and we plan on staying at the same place.

In all likelihood the only 15U event we will play is at East Cobb. We'll play 16U or up in other events. Just looking for input for quality events.

quote:

Originally posted by ctandc:
I figured I'd ask those who have been through it.

Besides the 15U WWBA East Cobb tourney, what other tournaments / events would each of you recommend for a 15U Team? 16U events would be fine as well.

Right now I'm looking at:
...... and the Triple Crown Summer Nationals 15U 7/20-8/2 in Myrtle Beach

Keewartson's team played in the 15U WWBA, the Triple Crown in Myrtle Beach, as well as the 15U BCS Finals in Ft. Myers last summer. I think the coaches thinking was the MB tourny would be probably the last before showcasing took over. The Myrtle Beach event drew teams of many different levels from all over the country. Myrtle Beach is a "destination" and the hotel rates in the summer are quite high. We were one of several families that didn't stay in the require lodging and stayed off the oceanfront in a wonderful golf resort 4BR condo. One thing about playing baseball at the beach, when it rains, you can't do either. But there are plenty of other things to do. A question to ask...are you going for vacation or to play baseball? Many teams were there for vacation. We have vacationed as a family to MB, so we made this a baseball event and stayed off the beach and older son got to golf.

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
I don't know that I agree with Redbird when he says players "at this age" are on college campuses all the time. I'm wondering if he read your original post -- 15u?

Yes, I read it. Certainly not every kid at the 15U level is doing it, but our Canes kids do. Can every kid or team handle it? Probably not. But, if you have a team full of 9th grade kids (15u) who are contributors at the JV/V level, they can play against 10th graders (16u).

At 15u, my 2012's were playing 16's and 17's on the weekends.

"The 'sorting out' process has pretty much run its course for my guys."

I regret to inform you that you are mistaken.

Trust me, your team will head in many different directions in the coming years. The best I can do is warn you that is coming so that you will prepare yourself.

I realize there is a desire to keep such wonderful teams together. I also realize that you cannot, you will not, and you probably should not even try -- since trying means you would have to impose one prescribed path upon a number of players for whom it may not be the right fit. It's not a "one size fits all" world.

What I would suggest you do is spend the next year thinking about the direction you and your son want to go. Then make it clear that you plan to take your team in that direction. Let whoever doesn't want that move on to other teams, and then go get other players whose goals align with yours. Then things will stay happy all around.

In the meantime, play ball and don't worry too much about tournaments and far-flung travel. None of that from the 15u year really comes to much.

Please believe me on this....

There are lots of 15 year old players that are well known by many major college coaches. We know who many of the top 15 year old players are.

From a scouting perspective, there's a very good reason to track the history of a talented young player. That history can provide valuable meaningful information. Not to be confused with all that information being helpful to every player.

I'll just leave it at that.

There are certainly some players in that realm.

It's rare to see a whole team of them, though, because you're still at a point when the local travel teams are having their top players consolidate into more prospect-laden groupings.

Good points Midlo Dad. I can't imagine how much further the Stars 16U team could have gone this past summer at the 16U WWBA if they had some key players from the summer of 2010. At 15 and 16, teams change and better players move on...............

quote:

Couldn’t agree more; play local, for small fees, until the sorting out process has taken its natural course

Nothing wrong with playing local and/or saving money. But... Don't we all know that the sorting out process has already started by the age of 15. Then that sorting out process never ends, it continues even in college and professional baseball.

I think it is nothing more than separation of talent. For those that possess the most talent, there is an advantage in playing against equal talent (even at age 14-15). There's an advantage when decision makers know who you are. IMO, the sooner they know about a player the better and I think most DI coaches would say the same thing. All these 16 year old kids that are committing to major colleges should be enough evidence. Our 16U events have become big attractions for college recruiters. The WWBA Underclass Championship going on right now has 100s of colleges in Ft Myers, FL. This tournament used to draw a handful of college recruiters years ago. These days, there are college recruiters at the “15 U” championship in Georgia. Makes sense that that will continue to grow quickly. If you make an offer to a 16 year old, wouldn’t you want to see him (or at least know about him) as a 15 year old or maybe even as a 14 year old? I know I’m talking about a very high level that deals with a small percentage of all the players in the country. I also know that it’s not absolutely necessary and that many players have achieved great success doing things differently.

There is nothing that guarantees success, but there are things that can help. We know many players who missed their junior year because of injury. One such player missed nearly all of both his soph. and junior year of playing baseball. Yet everyone knew who he was and he did wind up as a major contributor at a College World Series team. I'm pretty sure that nearly every college power program knew about him by the time he was 15 years old.

I do agree that for the "majority" of young kids it is most important to keep playing no matter what level or where they play. Guess I'm talking about those that have the most talent. Though it's not exact, it's not very difficult to figure out which kids have that talent at age 15. I bet most everyone here could figure out who those kids would be. There are certain programs that recognize and develop these type players at a very young age. We see 14 year old players that are definite college prospects. More often it turns out that way. Look no farther than the East Cobb 14U team. There are many other programs all around the country that do a great job. These programs want to play against each other. Obviously it's not for everyone, but it is amazing how many of the top players came out of this type of environment.

I wondered here a few years back, given the ever-accelerting recruiting time table, if Ft. Myers would some day overtake Jupiter in terms of college recruiting. We aren't there yet but, do you wonder if that could ever happen? It just seems like, by the end of October, more and more colleges have already finished, or come close to finishing, their recruiting classes.

(Not saying that's the case right now. And of course, Jupiter will always have the edge on the pro scouts in any event.)

But I also wonder how far things can push back to the younger and younger ages before things come to an equilibrium point. Some studs are evident at age 15. Others are barely done with puberty and not ready to be evaluated.

That, plus logistics. Too many families can't afford years and years of travel ball; even handling one year on the recruiting circuit is tough. And 15's can't drive themselves to events.

I know of course that there are already some stud-magnet 15u teams that put prospects attracted from all over the place all on one field, the way you expect with 17u teams and now more and more 16u teams. But I don't think there are huge numbers of stud magnet teams at 15u. Instead, you get a lot of mismatches, when the stud magnet teams play against teams that are still working off the youth model of teams based in a more narrow geographic area, maybe kids who've played together for years.

I think, as Redbird suggests, you may see more cases of the very top 15's playing on 16u teams instead -- not just for exposure, but to nail down their slots on those teams for the following year. Right now if I had a 15u/2015 player who had that capability, I would go that route, as it would be just too hard to put together enough comparable kids to play wholly 15u. And in turn, when the kid gets to be 16, maybe he then puts in 2 years on a 17u team.

I'm sure people wouldn't mind tracking a true stud kid from early on, but from the player's perspective, if you can't get yourself the right fit in 2 years of travel ball, I don't see how starting earlier would solve the problem.

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
"The 'sorting out' process has pretty much run its course for my guys."

I regret to inform you that you are mistaken.

Maybe I misunderstood your post? I simply meant that none of my current players are struggling on the big fields against solid (even much older) competition.

quote:

Trust me, your team will head in many different directions in the coming years. The best I can do is warn you that is coming so that you will prepare yourself.

I realize there is a desire to keep such wonderful teams together. I also realize that you cannot, you will not, and you probably should not even try -- since trying means you would have to impose one prescribed path upon a number of players for whom it may not be the right fit. It's not a "one size fits all" world.

Oh I definitely understand what you are saying. At this age many personalities are changing and emerging. I also understand that in the next year or so, at least several of my guys may see their "peak" (Physically at least) and that will effect things as well. And I definitely agree with the "one size fits all" comment.

quote:

What I would suggest you do is spend the next year thinking about the direction you and your son want to go. Then make it clear that you plan to take your team in that direction. Let whoever doesn't want that move on to other teams, and then go get other players whose goals align with yours. Then things will stay happy all around.

In the meantime, play ball and don't worry too much about tournaments and far-flung travel. None of that from the 15u year really comes to much.

Thanks for the post and the thought put into it, the effort is appreciated. Trust me, my son and I have talked a lot recently. I think it was started by a conversation we had a while back, where he had a couple of nagging little injuries (not baseball related) and he appeared to get a bit discouraged. We seriously talked about the future and whether or not he even wanted for baseball to play a part, IF that became an option. I let him know that I would not be his source of motivation. If he wanted to hit, or throw, or workout, I would do everything I could to help, but I wasn't going to be pushing him anywhere. I told him that the EFFORT and the DRIVE has to come from him. I also made very clear to him that it was HIS baseball and not mine.

I honestly don't know if that conversation played a part, but my son has seriously turned up the heat in putting the work in, on his own. I think a length of physical therapy helped inspire him, since his two PT guys are former college athletes, and he's been REALLY encouraged by the positive change in his body as he has worked out.

I know that MANY things can change in a year. As far as my team, I will have open tryouts again right before Winter workouts start. I always do this. And as much as I enjoy coaching, I am a FATHER first. So if a better opportunity for my son shows itself, I will make the best decision for my son the priority.

I honestly planned on staying pretty much local, except for a the East Cobb tourney, and possibly the Triple Crown at Myrtle Beach. To us, since I have family close to there, it becomes more of a vacation with baseball added in.

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
....I think, as Redbird suggests, you may see more cases of the very top 15's playing on 16u teams instead -- not just for exposure, but to nail down their slots on those teams for the following year. Right now if I had a 15u/2015 player who had that capability, I would go that route, as it would be just too hard to put together enough comparable kids to play wholly 15u. And in turn, when the kid gets to be 16, maybe he then puts in 2 years on a 17u team.

I'm sure people wouldn't mind tracking a true stud kid from early on, but from the player's perspective, if you can't get yourself the right fit in 2 years of travel ball, I don't see how starting earlier would solve the problem.

Thanks for this post, because this is what I've found myself thinking about lately.

To me, this Winter will be the proving ground for many of my players. What I mean is off-season dedication to strength and conditioning, long-toss, instruction etc.

There are several decisions I will be making soon, and part of that is the fact I have probably 6-7 kids who would be very, very competitive at the 16U and 17U levels right now. We've been playing at the local 16U level, but of course I know the National level is very different.

I will be sharing my intentions for what direction my son intends to go, and depending on circumstances, this may involve moving up an age level, or more.

quote:

Originally posted by ctandc:
We seriously talked about the future and whether or not he even wanted for baseball to play a part, IF that became an option. I let him know that I would not be his source of motivation. If he wanted to hit, or throw, or workout, I would do everything I could to help, but I wasn't going to be pushing him anywhere. I told him that the EFFORT and the DRIVE has to come from him. I also made very clear to him that it was HIS baseball and not mine.

quote:

I honestly don't know if that conversation played a part, but my son has seriously turned up the heat in putting the work in, on his own. I think a length of physical therapy helped inspire him, since his two PT guys are former college athletes, and he's been REALLY encouraged by the positive change in his body as he has worked out.

This is a wonderful indicator of future success.

It's also something that will separate him from his current teammates, both literally and figuratively. Figuratively in that, if they're all on the same field, he will stand out. Literally, in that he will grow frustrated that others are not following his lead and not playing at the level he expects of himself and, by extension, of his teammates.

It's why kids like him move on to other teams.