I was talking to my son's former HS coach this morning. He just got back from the High School State Championships to which he placed 5th. He will be losing 7 seniors and has 8 returning next year. (He started with 19 but lost some players due to parents attitude demanding that their children should be on the field instead of in the dugout.) Youth baseball in this area is basically dead. Once full of players (300+ in rec leagues) 6 years ago, it dwindled to 2 select clubs as of current. Youth baseball here dwindled because of the parents. The ones that ran the youth leagues basically built around their children and didnt hustle to keep going the other age brackets and ended up closing rec leagues. This past year, was the last of those league players that turned freshman. Next year, there are no kids because rec leagues closed down a several years ago and these are the kids that didnt have a youth baseball program.
The coach is thinking of holding a summer league (weight training and baseball clinics and practice) for 12-14 year olds. He wants to attract new players.
I couldnt think of anything to tell him because I was stumped. For the life of me, I cannot think of a way to attract kids that age to get interested in baseball. I mean, it is this age of the great exodus from baseball to other sports. I remember fielding 6 majors teams and then next year after, only 1 junior team.
Does anyone have experience with what this coach is going through and any solutions?
thanks in advance.
The coach is thinking of holding a summer league (weight training and baseball clinics and practice) for 12-14 year olds. He wants to attract new players.
I couldnt think of anything to tell him because I was stumped. For the life of me, I cannot think of a way to attract kids that age to get interested in baseball. I mean, it is this age of the great exodus from baseball to other sports. I remember fielding 6 majors teams and then next year after, only 1 junior team.
Does anyone have experience with what this coach is going through and any solutions?
thanks in advance.
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