AAU/Travel ball questions

[Justice23]

Hi,
I've been a long time lurker here and have learned a lot from the wealth of knowledge present on this site. That being said....

I have been a rec ball daddy coach for the past 6 or so years. My oldest son wanted to try out for a local 11U AAU team and we got the call that he was selected. It is a well respected program in my area.

I'm not overly familiar with AAU or travel teams and was wondering if there were any tips or advice that those of you who have gone before me could pass on. I tried a search of the site but did not locate anything.

Thanks for any help you can provide!!!

[tg643]

Hi,
I've been a long time lurker here and have learned a lot from the wealth of knowledge present on this site. That being said....

I have been a rec ball daddy coach for the past 6 or so years. My oldest son wanted to try out for a local 11U AAU team and we got the call that he was selected. It is a well respected program in my area.

I'm not overly familiar with AAU or travel teams and was wondering if there were any tips or advice that those of you who have gone before me could pass on. I tried a search of the site but did not locate anything.

Thanks for any help you can provide!!!

What questions do you have? I would have had a lot of questions before the tryout about the organization, the coaches and the objectives of the team. Where you live has some bearing on the responses. Travel organizations are not the same from state to state. The views on preteen travel are not the same from state to state. I've been through the journey with two kids. The only advice I can give at this point is don't assume your son is on the road to high school and college stardom just because he's playing travel before puberty.

[Justice23]

I asked the coaches the questions that I had and I really liked that their main objective is teaching them to play ball the right way. I'm in the Northeast, and I have absolutely no delusions that the boy is on the road to stardom. He's mediocre in my opinion.

I'm really just looking for any tips that may make his experience better. I have an idea of what to expect but they didn't have this stuff when I was playing 25-30 years ago.

[tg643]

I asked the coaches the questions that I had and I really liked that their main objective is teaching them to play ball the right way. I'm in the Northeast, and I have absolutely no delusions that the boy is on the road to stardom. He's mediocre in my opinion.

I'm really just looking for any tips that may make his experience better. I have an idea of what to expect but they didn't have this stuff when I was playing 25-30 years ago.

I raised my son in PA where kids bailed out of rec ball starting with 13U. LL and CR dominated preteen baseball. Summer travel was extended play. I live in MA now that my son is off to college. I'm not directly in tune with New England since I don't attend many games. But I believe rec ball is still more prevalent. The quality of travel will be based on the level of ability to the players not the parents ability to pay and claim their son plays some level of superior ball. The mistake a lot of travel parents make is thinking the money paid earns their son the right to play. All that's earned is the right to earn a position. I'm just not a big fan of travel as primary ball for preteens unless the rec programs are a disaster. The baseball journey really starts at 13U on the 60/90 field in preparation of making the high school team. Preteen ball is about learning fundamentals, developing a passion for the game and learning to compete. I can't see paying extra for it in an area where rec ball is where most kids are playing. My son's preteen travel teams were for extra games in the summer after LL ended. Except at eleven and twelve all-stars went into August.

[tradosaurus]

I would be willing to bail if for some reason your son doesn't measure up to the competition on the team. If he is not getting playing time or you would like him experience other positions but the coaches already have it filled then it may not be worth you time and money.

[raptor]

I raised my son in PA where kids bailed out of rec ball starting with 13U. LL and CR dominated preteen baseball. Summer travel was extended play. I live in MA now that my son is off to college. I'm not directly in tune with New England since I don't attend many games. But I believe rec ball is still more prevalent. The quality of travel will be based on the level of ability to the players not the parents ability to pay and claim their son plays some level of superior ball. The mistake a lot of travel parents make is thinking the money paid earns their son the right to play. All that's earned is the right to earn a position. I'm just not a big fan of travel as primary ball for preteens unless the rec programs are a disaster. The baseball journey really starts at 13U on the 60/90 field in preparation of making the high school team. Preteen ball is about learning fundamentals, developing a passion for the game and learning to compete. I can't see paying extra for it in an area where rec ball is where most kids are playing. My son's preteen travel teams were for extra games in the summer after LL ended. Except at eleven and twelve all-stars went into August.

It seems like the cold-weather states where baseball is more of a one-season sport still have highly competitive rec programs, but in the states where baseball is played year-round TB is the norm earlier. I would guess that most rec teams from Connecticut, Mass, etc. would stomp the average rec teams in Texas, Cali, etc..maybe the exception being GA..East Cobb paves the way for Rec into travel transition.

[azmatsfan]

I raised my son in PA where kids bailed out of rec ball starting with 13U. LL and CR dominated preteen baseball. Summer travel was extended play. I live in MA now that my son is off to college. I'm not directly in tune with New England since I don't attend many games. But I believe rec ball is still more prevalent. The quality of travel will be based on the level of ability to the players not the parents ability to pay and claim their son plays some level of superior ball. The mistake a lot of travel parents make is thinking the money paid earns their son the right to play. All that's earned is the right to earn a position. I'm just not a big fan of travel as primary ball for preteens unless the rec programs are a disaster. The baseball journey really starts at 13U on the 60/90 field in preparation of making the high school team. Preteen ball is about learning fundamentals, developing a passion for the game and learning to compete. I can't see paying extra for it in an area where rec ball is where most kids are playing. My son's preteen travel teams were for extra games in the summer after LL ended. Except at eleven and twelve all-stars went into August.

The bold is spot on. It doesn't matter if the team is rec or travel is those goals are being met. My oldest played LL every spring and played club ball in the fall on pretty average AAA teams with great volunteer coaches. My son as a freshman is better prepared than the ones coming in from the Major level teams that were more worried about collecting trophies than development.

[tg643]

It seems like the cold-weather states where baseball is more of a one-season sport still have highly competitive rec programs, but in the states where baseball is played year-round TB is the norm earlier. I would guess that most rec teams from Connecticut, Mass, etc. would stomp the average rec teams in Texas, Cali, etc..maybe the exception being GA..East Cobb paves the way for Rec into travel transition.

Babe Ruth and Legion are still big in New England. My understanding is the only kids playing showcase travel are D1 prospects looking to play ACC or SEC ball in warmer climate. A couple of guys I know have sons playing for a ranked D3's. They were found through high school and Legion ball. When my son played showcase ball there were only a couple of showcase teams I knew of from MA. But AAU/travel is starting to make inroads at the 11U to 15U level.

Back when my son was eleven and twelve in PA the 11U and 12U USSSA teams were started on the premise of "my kid got screwed about LL all-stars." Most travel teams were not very good. We placed fifteen of our potential LL all-stars in a USSSA Sunday doubleheader league and kicked the tails off the "travel" teams. A lot of LL's followed our model to prep for all-stars. Travel ball blossomed at 13U. I recruited on the premise of "Do you want your kid to have the same terrible coaching as rec ball leading into high school?" I put together three coaches with myself who had all played college ball (two pro).

[raptor]

Babe Ruth and Legion are still big in New England. My understanding is the only kids playing showcase travel are D1 prospects looking to play ACC or SEC ball in warmer climate. A couple of guys I know have sons playing for a ranked D3's. They were found through high school and Legion ball. When my son played showcase ball there were only a couple of showcase teams I knew of from MA. But AAU/travel is starting to make inroads at the 11U to 15U level.

Back when my son was eleven and twelve in PA the 11U and 12U USSSA teams were started on the premise of "my kid got screwed about LL all-stars." Most travel teams were not very good. We placed fifteen of our potential LL all-stars in a USSSA Sunday doubleheader league and kicked the tails off the "travel" teams. A lot of LL's followed our model to prep for all-stars. Travel ball blossomed at 13U. I recruited on the premise of "Do you want your kid to have the same terrible coaching as rec ball leading into high school?" I put together three coaches with myself who had all played college ball (two pro).

I grew up in NH..remember first spring practices were in the parking lot outside the gym because there was still snow and frost on the fields..Coach would hit the hard dimpled balls to us which felt like cannon balls in the weather. Sometimes we would take grounders with no gloves. Back then it was all Rec, LL Allstars was all anyone had. I heard travel ball started in the 80's in San Diego, werent you out there then?

[CoolHandLuke]

I guess I'm in the minority here but I have a higher appreciation for "travel ball". Granted my son is only 9 and our baseball journey is still in it's early stage. I do value the opinions of those who have completed their journey with their kids and maybe I'll share their opinion when I'm through as well. I also agree that youth baseball should be about development and building an appreciation for the game.

The main reason my son plays on a travel team is because of the huge disparity between the rec program and travel ball. I've seen my share of rec team practices and frankly it can be hard to watch. Half the kids look like they don't want to be there, and the other half are busy goofing around. Occasionally you'll see 1 or 2 kids on a team who actually want to be there and actually want to learn. But for those kids it's an uphill battle. I equate it to a kid in school who wants to learn but is stuck in a class full of disruptive kids who don't. The teacher is too busy dealing with the problem kids to truly develop the motivated ones. Today's youth ball is not like the youth ball we played 30 years ago (wow I can't believe it's been that long). Back then there was no such thing as travel ball in our area. All the kids played rec and there was a better mix of talent level on the teams. About half the kids were more serious about learning and getting better and the other half were like the aforementioned rec kids. For the advanced kids back then, you at least had other kids on the team you could play catch with and develop your game. If my son played on today's rec teams, I honestly feel he would have a hard time developing. It's an individual decision that parents have to make for their situation. But if baseball development and appreciation for the game is truly the main focus, it would be hard to sign my son up for rec ball and look him in the eye and tell him it's best for him. Maybe it's different in other areas of the country but sadly not where I live.

[TexAg]

I guess I'm in the minority here but I have a higher appreciation for "travel ball". Granted my son is only 9 and our baseball journey is still in it's early stage. I do value the opinions of those who have completed their journey with their kids and maybe I'll share their opinion when I'm through as well. I also agree that youth baseball should be about development and building an appreciation for the game.

The main reason my son plays on a travel team is because of the huge disparity between the rec program and travel ball. I've seen my share of rec team practices and frankly it can be hard to watch. Half the kids look like they don't want to be there, and the other half are busy goofing around. Occasionally you'll see 1 or 2 kids on a team who actually want to be there and actually want to learn. But for those kids it's an uphill battle. I equate it to a kid in school who wants to learn but is stuck in a class full of disruptive kids who don't. The teacher is too busy dealing with the problem kids to truly develop the motivated ones. Today's youth ball is not like the youth ball we played 30 years ago (wow I can't believe it's been that long). Back then there was no such thing as travel ball in our area. All the kids played rec and there was a better mix of talent level on the teams. About half the kids were more serious about learning and getting better and the other half were like the aforementioned rec kids. For the advanced kids back then, you at least had other kids on the team you could play catch with and develop your game. If my son played on today's rec teams, I honestly feel he would have a hard time developing. It's an individual decision that parents have to make for their situation. But if baseball development and appreciation for the game is truly the main focus, it would be hard to sign my son up for rec ball and look him in the eye and tell him it's best for him. Maybe it's different in other areas of the country but sadly not where I live.

I'm right there with you. My son is 10 and played LL last year after a year of travel (his first) and I was disappointed in his regression forced by the team around him. He was only allowed to warm-up with a couple kids because the others couldn't be counted on to safely play catch. Practices were a nightmare and unorganized because well thought out practices were scrapped due to who would/wouldn't show up and any given time.

This year, we're not playing LL and instead trying our hand at a spring season of lacrosse after a fall "developmental" season. He'll still play and practice baseball, but it'll be with his travel team (and me).

There's a lot to still be said for rec leagues and they definitely have a place, but that place isn't for everyone.

[tg643]

Cool and Tex ... Let's not turn this thread into a Rec versus Travel debate. My kids are 19 and 24. I assure you I've seen the debate done to death over the last sixteen years. Let's keep it in scope for the poster asking the question. What you are totally overlooking or unaware rec is not dead in New England. Therefore you would be providing bad advice on the merits of rec versus travel. I watched a few LL games in MA in the past year or two. I didn't see any kids screwing around. Rec is strong right through Legion. More college prospects are found through Legion than travel in New England. It's mostly the major conference D1 prospects who have started gravitating to travel. Some are playing Legion and participating in select individual showcases. At the preteen level in MA I would guess the state tournament level LL all-star teams would thrash a travel team.

[tg643]

I grew up in NH..remember first spring practices were in the parking lot outside the gym because there was still snow and frost on the fields..Coach would hit the hard dimpled balls to us which felt like cannon balls in the weather. Sometimes we would take grounders with no gloves. Back then it was all Rec, LL Allstars was all anyone had. I heard travel ball started in the 80's in San Diego, werent you out there then?

I coached Base Ruth ball out of college. PONY and LL were the prevalent preteen programs. I never heard anything about travel. The concept was foreign to me until I was approached about my daughter playing ASA softball when she was eleven. By then we were in PA. Growing up Legion was like travel. For the team I played players from five high schools competed for fifteen roster spots.

[CoolHandLuke]

Cool and Tex ... Let's not turn this thread into a Rec versus Travel debate. My kids are 19 and 24. I assure you I've seen the debate done to death over the last sixteen years. Let's keep it in scope for the poster asking the question. What you are totally overlooking or unaware rec is not dead in New England. Therefore you would be providing bad advice on the merits of rec versus travel. I watched a few LL games in MA in the past year or two. I didn't see any kids screwing around. Rec is strong right through Legion. More college prospects are found through Legion than travel in New England. It's mostly the major conference D1 prospects who have started gravitating to travel. Some are playing Legion and participating in select individual showcases. At the preteen level in MA I would guess the state tournament level LL all-star teams would thrash a travel team.

The OP was making the transition from rec to travel and was looking for advice. I merely shared what my experience was like. I made it clear that other regions of the country may be different and that each parent should make individual decisions based on their situation. Because your town in MA has a strong rec program doesn't necessarily mean every town on the east coast does. The Northeast region spans anywhere from PA, NY up to Maine. It's rather large and diverse. It's rather arrogant to think that your experience means more than others.

[tg643]

The OP was making the transition from rec to travel and was looking for advice. I merely shared what my experience was like. I made it clear that other regions of the country may be different and that each parent should make individual decisions based on their situation. Because your town in MA has a strong rec program doesn't necessarily mean every town on the east coast does. The Northeast region spans anywhere from PA, NY up to Maine. It's rather large and diverse. It's rather arrogant to think that your experience means more than others.

From people I've talked with and people I know whose kids have gone through and are going through the journey Rec ball is strong all over New England. Pennsylvania and New York are not in New England. The original poster is from New England. I raised two kids in PA who play(ed) college softball and baseball. Pennsylvania is much different than New England in terms of travel. But the difference starts at 13U. I'm confident having been through the process with two kids, knowing a lot of players and parents who have been through the process and living in the area provides more access and knowledge than the father of a preteen living several hundred miles away. What is it exactly you know about youth baseball in New England?