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Newbie BB Mom
141 Posts |
 Posted - 01/15/2015 : 09:13:21
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quote:
Originally posted by bballman
I get that. Thinking about this topic for a little while now, I have this thought. High School ball is when things begin to be a business. It really becomes more about winning than development and having fun. Players and parents will have 4 years of that coming up. 14u - 8th grade - is really the last year for the real fun stuff. I'm not saying it can't be or isn't fun when you reach HS and beyond, but 8th grade is really the last year where it's all about having fun. Why not enjoy it? Use the time to get ready for HS and be prepared for tryouts, but have that last year of fun, relatively stress free baseball.
Maybe I'm wrong and others have a different perspective, but that's what I think.
bballman, I'm so glad you keep sharing your perspective with us even as your son has gone on to college ball. We need to be reminded why we're doing this sometimes, I think. Or at least I do. Thanks for your wisdom! |
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Mad1
252 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2015 : 10:39:27
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| For those that have gone through this, how do the high school coaches take to the players also competing in Travel Ball during their season? Just curious, we have 6 8th graders invited to tryout for their schools, and wondered how this will effect travel ball. |
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CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2015 : 14:37:03
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Just in case no else replies:
If you look at the PG tourney's scheduled for Lake Point this year they don't really get going for 14 and up until May. I have been told it is because that is when HS ball is over and travel begins for the older kids. |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2015 : 15:20:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Mad1
For those that have gone through this, how do the high school coaches take to the players also competing in Travel Ball during their season? Just curious, we have 6 8th graders invited to tryout for their schools, and wondered how this will effect travel ball.
Spring school ball (True feeder, JV or Varsity) always expects priority over ANY other team.
If any of your 8th graders make JV or Frosh team, don't expect them to participate with travel team at all until their HS season ends.
To CaCO's point, True high school level travel teams know this and typically don't start doing anything until players begin getting released from their high school teams (i.e., eliminated from playoffs). Typically, 14u teams have the biggest issue around this in the spring and they are made up of some 8th and 9th grade players, so they're typically a few kids short when they start their travel season. Many Utrip and TC tourneys for 14u before HS season ends. PG holds off until "summer". Once you hit 15u, you won't see any tourneys until HS regular season ends. |
Edited by - in_the_know on 01/15/2015 15:34:09 |
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Mad1
252 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2015 : 16:00:37
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quote:
Originally posted by in_the_know
Spring school ball (True feeder, JV or Varsity) always expects priority over ANY other team.
If any of your 8th graders make JV or Frosh team, don't expect them to participate with travel team at all until their HS season ends.
To CaCO's point, True high school level travel teams know this and typically don't start doing anything until players begin getting released from their high school teams (i.e., eliminated from playoffs). Typically, 14u teams have the biggest issue around this in the spring and they are made up of some 8th and 9th grade players, so they're typically a few kids short when they start their travel season. Many Utrip and TC tourneys for 14u before HS season ends. PG holds off until "summer". Once you hit 15u, you won't see any tourneys until HS regular season ends.
Thanks for the response. We are 13u team, but have 6 8th graders, I guess we will see shortly. We have 1 that plays middle school ball in another county, but he can play and just has to provide school coach stats and pitch counts after tourneys. |
Edited by - Mad1 on 01/15/2015 16:20:16 |
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ItsGodGiven
70 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2015 : 21:48:05
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| In the Know is correct. 14u is a hit or miss situation. We went to a 14u team that is predominantly 8th graders. If you are on a team that has half 8th graders and half 9th graders your 8th graders will be left high and try until mid may....and that doesn't take into account kids that are held hostage by HS summer ball. Hard to keep players around in an uncertain situation like that. |
Edited by - ItsGodGiven on 01/15/2015 22:14:08 |
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Gold Glove
129 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2015 : 10:44:31
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Most JV teams looking for 8th graders usually have a smaller turnout than many of the larger schools and are looking for quality players to fill out the roster so the JV team can play a sub varsity schedule.
BBallman, I was told back in 2002 that Fulton County would not let 8th graders play JV. We were looking for 2 more softball players so we could have a JV team. Not sure if that was fact but we weren't allowed, so we weren't able to put together a JV team. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2015 : 13:12:50
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If that had been an option for my son he would have been all over his school team and travel would have had to wait. Although he enjoyed his travel teams his primary focus, from the time his 9 YO rec team won the championship and the in-park All Star team won their series, was to play for his HS. Been there, did that, got the tee shirts (and a lot of other nice shirts) and has moved on.
Now he's one of the best players on his intramural softball team and there are college girls in the dugout. :D |
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whits23
596 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2015 : 21:14:06
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hate to say but here is what most do but the better the player the more leverage.
summer ball is mostly for HS coaches to make a little money during month of june. Lots of kids pay the 300 bucks and never show or show when they can. HS coaches will try to strong arm you into it and if you really think you need it to make the team then do it. However if as an 8th grader you are being asked then my guess is you are in control but do not be a jerk about it.
Speaking of 8th graders playing varsity albeit not in GA
As an 8th grader, McCutchen was already playing varsity, earning first-team All-County honors in the process. It was then, while playing in a regional tournament against sophomore sensation Lastings Milledge—who was already being scouted as a potential high draft pick—that Spradlin knew McCutchen was special. |
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8th grade: JV or 13u travel?
