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HITANDRUN
436 Posts |
 Posted - 03/18/2009 : 10:58:42
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Can the experienced parents on this board who had sons playing travel baseball early (age 10 or so) until high school chime in about their experience with it. Did you sons experience burnout? Did it ever get old and boring to them? How do you keep it fun for them year after year? Do they get sick of all the games, all the tournaments, I imagine it can get old? Would love to hear from experienced parents on this subject.  |
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 11:13:33
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| My 10U and 12U love the game and would be devastated if for any reason they could not go to the ball park and play with their friends. When they lose their love for the game then we will move on to their next endeavor but this one has been quite a ride filled with memories that will stay with me till death. |
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tater77bug
133 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 11:35:34
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| My view is that if it is kept in perspective that your child has a good chance or almost no chance of being the next Chipper Jones or Greg Maddox then travel ball is very rewarding...I see children that do get burned out I suppose but that is usually a kid that doesn't really enjoy baseball or a kid that the parents heap so much expectations on them that they can't have fun...remember it is all practice until they get to high school...and each child is different from a maturity standpoint and as they mature they may find other interests...it doesn't mean they are burned out or you did something wrong...they may just like basketball, football, or band better...as for my kids they love playing...being at the park...being around the other teammates and learning valuable life lessons....like teamwork...competing...overcoming failure...dealing with success....hard work want kill them....friendships and relationship skills...plus if they play at a fairly high level they will be able to go places they may never have gotten to go...Cooperstown....Disney...South Haven and more...my one after we lost at Cooperstown as a 10u wanted to know if he could stay another week because he loved it so much...don't put too much into trophies and such and let him have fun and good luck...if he really wants to play he will play... |
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JordanCaleb
18 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 12:15:20
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My oldest son is in 10th grade and plays on his high school varsity team. He started travel ball when he was 9 years old. I have another son going through again and he is now 11. The main thing I've learned about in travel baseball is it's a marathon in which the primary goal is to get your son ready for high school ball should he choose to play.
Burnout can become a problem if baseball is the only sport they play and they don't have enough time off to be kids. Don't let baseball be the only sport they play and if it is don't let it consume them year round. If your son takes the fall off, he won't get left behind or if he plays football his team mates won't develop skills that he's missing. If he's an athlete he'll be fine. You'll find that he will be hungry for baseball when the season rolls around.
The best thing I can say about travel ball is the friends my son and my family have made throughout the seasons that will last a lifetime. While I have seen plenty of jerks at the ball park, the overwhelming majority have been great people with whom my son and family will have life long memories. Yes getting trophies are nice in the present, but once the dust collects on them and they get stored away in some box down in the basement, the memories and the lasting friendships will be what we carry with us. |
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goyard
217 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 12:18:48
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HitAndRun - Great question and I have a 13u playing that has been in the travel system quite a long time. I really think the answer, though vague, is that it depends on the kid on a per kid basis.
My advice would be to let the kid drive when it comes to his wants and desires. He will take drive you to the proper destination. You should be there as a passenger to assist with the road maps and potential hazards and obstacles that he might encounter on the way. Don't push him to get to his destination too fast and don't assume there is only one way to gt to where he wants to go.
Multi-Sport and hunting, fishing and camping are great off season stimulators as well. My two cents :) |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 12:32:52
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My son is nearing 10. He's done year round Rec/All-stars/Travel since he was 7, and is now experiencing some burnout. 1st sign is they don't want to practice w/ you 1 on 1, then they complain about all the team practices. He still loves the games, but sees the rest as boring. Once he gets to practice he has fun, but getting him away from the neighborhood gang to go to practice can be a real struggle.
I've backed off all 1 on 1, allowed him to pick his team for the 1st time, and will allow him to miss an occasional practice if the schedule gets too heavy, or school work piles up.
We took 2 months off this Winter (completely, no baseball at all) to play hoops.
Our Coaches started making practices more fun lately, and that has really helped. Teams doing non-baseball activities together also helps. I try not to bring up baseball on his off days.
I think a hotel tourney each season is key. Playing in the pool, halls, and rooms, eating out, movies together makes it more fun.
He takes golf/tennis camps late Summer. We're shutting it down in June this year, and not playing late Summer or Fall baseball. Its all golf and tennis as little, or as much, as he wants.
I think you have to control the volume and variety of their sports activities, and respond to them quickly when they feel overtaxed. Baseball 4 days a week is my sons max. He has to have 3 days of free play time.
God Luck!
10quote:
Originally posted by HITANDRUN
Can the experienced parents on this board who had sons playing travel baseball early (age 10 or so) until high school chime in about their experience with it. Did you sons experience burnout? Did it ever get old and boring to them? How do you keep it fun for them year after year? Do they get sick of all the games, all the tournaments, I imagine it can get old? Would love to hear from experienced parents on this subject.
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kbuck
33 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 12:39:09
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I have two sons that are playing travel ball. One is a freshman in HS and one is playing 12u ball. I think it has to do with the kid and the coaches. If the kid truly loves baseball I am not sure he will ever get enough. On the other hand I think the coach needs to be smart about his schedule. I have run into coaches that would play every weekend and that will burn a kid out quick (parents too). As they get older they start getting interested in other things outside of baseball. Some will stop playing at this time but I am not sure it is from getting burned out but just more interested in other things. My oldest lived and breathed baseball from the age of 6. Now that he is older, he still loves baseball but it is not as strong as it once was. Now my younger son loves to play the game but the true love is not there. He would rather be fishing or hunting. I have to be careful with him as to not burning him out with baseball. He has a ton of talent, great pitcher (mid 70's @ 12u) and a great catcher. Sorry to bore you with my kids but what I am saying is it depends on the kid as to how much I would play him. Also the games need to be fun for him. I get caught up in a game and will shout out towards my kids and that is not a good thing. I am told all the time that when my kids get in HS ball or maybe even college that none of the trophies nor the outcome of any game in travel ball matters. I keep that in mind all the time now. Just let the kid dictate how much he wants to do.
I hope this helps a little. |
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wildcard
5 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 13:22:20
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Great post, Hitandrun. My son started travel ball at age 9, and this will be his 6th year. He still loves it and looks forward to the tournaments. I think some of the main reasons, aside from the fact that it's always been "in his blood," are these: He has played many other sports along the way; both organized and not, individual and team. Until this year, he's played very close to home. What kid wants to get in the car for an hour to go to practice? Also, he has made a lot of friends along the way. And he didn't start any type of extra lessons until age 12, and no conditioning until this year. His "conditioning" was a game of manhunt in the yard with the neighbors, shooting hoops, or paintball. Nothing baseball-specific.
Probably the key to keeping it fun is keeping it in perspective. When bad things happen, it's not a failure - it's a chance to learn.
Here's a twist on your question - how do we parents keep from getting burned out? Because, at the end of the day, these kids of ours are going to move on...to play at a the next level, where we'll will be politely asked to step back, or they'll do something completely different. All the years of practices & games is our life, too. We've gotta make sure we have something to show for it or it's all wasted. Closeness with your kid, regardless of what level he played, is the reward, IMHO. It's not just baseball, it's part of raising a man who can fight for something, deal with bad breaks without excuses, be confident and humble at the same time, keep several balls in the air, and generally keep his head on straight. That's the prize we can really keep our eye on.
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goyard
217 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 13:44:55
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Probably the key to keeping it fun is keeping it in perspective. When bad things happen, it's not a failure - it's a chance to learn.
Here's a twist on your question - how do we parents keep from getting burned out? Because, at the end of the day, these kids of ours are going to move on...to play at a the next level, where we'll will be politely asked to step back, or they'll do something completely different. All the years of practices & games is our life, too. We've gotta make sure we have something to show for it or it's all wasted. Closeness with your kid, regardless of what level he played, is the reward, IMHO. It's not just baseball, it's part of raising a man who can fight for something, deal with bad breaks without excuses, be confident and humble at the same time, keep several balls in the air, and generally keep his head on straight. That's the prize we can really keep our eye on"
WELL SAID!!! HOPE ALL READ THIS POINT!!
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greglomax
1031 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 14:28:38
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bmoser,
10U seems to be a tough age for that occurrence. I remember it being that way for my son as well. It seemed like every time we had practice, all the kids in the neighborhood would be outside playing. Not to mention he had to miss a bunch of birthday parties because of tournaments. It is a tough balance. In the off season, we made sure to let him go to as many birthday parties as he was invited to so he felt like he was getting to enjoy some. Also we planned sleep-overs with kids that were not on the team so he felt he was getting to do some stuff with non-baseball kids. |
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HITANDRUN
436 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 14:40:37
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Thanks for the replies: Did any of your sons take a spring season off from baseball?
Seems like high schools are getting away from 3 sport athletes these days and that is sort of sad. Even coaches at that level tend to push kids into one sport. I would have gone nuts just playing baseball year round.
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 15:30:18
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| My son is 15 and a freshman in HS. Played a fall of 11u travel, played 12u twice (due to the age change), then 13 and 14 so far. That is 5 1/2 years of travel. He played fall and spring/summer. Played football one year (7th grade) and decided it wasn't for him. He has not gotten burned out. Somehow the game has remained fun to him. Usually fall ball ends in October and by Feb or March he is dying to get back on the field again. I think for some, it is just in them to do it. For some, they might get tired of it and you need to watch for signs. I can't speak for those whose kids get burned out, but I'm sure it happens. I have seen several kids get tired of baseball at the travel level, decide to quit, then decide they miss it and come back to play at the rec level and love it again. |
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greglomax
1031 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 16:38:06
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My son typically played something else in the fall. We used it as "Whatever you want to play" season.
The first year it was Lacrosse, the second it was Football, this past fall it was Tennis. He was able to play them without the same level of comittment and just play. |
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2009 : 20:06:44
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| I think one of the keys to not burning them out is diversity. My 10U and 12U both play football and then basketball although even during these seasons we take some time out in the batting and pitching cages just to keep them sharp. Another thing we did this winter that was a blast is paintball. They fell in love with this but be careful as I have finally found something more expensive than baseball. I thought bats were expensive, Have you ever purchased a paintball gun. |
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HITANDRUN
436 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2009 : 07:01:52
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Maybe at the end of the season we can put together an east cobb paint ball team and challenge the boynton bandits paint ball team. 10U. With the speed of your team it may not be a good idea, we may just play in a AA paint ball tournament.
Good Luck this weekend.
On a serious note people are still trying to figure out what the bunt signal was for boynton during the seasons of kid pitch? |
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baseballpapa
1520 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2009 : 09:22:54
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| Hit&Run: The paint ball challenge first, We accept but we are at a huge disadvantage even with our speed as most of them can't see over the bunkers. The bunt sign is changed each game just so you can't pick up the signal. Last game if Coach Troy stood up you bunted. Problem with that one was Coach Troy is so short they couldn't tell if he was standing up or sitting on the bucket so we changed that one quick. |
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oldmanmj
191 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2009 : 13:02:57
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| As many have stated, I have two boys and nephews that have played Elite Travel baseball. Each one has played or plays multiple sports. I have seen only a handful over the years leave baseball completely because they were burned out. I have seen more leave the game because a parent allows a coach to blow a kid up because they think he is all world. Parents need to be selective with who they let coach there kids and play at their skill level, as all are not Major players. |
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websterrebel
46 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2009 : 10:26:13
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| I have had 2 sons play baseball since they were 7. One is now in college and the other a 10th grader. Both were very good travel players on very good travel teams. The fact is that when players hit high school they have to dedicate themselves to the support year round. There is no way they can be a starter at a high school in the North Fulton area unless baseball is their number one sport and they commit themselves to it 12 months out of the year. On the high school team where my son attends there is not a single player that plays on a regular basis that also plays another sport. 75% of the players on my sons elite 13u travel team did not play baseball anymore when they were seniors. What does all of this mean? Travel baseball is one of the most over emphasized activities in the United States. Don't get me wrong, we have great memories from those days but if I (and many other parents that were their with us) could do it all over again we would play less games, give players that sat out a lot more playing time, limit pitchers to about 50 pitches a week and not take things so seriously. The reality hits all these kids when they walk out for high school try outs and there are 40 kids trying out and only a handful of spots open. Trust me you will see players drop out, players sit all the time and the experience is somewhat of a downer. My oldest started every game his senior year and could have played at least at a D2 level but he was done by the end of his senior season and just wanted to go to college and move on with life. This is what happens to the vast majority of high school players and those that were once great travel ball players. |
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billbclk
164 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2009 : 15:46:15
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| I don't think kids get burned out as much as their options (activities) expand as they get older. (IMHO) Players should derive “their version” of fun from the game itself (you can’t make it fun for them). Maybe they get their fun from practices, games, their first head first slide, hearing the click/clack of their first pair of metal spikes or just getting better each year. I know players that play year round and players that take off each fall and do nothing and they both are CRAZY about baseball. |
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bmoser
1633 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2009 : 22:25:34
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WEBSTERREBEL:
Help me understand your point That travel ball was mostly irrelavant as it regards to making a high school team.
So...Rec players beat out the travel players for the High School slots? Kids who never played travel baseball beat out all the travel ball players? Football players hwo never played baseball beat out travel ball players? Travel ball players all quit?
Who made the team if not travel ball players? I'm scrathing my head here.
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2009 : 11:28:36
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| I would agree that a ton of travel ball players do not wind up playing HS ball by the time they are seniors. However, I would also say that the vast majority of HS seniors are/were travel ball players. |
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AllStar
762 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2009 : 20:36:13
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quote:
Originally posted by websterrebel
I have had 2 sons play baseball since they were 7. One is now in college and the other a 10th grader. Both were very good travel players on very good travel teams. The fact is that when players hit high school they have to dedicate themselves to the support year round. There is no way they can be a starter at a high school in the North Fulton area unless baseball is their number one sport and they commit themselves to it 12 months out of the year. On the high school team where my son attends there is not a single player that plays on a regular basis that also plays another sport. 75% of the players on my sons elite 13u travel team did not play baseball anymore when they were seniors. What does all of this mean? Travel baseball is one of the most over emphasized activities in the United States. Don't get me wrong, we have great memories from those days but if I (and many other parents that were their with us) could do it all over again we would play less games, give players that sat out a lot more playing time, limit pitchers to about 50 pitches a week and not take things so seriously. The reality hits all these kids when they walk out for high school try outs and there are 40 kids trying out and only a handful of spots open. Trust me you will see players drop out, players sit all the time and the experience is somewhat of a downer. My oldest started every game his senior year and could have played at least at a D2 level but he was done by the end of his senior season and just wanted to go to college and move on with life. This is what happens to the vast majority of high school players and those that were once great travel ball players.
As they say on facebook. I like this.
Great perspective for those of us in the heat of it. I only hope my son remembers this as fondly as I remember Little League and its 32 games in a year. If your allstar team did well. |
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Rocky
290 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2009 : 20:40:05
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| Jeff Francouer played football and baseball, I know alot of kids even today who could play or get offers to play in college for 2 sports, I can't believe most high school players have to pick one sport. If a coach makes them he is crazy, crosstraining at its finest if you ask me. |
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BROOKSTEAM
145 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 19:53:37
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Here are my thoughts:
*Let them have a non sports hobby, my son races slot cars and loves playing with his teammates when they come over
*Play different sports in the fall
*Watch baseball, go to games, collect cards and autos. Let the love of the game develop as both a fan and a player
*And of course (I am sure most do this) make sure that it is only serious to them when they are playing and it is kept light at other times
As to the comments about HS players. Well that is where many kids do drop out. They realize they are not good enough to go on, they develop other interests etc. If this did not happen then being a pro would not be so special and they would not get the big $$$. It is a cool dream to have but the reality is that most can't get that far and HS is where most find that out.
For all the good and bad my whole family loves it all, and we are so excited to be a part of it week after week tourney after tourney |
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tater77bug
133 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2009 : 08:35:44
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Agreed!!! quote:
Originally posted by bballman
I would agree that a ton of travel ball players do not wind up playing HS ball by the time they are seniors. However, I would also say that the vast majority of HS seniors are/were travel ball players.
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bambino_dad
119 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2009 : 15:02:32
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My son is 12 and has played travel ball since he was six. He enjoys the game, but averaging 70+ games a year plus practices was taking its toll. Baseball burnout was definitely setting in. We thought diversifying the sports he plays would ease things up, so we did that last year, now commitment concerns are setting in.
Last year, we discovered football. My kid played QB and loved it. However, we played at a park and a section of metro Atl where football is king (Tucker), so now we're getting emails and notices of camps and drill sessions they'd like him to attend. A football coach called me the other day and asked if my son would be participating in a QB camp in May. I told him as long as it didn't conflict with baseball he'd be there because while my kid still likes baseball, football brought a smile to his face that his mom and I hadn't seen in quite some time.
Basketball was our "hobby" sport. He tried out for his MS team - on a lark - and made it, though he didn't start. My boy is athletic and likes the game but wanted to get more minutes than he did, but the head coach told him that in order to play more, he have to commit more to the sport. Seems all the starters are AAU players so we knew where he was coming from. So then we're leaving a restaurant this past weekend and a coach who knew us (we didn't know him, but we knew his son who's a real good player) stopped us in the parking lot and offered us a spot on his AAU roster. My wife and I looked at each other in exasperation. He confirmed that AAU is a year round commitment.
So what I'm saying is, we're feeling the pressure to commit to a single sport and the kid's just in the 6th grade. And now I'm reading posts where people are saying that to play (not just play, but be a starter) in HS that's what you have to expect - a one sport commitment. Are there exceptions? Are there no three-sport athletes in HS anymore? Any in MS? Doesn't this one-sport mania speed up the burnout process? We just wanna play ball and have some fun.
I guess this is in line with the topic... |
Edited by - bambino_dad on 03/27/2009 22:04:25 |
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Experienced Parents about Travel Baseball
