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Hurricane22
100 Posts |
 Posted - 03/08/2018 : 10:09:32
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So I brought up about Hobgood, so I only thought it fair to start a new thread. My intention wasn't to start a discuss about LL in a bat thread. Only mentioned as it causes a change in bat regulations (1.15 v. USABat)
So anyway, I don't know all the in's and out's of LL vs. Dizzy Dean at Hobgood, but I know they are having a Town Hall later in the month to discuss/field questions/etc.
I have one in travel (13u) outside Hobgood (but played at Hobgood all but two years from 4-12) and one currently playing Rec there. I don't want the discussion to be about Hobgood, but more about the pros and cons. Will other parks in the area follow suit?
I don't know if it is feasible or not, but I would really like to see kids with talent be able to play LL without the expense of Travel. I simply can't afford two playing travel (hell, one is tough!), so I hope my younger son can develop in that setting with a little outside instruction on the side. Baseball NEEDS to get back to being affordable...it's really getting out of hand IMO. |
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jakesdad
118 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2018 : 10:36:25
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| We are trying to keep the kids at the park and give the "better kids" more competition. Our rising 8u teams normally transitioned into the Travel Braves team, but the last three years became a breeding ground for the ECB Astros and Titans for some reason. They always think the grass is greener. We hope to keep more younger kids staying at the park as well as bring more kids in from Cherokee County that want the chance to go to Williamsport. LL rules are such that you can play travel ball and also LL |
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ofs13
48 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2018 : 11:18:13
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It will likely be difficult for some parks close to Hobgood to follow suit, because they are located within (at least partially) the Little League boundaries of East Marietta Little League. Leagues that fall inside EMLL's boundaries include: Sandy Plains (Harrison Park), East Side (Fullers Park), Kennesaw Baseball (Adams Park), and parts of Roswell Youth Baseball (not completely inside EMLL's boundaries, but areas south of Hwy 92 are, including Roswell Area Park) and parts of Acworth Baseball (Acworth Sports Complex).
I don't know what Little League's rules are regarding boundaries overlapping, but I'm guessing they don't allow it. |
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Hurricane22
100 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2018 : 11:19:09
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quote:
Originally posted by jakesdad
We are trying to keep the kids at the park and give the "better kids" more competition. Our rising 8u teams normally transitioned into the Travel Braves team, but the last three years became a breeding ground for the ECB Astros and Titans for some reason. They always think the grass is greener. We hope to keep more younger kids staying at the park as well as bring more kids in from Cherokee County that want the chance to go to Williamsport. LL rules are such that you can play travel ball and also LL
I'd say Yes and No based on our experience.
We went to travel for more games and better competition. I would say where the grass isn't always greener is coaching. Until 12 you are gonna have "Dad Coaches" so you need to know their experience level, demeanor, philosophy on the game, etc BEFORE accepting the spot. We were blessed with our staff and for that reason 80% of our kids stayed year-to-year.
Hobgood also only had one travel team per age group (at the time). If they give it to the wrong coach....then kids leave. I saw that a lot. I get that field time is an issue when fielding multiple travel teams, but when you have the talent for multiple teams....people go elsewhere.
I haven't read up on all the LL structure, age groups, all-stars (do they even have that?), etc. I'm hoping to keep my younger one there. Ideally I'd like something the level between Rec and Travel for him.
Not sure how Williamsport vs. Cooperstown pans out, but we had a BLAST at C'Town last summer.
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Edited by - Hurricane22 on 03/08/2018 12:12:31 |
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jakesdad
118 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2018 : 13:34:53
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| It has never been in the rules you have to have a child to coach. We would love to have some non dads coach the 11-12 and stay at that age group year to year. |
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Hurricane22
100 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2018 : 14:45:30
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Yeah, I know of one gentleman that did not have kids that coached. Bless him for that. I don't want to go down that rabbit hole about coaching though or turning this into a beat on Hobgood thread. As Rec parks go they do a pretty **** good job. We can nitpick all day.
Let's hear pros/cons of LL, folks experiences, etc. I just want to hear more about it. |
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baseball713
60 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2018 : 15:04:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Hurricane22
I don't know if it is feasible or not, but I would really like to see kids with talent be able to play LL without the expense of Travel. I simply can't afford two playing travel (hell, one is tough!), so I hope my younger son can develop in that setting with a little outside instruction on the side. Baseball NEEDS to get back to being affordable...it's really getting out of hand IMO.
If I understand correctly, the hope is that this move will keep the AA and AAA players (and some majors) still in the rec instead of losing them completely to travel as LL allows them to still play travel in the weekend while playing rec in the weekdays, correct? I'm saying AA and AAA bec chances are, Major level players may still focus on travel (at least that's my guess). If this works as planned, then more kids will stay in rec bec they have decent kids to play with and against.
On the other hand, the LL rules is very different from travel so not sure how that will work. |
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turntwo
955 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2018 : 15:26:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Hurricane22
I haven't read up on all the LL structure, age groups, all-stars (do they even have that?), etc.
Try to start a LL program and Warner Robins will let you know ALL the rules, and how many you violate-- especially if you beat them. Just ask Peachtree City.
They (LL) have rules on top of rules on top of rules. Hardly a year goes by, that you don't hear of a team (or teams) getting DQ'ed due to rules violations (out of district kids, not enough 11 yr olds in the league, not enough 11 yr olds on all-stars, etc).
LL does create a more competitive environment, and yes, at 11-12U, it's a HUGE draw. The allure of Williamsport. Which, unlike MOST "World Series" that rec or even travel offers, you still have to QUALIFY for, and win your way into the LL WS. Win district, State, and Regional, to be the "Southeast" representative in PA. And further allure of the 'purity' of the 'community' (term used loosely-- since the area boundaries are so large) team rep-ing the state, region, etc.. Not to mention, 11-13U (yes some turn 13 before the August WS) playing on a 46/60 225' field offers it's OWN challenges that some kids enjoy. (Try hitting a 13U Major pitcher slinging from 46'!!!!) |
Edited by - turntwo on 03/08/2018 15:44:44 |
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Hurricane22
100 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2018 : 15:51:53
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Good info, thanks turntwo. This is the kind of stuff I want to hear about.
As far as the rules....someone said once in a movie "Its a simple game...you throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball!"
So there's more?!?! LOL |
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CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2018 : 09:04:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Hurricane22
Yeah, I know of one gentleman that did not have kids that coached. Bless him for that. I don't want to go down that rabbit hole about coaching though or turning this into a beat on Hobgood thread. As Rec parks go they do a pretty **** good job. We can nitpick all day.
Let's hear pros/cons of LL, folks experiences, etc. I just want to hear more about it.
I loved hobgood, no beating here.
Many of the kids leave rec ball because there is nothing exciting left. Having a LL team that could strive to go to Williamsport would be something exciting. I think my son would have stayed with rec longer if there was something like that.
I don't see youth baseball being affordable ever again. It's too big of a business. |
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Little League
