If your child plays 13U baseball, what is the plan for next year?

[Anonymous]

Switching teams? Staying the same? Whole team moving elsewhere? I feel like everything was great until 12U ended and now 13U has been kind of a mess. Trying to figure out 14U. Is Stars the way to go and just resolve ourselves to driving all over the place?

[Anonymous]

Mine is staying on the same team (but they are having all try out)- pretty likely he makes it. I think they are looking to replace the bottom couple of kids on the roster but not entirely sure.

[Anonymous]

I can give you the benefit of hindsight...but it's hard to decide if you want to follow.

The quality of a 14u travel team doesn't mean anything at all. If there is one affiliated with your kid's HS, you should look into that only because the HS coaches will then get to know your kid.

However, if you don't want to travel all over, find one that just plays NVTBL DHs each week and maybe one local tournament.

The tournament circuit is a terrible racquet. There are tournaments every weekend at the Patriot Park complex out in Fairfax such that no local 14u team has to leave town if they don't want to leave town.

Play for the team where your kid gets to play a ton and has fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can give you the benefit of hindsight...but it's hard to decide if you want to follow.

The quality of a 14u travel team doesn't mean anything at all. If there is one affiliated with your kid's HS, you should look into that only because the HS coaches will then get to know your kid.

However, if you don't want to travel all over, find one that just plays NVTBL DHs each week and maybe one local tournament.

The tournament circuit is a terrible racquet. There are tournaments every weekend at the Patriot Park complex out in Fairfax such that no local 14u team has to leave town if they don't want to leave town.

Play for the team where your kid gets to play a ton and has fun.

Good insight. Thanks. Why do you say the quality of the 14u team doesn't matter though? I feel like my kid has actually gone backwards in ability since starting with a new team since the hired coach doesn't seem to be as invested as other coaches might be. No one seems to be happy on the team, but maybe it's not worth doing anything about it. They will try out for HS teams in 9 months or so.

[Anonymous]

I’d say the rule of thumb for the year before HS is to get on the best team you can, where you will see quality playing time.

However that can be difficult to predict…

That is assuming no HS feeder team- if there is a feeder team get on that to get on coach’s radar and be with future teammates. Unless your kid is a total “stud” (then he can play wherever he wants).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d say the rule of thumb for the year before HS is to get on the best team you can, where you will see quality playing time.

However that can be difficult to predict…

That is assuming no HS feeder team- if there is a feeder team get on that to get on coach’s radar and be with future teammates. Unless your kid is a total “stud” (then he can play wherever he wants).

This. Just let the 14U season be the 14u season. Playing Time. Fun. Development. That's the point.

In fact, don't spend too much time thinking or talking about HS next year. Our local HS had over 100 boys try out for baseball. Some very good kids did not make the JV team. So don't put any unintended pressure on your son by saying things like "Next year, on the HS team..." or "You'll play with Billy next year on JV..." or anything like that.

[Anonymous]

You make good points. However, current team isn’t strong on development and they aren’t even that proactive with scheduling DH. I’m used to DH every Sunday. Now they have a week or so off. That’s why we are looking to move, but I don’t know where.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You make good points. However, current team isn’t strong on development and they aren’t even that proactive with scheduling DH. I’m used to DH every Sunday. Now they have a week or so off. That’s why we are looking to move, but I don’t know where.

I see.

I would post anonymously to the travel forums on FB looking to see if there are any 13U teams that still have availability.

But pickings might be slim. And if you do find one, you may find yourself on one of those teams that plays 90+ games a season and need depth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can give you the benefit of hindsight...but it's hard to decide if you want to follow.

The quality of a 14u travel team doesn't mean anything at all. If there is one affiliated with your kid's HS, you should look into that only because the HS coaches will then get to know your kid.

However, if you don't want to travel all over, find one that just plays NVTBL DHs each week and maybe one local tournament.

The tournament circuit is a terrible racquet. There are tournaments every weekend at the Patriot Park complex out in Fairfax such that no local 14u team has to leave town if they don't want to leave town.

Play for the team where your kid gets to play a ton and has fun.

Good insight. Thanks. Why do you say the quality of the 14u team doesn't matter though? I feel like my kid has actually gone backwards in ability since starting with a new team since the hired coach doesn't seem to be as invested as other coaches might be. No one seems to be happy on the team, but maybe it's not worth doing anything about it. They will try out for HS teams in 9 months or so.

By quality of the team...I meant don't worry about joining some travel team that feels like they are some high-level team that needs to travel to Georgia or NJ or really anywhere requiring lots of overnights, not the quality of the coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You make good points. However, current team isn’t strong on development and they aren’t even that proactive with scheduling DH. I’m used to DH every Sunday. Now they have a week or so off. That’s why we are looking to move, but I don’t know where.

I see.

I would post anonymously to the travel forums on FB looking to see if there are any 13U teams that still have availability.

But pickings might be slim. And if you do find one, you may find yourself on one of those teams that plays 90+ games a season and need depth

Thanks I’ll thinking ahead to fall but will check nvtbl for tryouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can give you the benefit of hindsight...but it's hard to decide if you want to follow.

The quality of a 14u travel team doesn't mean anything at all. If there is one affiliated with your kid's HS, you should look into that only because the HS coaches will then get to know your kid.

However, if you don't want to travel all over, find one that just plays NVTBL DHs each week and maybe one local tournament.

The tournament circuit is a terrible racquet. There are tournaments every weekend at the Patriot Park complex out in Fairfax such that no local 14u team has to leave town if they don't want to leave town.

Play for the team where your kid gets to play a ton and has fun.

Good insight. Thanks. Why do you say the quality of the 14u team doesn't matter though? I feel like my kid has actually gone backwards in ability since starting with a new team since the hired coach doesn't seem to be as invested as other coaches might be. No one seems to be happy on the team, but maybe it's not worth doing anything about it. They will try out for HS teams in 9 months or so.

By quality of the team...I meant don't worry about joining some travel team that feels like they are some high-level team that needs to travel to Georgia or NJ or really anywhere requiring lots of overnights, not the quality of the coaches.

Thank you. We definitely don’t want to travel to Ga, but some travel would be nice. It’s fun for the kids. Patriot park not cutting it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can give you the benefit of hindsight...but it's hard to decide if you want to follow.

The quality of a 14u travel team doesn't mean anything at all. If there is one affiliated with your kid's HS, you should look into that only because the HS coaches will then get to know your kid.

However, if you don't want to travel all over, find one that just plays NVTBL DHs each week and maybe one local tournament.

The tournament circuit is a terrible racquet. There are tournaments every weekend at the Patriot Park complex out in Fairfax such that no local 14u team has to leave town if they don't want to leave town.

Play for the team where your kid gets to play a ton and has fun.

Good insight. Thanks. Why do you say the quality of the 14u team doesn't matter though? I feel like my kid has actually gone backwards in ability since starting with a new team since the hired coach doesn't seem to be as invested as other coaches might be. No one seems to be happy on the team, but maybe it's not worth doing anything about it. They will try out for HS teams in 9 months or so.

By quality of the team...I meant don't worry about joining some travel team that feels like they are some high-level team that needs to travel to Georgia or NJ or really anywhere requiring lots of overnights, not the quality of the coaches.

Thank you. We definitely don’t want to travel to Ga, but some travel would be nice. It’s fun for the kids. Patriot park not cutting it.

Well, OK. I thought you said you didn't want to be traveling all over the place.

PBR and Perfect Game host tournaments at Patriot Park that are no different than what they do in Richmond. Literally, no difference except the Richmond tournaments are more spread out. Patriot Park is a huge step up in terms of facilities for the DMV area.

[Anonymous]

Just to level set you cannot compare 12 U to 13 U. 12-year-old baseball is a lot of kids glory year because they’re big enough and strong enough and on a small field, they play great and get awesome hits because they can hit it so far, but when they adjust to the larger field, they have to run faster, farther and hit the ball way further. The kids are playing against keep getting stronger and faster/more skilled pitches. 13-year-old baseball is an adjustment. for everyone. You will see lots of ups and downs with kids in 1314 and 15 year-old baseball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can give you the benefit of hindsight...but it's hard to decide if you want to follow.

The quality of a 14u travel team doesn't mean anything at all. If there is one affiliated with your kid's HS, you should look into that only because the HS coaches will then get to know your kid.

However, if you don't want to travel all over, find one that just plays NVTBL DHs each week and maybe one local tournament.

The tournament circuit is a terrible racquet. There are tournaments every weekend at the Patriot Park complex out in Fairfax such that no local 14u team has to leave town if they don't want to leave town.

Play for the team where your kid gets to play a ton and has fun.

Good insight. Thanks. Why do you say the quality of the 14u team doesn't matter though? I feel like my kid has actually gone backwards in ability since starting with a new team since the hired coach doesn't seem to be as invested as other coaches might be. No one seems to be happy on the team, but maybe it's not worth doing anything about it. They will try out for HS teams in 9 months or so.

By quality of the team...I meant don't worry about joining some travel team that feels like they are some high-level team that needs to travel to Georgia or NJ or really anywhere requiring lots of overnights, not the quality of the coaches.

Thank you. We definitely don’t want to travel to Ga, but some travel would be nice. It’s fun for the kids. Patriot park not cutting it.

Well, OK. I thought you said you didn't want to be traveling all over the place.

PBR and Perfect Game host tournaments at Patriot Park that are no different than what they do in Richmond. Literally, no difference except the Richmond tournaments are more spread out. Patriot Park is a huge step up in terms of facilities for the DMV area.

It’s a beautiful facility, but it doesn’t feel like a tournament. My son and his friends like the travel aspect, pool, playing wiffle ball between games, but Georgia is too far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can give you the benefit of hindsight...but it's hard to decide if you want to follow.

The quality of a 14u travel team doesn't mean anything at all. If there is one affiliated with your kid's HS, you should look into that only because the HS coaches will then get to know your kid.

However, if you don't want to travel all over, find one that just plays NVTBL DHs each week and maybe one local tournament.

The tournament circuit is a terrible racquet. There are tournaments every weekend at the Patriot Park complex out in Fairfax such that no local 14u team has to leave town if they don't want to leave town.

Play for the team where your kid gets to play a ton and has fun.

Good insight. Thanks. Why do you say the quality of the 14u team doesn't matter though? I feel like my kid has actually gone backwards in ability since starting with a new team since the hired coach doesn't seem to be as invested as other coaches might be. No one seems to be happy on the team, but maybe it's not worth doing anything about it. They will try out for HS teams in 9 months or so.

By quality of the team...I meant don't worry about joining some travel team that feels like they are some high-level team that needs to travel to Georgia or NJ or really anywhere requiring lots of overnights, not the quality of the coaches.

Thank you. We definitely don’t want to travel to Ga, but some travel would be nice. It’s fun for the kids. Patriot park not cutting it.

Well, OK. I thought you said you didn't want to be traveling all over the place.

PBR and Perfect Game host tournaments at Patriot Park that are no different than what they do in Richmond. Literally, no difference except the Richmond tournaments are more spread out. Patriot Park is a huge step up in terms of facilities for the DMV area.

If PG hosts does that mean no hype fire bats?