Baseball/softball- how do kids here compete with kids in warmer climates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in AZ now and my kids play baseball and softball. Teams CAN technically play year round 12 months per year here- but they usually don’t. Pre high school, most teams play fall and spring - with a 2 month break in both winter and summer (usually Dec/Jan and mid June-mid Aug or so). High school aged teams never play in winter and are off Nov-Jan or so (just conditioning). My 13yo’s team schedule this year is: Aug-Nov for fall ball, late Jan-late May for spring ball. Summer off. This is pretty typical for our area and age. My high schooler plays spring and summer ball, and a short/light fall ball schedule. Winter off.

This is interesting and good to hear.

I was in Alaska recently and the kids have a brief summer season, short break, fall season (really late summer). Then a winter season..... because they have indoor facilities with multiple fields for the cold/snow/darkness. Those kids play a lot too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For baseball the pitchers are helped by winter breaks.

If she really really wants to go that far, put up a net in your garage for hitting during the winter and focus on conditioning. Find a league that does winter practices in a school gym or one of the area facilities.

Who does indoor practices around here (nova?)

For softball, NVGSA runs a winter pitching clinic that runs through most of the break and kids can come twice a week. You have to already play with NVGSA to participate, though.

Most of the travel teams have indoor practices at a local gym or something.

Other than that, you can always get coaching from SF3, Victory, Pure Performance, Perfect Performance, etc in the indoor spaces they use.

[Anonymous]

The best softball player in NCAA is from Nebraska.

The best American baseball player is from New Jersey.

Don't let climate convince you that your kid can't compete

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can't really compete. There's a reason you see CA, AZ and FL girls on most college rosters. It's not impossible though. Find an indoor facility to practice batting and pitching, if that's her position. At least you can keep up in that aspect.

Fairfax County public schools just had two students taken in the first round of the MLB draft. For one county to account for two first round picks indicates that they are competing just fine

Right. But you’d be shocked how much time these kids are on the road playing against better competition in FL/NC/GA on the weekends apart from their HS season. That’s why they dominate their school leagues, there is not much competition here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can't really compete. There's a reason you see CA, AZ and FL girls on most college rosters. It's not impossible though. Find an indoor facility to practice batting and pitching, if that's her position. At least you can keep up in that aspect.

Fairfax County public schools just had two students taken in the first round of the MLB draft. For one county to account for two first round picks indicates that they are competing just fine

Right. But you’d be shocked how much time these kids are on the road playing against better competition in FL/NC/GA on the weekends apart from their HS season. That’s why they dominate their school leagues, there is not much competition here.

That is where the tournaments are held, not necessarily where all of the best teams are located. PBR and PG hold their premier events in AL, GA, and FL. There are many excellent, highly regarded baseball programs in this area, and they often end up playing each other at the southern tournaments.

OP, imo the best thing to do over the winter is to play another sport, it is good for the body, the mind, and overall athleticism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why kids around here can become “DMV good,” but they’ll never be “Texas/Florida good.” That’s a whole ‘nother level, and it does have a lot to do with being able to get out on the field year-round.

OTOH, overuse injuries are happening more and at younger ages than ever before. So having an enforced break is good.

Winter is a good time to get stronger and faster, and to improve fundamentals through cage work, etc. Any travel organization is going to have an off-season training program. Plus there are tons of private coaches out there.

I mean...a DMV player was a 1st round MLB draft pick out of HS just in this past 2023 MLB draft. My kid plays on a travel baseball team based out of MD and 1/2 the players are committed to D1 programs, including NC State, UMD, and Alabama.

There are indoor training facilities in the DMV area...they tend to be out in Sterling, VA and that area and they are expensive. However, they provide excellent training.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They can't really compete. There's a reason you see CA, AZ and FL girls on most college rosters. It's not impossible though. Find an indoor facility to practice batting and pitching, if that's her position. At least you can keep up in that aspect.

Fairfax County public schools just had two students taken in the first round of the MLB draft. For one county to account for two first round picks indicates that they are competing just fine

Right. But you’d be shocked how much time these kids are on the road playing against better competition in FL/NC/GA on the weekends apart from their HS season. That’s why they dominate their school leagues, there is not much competition here.

There are several premier tournaments that are well known nationally in baseball. During the Summer there are PBR and Perfect Game tournaments in the Atlanta-area in July, and during the Fall there is a FL Perfect Game tournament in October. Teams from all over the country play in those tournaments, and college coaches scout those tournaments.

Madison won the VA State championship (where the best DMV player played), but they definitely lost games. SJC and Spaulding have the top teams around here, but Gonzaga, Madison, Sherwood, St Albans, O'Connell, Jackson-Reed and others are competitive with them.

The top HS draft pick was Max Clark from Indiana...I think he was one of the first 5 picks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For baseball the pitchers are helped by winter breaks.

If she really really wants to go that far, put up a net in your garage for hitting during the winter and focus on conditioning. Find a league that does winter practices in a school gym or one of the area facilities.

Who does indoor practices around here (nova?)

The travel teams all do indoor winter practices. And if she wants to play in college, she definitely needs to be doing travel. Many girls from this area go on to play in college--but they are the elite players of the area--not just the best player in their rec league.

My daughter's team has two weekly indoor team practices and a weekly team strength training session. She also has a private hitting and private catching lesson every week, hits off a tee in the garage on off days and does two strength workouts per week in addition to the team workout.

[Anonymous]

I have heard some say that the competition in CA and some other sport hot spots has less to do with the weather and a lot to do with the fact that there are so many good teams you can have friendlies that are very competitive without much driving etc. A kid who wants to get better and that is willing to put in the work can do a lot on their own if parents facilitate. For softball in particular if a kid starts lifting and hitting a lot they may find themselves at a new level come spring. Getting really strong seems to be a real advantage in softball and that does not require warm weather. I assume the same in baseball but have observed only softball and have seen kids really improve by putting time in at the gym and getting really strong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids are obsessed with baseball/softball but the teams only play in fall/spring (with "conditioning" in the winter). So they don't play in tournaments/games for about four months. DD wants to play softball in college-- but is there any chance to compete when I'm guessing teams in the south can play year-round (or most of the year).
Are there leagues (in NOVA) that do play more of the year?

The National travel teams from about 12U up go south to play early in season.

Otherwise, they generally don’t compete. Virginia does send a fair number of kids to Power 5 conferences but not as many as Florida, Texas, Arizona, California

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For baseball the pitchers are helped by winter breaks.

If she really really wants to go that far, put up a net in your garage for hitting during the winter and focus on conditioning. Find a league that does winter practices in a school gym or one of the area facilities.

Who does indoor practices around here (nova?)

The travel teams all do indoor winter practices. And if she wants to play in college, she definitely needs to be doing travel. Many girls from this area go on to play in college--but they are the elite players of the area--not just the best player in their rec league.

My daughter's team has two weekly indoor team practices and a weekly team strength training session. She also has a private hitting and private catching lesson every week, hits off a tee in the garage on off days and does two strength workouts per week in addition to the team workout.

And to be clear, “playing in college” often means schools you have never heard of. Or even Juco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best softball player in NCAA is from Nebraska.

The best American baseball player is from New Jersey.

Don't let climate convince you that your kid can't compete

Actually, Jordy is #2.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/softball/article/2024-01-18/d1softball-preseason-top-100-players-ranking-list

Jordy’s going to drop this year because Nebraska isn’t going to have the offensive support Oklahoma gave her.

Valerie Cagle, of Yorktown, VA, is the top player in college softball. She plays for Clemson.

Kat Sandercock of Florida State, who graduated last year and was one of the best players in college softball, is from McLean. I think she might be on the National team now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in AZ now and my kids play baseball and softball. Teams CAN technically play year round 12 months per year here- but they usually don’t. Pre high school, most teams play fall and spring - with a 2 month break in both winter and summer (usually Dec/Jan and mid June-mid Aug or so). High school aged teams never play in winter and are off Nov-Jan or so (just conditioning). My 13yo’s team schedule this year is: Aug-Nov for fall ball, late Jan-late May for spring ball. Summer off. This is pretty typical for our area and age. My high schooler plays spring and summer ball, and a short/light fall ball schedule. Winter off.

This is interesting and good to hear.

I was in Alaska recently and the kids have a brief summer season, short break, fall season (really late summer). Then a winter season..... because they have indoor facilities with multiple fields for the cold/snow/darkness. Those kids play a lot too.

The college summer league in Alaska is considered the most elite of them all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in AZ now and my kids play baseball and softball. Teams CAN technically play year round 12 months per year here- but they usually don’t. Pre high school, most teams play fall and spring - with a 2 month break in both winter and summer (usually Dec/Jan and mid June-mid Aug or so). High school aged teams never play in winter and are off Nov-Jan or so (just conditioning). My 13yo’s team schedule this year is: Aug-Nov for fall ball, late Jan-late May for spring ball. Summer off. This is pretty typical for our area and age. My high schooler plays spring and summer ball, and a short/light fall ball schedule. Winter off.

This is interesting and good to hear.

I was in Alaska recently and the kids have a brief summer season, short break, fall season (really late summer). Then a winter season..... because they have indoor facilities with multiple fields for the cold/snow/darkness. Those kids play a lot too.

The college summer league in Alaska is considered the most elite of them all.

Maybe it once was, but it's not anymore. Cape Cod is the top wooden bat collegiate league.

[Anonymous]

It's better to train in other sports and give the baseball/softball player muscles a rest or different work out.

Signed,
Parent of two baseball players in colleges that you most definitely have heard of.