Travel baseball kids who don't play in HS- what next?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sure people will blow their gasket at me, but no way in hell I am paying for my kid to play Summer travel baseball (which I imagine involves playing overnight tournaments) who has no interest or ability to play on the HS team.

The travel teams are all going to change very soon, so the team that exists right now in all likelihood will look very different in two years.

They can find a Babe Ruth league, or better yet find a different sport, or get involved in Robotics or something else at school or any number of different things.

At the very least, I would tell my kid they have to pick a Spring/full year activity they plan to pursue if they aren't playing HS baseball.

Let the screaming begin.

Nobody is going to scream at you, but there are plenty of nvtbl teams that play a local schedule. You’re right, babe Ruth would be a fun option too. Or putting in some hard work training for the summer season with the hope of making jv as a sophomore is valid too!

Don’t you think there is value in playing a sport for fun? I play tennis just because I like it and I can get some exercise with friends. Adults play pickleball and softball and soccer and run in races all for fun. I don’t see why a kid should be judged for that.

I do, which is why I suggest finding a different sport to play, ideally with your HS friends. There are many sports to pick that are no-cut, so at the very least...try one of those during the Fall or Spring. Who knows, it may become your new favorite sport.

DP, but why can't OP's son play baseball for fun, possibly with the friends he already has from baseball? There's value in club sports just for fun too!

[Anonymous]

My kid is only 14u and plays on an nvtbl metro/elite team. There are so many good kids and our high school has 2400 kids that it’s very hard to make the high school team. He could do primetime or another travel team but they will likely take a break during the spring.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I didn't know a travel kid who doesn't play high school ball would be so triggering to some!

Let's just say that between academic struggles and an unfortunate family schedule caring for a dying elderly parent, an husband's inflexible job, other children, and my own job, my son is starting to realize that the commitment of HS sports may not be right for him at this moment.

I don't think an inability to play HS ball should mean he doesn't play summer or fall travel ball. There are plenty of kids, especially at our large FCPS high school, who don't make the team. So I'm wondering what these kids do in the spring....that's simply all.

[Anonymous]

There’s also senior babe Ruth teams. I think they go through high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I didn't know a travel kid who doesn't play high school ball would be so triggering to some!

Let's just say that between academic struggles and an unfortunate family schedule caring for a dying elderly parent, an husband's inflexible job, other children, and my own job, my son is starting to realize that the commitment of HS sports may not be right for him at this moment.

I don't think an inability to play HS ball should mean he doesn't play summer or fall travel ball. There are plenty of kids, especially at our large FCPS high school, who don't make the team. So I'm wondering what these kids do in the spring....that's simply all.

Does your son have learning disabilities? if not, there should not be much if any academic struggles. Cut back on the AP classes and classes over his weight class.

Car pooling is real.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I'm not sure why some seem to be offended my son may or may not try out for HS ball?? I'm not asking you to find a solution to the try out decision nor am I asking for input on his academic difficulties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I'm not sure why some seem to be offended my son may or may not try out for HS ball?? I'm not asking you to find a solution to the try out decision nor am I asking for input on his academic difficulties.

It's DCUM. People being utterly offended over other poster's choices is how it works. You have to filter those out and look for the helpful responses, like the people suggesting various organizations or other baseball options in spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s also senior babe Ruth teams. I think they go through high school.

+1

[Anonymous]

As others have mentioned, they may be able to join a rec team through senior Babe Ruth. Most travel teams take a break in the spring because the kids are doing HS baseball 6 days a week. You may be able to find a 14U team that still plays in NVTBL. Travel teams pick back up again after the HS season ends and play throughout the summer and fall. There's nothing wrong with not trying out for the HS team, but travel team opportunities will be few in the spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sure people will blow their gasket at me, but no way in hell I am paying for my kid to play Summer travel baseball (which I imagine involves playing overnight tournaments) who has no interest or ability to play on the HS team.

The travel teams are all going to change very soon, so the team that exists right now in all likelihood will look very different in two years.

They can find a Babe Ruth league, or better yet find a different sport, or get involved in Robotics or something else at school or any number of different things.

At the very least, I would tell my kid they have to pick a Spring/full year activity they plan to pursue if they aren't playing HS baseball.

Let the screaming begin.

The HS season is like, 6 weeks long. WGAF about HS baseball. Plus, you get all the politics about sometimes the coach is affiliated with a certain travel program. Or, you get worried about the kid getting bad instruction.

I know a handful of very good players that sit out their HS club, bc their travel experience is more important.

That's a completely different scenario vs. what OP listed, and more akin to high-level soccer players.

There actually isn't a decent national travel team worth their salt that offers a Spring season because even first-round MLB draft picks will play for their HS teams. Also, I don't what you are talking about with a 6-week season. In the DMV, the season starts mid-February and ends in early to Mid-May.

In the DMV, first games are last week in March. Season ends 3rd week of May. So, sure, not 6 weeks. It's actually 8 weeks.

And I'm not saying that they choose their travel team over their HS team. I'm just saying they sit out their HS club and train those weeks instead, for the summer season. It's actually much more common than you think.

Nobody wants to get hurt or get bad coaching when they are trying to get seen. And you don't get seen at HS games

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As others have mentioned, they may be able to join a rec team through senior Babe Ruth. Most travel teams take a break in the spring because the kids are doing HS baseball 6 days a week. You may be able to find a 14U team that still plays in NVTBL. Travel teams pick back up again after the HS season ends and play throughout the summer and fall. There's nothing wrong with not trying out for the HS team, but travel team opportunities will be few in the spring.

If he’s a freshman now, nvtbl requires you to play your grade once in high school. It’s why lots of strong players reclass. So he won’t be able to play on a 14u team in the spring. There is a very good team around here that’s 2028 but they are all already 15. Some are 16. Current 14u kids would be 2029 and are mostly 13 with some just turning 14 recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As others have mentioned, they may be able to join a rec team through senior Babe Ruth. Most travel teams take a break in the spring because the kids are doing HS baseball 6 days a week. You may be able to find a 14U team that still plays in NVTBL. Travel teams pick back up again after the HS season ends and play throughout the summer and fall. There's nothing wrong with not trying out for the HS team, but travel team opportunities will be few in the spring.

I think our 14u team is taking a break in the spring too since in va 8th graders can try out for jv. No clue what the kids do who don’t make the team (which I assume is a lot of them) or if they are in private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As others have mentioned, they may be able to join a rec team through senior Babe Ruth. Most travel teams take a break in the spring because the kids are doing HS baseball 6 days a week. You may be able to find a 14U team that still plays in NVTBL. Travel teams pick back up again after the HS season ends and play throughout the summer and fall. There's nothing wrong with not trying out for the HS team, but travel team opportunities will be few in the spring.

I think our 14u team is taking a break in the spring too since in va 8th graders can try out for jv. No clue what the kids do who don’t make the team (which I assume is a lot of them) or if they are in private school.

14u is a weird year for that reason. Some kids are playing JV ball and others aren't.

IME, the team still practices, even if its just a few kids. And if they enough, sometimes they schedule a few games.

Or, I've seen clubs temporarily "combine" so those boys can enter a tournament. But that's only for April/May.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sure people will blow their gasket at me, but no way in hell I am paying for my kid to play Summer travel baseball (which I imagine involves playing overnight tournaments) who has no interest or ability to play on the HS team.

The travel teams are all going to change very soon, so the team that exists right now in all likelihood will look very different in two years.

They can find a Babe Ruth league, or better yet find a different sport, or get involved in Robotics or something else at school or any number of different things.

At the very least, I would tell my kid they have to pick a Spring/full year activity they plan to pursue if they aren't playing HS baseball.

Let the screaming begin.

Nobody is going to scream at you, but there are plenty of nvtbl teams that play a local schedule. You’re right, babe Ruth would be a fun option too. Or putting in some hard work training for the summer season with the hope of making jv as a sophomore is valid too!

Don’t you think there is value in playing a sport for fun? I play tennis just because I like it and I can get some exercise with friends. Adults play pickleball and softball and soccer and run in races all for fun. I don’t see why a kid should be judged for that.

I do, which is why I suggest finding a different sport to play, ideally with your HS friends. There are many sports to pick that are no-cut, so at the very least...try one of those during the Fall or Spring. Who knows, it may become your new favorite sport.

My 8th grader has been playing travel baseball for years but he’s at the end of the road. He will play 14U this year but is just kind of over baseball. Doesn’t want to put in the time and effort to improve and realizes it’s just not his passion. He will switch to football for HS and not even try out for baseball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sure people will blow their gasket at me, but no way in hell I am paying for my kid to play Summer travel baseball (which I imagine involves playing overnight tournaments) who has no interest or ability to play on the HS team.

The travel teams are all going to change very soon, so the team that exists right now in all likelihood will look very different in two years.

They can find a Babe Ruth league, or better yet find a different sport, or get involved in Robotics or something else at school or any number of different things.

At the very least, I would tell my kid they have to pick a Spring/full year activity they plan to pursue if they aren't playing HS baseball.

Let the screaming begin.

Nobody is going to scream at you, but there are plenty of nvtbl teams that play a local schedule. You’re right, babe Ruth would be a fun option too. Or putting in some hard work training for the summer season with the hope of making jv as a sophomore is valid too!

Don’t you think there is value in playing a sport for fun? I play tennis just because I like it and I can get some exercise with friends. Adults play pickleball and softball and soccer and run in races all for fun. I don’t see why a kid should be judged for that.

I do, which is why I suggest finding a different sport to play, ideally with your HS friends. There are many sports to pick that are no-cut, so at the very least...try one of those during the Fall or Spring. Who knows, it may become your new favorite sport.

My 8th grader has been playing travel baseball for years but he’s at the end of the road. He will play 14U this year but is just kind of over baseball. Doesn’t want to put in the time and effort to improve and realizes it’s just not his passion. He will switch to football for HS and not even try out for baseball.

Travel baseball for years. Who told you to do that?