KOA Sports - baseball, other sports

[Anonymous]

Do you have to financially commit for a full year (fall ball, winter workouts, spring ball) when you make these teams? I'm concerned that it won't be a good fit for my DS or he'll lose interest for whatever reason, then I'm stuck with the bill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have to financially commit for a full year (fall ball, winter workouts, spring ball) when you make these teams? I'm concerned that it won't be a good fit for my DS or he'll lose interest for whatever reason, then I'm stuck with the bill.

yes

[Anonymous]

Our experience was with field hockey, not baseball, but I thought KOA was fantastic.

[Anonymous]

We are a few years out of this world, but BCC Select and travel were first rate for many years we participated. Strong tradition of excellence and I doubt it has changed. Koa was hit or miss, depended a lot on the particular coach you got. Organizationally much weaker. The BCC Select games at Cabin John were fabulous, with lighted nice diamonds, great umps, good and balanced teams, and parent coaches with experience. Travel teams had paid coaches (some local HS coaches).

Don't forget to check out DC Dynasty. Extremely good coaches, not parents but recent college and semi-pro players. DC Dynasty also has an indoor facility for hitting/winter workouts over by the Takoma Park metro (in DC). Hitting cages and machines!

[Anonymous]

Looking for recent feedback on KOA's select/babl program - how did your child and you find the level of play, and strength of coaching? I'm most curious about the 12-13 yr old babl group but also have a younger son who is interested in trying it. Both boys want to play more competitive baseball than rec but we do not want the time commitment of travel (nor is either boy at that skill level although they are strong players).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for recent feedback on KOA's select/babl program - how did your child and you find the level of play, and strength of coaching? I'm most curious about the 12-13 yr old babl group but also have a younger son who is interested in trying it. Both boys want to play more competitive baseball than rec but we do not want the time commitment of travel (nor is either boy at that skill level although they are strong players).

In general, it's very weak and expensive for "select" - barely a step above rec, but very expensive. For a real young kid, i.e 3rd grade - the coaching does help and it's probably a good choice. If you have a decent kid, they get frustrated especially if they are at older end of age group (BABL grouped by 2 years) . .12U is with 11u. At 13u (bigger fields) - its extremely weak, but partly because by then many kids have gone to travel and the time commitment was fairly significant.

The challenge is that the Bethesda area doesn't have a lot of options for "select" - other than BCC and KOA. BCC is definitely more competitive and far less $, but dad coached - which occasionally has its issues. Though the coaches at KOA can have issues too so don't assume non Dad coached is always better.

[Anonymous]

Any recent feedback on Koa baseball - for decent but not high level travel so top level of competitiveness not an issue. . Son just likes to play baseball and likes decent level of competitiveness in travel. . We had good flag football experience. Logistically good location for us. . However heard some key baseball staff were let go before season end which sounds concerning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for recent feedback on KOA's select/babl program - how did your child and you find the level of play, and strength of coaching? I'm most curious about the 12-13 yr old babl group but also have a younger son who is interested in trying it. Both boys want to play more competitive baseball than rec but we do not want the time commitment of travel (nor is either boy at that skill level although they are strong players).

In general, it's very weak and expensive for "select" - barely a step above rec, but very expensive. For a real young kid, i.e 3rd grade - the coaching does help and it's probably a good choice. If you have a decent kid, they get frustrated especially if they are at older end of age group (BABL grouped by 2 years) . .12U is with 11u. At 13u (bigger fields) - its extremely weak, but partly because by then many kids have gone to travel and the time commitment was fairly significant.

The challenge is that the Bethesda area doesn't have a lot of options for "select" - other than BCC and KOA. BCC is definitely more competitive and far less $, but dad coached - which occasionally has its issues. Though the coaches at KOA can have issues too so don't assume non Dad coached is always better.

This would be my review if I had to write something today. Koa is very overpriced for the level of coaching and play. Lots of snowflake type kids who are not that great at baseball but whose parents desperately want them to get good. It's a very self-promotional company. If you don't want to deal with parent coaches, have a lot of money and are accepting of mediocre play it's fine. DC was frustrated but we didn't know all this going in.
-NP

[Anonymous]

If it’s not too much trouble, I’d try a DC team. There is DC Dynasty, Wild Bill, and Win Within that I know of.