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

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Thank you PPs. Very helpful. Just want my kid to have fun and not throw out his arm. Shouldn’t be so hard, but glad to hear that 13u overall is kind of a mess. A lot of the above resonates with me. Son is being recruited by pretty much every coach he meets, but I honestly don’t know who to trust. Maybe best to stay with the devil you know.

A coach that is actively trying to recruit a kid from a team mid-season is not a coach you want to play for.

Huge red flags

For the fall, not now.

Honestly, I still think that's shitty.

Why? Tryouts are in may for fall.

What team is having a try-out in May? I've never seen that for a 14U team. Tryouts are July or August. In May, the season is just getting started

NP here. I’m in the VA travel tryouts Facebook page right now and see at least 3 organizations having tryouts for 14u in May or earlier. Metro Senators was supposed to have had their first tryout last night.

I wrote this and need to amend that only 13u was last night. 14u is “coming soon” but it will be in May.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PPs. Very helpful. Just want my kid to have fun and not throw out his arm. Shouldn’t be so hard, but glad to hear that 13u overall is kind of a mess. A lot of the above resonates with me. Son is being recruited by pretty much every coach he meets, but I honestly don’t know who to trust. Maybe best to stay with the devil you know.

A coach that is actively trying to recruit a kid from a team mid-season is not a coach you want to play for.

Huge red flags

For the fall, not now.

Honestly, I still think that's shitty.

Why? Tryouts are in may for fall.

What team is having a try-out in May? I've never seen that for a 14U team. Tryouts are July or August. In May, the season is just getting started

NP here. I’m in the VA travel tryouts Facebook page right now and see at least 3 organizations having tryouts for 14u in May or earlier. Metro Senators was supposed to have had their first tryout last night.

I wrote this and need to amend that only 13u was last night. 14u is “coming soon” but it will be in May.

Seems like they try to lock in players now, but does anyone know if they will still have spots in July or August or do rosters get full?

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts on Arlington united?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on Arlington united?

The coach they put in charge of the new org is one of the best true coaches in the area. Knows the game, great with kids of all ages, works with lots of the top players in nova. Focused on development and character. I would be thrilled if I had a kid in that program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PPs. Very helpful. Just want my kid to have fun and not throw out his arm. Shouldn’t be so hard, but glad to hear that 13u overall is kind of a mess. A lot of the above resonates with me. Son is being recruited by pretty much every coach he meets, but I honestly don’t know who to trust. Maybe best to stay with the devil you know.

A coach that is actively trying to recruit a kid from a team mid-season is not a coach you want to play for.

Huge red flags

For the fall, not now.

Honestly, I still think that's shitty.

Why? Tryouts are in may for fall.

What team is having a try-out in May? I've never seen that for a 14U team. Tryouts are July or August. In May, the season is just getting started

NP here. I’m in the VA travel tryouts Facebook page right now and see at least 3 organizations having tryouts for 14u in May or earlier. Metro Senators was supposed to have had their first tryout last night.

I wrote this and need to amend that only 13u was last night. 14u is “coming soon” but it will be in May.

Seems like they try to lock in players now, but does anyone know if they will still have spots in July or August or do rosters get full?

But what do they do with a kid that is currently on the team, that doesn't make the fall/upcoming 14u team?

"Sorry kid. I know we still have 6 more tournaments ahead of us, but those will be your last with this team"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on Arlington united?

The coach they put in charge of the new org is one of the best true coaches in the area. Knows the game, great with kids of all ages, works with lots of the top players in nova. Focused on development and character. I would be thrilled if I had a kid in that program.

Yeah but he's not coaching. 3 teams per age and No confirmed coaches yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PPs. Very helpful. Just want my kid to have fun and not throw out his arm. Shouldn’t be so hard, but glad to hear that 13u overall is kind of a mess. A lot of the above resonates with me. Son is being recruited by pretty much every coach he meets, but I honestly don’t know who to trust. Maybe best to stay with the devil you know.

A coach that is actively trying to recruit a kid from a team mid-season is not a coach you want to play for.

Huge red flags

For the fall, not now.

Honestly, I still think that's shitty.

Why? Tryouts are in may for fall.

What team is having a try-out in May? I've never seen that for a 14U team. Tryouts are July or August. In May, the season is just getting started

NP here. I’m in the VA travel tryouts Facebook page right now and see at least 3 organizations having tryouts for 14u in May or earlier. Metro Senators was supposed to have had their first tryout last night.

I wrote this and need to amend that only 13u was last night. 14u is “coming soon” but it will be in May.

Seems like they try to lock in players now, but does anyone know if they will still have spots in July or August or do rosters get full?

But what do they do with a kid that is currently on the team, that doesn't make the fall/upcoming 14u team?

"Sorry kid. I know we still have 6 more tournaments ahead of us, but those will be your last with this team"

The super early tryouts make some sense when a new team is spinning up. But an existing team? Sounds awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PPs. Very helpful. Just want my kid to have fun and not throw out his arm. Shouldn’t be so hard, but glad to hear that 13u overall is kind of a mess. A lot of the above resonates with me. Son is being recruited by pretty much every coach he meets, but I honestly don’t know who to trust. Maybe best to stay with the devil you know.

A coach that is actively trying to recruit a kid from a team mid-season is not a coach you want to play for.

Huge red flags

For the fall, not now.

Honestly, I still think that's shitty.

Why? Tryouts are in may for fall.

What team is having a try-out in May? I've never seen that for a 14U team. Tryouts are July or August. In May, the season is just getting started

NP here. I’m in the VA travel tryouts Facebook page right now and see at least 3 organizations having tryouts for 14u in May or earlier. Metro Senators was supposed to have had their first tryout last night.

I wrote this and need to amend that only 13u was last night. 14u is “coming soon” but it will be in May.

Seems like they try to lock in players now, but does anyone know if they will still have spots in July or August or do rosters get full?

But what do they do with a kid that is currently on the team, that doesn't make the fall/upcoming 14u team?

"Sorry kid. I know we still have 6 more tournaments ahead of us, but those will be your last with this team"

The super early tryouts make some sense when a new team is spinning up. But an existing team? Sounds awful.

Yup. Agreed. This could only work on a brand new team.

And even then, it doesnt make much sense. I believe the PP who said they are are aware of some happening in VA, but I've never seen it (though I'm in MD)

[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.

This is the best advice

All 13u baseball is a mess. The pitching looks odd to the batters because it is so slow and far away that it has time to drop like a curveball. The third basemen can barely throw to first. Base running is a free for all because the catchers can’t make the throws. Pitching is horrendous. Doubles on the 12u field are barely out of the infield. The worst coaches for the 14-18u programs get the youngest kids. Half the kids haven’t hit puberty yet. It is all a disaster. Go with the best run organization and reassess if you need to do the showcase circuit for 15u. If he sticks with it with a decent team, you’ll be spending the entirety of the HS summer seasons traveling all over. Just survive this time without blowing out a throwing arm

+1 The first season on the big field was UGLY. Second season was better, but we still had guys who were at all stages of puberty/strength. Lots of people were thinking and stressing about whether or not they/their sons would make their high school team and that added a lot of pressure to the transition. Pitching was particularly painful. Having seen a kid through the process (and now playing in HS), I think if you like the team, the amount of baseball feels right, and the coach is helping your kid develop, you stay put. Lots of people are always looking for something "better," but unless your kid is clearly headed for D1 level play, don't lose sight of the reality that it's 14u ball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PPs. Very helpful. Just want my kid to have fun and not throw out his arm. Shouldn’t be so hard, but glad to hear that 13u overall is kind of a mess. A lot of the above resonates with me. Son is being recruited by pretty much every coach he meets, but I honestly don’t know who to trust. Maybe best to stay with the devil you know.

A coach that is actively trying to recruit a kid from a team mid-season is not a coach you want to play for.

Huge red flags

For the fall, not now.

Honestly, I still think that's shitty.

Why? Tryouts are in may for fall.

What team is having a try-out in May? I've never seen that for a 14U team. Tryouts are July or August. In May, the season is just getting started

NP here. I’m in the VA travel tryouts Facebook page right now and see at least 3 organizations having tryouts for 14u in May or earlier. Metro Senators was supposed to have had their first tryout last night.

I wrote this and need to amend that only 13u was last night. 14u is “coming soon” but it will be in May.

Seems like they try to lock in players now, but does anyone know if they will still have spots in July or August or do rosters get full?

But what do they do with a kid that is currently on the team, that doesn't make the fall/upcoming 14u team?

"Sorry kid. I know we still have 6 more tournaments ahead of us, but those will be your last with this team"

The super early tryouts make some sense when a new team is spinning up. But an existing team? Sounds awful.

But even for a new team, if there are kids that are joining the team, do they start attending practices with the new team, or finish out with their old season, is it only rec players switching to club so their season ends soon?

I can't see it making ANY sense.

Unless a team has lost a kid to injury or they've moved, i can't see any sense in holding tryouts in May

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PPs. Very helpful. Just want my kid to have fun and not throw out his arm. Shouldn’t be so hard, but glad to hear that 13u overall is kind of a mess. A lot of the above resonates with me. Son is being recruited by pretty much every coach he meets, but I honestly don’t know who to trust. Maybe best to stay with the devil you know.

A coach that is actively trying to recruit a kid from a team mid-season is not a coach you want to play for.

Huge red flags

For the fall, not now.

Honestly, I still think that's shitty.

Why? Tryouts are in may for fall.

What team is having a try-out in May? I've never seen that for a 14U team. Tryouts are July or August. In May, the season is just getting started

NP here. I’m in the VA travel tryouts Facebook page right now and see at least 3 organizations having tryouts for 14u in May or earlier. Metro Senators was supposed to have had their first tryout last night.

I wrote this and need to amend that only 13u was last night. 14u is “coming soon” but it will be in May.

Seems like they try to lock in players now, but does anyone know if they will still have spots in July or August or do rosters get full?

But what do they do with a kid that is currently on the team, that doesn't make the fall/upcoming 14u team?

"Sorry kid. I know we still have 6 more tournaments ahead of us, but those will be your last with this team"

I’m the poster who wrote about Metro Senators holding baseball tryouts already. So, yes, typically the way they hold tryouts is a source of stress for the families! However, while they say that each current kid has to try out again and that there are no guarantees, most kids make the team again. There are some who are “counseled out” so to speak and see the writing on the wall to not re-try out and a few who don’t receive offers to return. That has made for awkward times, as you say, with those players finishing out the season when they and Metro both know they are not returning.

Metro teams typically play into late July or early August (too long, in my opinion) and for some teams, they won’t extend offers to current team members until their season is up. But they do ask if current players plan to return. So they are constantly hedging bets by holding numerous tryouts throughout the late spring/early summer until they feel they’ve constructed the team they want via new try outs and players who don’t decide to opt out of returning.

Advanced Baseball in Burke is holding 13u/14u tryouts on May 9th at South County MS.

[Anonymous]

^^ To add, the new team will not start practicing together until the fall season, so generally you’re not mixing new and old kids (but that has happened).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on Arlington united?

The coach they put in charge of the new org is one of the best true coaches in the area. Knows the game, great with kids of all ages, works with lots of the top players in nova. Focused on development and character. I would be thrilled if I had a kid in that program.

What is his name?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PPs. Very helpful. Just want my kid to have fun and not throw out his arm. Shouldn’t be so hard, but glad to hear that 13u overall is kind of a mess. A lot of the above resonates with me. Son is being recruited by pretty much every coach he meets, but I honestly don’t know who to trust. Maybe best to stay with the devil you know.

A coach that is actively trying to recruit a kid from a team mid-season is not a coach you want to play for.

Huge red flags

For the fall, not now.

Honestly, I still think that's shitty.

Why? Tryouts are in may for fall.

What team is having a try-out in May? I've never seen that for a 14U team. Tryouts are July or August. In May, the season is just getting started

NP here. I’m in the VA travel tryouts Facebook page right now and see at least 3 organizations having tryouts for 14u in May or earlier. Metro Senators was supposed to have had their first tryout last night.

I wrote this and need to amend that only 13u was last night. 14u is “coming soon” but it will be in May.

Seems like they try to lock in players now, but does anyone know if they will still have spots in July or August or do rosters get full?

But what do they do with a kid that is currently on the team, that doesn't make the fall/upcoming 14u team?

"Sorry kid. I know we still have 6 more tournaments ahead of us, but those will be your last with this team"

Rare that a kid wouldn't make his current team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you PPs. Very helpful. Just want my kid to have fun and not throw out his arm. Shouldn’t be so hard, but glad to hear that 13u overall is kind of a mess. A lot of the above resonates with me. Son is being recruited by pretty much every coach he meets, but I honestly don’t know who to trust. Maybe best to stay with the devil you know.

A coach that is actively trying to recruit a kid from a team mid-season is not a coach you want to play for.

Huge red flags

For the fall, not now.

Honestly, I still think that's shitty.

Why? Tryouts are in may for fall.

What team is having a try-out in May? I've never seen that for a 14U team. Tryouts are July or August. In May, the season is just getting started

NP here. I’m in the VA travel tryouts Facebook page right now and see at least 3 organizations having tryouts for 14u in May or earlier. Metro Senators was supposed to have had their first tryout last night.

I wrote this and need to amend that only 13u was last night. 14u is “coming soon” but it will be in May.

Seems like they try to lock in players now, but does anyone know if they will still have spots in July or August or do rosters get full?

But what do they do with a kid that is currently on the team, that doesn't make the fall/upcoming 14u team?

"Sorry kid. I know we still have 6 more tournaments ahead of us, but those will be your last with this team"

I’m the poster who wrote about Metro Senators holding baseball tryouts already. So, yes, typically the way they hold tryouts is a source of stress for the families! However, while they say that each current kid has to try out again and that there are no guarantees, most kids make the team again. There are some who are “counseled out” so to speak and see the writing on the wall to not re-try out and a few who don’t receive offers to return. That has made for awkward times, as you say, with those players finishing out the season when they and Metro both know they are not returning.

Metro teams typically play into late July or early August (too long, in my opinion) and for some teams, they won’t extend offers to current team members until their season is up. But they do ask if current players plan to return. So they are constantly hedging bets by holding numerous tryouts throughout the late spring/early summer until they feel they’ve constructed the team they want via new try outs and players who don’t decide to opt out of returning.

Advanced Baseball in Burke is holding 13u/14u tryouts on May 9th at South County MS.

That sounds absolutely horrible. I can't imagine "counseling out" a player but still expecting them to come to games/tournaments and perform their best.

I would avoid those organizations at all costs.

Again, maybe this is regional. But I'm pretty plugged in with southern PA and MD club baseball and haven't seen this