Travel soccer and travel baseball?

[Anonymous]

I know this forum is primarily about soccer, but I am wondering if any parents have tried to navigate their son playing both travel baseball and travel soccer. It feels daunting, but I have two boys (U9) who very much want to do both. They play Bethesda for soccer and have offers from 2 travel baseball clubs. I just am trying to weigh if that will make me insane trying to do the logistics. They are still young so I'd love to have them get to continue both sports at least for now if possible.

[Anonymous]

Insane

[Anonymous]

Crazy.

[Anonymous]

We did travel socccer and travel lax.

Just be ready for coaches/parents to give you the side eye when you are late.

We told each coach Fall Soccer takes precedence, Spring lax did. We stuck to the rule and it was a bit bumpy. Summer was complicated.

I said in many occasions… he’s 10, or 11, or 12.

I mean really they are little children, lighten up.

My son was very good so no fear of getting cut.

We committed to one Sophomore year of HS but continued to play HS for both.

[Anonymous]

It's doable, talk to the coaches. Their reaction may actually be a good gauge of the club

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's doable, talk to the coaches. Their reaction may actually be a good gauge of the club

Yep. All smiles if you are in Vienna.

[Anonymous]

do not do both. The schedules are incompatible and each weekend you are likely to screw over one team. The travel soccer coaches do a good job of of intimidating their players and telling them that they will not get any playing time if they don't make soccer their number #1 priority. Travel baseball coaches tend to be more flexible, but then often the team will not have enough players to play their best (i.e., have enough pitchers, catchers) because the squads tend to be leaner in an effort to make sure no kids spend too much time on the beach. My kids have been on teams where some players tried to do both and everyone was unhappy about it.

[Anonymous]

My son has a friend who did both at U9. Ultimately the travel soccer team started cutting his playing time because he wasn't able to show up for everything. I know that over memorial day weekend they were ping ponging back and forth between two tournaments (one baseball, one soccer) in the same general area.

My son is the same age and I agree with you that it's hard to feel like they have to pick one sport at that age. My kid plays both sports and is good at both, but likes baseball way more and so ultimately it was an easier decision to decline the soccer spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did travel socccer and travel lax.

Just be ready for coaches/parents to give you the side eye when you are late.

We told each coach Fall Soccer takes precedence, Spring lax did. We stuck to the rule and it was a bit bumpy. Summer was complicated.

I said in many occasions… he’s 10, or 11, or 12.

I mean really they are little children, lighten up.

My son was very good so no fear of getting cut.

We committed to one Sophomore year of HS but continued to play HS for both.

You should understand that you're committing to a team regardless of the age. The other teammates are counting on your player to help them improve as a Team. When you miss practice or a game it hurts everyone. Your using a roster spot that you committed to. A team sport is about the team not just whats good for your kid. Look at it if the shoe were on the other foot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:do not do both. The schedules are incompatible and each weekend you are likely to screw over one team. The travel soccer coaches do a good job of of intimidating their players and telling them that they will not get any playing time if they don't make soccer their number #1 priority. Travel baseball coaches tend to be more flexible, but then often the team will not have enough players to play their best (i.e., have enough pitchers, catchers) because the squads tend to be leaner in an effort to make sure no kids spend too much time on the beach. My kids have been on teams where some players tried to do both and everyone was unhappy about it.

BS. DD's team does well (plays EDP and has always finished in the top 3 of their division) and has multiple girls playing two or more travel sports. The coach is reasonable - he wants one practice a week at minimum and advanced notice if a kid has to miss a game or tournament. They normally have 5 subs, so two or three kids missing a game just means more playing time

[Anonymous]

Will you have help with the logistics? Because while my kids would love to do this, I can't imagine handling it myself.

[Anonymous]

If you are fully transparent with both teams, and both coaches agree, then sure, try it. However, be prepared for some resentment from the families who are fully committed to the one team. It will be less of an issue if your boys really are great at both sports, but if they start to lag behind the others because they aren't at as many practices, you will see their playing time cut back.

[Anonymous]

If your kid is good enough it won't impact playing time. Tournaments are a problem and baseball games are so damn long. I agree with others that you have to strictly adhere to giving each sports its precedence during its primary season. Keep telling coaches you are doing this, rinse repeat.

[Anonymous]

Being late for practices is understandable but being late for games can be frustrating for coaches and other parents especially if the team has a small roster.

[Anonymous]

Baseball is so boring. Do many kids even play anymore? I always thought it was for the less athletic kids. I understand it gets tougher in HS and above. Especially to hit. But it takes less of an athlete to play overall.