Not every cohort or team in these programs is the same. What works for one player may not be a good fit for another. Experiences differ wildly on some team too.

Do not judge a coach by the team record. A lot of team records are determined by the top one or two players. They were probably strong to begin with. HS coaches are often just tweaking things a bit. Learning the game and skill development often happens in the years prior (not always, but HS coaches already expect players to know what they are doing).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want them to play in college, you might want to go with a more elite program…

What are the elite programs?

Stars

Anonymous wrote:In nearby NOVA counties, more players are foregoing HS baseball teams and doing alternative schooling. It’s becoming more like tennis and soccer based on my current understanding. Not saying this is the case for OP.

My DC opted not to play HS ball because he was over the bro-culture and didn’t want to be associated with the kind of behaviors he witnessed. Disappointing because he really has (had?) potential. He’s playing recreationally and people keep asking him and us why he’s not on the HS team. Again, this may be different from OP’s DC’s situation, but I have met a few others who love to play yet walked away from the HS teams as well. And I’m not talking about benchwarmers.

And there’s no bro culture on college teams?

In nearby NOVA counties, more players are foregoing HS baseball teams and doing alternative schooling. It’s becoming more like tennis and soccer based on my current understanding. Not saying this is the case for OP.

My DC opted not to play HS ball because he was over the bro-culture and didn’t want to be associated with the kind of behaviors he witnessed. Disappointing because he really has (had?) potential. He’s playing recreationally and people keep asking him and us why he’s not on the HS team. Again, this may be different from OP’s DC’s situation, but I have met a few others who love to play yet walked away from the HS teams as well. And I’m not talking about benchwarmers.

Anonymous wrote:At 14, unless your son is a throwing in the high 80s or hitting 400 foot home runs, playing for an elite team isn’t necessary. Play for a program that develops and is in it for the right reasons.

Yeah, I agree with this overall but my suggestion for an elite team was because the kids not even gonna play high school ball. I’m wondering if OP has grand illusions of their child playing college baseball without playing high school and isn’t currently part of any travel orgs. It just seems like such a strange scenario lol.

At 14, unless your son is a throwing in the high 80s or hitting 400 foot home runs, playing for an elite team isn’t necessary. Play for a program that develops and is in it for the right reasons.

Anonymous wrote:+1
Travel coach should be a partner in recruiting. Third party agencies are a money grab. Dad coaches don’t know the college coaches. There are plenty of local programs with a strong track record for placing athletes and relationships with college coaches. At this age I’d go with team over convenience. Most of the summer is playing tournaments, not local practice. And I don’t understand why no HS ball. There’s a homeschool team that plays high schools if that is the issue. Where does he train? Maybe they can advise a good fit.

They are only a money grab if what they provide isn’t worth it to you. My son is playing on a HS team that doesn’t send many kids to play in college, and his travel team is dad coached so the coaches have never done the college connection thing. But we save $1500/year by not paying elite travel team fees, and we’ve spent that instead on the recruiting service to fill the gap.

I’m not saying others should do what we are doing, as our circumstances aren’t most people’s. But OP’s question was whether they NEED one of these elite travel teams, and they don’t if they are willing to cobble together the training, competition, and connections they’ll need in other ways.

+1
Travel coach should be a partner in recruiting. Third party agencies are a money grab. Dad coaches don’t know the college coaches. There are plenty of local programs with a strong track record for placing athletes and relationships with college coaches. At this age I’d go with team over convenience. Most of the summer is playing tournaments, not local practice. And I don’t understand why no HS ball. There’s a homeschool team that plays high schools if that is the issue. Where does he train? Maybe they can advise a good fit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A little confused. Why would he not want to join his high school team but would like to play in college? Does he do another spring sport to keep him occupied during HS baseball season? Something doesn’t make sense.

+1

Also, as for the comment about the elite team, when you’re in a program like prime time or an Ignite in Northern Virginia, they do the recruiting for you. You don’t need to hire a separate person to evaluate/recruit you.

That’s true! It’s a trade off - some kids and families really like the elite teams, and some don’t. For us, an elite team is a long drive for practice, and my kid would probably have to be a pitcher only, and he likes to hit and play other positions too.

Anonymous wrote:A little confused. Why would he not want to join his high school team but would like to play in college? Does he do another spring sport to keep him occupied during HS baseball season? Something doesn’t make sense.

+1

Also, as for the comment about the elite team, when you’re in a program like prime time or a Ignite in Northern Virginia, they do the recruiting for you. You don’t need to hire a separate person to evaluate/recruit you.

A little confused. Why would he not want to join his high school team but would like to play in college? Does he do another spring sport to keep him occupied during HS baseball season? Something doesn’t make sense.

Anonymous wrote:If you want them to play in college, you might want to go with a more elite program…

Just to say that I don't know that this is necessary, from our experience. My son has played on B level travel teams since he was 12, and he's 16 now. Goes to a small school with a baseball team that would be blown out of the water by the big private and public schools. He is working with a college recruitment company and their assessment is that he can play in college, but which division (D1, 2 or 3) still to be seen, based on velocity of his fastball in a year. It may be specific to pitchers, where kids are recruited by their documented velocity and accompanying videos of mechanics and pitch movement, but the service we are using said don't worry about the team, just keep working hard at strength training and mechanics, and he'll find a spot.

As for the title of your post, OP, my son has been on three different teams/organizations. Two have been dad-coached, and they have been organized, fun, supportive, and great experiences. The one elite-type travel organization he played with was awful - disorganized, didn't care about the boys, wouldn't take feedback, expensive.

Anonymous wrote:If you want them to play in college, you might want to go with a more elite program…

What are the elite programs?

If you want them to play in college, you might want to go with a more elite program…

Just wondering how the DC area teams compare. We are thinking of making a move for our 8th grader and doing tryouts. Can anyone talk about for 14year old who is not joining high school team but would like to play in some way in college.

BCC program
DC Dynasty
Wild Bill