Agree in theory with not starting travel until later. We started at 11u bc our LL option was not good and we got very lucky finding a travel team where most parents were on the same page and surprisingly chill. Boys really got along well bc they all had a strong interest in developing/playing more ball. Played primarily in local tournaments and only 2-3 per season. Things got a little weird at 14u as it was becoming increasingly clear who had a real shot at playing in HS. Unless your kid is a very strong athlete, huge, or has done a lot of training, I think it would be hard to make the jump to travel at 14. Latest I would make the move is 13 when all players are transitioning to the big field and it’s pretty ugly across the board for at least the fall season.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I run a travel org. I personally don’t think kids should play travel before 12u. Stick with little league and outside training OP.

Ultimately you should explain your position to him and emphasize you want him to play long term and his time and your money is better spent on the training side and little league. Have a plan and tell him he’ll play travel again but you want him to start preparing now with LL and outside training.

On the softball side, but cannot tell you how many been-there-done-that parents and coaches have told me the bolded. A few have even suggested 14U, but I imagine you'd have to be a pretty special player to make that jump.

I'm a BTDT parent for both softball and baseball and I would easily say 14U. SO not worth it. Spend the money and time on good instruction instead and stick with a 'higher level' Rec team.

Anonymous wrote:I run a travel org. I personally don’t think kids should play travel before 12u. Stick with little league and outside training OP.

Ultimately you should explain your position to him and emphasize you want him to play long term and his time and your money is better spent on the training side and little league. Have a plan and tell him he’ll play travel again but you want him to start preparing now with LL and outside training.

Could not agree with this more. Spend the extra money on strength and conditioning and speed training.

Have him play fall ball in your local LL. Take half the money you would spend on travel expenses (team, hotels, meals, last-minute dashes to the tournament-adjacent Dick's for the belt/socks/cleats/water bottle he forgot) and use it for one-on-one training. Balance, power, speed and agility. Hitting and fielding. Pitching or catching if that's his thing. Put the other half of the former travel budget in his 529.

Signed,
Parent of college sophomore ballplayer

Also, 13U is a good time to jump because it's when they move to the full sized field (if you don't do intermediates) and it sort of evens the playing field. After a good little league experience, my son was only a tiny bit behind the kids who had done little league and travel their whole childhood.

I think it depends on your local little league. Ours is fantastic - huge program and very competitive. My son did only little league until he aged out and then tried out for 13U travel teams. He got into a good local program and we've been super happy with the whole experience. In our travel program, when you get to 13U you start getting the hired coached. This is key. No more "daddy coaches" playing favorites. Makes it feel more professional and there's less arguing among the parents about assignments being made based on personal friendships/relationships rather than what the team needs. I think this is what to wait for.

Anonymous wrote:I run a travel org. I personally don’t think kids should play travel before 12u. Stick with little league and outside training OP.

Ultimately you should explain your position to him and emphasize you want him to play long term and his time and your money is better spent on the training side and little league. Have a plan and tell him he’ll play travel again but you want him to start preparing now with LL and outside training.

On the softball side, but cannot tell you how many been-there-done-that parents and coaches have told me the bolded. A few have even suggested 14U, but I imagine you'd have to be a pretty special player to make that jump.

7:57 raises a good point- how long does your LL go? Ours, while large, stops at majors. We used to have an IM team or two but now can't even field one. Some leagues go all the way to seniors and have good talent.

Travel teams sort of shake up anyway at 13u as many teams stop at 12u and dad coaches, or kids drop out.

If he loves baseball and wants to keep playing, do what the above poster says and get him some private instruction as well as taking him out on your own. Also try Little league fall ball and other weekend skills sessions if they’re available. He’ll still get to play and will improve a lot by next little league season.

I’m assuming that next year is his 12s year in little league. Many little leagues have a drastic drop off after that, so it may be important to find a travel team after 12s.

Little league is fantastic. Often there is a travel team associated with little league if that is something you decide to try again. Do not spend thousands of dollars. That is ridiculous. These places that talk about exposure and coaches from private schools and colleges are just trying to make money. Do what your child enjoys and what you can tolerate in terms of driving.

Sounds like he isn’t ready to quit but you are. Maybe you need a break - can you get someone else to take him to practices and games? Give yourself a break from the drama?

I run a travel org. I personally don’t think kids should play travel before 12u. Stick with little league and outside training OP.

Ultimately you should explain your position to him and emphasize you want him to play long term and his time and your money is better spent on the training side and little league. Have a plan and tell him he’ll play travel again but you want him to start preparing now with LL and outside training.

Kids hate change. He’s 11. It will teach him to be nimble, pivot and don’t settle for mediocre experiences.

What team are you with? Ours isn’t like this at all.

My 11 yr old has been playing travel baseball for 3 years. It has been nothing short of a disaster. Teams continue to split into new teams, coaching changes, constant revolving door of players, it just hasn't been a positive experience. He hasn't progressed a ton, and we have decided to just go back to little league. He loves baseball, and is pretty mad at us right now, but I just can't keep paying thousands of dollars for nothing but drama. As of right now his current team doesn't even have a head coach and half the players are leaving, so it isn't like I am taking him away from all of his friends. Any advice on how to convince him that little league isn't a demotion?