Didn't know kids are allowed to play up, I thought the May 1st cut off is firm.

Cooperstown is overrated and not worth doing unless it's your team and your kid really likes the team. DS had a blast, but it was a long week for the parents--and expensive! I would pass on it if DS doesn't even know what he doesn't know...

You could send him on some other fun baseball experience. It wouldn’t be the same, but it could be special and fun.

My son really enjoyed Baseball Factory camps/events in Florida. He went when he was older (15-17) but I think they have the same sort of events for younger players too. Not cheap though.

Echoing the PP that said to check Facebook groups because teams will often post to pick up a player or form a team, and players will post their availability to join a team. Also spread the word around local organizations (or his old team) that are going because teams definitely want to have a full roster for Cooperstown. It’s a lot of games and lots of innings to pitch. Plenty of teams will be looking to add a player or two because of injuries, schedule conflicts, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Adding on, the good news is, he doesn’t really know what he’s missing out on.

My son didn’t go to Cooperstown until he was older so he didn’t do the whole village/dorm thing. He doesn’t even know it exists and he had a blast going and playing in a regular tournament. FWIW.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:post on the FB Travel Baseball pages...sometimes 12U teams are looking for +1's to add and take to Cooperstown (even if you're already playing on a 13U team)

DS had a great time but the team experience was a huge part of that. I’m not sure he would have loved it just being an add on unless he’d gotten to know the kids and played with them a bit prior to the C-town week.

And the kids all have to stay in the dorm room, which is all bunkbeds which would be pretty awkward with a bunch of kids and 2 coaches you’ve never met before. Just FYI. Some kids may not care, but I know mine would have.

There’s Omaha for 13u. My son missed Cooperstown for the same reason. He was over it pretty fast. Also because the weather was so rainy many games were canceled for his former team that went.

Anonymous wrote:post on the FB Travel Baseball pages...sometimes 12U teams are looking for +1's to add and take to Cooperstown (even if you're already playing on a 13U team)

DS had a great time but the team experience was a huge part of that. I’m not sure he would have loved it just being an add on unless he’d gotten to know the kids and played with them a bit prior to the C-town week.

post on the FB Travel Baseball pages...sometimes 12U teams are looking for +1's to add and take to Cooperstown (even if you're already playing on a 13U team)

Adding on, the good news is, he doesn’t really know what he’s missing out on.

Sorry, I agree with PP, there is really nothing like Cooperstown. The Ripken experience doesn’t even come close. It’s the ceremonies, the competitions, the dining hall, the pin trading, the uniforms, the village – all of it.

No that experience is one of a kind. But you have to do what you have to do.

My son needs to switch travel baseball teams for 1000 reasons. He’s an older 12U so he’s going to switch to play up on a 13U team. He is going to miss his old team’s trip to Cooperstown. Are there any individual baseball experiences that are comparable to Cooperstown that I could Sign him up for? He doesn’t want to suffer for another season just so that he can join for Cooperstown.