Anonymous
11/02/2023 19:32
Subject: Top travel baseball teams?
Anonymous wrote:What are the top travel teams in the area? We’ve been with a DC team since the beginning but think we need to find a more elite team as he’s nearing HS since he hopes to play in college. Prefer to consider the ones most convenient to NW DC. Location is one thing, good people and coaching is also high on the list.
TIA!
Don’t get sold on flashy elite teams and far away expensive travel tournaments. A better plan for a middle school student is to take the hours they would be spend traveling and get him in the weight room with a certified trainer several times a week. And, get a nutritionist for occasional check ins. Then play local and get a ton of reps. I understand the FOMO, but if you put 30 lbs of muscle on the kid in MS, the HS coaches will call you.
Anonymous
11/02/2023 19:08
Subject: Top travel baseball teams?
Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t worry about “eliteness” at this point. My son was on a rec team at 10, low level travel at 12 (a blast, his favorite team ever), varsity at small high school at 14, new increasingly “elite” travel teams through high school. Now at 17u he’s on one of the regional level teams of a fancy pants national organization. It’s fine, but not great, and there is little to no investment in the players. You show up, play, go home, and show up at the next tournament. No practice, coaching, or development.
And with all that - he’s getting D3 and D2 interest and we’ve been advised that he will be able to play in college if that’s what he wants - just needs to find a good fit.
Let your kid play where he’ll find the joy, OP. You’ve got lots of years ahead where it gets intense and stressful sometimes. Just keep playing and loving it for now, on whatever team makes him happy.
+1
OP I understand that your son is looking for more competition and engagement but I think it’s important for his long term development for you to find a coaching/ strength/ throwing program that can help him elevate his skills. He’s young and has time. Lots of this advice for recruiting is good but perhaps a little bit much for a 13 year old.
Anonymous
10/31/2023 09:53
Subject: Top travel baseball teams?
I wouldn’t worry about “eliteness” at this point. My son was on a rec team at 10, low level travel at 12 (a blast, his favorite team ever), varsity at small high school at 14, new increasingly “elite” travel teams through high school. Now at 17u he’s on one of the regional level teams of a fancy pants national organization. It’s fine, but not great, and there is little to no investment in the players. You show up, play, go home, and show up at the next tournament. No practice, coaching, or development.
And with all that - he’s getting D3 and D2 interest and we’ve been advised that he will be able to play in college if that’s what he wants - just needs to find a good fit.
Let your kid play where he’ll find the joy, OP. You’ve got lots of years ahead where it gets intense and stressful sometimes. Just keep playing and loving it for now, on whatever team makes him happy.
And with all that - he’s getting D3 and D2 interest and we’ve been advised that he will be able to play in college if that’s what he wants - just needs to find a good fit.
Let your kid play where he’ll find the joy, OP. You’ve got lots of years ahead where it gets intense and stressful sometimes. Just keep playing and loving it for now, on whatever team makes him happy.
Anonymous
10/31/2023 09:46
Subject: Top travel baseball teams?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, he's tall and well into puberty. Physical size aside, when would be a good time to switch teams? We've been with his current one since its beginning and he loves his team. Would it hurt his odds by staying put longer? When is it "too late"? The logistics around a new team are definitely daunting.
One other thing…don’t play down for your grade. If your kid is young for the grade, play the grade level not the age level (or consider holding back a year).
As example, if your kid can technically qualify for 16u but is a HS junior, play 17u so he is properly evaluated alongside other HS juniors.
+1
Anonymous
10/31/2023 08:25
Subject: Top travel baseball teams?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, he's tall and well into puberty. Physical size aside, when would be a good time to switch teams? We've been with his current one since its beginning and he loves his team. Would it hurt his odds by staying put longer? When is it "too late"? The logistics around a new team are definitely daunting.
One other thing…don’t play down for your grade. If your kid is young for the grade, play the grade level not the age level (or consider holding back a year).
As example, if your kid can technically qualify for 16u but is a HS junior, play 17u so he is properly evaluated alongside other HS juniors.
Anonymous
10/31/2023 08:21
Subject: Top travel baseball teams?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, he's tall and well into puberty. Physical size aside, when would be a good time to switch teams? We've been with his current one since its beginning and he loves his team. Would it hurt his odds by staying put longer? When is it "too late"? The logistics around a new team are definitely daunting.
Honestly, you could keep your kid on his current team until 16u (fall of sophomore season) Even then, top teams may take your kid through Summer 16u and cut them if they find better players. It is the nature of the beast at this level.
Just understand a group like the Canes and Richmond Braves have multiple teams at every age group…but don’t buy the sales pitch. If you aren’t on their Platinum/National team, you are just funding the organization…they aren’t promoting the lower team players to colleges.
Anonymous
10/31/2023 00:47
Subject: Top travel baseball teams?
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, he's tall and well into puberty. Physical size aside, when would be a good time to switch teams? We've been with his current one since its beginning and he loves his team. Would it hurt his odds by staying put longer? When is it "too late"? The logistics around a new team are definitely daunting.
I asked earlier about his “qualifications”. This does sound ridiculous to say about a 13 year old - however the question really has more to do with placing him in the right programs that will help him continue to develop.
I consult with families all the time in placing players in the right high school programs. It’s not a one size fits all and much of this is transferable to choosing the right travel program. 13u is about finding a balance between fun and development. 14u is when the grind really starts so ideally you want solidify your players passion for competition (internally and externally) beforehand.