My son plays for a highly ranked 13U major USSSA team in Louisiana. He starts at 3rd base and is considered one of the top pitchers on the team. He's played tournament ball exclusively since age ten.

The problem is that he is the only kid from his school/city on the team. The team is made up of kids from all over the southwestern portion of the state. His school friends play league baseball and a couple of AA (low level) tournaments each summer and have not been very successful.

He wants to play with his buddies and not on the tournament team. The head coach of the tournament team is about to blow a gasket, his mother wants him to continue playing for the tournament team. I am on the fence - the tournament team is much better for him and the school buddies is a version of "baseball hell". However, I want him to be happy.

A final note. A couple of D-1 college players were working with my son and noticed that he was getting way to intense and upset by his other teammates errors during a wiffleball game in the gym. These college players told my son to just have fun - and he told these players that he hadn't had fun playing baseball since he was 10 years old. He loves the game of baseball, but I think the pressure cooker of select baseball may be ruining his love for the game.

Any suggestions?

cream rises to the top

I appears to me that your son is on the verge of becoming a "Baseball Drop Out"

The key is to have fun playing the game especially at the age of 13

I would let him drop back this year and play with his friends, It just might instill that fervor that is needed.

TRhit

Let him play with friends..he should have fun...

Life gets to complicated too fast....so childhood should have those memories that get us through it all...

Pat him on the back...and let him enjoy ....

A smile on your son's face will be worth it

Thanks for the reply TRhit. I respect your opinion, as I've read your posts on these message boards for a couple of years. I don't think my son would ever quit the game, but I do sense he's burntout with the current tournament regime. I'll let him make the choice.

cream rises to the top

quote:

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Originally posted by garse:
I'll let him make the choice.

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A very wise decision......

To many parents forget about "what the child wants"

cong

"In baseball, you don't know nothing." - Yogi

garse...My son took an entire summer season off when he was 12 and it worked wonders for him.

He caught up with his friends...enjoyed his summer; and, then he was ready to go again.

Minds (and bodies) need a break!

Sounds like he's got a great foundation to build on, so scaling back at this point may not be too detrimental.

But, at 14 is usually when someone local starts a "pre-freshman" team with local kids, so he may want to stick out till the end of this spring if he knows he can play with his friends in the fall.

Trhit is right on! I would go out my way to make it fun for him.

Knowledge is Power! Thank you Mavens and HSBBWEB!

Garse listen or read this please. I have been where you are at. My son started playing travel ball AAU when he was 10 as well. He loved it because the competition was great and all the players on the team were talented. As he got into Middle School he was told by all his friends "You need to play with us". They would come to school and talk about the games during the week and all of them were playing together in the local league. They didnt want to hear about my sons games because no one could relate. He came to me and told me that he wanted to play with his buddies from school. I explained to him how it was going to be BO BO Ball. He told me he didnt care that he wanted to play with the guys he was going to go to High School with. I thought about it and came to the realization that what he wanted to do was more important than what I wanted him to do. Well he lasted about half the year. He got intentionally walked 15 at bats in a row. When he pitched his first game he has 17 K's in a 6 inning game. One guy bunted. After that game he pitched his strike zone became so small it was ridiculous. He ended up finishing the season back with his AAU team. I let him make the call. If you dont mind me saying let him make the call. It does need to be fun period. Hopefully your son will not experience what mine did. If he does then he will see how good the travel ball is for him. But whatever situation he ends up in it needs to be an environment where haveing fun is #1.

I would like to throw my two cents in here, We faced a similiar problem...My son played for the traveling "teams" from 10-14...played any where from 55-85 games a year. At 14, he was not enjoying the game as much...it was a business. He played because he thought that was what he needed to do. He did not complain or question what he was doing. But I could see it was not as much fun and he was trying to obtain good numbers. I asked him if he wanted to try the league play again and leave his options open for traveling ball. Things worked out that between league and post league tournaments...he had found a new love for baseball. I think as most everyone has commented, let your son make the decision, with your help. The Coach (which ever one it is) can be a help also. In our case, when he returned to league play, he developed a relationship with the post season coach that will last a life time.

Thanks to everyone for their replies. My son decided to play with his 7th grade buddies (league & AA tournament team). He informed his travel team coach on Friday the 20th. That night (school ball - league hasn't started yet) he played 3rd, SS and then pitched four innings of no-hit ball against a powerful 8th grade team. He had a smile on his face the entire time. It seems as if a great burden has been lifted off of his shoulders. Thanks again - I've got my fingers crossed.

cream rises to the top

garse

Good news--don't worry --he will be fine and HE made the decision !!!

That is a big step for one so young !

TRhit

garse...my friend went through the same thing last year with his 11 yr. old. it was killing him. he is from a baseball family. brother is director of minor league development for the k.c. royals. dad and brother are prominent h.s. coaches. my buddy played in the 1983 CWS. he let his son make his own decision. after a year of having fun...he caught the fever again and is back playing travel ball this year.