Bobblehead,
If you were told that every position was open and everybody has equal footing. And then it was a lie. Would you still feel obligated to honor your commitment if the other party already reneged on the deal? Would you give a year of being upset and po'd(my son) when the other party lied to get that commitment? We held up our end. They didn't. We were also told that no coaches had kids that played SS and that the competition was open. That was a large part of our decision to join the team. I am still honoring my commitment and giving the coaches a chance. They will get 2 more tournaments. Gotta do what is best for my son. And playing outfield and being PO'd at 13U isn't it.

Last post until tomorrow.
Today is my B'day.
Going home to pick up the kids and my wife for a quick dinner and then we split up for 2 practices. Typical birthday for a baseball parent.

You said your son was happy. Now you are saying the opposite.
Regardless you see it as a lie and maybe it was. Personally I would stay out of the coaches business and leave at the ned of the season.
My son was carded one year and had to play Rec ball. We just went and played and enjoyed it. We were upset but never complained. The next year he made the team but sat for five games. Finally went out and threw a no hitter. We were also competing with a coaches son. My son wouldn't quit.
You are telling facts that I have heard 100s of times. I am not trying to be mean here but you have to see things the way others might. You think yours son is the better player, maybe others don't. He is 12 YO so let him get used to BB and its knocks. When do you start crisizing the coaches instruction and how he calls the game ? BB is full of people that sound just like you do. After you say enough about your situation you can read between the lines and for your son's sake tell him to play hard. You are not wasting a year. You are actually learning more than you realise and so is your son.

Happy Birthday !!

I lied. One more post. My son likes his teamates. He doesn't like playing outfield. There is a difference.

Next, our season lasts for 10 months. September to June or so. If it was a couple of months it would be no big deal.

But it is a long season to watch someone who is not as good get to play the fun spots on the field. And not get the reps you need in practice and the game to keep you skills sharp.

Do I give them ten months of our time and money when nobody is happy?

I am not a saint. And remember, 30-60 other teams out there in the Phoenix Metro area.
Amd I don't need any lessons thank you. I sacrificed a lot of cartilage and ligaments for my teams growing up. I think I learned most of the good ones.

We were in a situation where my son was playing behind the coaches' son. Our season ended and we left. The next season, our coach had a stroke leaving his short term memory impared. Since our seasons end July and December, we were able to wait it out both times.

Since kids play for experience, it is difficult when they do not seem to be gaining the "right" kind. We started the travel stuff late, so he was never attached to a team long term.

I look at things a little different . If your son is not happy I would leave the team. Baseball should be fun!I don't think every thing needs to be a lesson in life. He is a 12 yrs old little kid. If any one needs to talk to the coach I think it should be the parent. Lighten up child hood is short. enjoy
That being said remember when you rock the boat be prepared to get wet.

Thanks for the differing viewpoints. I wanted to see if I had left anything out in my decision making and the rest of you helped fill in the holes.

If anyone is curious I will know the decision after the next two tournaments and another discussion with my son.

We shall see.

And you can be completely happy. Why settle when you have other choices?

TG,
I tried to resist but maybe my skin isn't as thick as I thought it was.
To answer your questions:
1. We will play over a 100 tournament games. 100's of practices when you include hitting, pitching, conditioning and fielding. That is a huge commitment. Especially when you want to play a different position. IMO that should only be done when you reach HS. In youth you shouldn't settle. Once again that is just my opinion.
2. Value was never brought up. Some positions are more fun. Every kid has his own idea of what is the best place to play. Some crazy kids even like catching and pitching! My son thinks SS is the best. Well, second best to hitting that is.
3. I guess you ignored the part that said reps in practice. Also you ignored the fact that I have a wife and two daughters. They would like some time also. We do side work when we can. Days off are days off. With our schedule, the last thing a young arm needs is more throwing.
Games prove you can do the job. It is called being clutch. Everybody can make a spectacular play in practice without any pressure. Doing it in a game is special.
4. I addressed happiness above. If I ever stop striving for happiness in my life and my families life just leave me on an ice flow. Darn, no smileys of people floating off into the sunset. Can we get some?

I noticed something. The qustion about the 15U team. It is the same team he played on last year that was 14U at that time. They moved up. Also a couple of teams that were 14U last year that know us asked about him before we signed up for our current team. I hope that clears it up.

After reading all this I guess i'm glad my son is a lefty!! 1st base, pitcher or the outfield for him! I have put that in his head his whole life. Now that he is 12 going on 13 and has left the youth field behind he actually enjoys playing the outfield as older kids actually hit it into the outfield on a consistent basis. He isn't the fleetest of foot but he catches everything he can get to and gets to use his strong accurate arm. He loves playing first but that seems to go to the kids who can hit but can't field very well. It also keeps his arm fresh for pitching. Coaches love kids who can actually play the outfield well, keeps you on the field and helps your team win. He realizes that when he gets to HS ball he only has 4 positions he can play when not on the mound, so he better get to know them all (3 OF & 1st) if he wants to contibute.

I understand what everyone is saying about commitments etc...but with the cost of travel ball you should make sure that you are getting enough playing time and playing the positions you'd prefer in order to justify that cash outlay. This isn't a high school team or such, it is a travel team which costs big bucks. If doughnutman has that many teams to choose from in his area and playing SS is important to the son and family then they should switch to a team where they are reasonably sure he will play enough for their peace of mind. however I think his son needs to learn that if he wants to make teams in the future (HS etc..) he will need to play where the coach needs him or his playing days could be over. Learning to play the outfield wouldn't hurt his chances, and playing outfield properly is more then just catching a pop up! I admit that this is a catch 22 type of scenario between cost & happiness vs life/baseball lessons. but at this young an age cost & happiness should probably win out.

DOUGHNUTMAN
Sir


Go back and read your initial post---that is not same as you quote in your response to me


Over and out !!!

TRHit,
"My son could go back to 15U and play the same positions as he is now or go to 14U and start at SS for someone else."
Is this what you are referring to?

He could play outfield and a couple of innings at short per tournament if we went back to his old team that is 15U now. It is the same as he is doing now for his 13U team. He is an excellant outfielder.

If you are referring to something else I have no idea what it is. Please clarify.

Look at your response to me with the quotes and then look at your original post

I cannot be in your mind to know what you mean

quote:

And you can be completely happy. Why settle when you have other choices?

We all have choices and you made a choice. You committed to a team.
Now you add the outside job, family and other ignorable things into the equation. These are things you should have considered when you were committing and that is why it is ignorable at this point.
BB is about commitment to a team. As I said we all have been through BB ups and downs. If I even tried to interfere with my son's BB he would have been livid with me.
I have seen parents who jump from team to team. There is alway something that you won't like. I have seen players quit in the middle of a tournament. One minute he is on your team and the next you are laying a beating on him in the next game. I took pleasure in watching our kids knock him out of the game in the 1st inning. The guy went to a JC and got tossed for drugs. His HS coach said he was more trouble than he was worth. He had talent but no discipline. His dotting parents were the blame in large part.
You asked for opinions and you seem to reject the experienced voices telling you to tough it out.
The most important thing in BB is discipline and that means honoring commitments. If not get ready for a bumpy ride. Ask the parents of college freshmen.

TR Hit,
I tried to clarify twice. I obviously have no idea what you want. Give me specifics and I will try my best.

Bobblehead,
We will have to agree to disagree. Every decision I make in my life, what is best for my family comes first. Nobody else is looking out for them. I would never make a decision without considering the total picture. Those issues are not ignorable IMO. I fulfill my commitments when the other parties fulfill there commitments. If they break the agreements tnen they are just taking advantage of me. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. And I don't think this will lead to a life of drug abuse. But you never know. And we did tough it out for 3 years of travel ball. No more settling. This isn't HS or above.

quote:

what is best for my family comes first. Nobody else is looking out for them

I would qualify that statement. It is what you think is best. Ever been wrong ?
TR is a seasoned high level coach and I would listen to him.
I personally have seen this attitude 100s of times and it rarely works out.

Good luck

quote:

"My son could go back to 15U and play the same positions as he is now or go to 14U and start at SS for someone else."

please list his options w/16U, 17U, and 18U teams so we can comment intelligently

are there also international options?

Bobblehead,
I have been wrong a few times in my life. I am a Cubs fan along with the Dbacks. But it comes down to this. I have to make the decision and live with the consequences. Nobody else does. That is the bottom line. Advice is nice but the decision affects my family, not anybody else's. I started the post to get input. I never said I would agree with all of it. I think that is impossible. There have been people on each side of the issue. Even though I disagree with you about youth sports, I still appreciate your viewpoint. Good luck.

And Bee,
Are you trying to pick a fight? I was trying to show that there were and are other options for my son. Didn't mean to sound like bragging. The fact that he has other options are an important part of the decision. He was asked to play in Hawaii this year. Does that count for international play?

I've been reading this and trying to make sense of it all, to me it appears that the BIG problem is he's not playing enough of SS in your eyes and possibly in his eyes.

That being said these 2 quotes contradict one another

quote:

He was having trouble with the 14U pitching and losing his confidence and he wanted a chance to play SS

So you join the team you're on now... That doesn't happen.....

quote:

My son could go back to...or go to 14U and start at SS for someone else

From reading that I get the impression you don't want to play for another Coach, BUT from reading your other posts it sounds as though you're not too impressed by the current Coach....

I could be just off base, but everything that I'm reading just isn't adding up.

And as you've said it's your decsion, but to me it looks like you're leaving quite a bit out when posting on here.

Bottom line if your son's not happy and if it's going to be a BIG deal to your son then make a change now rather then have your son lose interest in the game, or want to quit part way through the season. Mind you what lesson does that teach your son...

quote:

Are you trying to pick a fight?

not me!

just wanna be well informed

quote:

was asked to play in Hawaii this year. Does that count for international play?

maybe .. what is your citizenship