I've heard great things about the Cooper's Town tournament experience. But, it appears to target 10U and 12U, and skip 11U.
From a competitive standpoint; does it make sense to take an 11U team to this week long tournament?
Its expensive and we'd like to go and win some games, but it might be better to wait a year until the kids are 12U, where we might be a little more competitive.

Anyone with experience at Cooper's Town have any comments?

Expensive and IMO worth it, not for 11u though if you have the expectation of winning a few... you may catch a town team but for the most part pretty decent 12u teams show up.

We went as 11U and faired pretty well but we have always played up as often as possible.

To be honest, CDP at 12U is not baseball. 200' flyballs are HRs.

I think it is much better to go as a 12U team. I also think a player should only go once.

Why wait until 12?

The majority of the boys at the park are 12, and the social interactions are easier if the player isn't one of the little kids.

Each of the individual skills competitions allow one representative per team, and they are more fun for the whole team if their player is competitive. The fastest kid around the bases will be 12, not 11.

Games can be rain delayed until after midnight. Older players can handle the late nights and the possible early game the following morning better.

The tournament is more fun if the team can play well into the elimination rounds. Every week, there will be a half dozen teams of stud 12 year olds, who have been "playing up", but are playing to age for the CDP. Your 11 year old team, even if very good, will have trouble competing with the really good 12 year olds.

Part of the experience is (or should be) touring the Hall of Fame. Older kids appreciate it more.

My son and his team had a blast at 12. I do not think they would have enjoyed themselves at 11. They were competitive in the skills contest, did well in the tourney and had a blast all week. I would be willing to bet they would not have liked it if they were getting their lunches handed to them everyday.

Plus I would have been po'd at all of the money spent just to get knocked around. It is one expensive trip from Phoenix. But it was worth every penny at age 12!!

quote:

Originally posted by 3FingeredGlove:
Your 11 year old team, even if very good, will have trouble competing with the really good 12 year olds.

We were the exception to that statement. Not bragging, just pointing out that 90% of the teams there were not THAT good.

Typically, you have 5 or so elite teams each week, followed by 20ish very good teams, with 20-30 solid teams and then the rest are OK to poor.

Who is this Cooper, and where is his town?

I believe your talkng about the tournament where you stay in the dorms and play on a minor league, college field, etc.

I went last year in 14U i think. Amazing tournament. Service and quality is so great. Fields are amazing and it is tons of fun.