Seems like all the talk is always about who has the best record...who will beat who. What about the strong 16,17 and 18 year old programs that don't forget that players still need developing during these years also. I love to win as much as anyone, but when developing players, IT CAN"T BE ALL ABOUT WINNING, for them to keep develpoing.
What does Norwood do to keep developing each player duinr the season or pre-season?
What about Top Tier?
UDC?
Prairie?
Express?

I know what Lombard does, that is why my son choose to play with them last year over Norwood.

and I am not talking about "exposure" here...I am talkng about player development...what are they doing to make the player better "personally".

norwood is about winning only. no instruction, no development. most if not all of the NB kids are serious players with a strong future in the game. they have only 1 coach.

mde, I don't hear much about practice and working on fundamentals from the kids I coach that play travel ball. I'm sure it has to do with the amount of games in a short period of time. I would hope you son's HS program is practicing and working on fundamentals during the season and summer.

the truth is that the high end player is well drilled on fundamentals because of travel ball.coaches that are lucky enough to coach in an area where virtually all of the top players play travel have a much easier time of it.(Stagg,Lockport,Andrews,Viator,Fremd, Rolling Meadows and Hersey to name a few) The great travel programs in these ares work harder at fundamentals than any house league can or will. the house leagues dont have the time or the talent distributed well enough to make these excercises worthwhile. by the very nature of travel ball and all the games and practices they have kids show up at HS with a much better understanding of the game w/regard to strategy,bunting,running bases and all fundementals. most travel coaches at the top level have the luxury of a team full of players already well versed in the nuances of the game. Oak Park and others need to wake up to this situation before its too late.The paradox is that OP used to have the MOST ready for HS kind of player. Now its the other guys and its because of travel ball.

I stressed fundamentals since 9 years old with the travel team I coached( until they were 17). When they got to high school they were much further ahead than their peers because they had been doing the drills for years.
My son is no longer in high school, but I do have to say that his high school stressed fundamentals in practice EVERY DAY. The drills he now does in college are the same drills he did in high school, which are pretty much the same drills he did in travel ball.
I agree that there isn't much time for practice with the travel season and high school summer season goin on, but what about during fall ball?...winter workouts? Heck even during the summer games you need to be developing the players ...as far as refining their footwork and mental understanding of the game.... no?

LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL

Any school that has great feeder programs and interested parents at the Little League, Pony and Babe Ruth levels.

Teams that have both are made up of unselfish players and coachs. This makes for an unselfish program. Every one talks about how the travel teams and Highschool teams are conflicting with each other. Try woorking together.

Jerney1111

Try playing for a high level travel team that plays weekdays and weekend tourneys. Oswego plays all summer games at home doubleheaders and are open with weekends to travel. Not many problems to work out with your high school coaches.

I've been reading your posts about Oswego and I must say Oswego is a average team at best. I know almost all of these players and my feeling is if you need to"toot your own horn" about how great you are something is not there. Matt J and Todd C. are good players--not impressed with the rest.

Very good points, JMan.

I know Matt J and your son can pitch because I tried to get them to join us after that tournament in Bourbonnais in July, 2002.

Lots of talent from the left and right side.

Jern to Northern and your guy to Western? Right?

New Illinois Forum is open....look below

JMAN Do'nt give me that T.Y.O.H SSStuf. I would call it promoting your team and players. I think thats all I care to say about your toot your own horn comment... Matt and several other Oswego players play on high level travel teams. They have had some succsess on their teams to. As for our H.S. summer team playing doubleheaders during the week and having the weekends off is a good idea. This alows players who are on travel teams to do their thing. The games are all at home because Oswego has a very nice feild with lights.