Folks,

Here in MD we are suffering from a serious problem of parents and players looking for what I call the BBD (Bigger and Better Deal) with regards to summer baseball.

This does not affect my baseball program. We are very established and have an excellent reputation.

However, I live in a community with lots of young baseball players. One kid in the neighborhood has played for 6 different teams in 6 seasons...and he ain't that stinking good for a 14 year old!

I am very well connected in the travel baseball circles of MD. Several friends have mentioned to me the last couple of years all the problems that exist in the 10-16 age groups with players jumping from one team to the next, coaches splintering off and starting their own "all-star" teams (translated...my son wasn't good enough to play for team A, so I will start my own team so he can be the star). Promises are made and broken each and every season.

Is it this bad everywhere?

I look at it two ways.

Only one kid can be out there playing a position at a time. If the talent pool is that deep then the players who also play that spot will look for a team that needs them and will give them playing time.

The start my own team theory is not a bad thing either with that many kids. The more kids, the more teams. The more kids play.

Competition for players here is also very high. There are a great number of quality ball players available to make up a number of very competitive teams.

Sadly, it was not uncommon down here a few years ago.

I don't think the splintering of teams is necessarily a bad thing. There are many valid reasons why a parent might choose to remove his child from a team and possibly start his own team or join an existing team.

1. The boy may be behind a real stud at his desired position, but the boy is also very good at that position and wishes to continue playing that position. Remember, the boy needs opportunities to play his position if he is going to improve at that position.
2. The boy may be competing against one or more of the coaches' sons and may not see much playing time at his desired position due to daddy ball.
3. The boy may be a pitcher and is being pitched too much or too little. A problem either way.
4. Parent/boy may not like the coaching style of a coach (i.e. too aggressive, too passive, too harsh, foul mouth, not enough instruction, not enough rotation of players, too much rotation of players).
5. Player may not have much in common with other players and may not be enjoying being on the team. Boys should be having fun playing baseball regardless if it is Major or AA level ball.

These are but a few of the reasons why a parent may choose to move a boy to another (or new team). I know this can be frustrating for the existing coaches, but this is really to be about what is best for the boys (not the coaches). More than likely, the same coaches that are complaining about players leaving their own teams, have pulled players away from another team.

Too often, though, you see a kid who is perfectly happy with the team. The parents are ones unhappy. Usually they don't like his spot in the batting order, want him playing every inning, want him in another position, etc.

And I have seen these type parents move their kid from team to team every season, until they run out of teams. And then the kid is either hung on the last team when the music stops, or he ends up going back into rec ball and out of select.

Sure there are legitimate reasons to switch. But much of the time it comes down to the parents happiness.

It seems like all ball should be rec ball.

It shouldn't be about the coach, it should be about the kid and his/her parents comfort level with the teams.

If a team is covering all costs and not asking a dime from the kids, they can be picky. Until then it is about the kids and the parents.