Rec to U14 - Thoughts?

What advice should I give him if he asks?

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Dear rec league family family

We have reached the point in the season, when families interested in travel ball begin to consider their options for their kids. It can be a very stressful period of time for both parent and player as they are being told a number of different things from different coaches, other families or friends.

Having been involved with travel baseball since 2004 and seeing how it has changed over these past 10 years, I wanted to provide some information that I hope will be helpful as you consider the options for your kids. Of course, those of us that administer the the local rec league are hopeful that you will all consider returning for next year, we understand the beliefs that you have to play travel ball to get better, find better competition or be ready for high school. Here are some things to consider and questions to ask when trying to make your decision for what you believe to be the best for your kids.

* Know that our local rec league does everything possible to provide your kids with a great experience. We have partnered with other towns to give you some experience of travel ball. We have opened the door to a Sunday double header league for our All-Star teams to play more games throughout the season against teams as close as the neighbor town and far away as about 30 miles.

* When considering moving to a travel team, be cautious if they are a first year team. Especially, if they have no organization behind them. Chances are great that they have NO home field lined up, making the team a road team all of the time. They are likely forming the team because they want their kids to just play travel ball, not understanding how much work is involved.

* Know who the coach is and what is expectations, values and background is. Is he/she coaching another team outside the organization of the team you are considering? What is his/her plan for balancing both teams out? How many games should you expect to play in? Is the team joining a league? Or is the team just a tournament team? Where will you travel to? In state or out of state?

* I could give you a handful of examples of parents that have contacted me in the middle of the winter with the question, "what should we do because our team has folded"? Choose a team that has a history and an organization supporting it. Too many times teams are formed for the wrong reasons. Your investment will be lost if you choose the wrong team. The families that choose these teams are often left with a less than desirable experience.

* Ask how much you will be expected to pay in fees and get receipts for these payments. Ask for a budget and how that budget will be met. If there is no budget, then walk away because there is NO plan and you will be continually be asked to reach into your pocket.

* Ask what you will get for your fees. Indoor training, league, uniforms, tournaments, etc... Some teams will charge a fee, then charge you for your uniform, helmet, bags, and more.

* Will your new team be an open book financially? It's your money and therefore, you should receive regular financial updates of the status of the team. Organizations are generally not-for-profit like our local rec league. Independent teams have no tax status giving you no means of recovering funds if the team/manager quits.

* On that note, who is handling the teams' funds? It should NEVER be one of the coaches.

* Go to more than one tryout. Don't just pay attention to your child but watch everyone's child. Too many times families are more interested in making a team and not paying attention to the make up of the team that they may be joining. Is your player an equal to the other players, a core player or are they just being asked to fill a roster spot? Today, there are more roster spots on teams than there are teams in total.

* When asked to commit to a team, ask questions. How many commitments have been made already? Don't fall victim to being one of 7 or 8 players on the roster, then waiting for your coach to try and round out his roster with 3 or 4 more players.

* If you're given a deadline to provide an answer, then consider this a huge red flag. This is standard practice for a team that did not have a plan and are using a hard sell practice. If they can't respect your need to make a sound decision during this time, then they won't give it to you during the season when you have a concern about what might be happening on or off the field.

* A good rule of thumb with regard to the question "how soon should I hear something after the tryout ends" is before the next weekend. The reason for this is that coaches will actively look for 11 or 12 yes replies before the week is over. The later in the week, the more likely your player is asked to just complete the roster.

If you have questions during this crazy time, then please feel free to send me a note. In the end, we realize that parents want what is best for their kids. Unfortunately, all too often parents are sold a bill of goods and are afraid to be left out.

I hope this will help some of you over the next month.

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