I agree. Baseball could learn a lot from what US Soccer is doing.
Here's the big difference between soccer and baseball in this country. With these independent youth baseball teams the goal is winning. These teams are made up of glory hunting parents and coaches who spend way too much time and money traveling the country to win tournaments. With soccer programs that operate under the US Soccer Fed, which is most of them, the #1 goal is player development.
If you want to be a youth soccer organization you are required to have a comprehensive development model in place that addresses the needs of all kids of all abilities. Rec players aren't left behind. And even in more competitive environments, at least the ones I know of, they aren't going to sit a kid the entire game in order to win a game. Again, the goal is development, not winning. US Soccer has also done things like reduce the size of fields and teams because doing so gives individual players more touches on the ball and gets them more interested and involved in the game.
Just chiming in to say this thread went like I expected, with the people I expected.
I tell my 9 year old who just started softball this past Fall and is several years behind most of her peers, if you don't want to sit, keep working. Simple enough.
And you know what, despite all the hard work I've put her through to try and catch up, she still eats it all up. Glued to the TV/computer during Cajun baseball and softball games.
Personally, I think distance running is in her future, but since she loves softball, I'm having fun.
Special athletes are special athletes ... one of my son's friends father was a 2 sport athlete in college and he did not start playing organized sports until he was 12.
Problem is, those types of athletes are rare. Parents need to stop believing that every one of their kids are that same type of special athlete. Nothing can replace hard work. Nothing!
I had so many great times both coaching and watching both my kids play sports I would not trade those experiences for anything. Those rides home talking about every play of every game are priceless.
We never thought about travel teams or anything like that. Rec ball Allstars was out goal each season, then on to the next sport. We still talk about those times with big smiles.
Big question, has this select stuff hindered or boosted the popularity of wiffle ball?
My son's friend next door 12 years ago when he was about 12, seriously planned to be a professional wiffle ball player when he grew up. I should have gotten his autograph when I had the chance.
I know the feeling. Had dealings with a gentleman who was down on his luck a few years back (was oilfiled and got hurt). He told me everything was going to be ok since his son was going to be drafted by the NBA. After starting with the opening question what was his name, then of what college he played for, and the downward progression of questions, kid played for Acadian Middle. But his AAU team played on the Pelicans' practice court, so according to daddy, that made him a future NBA player.
So, as others have pointed out, it is not just baseball with stupid parents.
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