Epic Rant From Robe

[CajunJack55]

maybe not just travel ball, looks like all you will need to do in nba is make .500 and you are in playoffs

Money

[CajunRebel]

Youth soccer has started undergoing changes in the past couple of years. The system was better than other sports but it needed work and I'm pleased with where it is headed.

Almost every U.S. Youth soccer organization operates under the U.S. soccer umbrella. This includes everything from local rec ball to the Olympic Development Program.

We've never really had the problem in soccer like you hear about in baseball of watches, rings, jewelry, etc. You win a tournament you get a small team trophy and often times the players get these medallion medals that you can buy in bulk for a couple of bucks each. Runner up will often times get medallions as well.

A big change that I like is to put more stress on player development under the age of 12. The clubs moving forward should start focusing on individual player development and not on playing/winning games. After U12 kids will dropout, play local rec ball, or move on into various levels of competitive play.

Competitive youth soccer is highly regulated. You have designated times for tryouts and players must try out. You then have dead times where players can't be contacted prior to submitting an offer to them. Competitive is now moving to two levels. The first being an age specific team that plays state league play along with some independent tournaments. The second being "Academy" teams that usually combine a couple of age levels and are the cream of the crop from within a club. They will typically get an exemption from state league play but will play in the state tournament. They will participate in a regional league that travels more extensively across multiple states.

The Olympic development program is a national level program that kids can tryout for on the local level and if good enough progress up through regional pools/teams and national pool/team at various age groups. It's structured and typically run by college/pro coaches.

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.

[Cajunrunner]

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.

[RaisingCajun08]

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!

[alum81]

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.

[ManAboutTown]

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.

This. The kid is going to like what the kid is going to like, and there's really nothing parents can do about it. We can expose them to it, but ultimately, they'll like what the are interested in.

[BeauCajun]

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.

I would suggest you keep her interested softball and you stay involved.

She's still a bit young to start running. Is she faster than you? Where's cajunxrunner when you need him?

[reddot]

Big question, has this select stuff hindered or boosted the popularity of wiffle ball?

[Cajun90]

Big question, has this select stuff hindered or boosted the popularity of wiffle ball?

Wiffle ball is for losers....or those with a really small backyard.

[reddot]

Wiffle ball is for losers....or those with a really small backyard.

But... but... that didn't answer my question.
You wiffed and I'm miffed

[whataburger]

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.

[ZoomZoom]

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.