When browsing the SWOL website today, I noticed something that made me go “hmmm”. At my son’s age group, 14U, I counted 17 NKY SWOL teams. At 15U & 16U the numbers of NKY SWOL teams are 5 & 7 respectively. Even if I missed one or two, that’s a significant difference. Why is this?

 

Do that many young players decide to leave the game of baseball once reaching HS?

 

Are there many 15U & 16U NKY travel teams that just don’t register with SWOL?

IME, starting around 15U a lot of teams leave SWOL and become tournament teams only. SWOL is not inexpensive and most of these teams would rather play high level tournaments.

When browsing the SWOL website today, I noticed something that made me go “hmmm”. At my son’s age group, 14U, I counted 17 NKY SWOL teams. At 15U & 16U the numbers of NKY SWOL teams are 5 & 7 respectively. Even if I missed one or two, that’s a significant difference. Why is this?

 

Do that many young players decide to leave the game of baseball once reaching HS?

 

Are there many 15U & 16U NKY travel teams that just don’t register with SWOL?

 

Part of it is the high school season pushes back the start of the summer season until June. With the costs involved, you effectively only have a 5 week season at best, and many decide it's not worth it. So the better players play for some cincy teams, or on tournament only teams. This is also the age where some kids start to specialize, and decide to leave the game.

My son's 11u team decided not to play SWOL this year and just play tournaments. It was the best year of baseball we have had. I see zero reason to give Larry Redwine money for doing absolutely nothing. There were a number of National League teams at this age group that did the same thing. No driving to West Chester during the week to play a baseball game at 6pm. It was awesome!! If we wanted to play a game during the week we just called a team and scheduled a game.

My son's 11u team decided not to play SWOL this year and just play tournaments. It was the best year of baseball we have had. I see zero reason to give Larry Redwine money for doing absolutely nothing. There were a number of National League teams at this age group that did the same thing. No driving to West Chester during the week to play a baseball game at 6pm. It was awesome!! If we wanted to play a game during the week we just called a team and scheduled a game.

 

In a lot of ways, that has what SWOL has become, is a money maker. 99% of the work is done by coaches....scheduling, securing fields, assembling rosters etc. And many of the leagues have become so watered down, some of the lower levels are approaching Knothole (or even worse) in terms of level of play.

My son's 11u team decided not to play SWOL this year and just play tournaments. It was the best year of baseball we have had. I see zero reason to give Larry Redwine money for doing absolutely nothing. There were a number of National League teams at this age group that did the same thing. No driving to West Chester during the week to play a baseball game at 6pm. It was awesome!! If we wanted to play a game during the week we just called a team and scheduled a game.

 

I thought most good tournaments required that you be affiliated with a league. It at least seemed that way for many when I looked to put a Tourney Only group together 4 or 5 years ago.

I thought most good tournaments required that you be affiliated with a league. It at least seemed that way for many when I looked to put a Tourney Only group together 4 or 5 years ago.

 

Not at all..You can play in all the top USSSA Tournaments, Perfect Game, Travel Ball Select etc. without being in a league. The best teams in the country don't play in leagues.

Part of it is the high school season pushes back the start of the summer season until June. With the costs involved, you effectively only have a 5 week season at best, and many decide it's not worth it. So the better players play for some cincy teams, or on tournament only teams. This is also the age where some kids start to specialize, and decide to leave the game.

 

Makes sense.

I'm curious...Can anyone name some of the 15u NKY teams that didn't register with SWOL this year?

IME, starting around 15U a lot of teams leave SWOL and become tournament teams only. SWOL is not inexpensive and most of these teams would rather play high level tournaments.

This is very true. Although my son played on a team that was part of SWOL, they were only part of SWOL by name only. they wanted to be associated with a league and would play 1 game a week in that league and would usually use that game as a tune up for the upcoming weekend tournament. They were a travel team that would play in showcase tournaments so would hardly ever play any SWOL games.