We practiced twice a week.:thumb:

 

How many games did you play? How old were the kids?

How many games did you play? How old were the kids?

 

We played 85 games from Feb-Oct..We played in an indoor league that started in Feb. Then we played throughout the spring and summer and also played fall ball. This was an 11u team.

If it's a serious team I think 50 games is a good number. You figure that they will start around April 1st. That gives them roughly 120 days to play 50 games.

 

If it's division II knothole, 30 is a good number.

 

85 games is asinine. These teams rarely have time to practice and correct any issues with kids mechanics.

 

I would agree that 85 games is too many to be jamming into one Spring/Summer season. If that also includes Fall games or spread out over a longer period, then it's more acceptable.

 

For 9 years olds, it's too many period. They are 9. They need to play army out in the yard, go to the pool, ride bikes, etc..., and not worry about which MLB team will draft them because dad has already determined they are a surefire first round draft pick. Even this baseball nut has learned there are other things to life besides baseball.

 

I say that, yet I am a guy that probably was on the verge of scheduling too many games while I coached. My son is a pretty fair ballplayer who doesn't love the game like he used to. Still enjoys it, mind you, but not with the same passion he once had and I have to wonder if deep down his dad jammed too much baseball down his throat too fast. Too many dads (and, yes, I am/was one) live out their failed baseball careers through their kids.

I am sure that tournaments are starting to form. The first that I am aware of is the NKSP Early Bird. I saw the teams online today. Not too many in most age groups but a pretty nice lineup for the U12.

 

KY Buccaneers, KY

NK Stingers, KY

Columbus Cobras, OH

KY Diamond Jaxx, KY

Warren County Swarm, KY

Bluegrass Blast, KY

Saline Storm, MI

Flash Baseball, OH

Kentucky Rage, KY

Bombers 12u, IN

Centerville Sluggers, OH

I would agree that 85 games is too many to be jamming into one Spring/Summer season. If that also includes Fall games or spread out over a longer period, then it's more acceptable.

 

For 9 years olds, it's too many period. They are 9. They need to play army out in the yard, go to the pool, ride bikes, etc..., and not worry about which MLB team will draft them because dad has already determined they are a surefire first round draft pick. Even this baseball nut has learned there are other things to life besides baseball.

 

I say that, yet I am a guy that probably was on the verge of scheduling too many games while I coached. My son is a pretty fair ballplayer who doesn't love the game like he used to. Still enjoys it, mind you, but not with the same passion he once had and I have to wonder if deep down his dad jammed too much baseball down his throat too fast. Too many dads (and, yes, I am/was one) live out their failed baseball careers through their kids.

 

:thumb::thumb:

Yes and that is why kids who are feeling they are playing too much can take games off and you have a big enough roster to allow for vacations, family outings, school outings, etc. The 12U division in SWOL National League and the other teams not in that division that play those teams are an unbelievably talented group of baseball players. I see more and more teams going the independent route or playing in the Greater Cincinnati Select League and in Tri State League and adding to their schedule the SWOL teams.

 

Once teams get into 15 and up really SWOL is the only current legit option.

Yes and that is why kids who are feeling they are playing too much can take games off and you have a big enough roster to allow for vacations, family outings, school outings, etc. The 12U division in SWOL National League and the other teams not in that division that play those teams are an unbelievably talented group of baseball players. I see more and more teams going the independent route or playing in the Greater Cincinnati Select League and in Tri State League and adding to their schedule the SWOL teams.

 

Once teams get into 15 and up really SWOL is the only current legit option.

 

Only legit option as a league. But you can certainly be independent, schedule whatever top teams you want, and play in quality tournaments. I used to have independent teams call me to play. Sometimes I would not do so based on what I knew about their weaker level of play, but oftentimes I did.

 

Maybe things have changed somewhat since I coached at the 10U - 13U level, but most teams - mine included - kept the roster to around 11-12 players, maybe 13 at most, though this was pretty rare. The reason was that it simply was difficult to keep everybody happy with enough playing time if your roster got too large, plus the larger your roster the more likely the ones at the bottom were much weaker players compared to the rest of the team and ones you didn't/couldn't play as much, especially playing a strong NL and tournament schedule. I was fairly strict about not allowing kids to just "take off" games and strongly encouraged parents to schedule vacations after the season. Sounds a bit over the top, but it's pretty much what every other NL coach did with their team.

 

It's kind of neat because the kids I coached are now seniors in high school and some of the top players in NKY. Quite a few will have opportunities to play in college. But if I had to do it all over again, I would probably have scheduled a few less games while they were younger ages and would probably have taken it a tad less serious - heck, I had a "Baseball if Life" sticker on my truck windshield. It's important, but it is only a game.

Only legit option as a league. But you can certainly be independent, schedule whatever top teams you want, and play in quality tournaments. I used to have independent teams call me to play. Sometimes I would not do so based on what I knew about their weaker level of play, but oftentimes I did.

 

Maybe things have changed somewhat since I coached at the 10U - 13U level, but most teams - mine included - kept the roster to around 11-12 players, maybe 13 at most, though this was pretty rare. The reason was that it simply was difficult to keep everybody happy with enough playing time if your roster got too large, plus the larger your roster the more likely the ones at the bottom were much weaker players compared to the rest of the team and ones you didn't/couldn't play as much, especially playing a strong NL and tournament schedule. I was fairly strict about not allowing kids to just "take off" games and strongly encouraged parents to schedule vacations after the season. Sounds a bit over the top, but it's pretty much what every other NL coach did with their team.

 

It's kind of neat because the kids I coached are now seniors in high school and some of the top players in NKY. Quite a few will have opportunities to play in college. But if I had to do it all over again, I would probably have scheduled a few less games while they were younger ages and would probably have taken it a tad less serious - heck, I had a "Baseball if Life" sticker on my truck windshield. It's important, but it is only a game.

 

I helped coach for most of the past 8 years as well. We kept 11 kids almost every year. We played in the NL of SWOL and finished in the top 4 every year. We won a USSSA State Tournament one year along with several other tourney's along the way. These kids are now Freshman and I can't wait to see how they all turn out. The parents knew the kids were expected to be there and take vacations after summer ball. Their other option was we would carry an extra kid or two and less playing time for their little "Johnny". Overall we had great parents and had very little problems at all. I'm finished coaching and can't wait to sit and watch the next few years.

One other issue facing teams as they hit the 12U and up is the amount of kids playing middle school and frosh baseball.....which seems to be a phenominon of the past few years. While inherently the 15 U and up start their seasons later the 12's and 13's do not. When you have some playing High School ball or Middle School ball it tends to keep things in flux especially early in the season when those 3 or 4 kids are not available to play. Remember not all kids go to large schools and they play school ball at a much earlier age in the class A schools.

Maybe things have changed somewhat since I coached at the 10U - 13U level, but most teams - mine included - kept the roster to around 11-12 players, maybe 13 at most, though this was pretty rare. The reason was that it simply was difficult to keep everybody happy with enough playing time if your roster got too large, plus the larger your roster the more likely the ones at the bottom were much weaker players compared to the rest of the team and ones you didn't/couldn't play as much, especially playing a strong NL and tournament schedule. I was fairly strict about not allowing kids to just "take off" games and strongly encouraged parents to schedule vacations after the season. Sounds a bit over the top, but it's pretty much what every other NL coach did with their team.

 

My son plays for a national league team and I think it's critical that parents, kids, and coaches are all on the same page about things like vacations as well as other things like $$$. Our coach is very upfront about his expectations around commitment to the team and fundraising. If everyone is not on the same page it's no doubt going to cause problems at some point. The coach needs to take the lead in this and make his expectations very clear from the beginning. Fortunately ours has done a great job.

My son plays for a national league team and I think it's critical that parents, kids, and coaches are all on the same page about things like vacations as well as other things like $$$. Our coach is very upfront about his expectations around commitment to the team and fundraising. If everyone is not on the same page it's no doubt going to cause problems at some point. The coach needs to take the lead in this and make his expectations very clear from the beginning. Fortunately ours has done a great job.

 

Just out of pure curiousity, how much does it cost a kid (parents) to play on such a team?

Just out of pure curiousity, how much does it cost a kid (parents) to play on such a team?

 

We charge $300.00 a kid plus you have to work fundraisers..

Just out of pure curiousity, how much does it cost a kid (parents) to play on such a team?

 

Someone in the know told me Midlands u12 team the Tomahawks have a budget of about $25,000 this year. Half of that though is for their trip to Cooperstown.

Just out of pure curiousity, how much does it cost a kid (parents) to play on such a team?

 

I think that you will find that number to vary greatly depending on the team. I think $250-$1,000 is probably the range but it depends on a lot of variables. If you are playing in a national event(s) it's going to cost a lot more than playing in a local league. It also depends on things like having a field available to you or do you have to rent a field.

 

The thing that a lot of parents overlook is the additional costs that are not direct to the team such as hotels, gas, meals, and things like lessons.

Someone in the know told me Midlands u12 team the Tomahawks have a budget of about $25,000 this year. Half of that though is for their trip to Cooperstown.

 

Yes, it will be around that. Hard to believe for 12 year olds, but the Cooperstown trip is very expensive. We went 6 years ago and our team spent $19,500 that year in total. We received some very sizeable corporate donations to reach that amount (along with fundraising). Midland has done some very nice fundraisers to raise the bulk of their money this year.