| Whether a child should play travel baseball and at | | | | because the parent wants them to play. |
| what age they should begin playing travel is often | | | | 2. Skill level - putting a player in a level they are |
| a tough call for parents. Deciding to go the travel | | | | not ready for is the quickest way to have them |
| baseball route too early in a player's career can be | | | | want to discontinue playing. Parents should check |
| detrimental to their desire to continue playing | | | | out travel ball player's skill level before tryouts, |
| baseball in subsequent years. When anyone of the | | | | when possible. Asking for an outside opinion about |
| key factors listed below are missing, it may lead | | | | their child's skill level from their previous season's |
| to unhappy ball players. Whereas, not playing | | | | coach may be helpful. Even having a player try |
| travel soon enough can feel like a year wasted, it | | | | out for a team - when they are obviously not |
| is usually not so serious because a player can try | | | | ready for that level of play - can hurt a child's |
| out the following year for travel ball. I believe a | | | | self-esteem and desire. |
| player's talent will come through in the end | | | | 3. The coach - in my opinion, having a child play |
| whether they play travel baseball or not. But | | | | for a knowledgeable, well-respected coach is |
| when a child seems to be bored or not challenged | | | | priceless. When parents hear of such a coach |
| at the in-house recreational league, it is time to | | | | they should look into the possibility of their son |
| consider playing travel baseball. Every travel team | | | | playing for his team. Good coaches help players |
| and community is different, but generally, travel | | | | even beyond the playing field and serve as |
| baseball provides a higher level and more | | | | positive role models for kids. |
| interested player. Also, baseball players who are | | | | 4. Time commitment - meeting the demands of |
| around good players and are challenged correctly | | | | much more playing can be tough to balance while |
| have the opportunity to improve their skills at a | | | | having kids stay involved in other activities, |
| quicker rate. | | | | including non-sport related ones. It is never a good |
| There are four key things that can help | | | | idea to have every hour of a kid's day and week |
| determine when and whether a kid should play | | | | scheduled, providing no free time for kids to just |
| travel baseball. The key things are listed in my | | | | "hang out" with friends and family. Playing travel |
| order of prominence but the importance of each | | | | ball with more than one sport, when their seasons |
| factor is a little different for each family, based on | | | | overlap, can cause this type of over-scheduling. |
| their particular situation. | | | | Of course, there are many other factors that |
| 1. Interest level - parents should talk to their child | | | | may go into the decision to play travel baseball. |
| about travel ball and observe their actions when | | | | Among those, a family's financial situation as well |
| playing baseball to judge weather a child appears | | | | as the effect on other family members must be |
| to have the added interest that travel ball | | | | considered. |
| requires. The decision to play should not be | | | | |