7U Travel Baseball – This will be great….right?

My son has been playing travel baseball for a couple of years now and loves it and has great coaches with lots of experience my son is now 12 years old all in all it’s a great experience go for it

I think it’s a great idea to play showcase when you get older and more serious about the sport. But if he knows he wants to play in college already I think you could start him now.

I disagree with travel so young. As a coach of a 12u team this coming summer, we will have 14 kids tryout for travel ball. At 9u we had 28 kids and 2 teams. The parents put way too much pressure on the boarder line kids, it’s crazy. Most parents think that playing the outfield is punishment, we can’t have 9 shortstops. I would bat my child last, because others kids THINK the last batter is the worst. I could maybe agree with 2 close to home tournaments for some experience, but 4+ tournaments i believe is too much. If kids are not successful they quit way too young.

Duane
My son began travel ball at 7 on a team I coached. We are now an 11u team and I am still the coach. Is 7 too young? Each kid is different and responds differently. So it is a hard question to answer correctly. If the kid enjoys it than no he or she is not to young for travel ball. What I learned throughout these years of coaching is that at the end of the day it is just a game and it is my job to keep it fun. I ask everyday if they are having fun. We are a very competitive team but we have fun. If a kid tells me he is not having fun than I am not doing my job. I leave baseball on the field, meaning once practice or a game is over we do not discuss any of the game or practice unless my son brings it up. Practices are kept fun but productive. Tournaments are chosen based on what that city or town has to offer outside of baseball. Keep the game of baseball just that, a game and 7 will not be too young!