Are we SURPRISED....?

***When such "ELITE" squads are created and the "inferior" players are weeded out, it's my personal opinion that we've thrown away the true meaning of youth sports, especially LL baseball.***

Though I am trying to understand your frustration with your son's situation, I think you don't quite understand what select sports are all about. It has nothing to do with what you feel are the true meanings of youth sports--that is a role for the recreational sports to fill. Recreational sports where everyone pays and everyone plays is designed to fill the ideals that you are looking for. Please don't begrudge people that want something more... the kids, parents, and coaches involved in select/travel baseball live, eat, sleep, and breathe baseball for most of the year. It is a way of life.

My son has played travel/select baseball since he was 9. And believe me there are plenty of 9 year olds who are ready for competitive baseball. My son has loved it every year and has never wanted to go back to recreational ball.

My son has made every baseball tryout he's been to... but baseball is his main sport-his passion... he also plays soccer and basketball, and although he's a good player at these sports it's unlikely he would make a select team if he were to try out... but you know what? I don't care and I certainly don't begrudge those soccer and basketball players that ARE good enough to play select. Maybe some kids are better at Karate, or tennis, or Art, or dirt bike riding, or they are in the advanced reading class, or they beat my son in a spelling bee or whatever... everyone has talents in different areas and I think they should pursue activities that will challenge them and further their development in their chosen area. My son just happens to choose baseball...

Last Saturday my son tried out for a baseball team that he wanted to join. There were 25+ kids there trying out for 5 open spots. Some you could tell right off that they had no chance of making the team and they were treated the same as the rest... they were encouraged, praised, and treated with dignity and respect. I very much admired them for trying. Even though they didn't make the team, they will still have a spot on their rec. team next year. The point is that they tried. Many of them I know already play select soccer and/or basketball so they understand the concept of trying out for a select team. If it's important enough to them, they will work hard over this coming year to prepare for tryouts next August. If it's not important enough to them to work harder... then travel ball wasn't the thing for them in the first place.

Kathy