Select Ball Snobs

FYI: Travel ball is for those who want to expose their sons to the advantage of playing REGULARLY with and against top-flight competition. (I think public education has shown what happens when we group kids arbitrarily, as opposed to by academic ability--the "smarter" students fall b/c the teaching is to the lowest common denominator). There is no doubt that travel ball, where the players are grouped according to ability, prepares the player much better than the usual 16 game rec ball schedule.

Ed, the problems that come about are often a result of restrictions placed upon the player in dual participation by either the rec league or travel team coach--OR--simple judgemental envy from the league b/c the "better" ball players are pulled away from the league. My perception is that the knocks on Little League, as an organization, come primarily from the disparity that comes from the regular season rules, and the all-star rules.

Although it pains me to say this, the soccer folks have this one right. They have select teams and tournaments for different talent levels, but are STILL involved in the development of the LOCAL leagues for those who want to play the game for FUN.

The FUN is what we should all be about, and what is fun for one player may not be for another.

JT