Here's the scenario. Practices, games, and playoffs. You have somehow gotten your player through the regular season of rec ball and nearly injury free. Wait...now there is the all star season. More intense practices and tournaments. But wait...now your player has been invited to play with a travel ball team. Are you ready? Is your player?
As parents of a sprouting baseball athlete, we are just beginning to enter this "season" of our lives. In the past rec ball has been fun. A learning experience. Getting your feet wet type of ball. This year has stepped it up a notch or ten. The practices, games, and players are now serious, intense, and extremely well played. This is no longer T-Ball.
Now, your player has been invited to play travel ball. So how do you know if your player and your family are ready for this type of commitment? The following is a list of questions I asked myself when presented with the invitation to play travel ball. This list is from a family point of view. Take from it what you will.
- Skill
- If your player has been invited to a team, there must be a level of skill there that they are looking for or can develop. However, think about your players skill level before making a commitment. Is your player use to being athletic for more than one typical season? (i.e. more than one rec ball season a year) Some travel ball season can last as many as 6-8 months.
- Maturity
- Is your player mentally and physically ready for travel ball? Are they ready to handle this type of commitment? Do they understand that this type of ball will require a great deal from them? Is your player capable of intense focus and retaining information that will be demanded of them?
- Time
- Travel ball teams are extremely dedicated to practices. Committing to a team should be taken seriously. Practices are frequent, long, and intense. Is your family ready for that kind of time commitment?
- Expense
- The name itself should be an indication that your family will be traveling around to play in games and tournaments. Often overnights or weekends are involved. Not to mention the cost of new uniforms and equipment. Be sure your family budget has room for this new adventure.
- Intensity
- As mentioned before. This is not T-Ball. There will be much more expected of your player. They will be coached much more intensely. Their mental and physical skills will be continually tested. There will be yelling and screaming. This will be the time where the "think on your feet" skill will be won or lost.
There are many advantages to joining a travel ball team:
- The intense training and athletic development will only help your player as they move along into high school and even college. Perhaps, a college scholarship will be in their future?
- The commitment to a team and all that the team will demand is a life lesson within itself. Your player will learn what it means to commit, play as a vital member of the team, take direction, and self discipline.
- The maturity that will happen on the field will crossover into home and school life.
- This is a fantastic opportunity for us as parents to fully commit and show our support to our players and be amazed at what they are capable of.
In my opinion, travel ball teams are a wonderful group of families that have a very unique bond. Even off the fields I have watched several travel ball "pods" out in the community together and there is a sense of a micro family that is palpable.
This family is fully ready to start this "season" of our lives. We are excited about the now and the future and are basking in every second of it.
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