Rec/Travel Cooperation--parents, too!

Alright, how about another spin on this debate: cooperation from an independent travel team and the league (or really, the parent). I know it comes down to an individual decision, but a travel team desiring to compete with the best in the area/state, is going to put the TEAM first.

Thus said, here is a point to consider:
1. Is it going to be in a player's best interest to be a primary O.F. and back-up I.F., if that is what helps the team the most; AND he (and parents) want to have the rec. league experience (and maybe all-stars) so that he may shine and compete at a different position.

This is where teams and parents should cooperate, if at all possible. Sure, a top-notch travel team may require a TOTAL commitment (no rec ball), but is the practice and competition make the kid a better ball player if he is "locked" into one, maybe two positions.

Hey, I'm a travel kind-of guy, and am fed up with our LOCAL rec ball mentality, but our kids value the rec experience. Our 1B starts at SS, LF at 2B, CF at SS, and various others Pitch who wouldn't get to on the travel team.

Finally, I see a more complete ball player being developed when they have a chance to do both. A travel ball player will pick up so much more by watching and practicing with the kids playing other positions (on travel team), that I see them easliy adapt to moving around to a number of positions on the rec teams.

In conclusion, the player benefits by both experiences through better (sometimes) travel coaching, competition, and teammates; the rec leagues and teams benefit by having some pretty darn good ball players passing through; and the travel team benefits by getting a very versitile player in the cooperative process. JT