What Does it Mean to Keep Your Word?

Don't blame the parents for this one, blame the system!

I think almost everyone agrees that nearly ever kid who plays organized ball starts out in a rec league of some sort, be it LL, BR, or anything else. But as soon as a kid shows any kind of superior play, the dreams of grandeur begin and all of a sudden, the grass doesn't look so green where they're standin'.

My guess s the 1st step in the long road to the top is when a kid makes his 1st all star team. That's the real recognition that he's "superior". When he gets to that 1st tournament, all of a sudden he gets to see a lot of other "superior" kids and gears start meshin'.

No one can help but be impressed with the superior quality of almost any tournament to a regular "rec" season game, and people like that. The kids don't really think its such a big deal, but parents do! They know there's more opportunity to be a big dawg if you hang with the big dawgs, and they get drawn to the next level which is some kind of tournament or traveling team.

Now its the next year and Johnny is in both the rec and traveling team. Of course one costs more and "means" more, so when it comes time to make a choice in a scheduling conflict, the rec team will always lose and that's where the trouble starts!

If the kid continues to improve and the team has some degree of success, soon they will be seeing more tournaments with even better competition. If the kid is still progressing, sooner or later someone will notice and "suggest" he try out for a "select" team.

If he does and if he makes it, now some real choices have to be made. You can generally bet that rec ball will be a thing of the past, and unless the "old" travel team has few scheduling conflicts with the new one, it too will be a thing of the past. What that does is keep that "old" team from being albe to keep the best players with them for any length of time, stopping them from becoming a real "select" team.

Soon, it will be noticeable that the "new" team requires a lot more dedication then the "old" one did, and if the private lessons haven't already started, they soon will. After all, you gotta run fast to keep up with the big dawgs.

Now you start to meet the really "elite" players and parents who are always willing to share stories about heir experiences. Pretty soon you get the opportunity to try out for one of the "elite" teams. If the kid makes that team, now the world is really a great place, but what about that other team?

Aw heck, they'll understand, and besides, if they don't it doesn't matter, ya godda do whatcha godda do!

When you look at it though, what have you really taught the kid? What did you say to that poor rec coach who was counting on the kid for being the focal point of his team and team leader? What about the travel team coach who signed up for a bunch of tournaments counting on your kid and a couple more to return and with a year's experience be a better team?

What about that select coach, like you, who went through all the time and trouble to recruit kids like that. They get them to tryouts, get assurances that they will play, tell some others who were on the bubble they didn't make it, then they find other teams and are no longer available!

Aw heck, you'll understand, and besides, if you don't it doesn't matter, they godda do what they godda do!

Don't blame the parents on this one! You're describing the "system". Loyalty is a one way street in today's world! If you want to truly run with the big dawgs, you have to learn to fight for your food whenever and wherever its necessary. We have finally gotten youth baseball to the point where its survival of the fittest!