12 Year old passed over

I brought select team baseball to Texas in 1986 and often wonder what I have wrought. First, todays "select" teams are playing way to many games. Secondly, there is nothing select about todays "select" teams. They are just non league teams. Untils about 5 years ago there weren't but a handful of "select" teams in Houston. These teams were made up of truly exceptional players. I stopped coaching teams because of the dilution of talent when the number of teams exploded. The vast majority of players were quite frankly not worth my time as the level I was dealing which was about preparation for college or pro ball and they were not going to be capable of that level.

In 1986, a team I coached won the 12 yr old CABA championship. It was made up of the best players in HOUSTON! You can only imagine how good a real "select" team can be when there is only one team from a city the size of Houston. By the way, the teams from California, Cincinnati, and Michigan were as talented as we.

Todays select team ball has become a refuge for coaches that are making money ( pay for play ball and those that charge for private lessons)and parents that allow their kids to play way to much baseball. There are 8 year old select teams playing 8 months a year and more. Throw a pitcher "just" 3 innings a week and thats around 100 innings a year!

The organized leagues ( LL,Pony, etc) caused much of this with their attempts at egalitarian ball where everyone must play all positions, sit some, and bat the order. Quality players voted with their feet and moved on to the opportunity to play based on merit much as capital flees socialism toward capitalism.

Still quality players will prevail and move on beyond "rec" ball or "pay for play". Despite all the "select" efforts there will be not one more players get a baseball scholarship or pro contract as these are finite positions. D1's will only have 11.7 scholarships. Pros will only have so many roster spots. So what exactly is the object? Fun?