A World Series for tee ball, really? Every summer my hometown hosts a world series for tee ball teams. I don’t think tee ball is the age to start playing travel baseball. So when is the best time to leave the comfort of recreational baseball and move on to competitive baseball? You know the cost, the time commitment and the pressure will increase considerably. When should you and your child take that leap?
You’re only going to get better by playing better competition. So why not jump into a competitive team at the earliest opportunity? Well, first of all, the cost will skyrocket. Competitive teams travel a lot. And that right there has a great cost. The price to play in these tournaments is also very expensive. And many teams have paid coaches. That comes from you. Most teams have fundraisers, but they’re not fun and usually don’t cover a third of the cost. Competitive baseball is a financial drain.
Next is the time commitment. After investing all this money, the team wants to perform well and that means practice, practice and more practice. Maybe all year. Recreational teams practice once a week, maybe twice. Competitive teams three or four times a week, maybe more. If the weather is bad, recreational teams cancel practice. Competitive teams find a covered facility. More practice time and more cost.
The last big concern, and this should be your biggest concern, is the increased pressure on your child to perform. Start with the tests. Players go through certain drills, and then some make the team and some are eliminated. It’s a pressure cooker for a young boy. Recreational teams often have playing time rules. Not so much with competitive teams. Everyone will have some time to play, but it’s not the same. Remember, they want to win. So if your son is on the team, then there is always the pressure to play well or sit on the bench.
If your child is good enough, at some point he or she will need to play competitive ball to get better. When he depends on you and your sound. Consider the three points above before deciding. Speak it with your sound.
My rule of thumb is no earlier than ten, and at least thirteen if you hope to play baseball in high school.