Just because their parents have high expectations and do everything in their power to help their kid academicly, it doesn't mean the kid is going to perform. Same with sports.

I think it does help account for the high average SAT scores here. While it seems crazy in sports, I don't see anything wrong with it in academics.

This thread has taken a bit of a turn and without hijacking it, I'll attempt to contribute.

The design of the SAT lends itself to manipulation through technique. Some kids don't test well, and with a few inputs, can substantially improve the numbers. I needed a certain score to qualify for a scholarship and thus learned test taking techniques. Beyond the SAT, this helps you in life with things like the CISA, CISSP, et al tests.

I have had parents tell me (with a 5th grader, et al) they expect to get an athletic scholarship (swimming). I try to explain to them in the sport they are looking, that a scholarship is the wrong incentive. Seven years of swimming 1.5-2.00 hrs a day for 5-6 days a week for 7-8 years is a huge investment to qualify for a partial scholarship, only to continue the training through college. At 2hr/day - 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year for 7 years @ minimum wage ($7) comes out to about $25K. They be better off financially getting a job and investing that money. For swim, we pay $100/mo... times 12 months times 7 years... That's another $8K.

I also tell parents the key to athletic success will be largely dictated by their physical body. So they should teach loving the sport, more than the long-term future opportunity. Specifically around swimming, but it translates to other sports. IIRC, the shortest male US Olympic swimmer in 2012, was 6'2". Phelps is 6'4", Lockte is 6'2". Parents of girls are shocked when I tell them Missy Franklin is 6'1". Katie Ledecky is 5'11". Sure there are exceptions... The Rangers have had notable exceptions - Robbie Ross, Delino DeShields, Astros' Altuve. Sports have their exceptions... but they are few and at what cost?! Where does Kyler Murray go after college? What does he do?

If the kids loves the sport the investment (whatever it is) can be worth it. Marinovich is an example of someone too invested by his parents, without the bigger picture in mind.

Baseball is such a hard sport, because once you hang 'em up, like I did after my last HS game, you never play again. Sure, there are some token leagues out there, but there's basically no such thing as pick-up baseball. Hard to believe it's been over 25 years since I've seen live pitching.

You have six kids. I never played, but I can't imagine it could be as good as coaching and/or watching your kid play.

Well maybe; I watched a coach who retired in 2014 work with the boy tonight and they looked like twins, separated by 51 years with identical grins. He still coaches a bit for our club and JET. Baseball will never end for him, and he earned it. It is certainly a privilege for our son to work with this guy and the boy really appreciates meeting other people as crazy about baseball as he is.

It will be a sad day when baseball ends for sure. Hopefully the grandkids aren't slugs...d8)

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Baseball is such a hard sport, because once you hang 'em up, like I did after my last HS game, you never play again. Sure, there are some token leagues out there, but there's basically no such thing as pick-up baseball. Hard to believe it's been over 25 years since I've seen live pitching.

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True that. Only "fix" I get these days is co-ed softball, and really that's only in the field (where a hard ground ball still plays somewhat like a hard ground ball did in baseball)... Hitting in softball is such a joke that I prefer to be in the field.

Defense is way better than offense in slow pitch. It's easier, though, because you never get a bad jump on a ball or lose it in the lights/sky. Grounders are pretty similar, and throwing is reasonably close. I decided that slow pitch was like petting the cat.

One of my sons plays in a league for disabled children. One I got from another country as a teenager - he's headed for football. One says he wants to play - we'll see - I just know it won't be some year round grind; he likes fishing, reading, and catching lizards too much .

I hung up my cleats for baseball after HS and really felt I had closure for what I was looking for. I wouldn't say I "peaked," but I figured with all of the PEDs in the mid '80s, that I would either have to compete against those using them, or become a user. Roid Rage... Lyle Alzado... all were well known when I was in HS. As a Freshman in HS, although I made the varsity baseball team... I was offered to legally go on steroids due to a physical deficiency and I declined. I asked if the deficiency would correct itself without them, and the Endocrinologist said yes.

I've played softball many times, but it was really just the team aspect that appealed.

None of my kids have shown an interest in baseball, although I have coached them. The mother of another player on one team I coached always tells me her son fell in love with baseball by seeing my passion. It goes to show a decent and passionate coach can have just as much impact as one that wins championships. :-) He (and I hope others I coached) learned to love the sport.

What is funny is... my son on that baseball team, now swims and that boy and at least one other are on his swim team.

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None of my kids have shown an interest in baseball, although I have coached them. The mother of another player on one team I coached always tells me her son fell in love with baseball by seeing my passion. It goes to show a decent and passionate coach can have just as much impact as one that wins championships. :-) He (and I hope others I coached) learned to love the sport.

What is funny is... my son on that baseball team, now swims and that boy and at least one other are on his swim team.

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So what you're saying is his mom is hot.

I sure hope your eight year old is able to fulfill all those fantasies you failed to attain

Our son turning into a gym rat at age thirteen was a shock for us. Little League ends and then your in a club with high school kids grouped by graduating class, not age. The summer before high school, you start playing high school teams.

When our son started playing against high school varsity teams last summer at age thirteen, it changed everything. He was 120 pounds at the beginning of last summer and most of the high school kids were bigger than me. The boy thinks he has to be the best player on the field. He is nuts. He's up to 137 pounds after much effort, but that's still skinny at six foot. He's got a long way to go, but he's working hard to get there.

The stuff they are working on for baseball is way beyond my comprehension. I can tell he's having a blast, so it's all good. His club has a plan and some great coaches. I fully support his obsession and really enjoy watching his team play. Some of the kids we've known since kindergarten. They are all that devoted.

I should add that I wouldn't be surprised if the boy walked away from baseball in a month and decided he likes football. He is a teenager and we have no idea how that works either.

Ha, as a kid I remember dreaming about year-round baseball, waiting for the first practice every spring, being sad when the season ended, reading boxscores all summer, etc. As a parent, I'm like "Heck no we ain't gonna do that!"

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I should add that I wouldn't be surprised if the boy walked away from baseball in a month and decided he likes football. He is a teenager and we have no idea how that works either.

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Just listen to the young ladies and you'll find his interests.

Little lady likes big bulky guys... he tries to become a muscle head. Little ladies like golf... he'll become a golfer.

Simple as that.

We have several nephews and when they change direction, my first question is always, "So what is her name?"

"Oh you are going to start playing tennis? What's her name?"

Uhg, yes. There has been a girlfriend change in November. No telling... Just not lacrosse, please.

Lacrosse, ahem...um, never mind.

Yeah, not a chance. Just committed through next summer, so more baseball ahead. Yay.

Fun. Which ever team he has the most fun on. The kids that succeed are going to be the ones that enjoy the game.

This. Watching the high school tryouts, I was thinking of all the kids that weren't there and why they weren't still in baseball. It's fun or they get out. I see some kids that made the team that arent having fun because they are playing for their parents.

As with most things, the best thing a parent can do is to not mess it up for your kid. Focus on the fun.

HECUBUS, what high school if you don't mind me asking?

Austin Westlake

Just reading about Gunn High School in Palo Alto that sounds a lot like Westlake. Have to make sure ours isn't that stressed!

We're in Round Rock, and it is as crazy here. My son loves baseball, and I am so happy he does. To be realistic with any chance to play a sport in HS, for all the comraderie, etc, I am going to start him into Tennis and Golf this summer, I think. His hand eye coordination lends itself well to those sports, and golf can be a lifetime of cursing!!

Things are so ultra-competitive now days and so political, my daughter washed out of her sport because the high school coaches were constantly berating players, and in all honesty, couldn't coach their way out of a box. The only reason they have a winning program, is all the club coaches around here, and all the money we pay for those and private lessons, etc. It is madness. We have had players fail to make the RR baseball team, that walked on to Div 2 schools, so what does that say?

Back to the OP, at 8U, that kid needs to be having fun, and being coached by someone that knows and understands the fundamentals of the game. Beyond that, they need the life lessons that winning and losing gives you, on a team.

Anyone have any experience or opinions about Memorial, Stratford or Katy Taylor?

I grew up in the Memorial area and a niece graduated there, now a senior at ATM. Just look at the ATM baseball roster, Memorial cranks out some great ones. I would guess the Houston area puts out a higher level player than the Austin area. I have no idea if the parents there are as competitive as here in sports. I know Memorial is similar to Westlake in academics for a large percentage of the kids, like my niece.

Thanks for that. I guess a couple of Clemens" kids have come through there.

Does anyone know about Stratford?

8u is about having fun. I would like to take the hot tub time machine and kick my 8u dad self for taking it way too seriously.

I think you're ok on the girlfriend front. A lot of chicks are cleat chasers. Something about those pants they say.

If your son is playing select prior to HS baseball I would ask that you familiarize yourself with the difference between National Federation of HS baseball rules.

Observations after a few weeks on the JV2, freshman team at a football school:

1) Nobody cares about freshman baseball... At all.
2) Umpires and fields are fantastic.
3) Enjoy select baseball, you'll have much better everything related to baseball.
4) Football matters. Nothing matters less than freshman baseball.

I keep reminding the kid he should quit the moment baseball stops being fun. I haven't seen that many disinterested kids on a baseball field since T-ball. It shows up in five error innings and 20+ ERAs. At the same time, some kids are playing all out at a high level and some good players don't see the field.

I have heard of kids who never play high school baseball, kids that stay in select and go on to play college ball. That seemed weird at the time, but it seems like a decent option now. Less money and much less time to get a much better baseball experience.

Don't be surprised when you work hard to get somewhere and it turns out to be the wrong place. It reminds me of work after college.

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Observations after a few weeks on the JV2, freshman team at a football school:

1) Nobody cares about freshman baseball... At all.
2) Umpires and fields are fantastic.
3) Enjoy select baseball, you'll have much better everything related to baseball.
4) Football matters. Nothing matters less than freshman baseball.

I keep reminding the kid he should quit the moment baseball stops being fun. I haven't seen that many disinterested kids on a baseball field since T-ball. It shows up in five error innings and 20+ ERAs. At the same time, some kids are playing all out at a high level and some good players don't see the field.

I have heard of kids who never play high school baseball, kids that stay in select and go on to play college ball. That seemed weird at the time, but it seems like a decent option now. Less money and much less time to get a much better baseball experience.

Don't be surprised when you work hard to get somewhere and it turns out to be the wrong place. It reminds me of work after college.

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So basically the way I'm seeing it is that select ball is more for the learning and getting better competing against better teams. High school ball is more about representing your school and playing with your classmates.

Freshman baseball is a season of baseball thrown away. You are not playing for your school, game scores are not reported and there are no playoffs. As you mentioned there is no player development and there is little time to get development outside of the time spent with the freshman team. It doesn't make much sense, but it is something you have to suffer through to get to the next level.

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Freshman baseball is a season of baseball thrown away. You are not playing for your school, game scores are not reported and there are no playoffs. As you mentioned there is no player development and there is little time to get development outside of the time spent with the freshman team. It doesn't make much sense, but it is something you have to suffer through to get to the next level.

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Gotcha. I was talking more about HS baseball in general being about playing for your school and with your classmates. But it does sound like freshman baseball is a waste of time - basically "paying your dues" until you get to JV and Varsity.

It's disappointing for sure, and a lot of time is wasted.

This program is a joke with enough talent to be great. Sad, but again nobody cares. We are back in T-ball. It's nothing more than daycare for the football snowflakes. It's no surprise our baseball program is terrible. Hopefully, the new head coach fixes it.

Stinks to be in this district for baseball.

So an update from the original post. We decided to keep him on his same team. So far we have played 2 tournaments and brought home rings both weekends.

Thank you for all the advice. Definitely made the right call in leaving him on the team he was on.

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Freshman baseball is a season of baseball thrown away. You are not playing for your school, game scores are not reported and there are no playoffs. As you mentioned there is no player development and there is little time to get development outside of the time spent with the freshman team. It doesn't make much sense, but it is something you have to suffer through to get to the next level.

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Gotcha. I was talking more about HS baseball in general being about playing for your school and with your classmates. But it does sound like freshman baseball is a waste of time - basically "paying your dues" until you get to JV and Varsity.

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It is all about the program you are with.

I have a son who is a Freshman as well. His experience thus far is the exact opposite of what Hecubus is describing. He is very fortunate to be at a school that has a great program with top quality baseball coaches. The practices are at a different level than he has ever experienced before. Although he has played with a number of his classmates in summer ball, I think the "playing for the school" has really been fun for them even at the Freshman level.

Obviously, varsity is always going to take precedence at any program, but good assistant baseball coaches can make a world of difference in developing the younger guys.

True. We've seen a couple of good ones. Too bad you can't pick where you play.

The kids haven't given up. A couple of them have a plan to start useful practices on their own time and to push the issues in the problem areas. The fix has to start somewhere.