The Start of It All – Where Your Child Should Begin his Baseball Career?
When posed with the question of where one should enroll a child to begin his or her baseball career, ultimately the most practical answer is nowhere. Unless one finds themselves living in Central America, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, or Mexico - wherein the future of the game lies - aside from having fun, an American child has virtually no chance at ever pursuing a career in baseball and would be better served pursuing a career in soccer, golf or cycling.
Nonetheless, as is the case with many other national traditions in the United States, that of an American parent enrolling their child playing baseball during the summer months is one that most individuals shall experience. This experience usually begins with enrolling a child in a local baseball league wherein he or she can learn the essential basics of the game, such as throwing, catching and hitting. Upon the conclusion of this stage, if a parent so determines that a given child has shown exceptional talent in that league, in so far as that child necessitates a higher level of competition to further nurture his or her skill, then that parent may go about doing so though several different avenues.
The first avenue a parent may pursue is that of having his or her child try out for a “select” baseball league. Such a league is not like a public baseball league wherein a city or state fund will covers the expense of anyone who wants to play, but rather such a league is a private entity which usually will cost that parent several thousands of dollars. Such “select” leagues have been formed in order to identify and develop those children who have displayed prodigal skill. There are many of these “select” leagues around the United States. Depending on the parameters of each respective league, many entail different tiers, or divisions within the league, which are tailored to maximize the development of those with the highest degree of skill. An example of this would be if League A has 40 teams in its league, then League A will have four divisions. Each division will contain players of a comparable skill level with the top division being the one which containing the most talented kids.
If one is not certain of their child’s skill level, then that person should have the child try-out for an upper division team. in order to determine their talent level. However, in order to determine and classify the varying talent levels of children, these “select” leagues will in fact hold try-outs. Such a process is very much like the selection process instituted throughout American high schools wherein must display their skills in order to become part of a varsity or junior varsity team. Thus, thorough this process the skill level of your child will be determined and ultimately they will be put on a talent-appropriate division and team wherein they may most efficiently nurture their skill(s).
Another route a parent may decide to pursue is that of a select traveling team. Often times traveling teams are usually independent teams comprised of the best players of from a particular “select” league. One of these teams will travel around the nation and participate in varying tournaments. These types of teams serve two purposes. First, playing other traveling teams derived from various parts of the nation allows the elite prodigal talents to compete against each other on a national scale. Secondly, traveling to varying parts of America may allow a prodigal child to gain exposure in the eyes of baseball talent scouts.
Thus, the final avenue one may pursue in choosing where to begin a child’s baseball career is to contact a major league baseball scout. Often times such scouts will evaluate a child’s talent level and inform the guardian which avenue would be the best to pursue. In some instances a scout may even refer the child to another scout who has compiled a team of comprised of select prodigal children.
By having a child play for a major league scout, that child will effectively develop those proper techniques to hitting, pitching and throwing; furthermore, they will learn the proper strategical methodology and preparation approach to the game of baseball. Most often such proper methodologies and approaches cannot be obtained in public or select leagues given the fact that coaches are often merely helicopter fathers that strive to vicariously live through their children. Thus, these helicopter coaches often do not have the faintest idea of what proper technique and strategy may be. Thus, if your child has displayed prodigal skill, your best option to pursue is to contact a scout - not some “schmo” who “thinks” they know how to play the game.
