Again, I would counter argue that they are playing very similar competition in these club? AAU? (I'm not sure which) competitions. Both of these kids played on teams loosely based in ATL (6 hours from here) but with other teammates who also came from various parts of the Southeast. Their teammates were all college (or pro) prospects. Their tournament games were played almost anywhere from Florida to Texas to New England. Air travel was essential. The expense, time and energy to compete were enormous and baseball was a full time job for them although they kept up with their schoolwork for the most part. They certainly weren't honor roll or valedictorian types.Their parents were wealthy and I don't understand how a child that was middle class or worse could have swung it.
I have seen D1 FB players as well and they don't have near the $ or time invested (travel) as these kids do although they too worked almost year round but without the actual reps, practices, hands on coaching or game experience.
I know there is a player or recruit's dad that is a member here and contributes but I don't recall who. I would love to hear his perspective on this topic
@4shotB I'm here but only had my phone and didn't have my glasses.
What is the question? Baseball vs Football (It's about reps and you get more reps in baseball than football). I forget who said it but doesn't it take 10,000 reps to get really good at something or something similar. Football is 1 game a week. Travel ball is 4-8 or more depending on the tournament or length.
High school ball is literally for reps and to get in shape for Summer ball. The errors and officiating at the high school are worse than you can imagine and the level of play (here in Austin) is abysmal. Now if we played locally in ATL, for Buford or something like that, different story, but pretty much around the country the level of play in HS is subpar and no where near what Travel Ball is in the ATL area and PG circuit. PBR is great in some parts of the country (NY/PA), but crappy in Texas and other parts. It might happen on a rare occasion and locally, but no one is getting recruited to college from HS only ball. The scouts are there because of what the kid did during travel ball.
Yes, the expense can be out there, but there are options for that and depending on where you live and where you play and the competition you have access to, it doesn't have to be that expensive.
Families host other kids or some orgs like Canes have their own Coach Buses that come to events and the players don't have to pay anything to play or travel. But you have to be damn good to get on those top teams.
We fly in or drive in from Texas to play with the best competition and the best defense. Playing on East Cobb Astros is pretty much like college caliber ball (or better) with actually higher ranked players in almost every position than the GT college team (think of a team of Paradas, DeLeos, JHMs, and a bullpen that puts GT's to shame). There aren't many teams like ECA or at that level. Others like Canes, Team Elite, Florida Burn and others, but to get to play with consistent competition is key. That's by ECA and Canes are top 2 teams out of 998 in the PG system. Also playing on a top tier national team gets you more exposure as there are 30 pro and college scouts there to look at your teammates and/or the team you're playing.
Is recruiting and playing really good travel ball expensive. Absofreakinglutely. The math and expense can be daunting. If you live in ATL, it is a tremendous blessing as the competition comes to you and you don't have to travel. LakePoint and ECB/Marietta are super close and only a 3 hour trip to Hoover or a flight to Jupiter/Ft Meyers or a 6 hr drive to Cary to play at Team USA. Then you have college camps and visits, etc. That adds up especially if you're wanting to get into a different region of the country. You have 5 official visits, so that's 5 FREE visits to a campus to talk to a program for 2 adults and 1 player. You can get recruited locally for pretty cheap. We wouldn't have to leave the state in order to play in Texas, OK, ARK or LA. Local club teams playing at events in Dallas or Houston is enough to get you seen and interest. Christian didn't want to play in Texas and wanted to explore East Coast. Way more college and talent density and exposure.
We flew to Vandy (Music City tourney and 5 day camp), Duke (3 day camp), UNC (2 day prospect camp), UVA (visit and 2 day prospect camp), Arkansas (1 day prospect), GT (visit) and drove downtown to Texas (local for prospect camp) and 2 hours over to Texas A&M (multiple events PBR or PG showcases) as well as the Grand Daddy of Ft Meyers and Jupiter with ECA. Christian turned down official visits to Stanford, Columbia, Army, Notre Dame and interest from over 40 schools.
Ft Meyers and Jupiter were both key events. Recruited exploded during and after both. Christian broke 91 at Ft Meyers and 92 at Jupiter the following week. Ft Meyers would have been more of an event, but a bunch of the boys got stomach bug Saturday and that kept Christian from playing Sunday but he had a great outing in Ft Meyers and was the appetizer for Jupiter the following weekend.
Throwing a perfect game as a HS Junior at Jupiter vs Seniors is what got the eye of most and where I met DBo & Jaffe watching the game.
That summer/fall ball (SO summer/JR fall) and trips was about $20,000 (probably more). A small investment (just like private pitching coach, strength/speed training, a $1200 radar gun, weight and special workout equipment and rack in the garage, not included) for his arm to get him exposure and into schools he otherwise wouldn't have a chance and to get out of state money to reduce tuition. UVA was going to be $132,000+ for 4 years, after 25%. That was going to hurt. GT and others came in with more affordable options. Unlike football, baseball isn't a full ride due to the BS 11.7. So money will play into college ball as well. I walked on at University of Tennessee in Knoxville for football (place kicker) and the extra point holder had a full ride..... Basketball, full rides.
Travel ball in HS is a requirement for all areas of the country that are NOT Atlanta. Playing and traveling the country at 9-14 is not. Yes we did it and Christian's team was #10 in the country, in Travel Ball Select and others. He has a wall and shelf full of $1.99 plastic and silly rings to commemorate & remember it all and the journey, but nothing happens college-wise as a travel baller until 8th-9th grade circuit.
Did that answer your question or give the perspective you were looking for? It is what you make it and there are options and choices. Each with benefits and costs associated.
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