Tanner Allen speaks on travel ball...

[OG Goat Holder]

It is about the collective action. It got set in action before I had kids and it's impossible to go back. Many play both though and the overall skill distribution isn't the same. It's not really athletic talent, it's skill developed. The travel kids have higher skill development as to be expected, however, there are MANY who are very skilled who get passed by as the bigger athletes gain skill and lose some baby fat over time or other kids get into it and practice.

I agree that you can't out-skill athleticism, but on the other hand, nowadays, all the best players are usually playing travel ball by 7 or 8. Very difficult to have kids fall through the cracks these days, and I'm not sure it ever really happened to a large extent. I think it's largely an excuse for folks who don't want to play as much baseball as the hardcores so they are trying to shame the system into playing less. Futile effort.

I've also never seen any of these average athletes suddenly morph into a great athlete once they are in high school or whatever. What you see on that 7/8 year old field is largely what you're gonna see on the high school field, assuming they continue to play baseball.

 

[Bagman.sixpack]

That's what most of it is, although most teams get together and do a Gatlinburg or beach trip. All travel ball is, is more games, thus more money is needed. And parents love the entertainment from the win-or-go-home tournaments.

I think a bigger issue people don't talk about is that the tournament format teaches a more transactional relationship with the sport. Each tournament is its own deal, instead of playing a season and earning a spot in a tournament, etc.

I agree that you can't out-skill athleticism, but on the other hand, nowadays, all the best players are usually playing travel ball by 7 or 8. Very difficult to have kids fall through the cracks these days, and I'm not sure it ever really happened to a large extent. I think it's largely an excuse for folks who don't want to play as much baseball as the hardcores so they are trying to shame the system into playing less. Futile effort.

I've also never seen any of these average athletes suddenly morph into a great athlete once they are in high school or whatever. What you see on that 7/8 year old field is largely what you're gonna see on the high school field, assuming they continue to play baseball.

I don't know. I've seen it a good bit. Now it could have been favoritism or the coaches kids were playing premier spots, but I know multiple kids that were "better" that are now struggling to get on the field in high school/JV. It came down to practicing skill and general athleticism qualities for the kids that weren't "as good".

In general, I agree, but it is more the freaks stay freaks but the ones on the edge can often cross over as the mature and be much better than the kids that were really good at 8 or 9.

Freaks are rare by definition. There just aren't many Konnor Griffin's running around. And you don't have to be a freak to play D1 ball. HAve to be a really good athlete but not a freak. The freaks don't play much college baseball.

 

[TDawg52]

Just wanted to toss out some thoughts on travel ball for 8-13 year olds I've observed over the years. There are definitely some red flags to consider!

• Physical Overuse and Injuries: All those games and practices can really wear out young muscles and joints, especially pitchers whose arms are still growing. Think tendonitis or stress fractures, ouch!
• Emotional and Mental Stress: The super-competitive vibe and endless seasons can burn kids out or make them anxious. It’s supposed to be fun, right? Not a pressure cooker!
• Financial Strain: The costs, travel, uniforms, coaches, tournaments, can add up fast. It’s a big hit to the wallet with no guarantee of a college scholarship payoff.
• Time Commitment: The crazy schedule can eat into time for other sports, homework, or just chilling with family, which might hold back a kid’s overall growth.
• Parental Pressure: Some parents push their kids into it for their own dreams, and that can lead to stress or resentment if the kid’s not into it.
• Early Specialization Risks: Sticking to one sport this young can limit athletic variety and up the injury risk, kids miss out on skills that kick in later.
• Unpredictable Outcomes: Early wins don’t mean future stardom since puberty hits everyone differently. It can be a bummer for kids who don’t keep up.

Like a lot of folks, I think it’s better to focus on balanced play, rest, and fun over grinding early via travel ball outlets. Experts, Ben McDonald included, often say hold off on serious travel ball until around 14/15 when high school sports ramp up. Even then, be selective. And a final note, travel ball is not about developing skills... and in a lot of cases, its the parents wanting to showcase, in their minds, the a budding superstar...

 

[She Mate Me]

I'm not a huge fan of baseball especially MLB. Never played it growing up. My son loves it. He could sit in front of the TV and watch most of a MLB game at age 3. The day he says he doesn't want to play anymore is the day we stop (he will finish what he committed to of course). He drives the train.

I was definitely never driving the train. I was encouraged to play things I enjoyed, but there was a budget always and my dad wasn't blowing the budget. Couldn't.

 

[SteelCurtain74]

I would second what another poster said about TA being somewhat of a hypocrite. This is from his website:

Join The Locker Room List below (exclusive email list for players and parents pursuing baseball at the highest level), and get:

• Invitation to Parent/Player Q+A w/Tanner Allen on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 7pm CT.
• EARLY ACCESS to TA Elite Camp registration (24hr before it goes live)
  • Elite Camp (10yr+) | Madison, MS | July 22-24,

This elite camp has the low cost of $497 for what amounts to a day and a half of instruction.

On his Instagram regarding this Camp, the first sentence reads "Are you ready to make the most out of your travel ball investment and fulfill your potential as a player?". So now Tanner, you think it's an investment? And to cash in on this investment you want to charge 10 year olds, who you say shouldn't be in travel ball, $500 to come to your camp? GTFO.

 

[dawgstudent]

 

[dawgstudent]

I was definitely never driving the train. I was encouraged to play things I enjoyed, but there was a budget always and my dad wasn't blowing the budget. Couldn't.

As far as willingness to practice - my son drives it. He will say can you throw me BP or catch a bullpen session. Those are free things to do.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Just wanted to toss out some thoughts on travel ball for 8-13 year olds I've observed over the years. There are definitely some red flags to consider!

• Physical Overuse and Injuries: All those games and practices can really wear out young muscles and joints, especially pitchers whose arms are still growing. Think tendonitis or stress fractures, ouch!
• Emotional and Mental Stress: The super-competitive vibe and endless seasons can burn kids out or make them anxious. It’s supposed to be fun, right? Not a pressure cooker!
• Financial Strain: The costs, travel, uniforms, coaches, tournaments, can add up fast. It’s a big hit to the wallet with no guarantee of a college scholarship payoff.
• Time Commitment: The crazy schedule can eat into time for other sports, homework, or just chilling with family, which might hold back a kid’s overall growth.
• Parental Pressure: Some parents push their kids into it for their own dreams, and that can lead to stress or resentment if the kid’s not into it.
• Early Specialization Risks: Sticking to one sport this young can limit athletic variety and up the injury risk, kids miss out on skills that kick in later.
• Unpredictable Outcomes: Early wins don’t mean future stardom since puberty hits everyone differently. It can be a bummer for kids who don’t keep up.

Like a lot of folks, I think it’s better to focus on balanced play, rest, and fun over grinding early via travel ball outlets. Experts, Ben McDonald included, often say hold off on serious travel ball until around 14/15 when high school sports ramp up. Even then, be selective. And a final note, travel ball is not about developing skills... and in a lot of cases, its the parents wanting to showcase, in their minds, the a budding superstar...

To weed through all the nonsense, from tee ball to 12U, you basically need to find your kid a competent level of league, whatever that looks like in your area. You can travel as much as you want to, but you don't really HAVE to do that.

In the development vein, I still like the idea of machine pitch for 9U, and no stealing until it hits the mitt. There's a ton of hitting and field action. 10U you can pitch, but still no stealing. Then 11U, it's all out baseball as you move up to a bigger field, 12U stays the same. Then 13U on is where it basically ends for most. There aren't many pony league fields around anymore as that's not profitable for tournament directors. That's why you see them on the high school field at that age. Just the way it is. Most fields can be modified for 7-12U.

 

[PooPopsBaldHead]

Here's some moderate child abuse. 12 year olds. 3 day tournament started Friday at 4pm ended Sunday at 3 PM. The hours is the actual time from 1st to last pitch.

But it's okay, all 3 kids Dad's were on the coaching staff...

FYI. 1 kid is actually a pitcher, the other two are slabs of meat that get fed to the wolves because tournaments mean you might play 6-7 games in 48 hours or less. FYI the tournament used inning limits instead of pitch counts. 3 IP max per game, 6 IP max per day, 10 IP max for the tournament. Atrocious.



FYI. My kid did not play and not his team.

 

[dogmatic001]

The real difference between when I played and now is the Dads. There were always plenty of Dads willing and able to coach. They put a lot of effort into it, and they were good at it. The Dads that didn't coach would at least show up to games and work with their kids at home. There are no longer enough Dads to coach and even less being good Dads at home. Many players don't even have Dads at home. It's sad. I think that's the real difference with travel ball. More Dads involved. Unfortunately, you guys also get all the overbearing Dads that make their kids quit baseball before they get out of High School.

This pretty much defines it. I did several tours of duty as a rec league baseball coach in one of Mississippi's larger towns. It was clear most of the players didn't have anyone to throw with at home. I could only rarely get anyone to help me coach so drills at practice were 11 watching and one practicing. The end of the line stayed a circus.

The only time most of the kids touched a bat or ball was at our practices and games. Each team had 12 kids - you had to have 9 present at game time or you automatically forfeited. We came close many times and were forfeited out of the semifinals in the 11u tournament because four of our players didn't show up. Parents had taken the schedule and booked vacations to start the day after the last regular season game. The parents didn't care, and they were the ones who had signed the kids up and who brought them when they did come. This was about 8 years ago.

How much you "travel" and how many games you play on any travel team is adjustable team by team. Every travel team is its own soap opera. We joined one or two and played until my son was in Junior High - then he played Cotton States in New Albany (a great program, BTW) and school ball and otherwise fished all summer.

He retired from playing at the end of his senior season of high school. At least a third of his teammates are still going at some level.

It's quite a conundrum. I hate that Park & Rec ball went to the pits, but making my son a martyr to that fact wasn't going to help anything.

It seems to be an ordeal of extremes — dads either expect their kid to make the MLB, or they don't show up or help at all. Pretty often, both of those conditions exist at the same time with the same dads.

 

[TimberBeast]

we are deeply invested in travel ball....play tonight actually....14U.....i have learned a TON since we started playing 7U travel ball, and almost everything mentioned in this thread has merit.....thankfully they moved golf to a fall sport, so mine son has two sports now....one of the main things I have learned I wish we would have done earlier, is ZERO fall baseball.....my 14 son is 6 ft 215lbs and will primarily pitch in HS.....ran into some arm problems this past fall....we are past it now, but after next week, there will be no more fall baseball for us...just working out and golf....


One other thing I learned, is a new-to-travel-ball-dad can be unbearable to be around ........but NOTHING will ever top a competition cheer mom.....NOTHING.....so glad im done with that .....

Just wait until golf tournaments outside of school, in the summer they are during the week.

 

[patdog]

I hope you aren’t choosing baseball over vacations.

A lot of people are.