Should I Stay or Should I Go…

It happens at the end of every season, spring, summer and fall, but fall is when we see it the most. Players from existing teams are secretly trying out for other organizations, coaches talk about cutting players or looking for “stronger arms”…it’s just the natural progression of travel baseball.

The big question is why does this happen? There are lots of reasons, some of which are perfectly normal and some of which are the result of behaviors on the part of the player, parent or coach. The other question is…what’s preventing you from actually making the switch?

We sort it out for you. Here are some reasons why people make the jump:

·      You’ve outgrown the team/organization. My own son played town travel from 8u-12u. It was a great experience. I was definitely one of the lucky ones in the town ball space! But the organization we were with did not have teams past 12u and it became time to find a new home for 13u and beyond. 

·      You’re looking for a more compatible team. This one can go either way…sometimes you’re looking for a more competitive program to give your son more opportunities, or you’re tired of daddy ball and want to move to club baseball with professional coaches. Or sometimes you realize he’s in over his head and you look for a program that has teams he will be able to play on, learn from, and still have fun playing. Side note – this is why I love seeing so many teams/organizations in each geographic area…some people say “the market is too saturated, there’s a team on every corner,” but the way I see it, it makes it easier for a player to find the right fit. And shouldn’t the end goal be for kids to be able to play as long as they want to? Somewhere?

·      Your son was cut. This one hurts, but it’s part of life, and how you handle this with him is extremely important. This could mean he’s overmatched on the team he’s on and it’s time to go find a program where he will thrive and have fun. Or it means he has the talent to be there, but didn’t put in the work or have the level of commitment required to help the team grow. 

·      You were asked to leave the program for reasons other than ability. Sadly, I’ve seen this more often than I want. Behavior is a huge factor in team chemistry and organizational reputation, and when a player or parent is not respecting those boundaries, they are often asked to leave. Even if the kid is a stud. Often times, despite the athletic ability of a certain player, protecting the organization is far more important than subjecting other players and parents to the toxicity of rotten apples. 

Here are some reasons why you may be hesitant to make a move:

·      Change is hard. It’s uncomfortable. The Devil you know is better than the Devil you don’t. It’s always difficult to pull the plug and make a move.

·      You’re unsure about the coach/players/parents on the teams you’re trying out for. Maybe you’re moving from town rec or daddy ball to a club team with professional coaches. Or maybe you’re moving between travel organizations. Maybe you’re leaving because of your current coach or because certain parents on your team make baseball a chore rather than something to look forward to. You want to do the best for your child but you don’t know if you’re acting on emotion or on rational decision making processes.

·      You don’t want to hurt feelings or cause any drama. You don’t want to rock the boat, especially if you’ve been with a team for a few years. You don’t want to lose friends, give people something to talk about, etc. But this is all part of life – making hard decisions and putting your child’s needs first.

The bottom line is this – baseball life mimics real life. You may lose a job (get cut), you may move to a new town and need to make new friends (move to a new team), you’re 4th in line for that promotion at work (other kids play more often than you), the teacher doesn’t like you (the coach always puts his own son at short)…they’re all learning opportunities. Do you. Find the right fit for you. Baseball is supposed to be fun. Learn from it, enjoy the journey, and look for the organization that best matches your endgame.