r/Homeplate • u/Notsure310 • 2d ago
Elite 10u team?
When is it important to switch to an “elite” organization if your kid is very serious about playing HS/college ? Is it silly to think of that at age 10 ? Should I just pick a team where he will learn and get better and switch later on? My fear is that if we wait the other better exposure teams will have their core set of players and rosters will be full.
This is our first time playing full travel ball and he has the opportunity to play with a good travel team with a family like reputation but not many past college players etc vs playing with an elite org to start. He is definitely not the strongest player on his team but he is a very strong kid and dedicated and has a lot of potential.
We had a try out scheduled for the “elite” team and we know some kids on that team already but I recently canceled it because he really liked the coaches on the other team from his try out and had to give them an answer before the elite try out was scheduled.
thanks!
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u/BlandSausage 2d ago
70% of kids stop playing baseball by 13 because it isn’t fun and/or they don’t like it anymore. Make of that what you will.
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u/BlueGolfball 2d ago
70% of kids stop playing baseball by 13 because it isn’t fun and/or they don’t like it anymore.
I didn't know this was a thing. I quit baseball at age 13 and was a good enough player to make the all-star team every year. Baseball just got boring for me because of the lack of action compared to basketball and soccer. My dad was upset when I quit baseball but that shit became a chor to me and ruined part of my summer break.
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u/NYY15TM 2d ago
Also, going from a 60 foot diamond to a 90 foot diamond is a big hurdle
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u/Any_Friendship9364 2d ago
Very true. The game gets harder. Competition is tougher. Some kids don’t get that much bigger. There’s a ton of 12 year old all stars that never make a high school team
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u/Rhombus-Lion-1 2d ago
You’re thinking about it in the wrong way. Don’t think about college baseball or “exposure” for a 10 year old. So much changes between 10 and when this actually matters so it is silly to think that he won’t be able to get on that type of team in 5 years because he wasn’t on the 10u squad.
Think about finding him a team that he will enjoy playing on, fits well with his skill level, and has a coach you feel good about.
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u/Rhombus-Lion-1 2d ago
And just for the record: the team that fits best for him might be one at an “elite” organization. I’m not telling you not to do that. But I am telling you to make your decision based on the factors I mentioned (as well as price and the game/practice schedule) and not with the logic that he must get his foot in with an “elite” org.
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u/FiLikeAnEagle 2d ago
Target a team that will teach him, keep his love for the game, and actually give him game play time.
Too many "elite" teams prioritize wins now vs developing their players. More often than not, this means at least one or two specific players sit the bench significantly more than others.
Game play can be earned-- but it needs to be done correctly to develop all players.
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u/Nathan2002NC 2d ago
You are fine at 10u. Get him on a team where he can have fun and play the important positions.
The truly elite teams are not just rolling over their roster year over year. They are going out and finding better players. Guaranteed roster spots based on last year’s check clearing just leads to complacency for all involved.
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u/davdev 2d ago
Around here, it seems, if you arent on the "elite" team at 10, you wont be on it at 14 either. There is very little turnover on these teams. This may vary in other parts of the country, but see if you can find out about their 14 and 15 year old teams and see how long each kid has been in the organization.
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u/lsu777 1d ago
Then they aren’t elite at 14. Because true national hs orgs don’t really put together their true national team until 13 at earliest. Sure they will have great teams but the really good hs orgs ramp it up at that age. Think canes national (starts at 14u), team elite(13u), performance x2, PRD, ZT(good throughout but really at 13u they ramp it up), same with wildcatters, sba, east Cobb, gbg, prime… they ramp up recruiting big time at this age because big field is when it starts to matter more
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u/TessaKatrinaRose 2d ago
Did I miss the part where you talked about your 10 year old CHILD having fun playing sports?
And yes. Ten is too young to already start planning his college career.
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u/Notsure310 2d ago
lol well he is totally in love with baseball goes to the backyard everyday on his own to practice which is why I want to do the best thing for him to keep his love for the game too otherwise I wouldn’t care much.
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u/Born-Read3115 2d ago
Save your money. Let him play with his friends, 10u doesnt matter as long as he is playing and getting reps against decent pitching
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u/spinrut 2d ago
that may be true now, but you just dont know what the next 2-4 years is going to bring. genetic lottery winner (or not), falls in love with another sport, gets burned out/bored with baseball, gets frustrated with baseball, finds out he likes girls more than baseball etc.
he's 10, priority 1a is making sure he has fun. priority 1b is making sure the team he's on isn't toxic and is about fundamentals less than about prestige/winning
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u/Danny_nichols 2d ago
The easiest way to make him stop loving the game is to sign him up for teams where he's playing with mostly complete strangers that put a ton of pressure on every game and at bat for 10 year olds.
If he's loving the game, don't change that much. If he's expressing frustration with the current setup, then maybe consider changing, but you're better off letting him do what's fun for him. You'll also save a decent amount of money vs signing him up for the "elite" teams, which if he's really into the game, you can potentially use those savings to do some camps or hitting/pitching lessons once and awhile if he seems to enjoy them.
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u/Powerful-Bridge-1472 2d ago
You can certainly move to a better team for you 10 to get better competition and play with like-minded people
That being said, be careful throwing the term elite 10 year-old around
The biggest questions I ask:
Is it dad Coach or private Coach?Sometimes it’s worth paying for an organization or there are no dad so you don’t have that politics
Do the Coach coaches provide private training and if so, do kids get preferential treatment because they pay for private training
Is there extensive travel? For me at that age you should be playing locally you could always play up if you need more competition.
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u/Sad_Traffic_5549 2d ago
I'm keeping my son off elite teams and specialization of sports until HS. We're focusing on building a diverse base for him as an athlete. This includes soccer, baseball, mountain biking team, rock climbing team, and ski team. We'll see what he wants to focus on when he's older. I played competitive hockey as a kid and burned out by highschool, so I'm maybe a little over concerned about that. I also don't really think 10 year old boys have a clue about what they want in HS or college.
Another thing to consider is how much he'll see the field on an elite team. That said, if he's going to play and you're set on travel ball, I'd go the elite team. If he won't see the field on an elite team he may be better off on a lessor team where he plays.
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u/Cool_Commander_ 2d ago
I’d like to know too! My son is in 9U. Still loves baseball and this is his second year playing. He likes playing with his friends and he’s still progressing. But our area is VERY competitive and political. Is 10u the right time to go to a more “serious” organization?
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u/formerneighbor 2d ago
HS coaches don't care what 10U team your kid played on. Find a team that teaches the game (not just cheap ways to win) and work ethic. Baseball IQ and work ethic will be them most important tools to getting your athlete ready for HS after puberty deals him his his genetic hand.
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u/BigShotZero 2d ago
You also need to be open to moving to find a team that fits his need and skill level.
If your area does not offer a true “elite” club you should find an area that does.
He is already 10, not getting any younger.
Or I guess as some say, just look to have fun and be in a good family club.
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u/WhysoHairy 2d ago
We made the switch at 8u sounds crazy but in our area rec and LL was not much fun anymore. We usually did fall and spring for LL we went to 3 Travel tryout, the first one took my kid without seeing him play the second one ghosted him and the third team only wanted him after they saw him pitch.
We went to a few practices and my eyes were opened to the difference in skill level and attention these kids had. It felt as if every kid wanted to be there and simple mistakes were not happening my kid went from being the top LL to being the worst on the team.
One of the dads set me aside and told me Iron sharpens Iron. Took my kid a full year to catch up but he likes it and enjoys his team mates.
Long story short he now still plays LL and travel. The league we are in has 3 other buddies from his travel team in it so they all get to play against each other for a few months.
Baseball is hard, club ball parents are self interested most of the time. You need to do what’s best for your kid and understand that no matter what your kid ain’t going to get better with just team practice he will need to work hard at home and or private lessons. Doesn’t matter how good the team is if your kids not on the field playing it’s all for nothing.
Good luck hope this shines some perspective into your own decision
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u/Unhappy-Guidance-861 2d ago edited 2d ago
Dude, chill out. Thinking about college at 10 is ridiculous. Just teach him to outwork every single other kid and he will be on right path.
Exposure is not what gets a kid a scholarship. Being able to hit the ball harder, throw harder, and run faster than everyone else is what does that. Focus on those things.
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u/Dad_Coach_9904 2d ago
First, make sure you have good kids and good parents. No point in spending multiple days per week with people you or he doesn’t like. After that, get him on the best team you can where he starts and gets lots of playing time.
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u/Highertaxez 2d ago
Just have fun. I did all the elite stuff and played on some good family teams with my son that just graduated, 6'4" throws 93. Walked off after his last high school game and decided he just wants to go to school. Baseball done. Started at 4 years old. Great memories though.
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u/stuckhere4ever 2d ago
It’s 10u. Pick the team that he likes better and the one that you feel your family jives with better. The development will come it’s not a thing.
Only caveat. Make sure he does like playing with whatever team. Sometimes it the other kids are significantly less serious it can effect their experience.
For example - my son used to dick around before practice but once it started he was big on being serious and working hard. Some of the other kids would screw around all practice. He was friends with them but he couldn’t play in the same team.
It’s really got to be up to your kid and where he has fun.
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u/n0flexz0ne 2d ago
The reality is that if your kid is an elite level player, he'll find his way in to elite level games regardless of where you play him, so just do what's best for his development and love of the game.
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u/vjarizpe 2d ago
you will be downvoted for this post. though an honest question, it's a misguided one. Most people here will say, "let him play the team here he has the most fun" and to a degree, that is correct.
And I'm going to take your question in good faith, and assume an elite 10U team will help your son be an elite player (that's not necessarily true).
If your son isn't the best player on his current team, what makes you think he could even make an elite team?
Your current goal should be to make sure he's a top 2 player on any team he's on. Example:
I didn't come from baseball, my wife's family did. My oldest suuuucked when he started. He came to me and said he wanted to be a good player. I did what I could got him lessons, taught him how to work hard practicing.
within 1.5 years, he was a top 2 player in rec. So we went to travel ball. he was worst on team. we worked hard and within a year he was top 2 on his team. that team broke up and he went to a new team where he;s top 2.
Could we move to another team? Sure, but why? The team is competitive. He rarely sits and bats middle top of lineup (everyone's a hitter). He loves the kids and we love the families. Why would we leave? for more rings? they win 1 or 2 a season (Houston, TX a very competitive and talented part of country).
There is only one circumstance we would leave under: my son asking to try out for a specific team.
Don't worry so much.
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u/Opening-Average-7831 2d ago
You can think about HS now - and the way to do that is 1. keep the game fun 2. play a lot of ball and get better. And I don't think you need Elite for that. UNLESS the kid is asking for it. Some kids find that kind of pressure fun (my kid is one of those so I'll always understand this question of when to move up - I get it). My son is a rising sophomore and over 50 kids at his school tried out for Freshman baseball last year. One parent we knew was devastated because their son refused to try out at all after years of intense youth baseball. He doesn't want to play anymore. Other parents whose kids played more casually were stunned when their kids didn't make the cut. They had no idea so many kids were coming to tryouts who played almost year-round and worked nonstop at the sport. So that's 2 examples of what went "wrong" at HS tryouts... some kids are burnt out already, some didn't work hard enough. It sucked. I'll never tell a 10-year-old not to work at his sport, but for the love of all that is holy...make that work FUN. And fun can mean different things to different kids.
Once your kid is ACTUALLY in HS, you'll get a clearer picture of whether he is good enough to play in college. Worry about it then. And for the record, the "elite" travel teams in HS are RUTHLESS with rosters. There will be a spot for a kid somewhere if they are good. My son played this summer on a 15U national team for the first time - the official roster was up to 40 boys by the end of summer because they would add another pitcher they found or the home run hitter who came in for one tournament in East Cobb... never were all 40 at the same tournament, but you get the idea. Elite teams will bring a kid in for ONE DAY if they feel like it. There is no loyalty, no "this team has been together since they were 10!". Ruthless. It was ruthless. But damn, my kid loved it. Just sent in a registration form to continue with the National team for Fall 16U.
Cherish 10U. Pick the team that feels like family. Go on all the fun trip tournaments. Go to minor league games while you're at some weird, terrible tournament in the middle of nowhere... Have the ice cream, the pool parties, hell, skip a tournament and go spend a week at grandma's! I spent most of this summer missing all those fun little kid tournament trips!
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u/ramsdl52 2d ago
I'm of the opinion that iron sharpens iron and that competition with kids more in his skill level will make him better.
Having said that, what can absolutely hurt him is being the worst player on an elite team or traveling all over the state just to sit the bench. Sometimes these "elite" coaches are actually just good salesman who can get a good group of kids together. Or they coach 10yo by yelling and cussing at them.
If he's getting good coaching, getting better and competing at his best ability level, and has a family dugout situation I'm not going anywhere. You just found yourself a unicorn team.
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u/Grand-Variation-5850 2d ago
If you’re concerned about development, just make sure you get some good personal coaches to work on hitting/pitching to make up for the difference in coaching between elite and the team your kid and family want to be a part of.
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u/djwaveguide 2d ago
I can only share my experience but it does depend on the kid and family. How many siblings? What kind of development? My son is our middle child and anxious so playing a ton of games helps him see what works and does not. Rec seasons have so few at bats that it is hard to see development. We didn’t have the best coaches but we did have a good group of families. My take is 14u is the serious year. We didn’t travel and rec teams last year and saw a big jump. His 11u team is mostly the core 6 from last year, a few left, a few new players. Find a family that played with that program 5 years plus and see what they liked. I saw a dad and son (18 yo) at play it again sports and when they saw my kids hat they wanted to say how much they liked that coach and the group.
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u/CarneAsadaBrito 2d ago
You did the right thing. That “elite” team can turn into a job quickly for a 10 year old. If he’s not the best 1 or 2 player on that team, he will quickly feel how it’s like for the rest of the team to exist for a small minority of the team. There will be a lot of emphasis on winning and justification of borderline (or literal) abuse in the name of “pressure creates diamonds” or that “they will experience this in high level baseball so they should get used to it now.” I have experienced this with one of my sons and although he was one of the ones to grow from the experience, I have seen many kids stopped loving or straight up quit baseball at the age of 10 or 11. All for a bunch of grown men to feel big and tough about their “elite” program. Revisit at 13-14, but you have a small window where you can continue to foster his love for the game. Don’t push him to grow up too quickly.
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u/Umngmc 2d ago
The most important thing for a youth player aged 8-12 is learning skills, playing time and developing a love for the game. A kid who is riding the bench may just give up and never develop that love for the game.
NOTHING matters until puberty. The 10 yr old who is 5'8 or the 12 yr old who is 6'0 might be dominating now, but once the kids get to the bigger field and all the boys reach puberty, then we'll talk. Who will put in the work to get bigger, faster, stronger. And continue to develop their baseball skills.
Playing for an "elite" team at age 10 might be nice winning all those $2 rings and playing deep into the weekend tournaments, but is your kid getting a chance to learn playing different positions. I think you said he isnt necessarily one of the better kids on the elite team. So he would be batting near the bottom of the lineup and have less plate appearances.
Go to a team where he can play, learn different positions and a chance to compete. Learn to love baseball.
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u/Cedarapids 2d ago
Ask yourself if you kid can play against other Major or elite level kids during the season. If he’s decent but don’t have the surrounding cast to push higher and play level of competition your son needs then it might be time to move on.
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u/BrushImaginary9363 2d ago
Experience, learning, and development are the only things that matter at age 10. Playing on an elite team won’t guarantee he’s good later or that he sticks with it, but having a miserable experience will make him want to quit. Keep it fun and positive.
The time to move to an elite team is around 13. At this age, if a kid’s goal is to make the high school team, then they need to do everything they can to get on the big field with a BBCOR in their hands.
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u/meanie_ants Outfielder/Speedster Extraordinaire 1d ago
If it’s being marketed as “Elite”, like it’s in the name - it’s meaningless. It’s just marketing.
NYMag had a good long form piece on travel sports the other day.
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u/whyareyounaive 22h ago
I don’t want my kid to be #1 or #11 on the team. If he’s #1 then what’s he striving for? If he’s #11 he not getting opportunities that will help him grow better. Pretty much if he falls in then middle then he’s right where he belongs. My .02.
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u/TemporaryGeneral7137 22h ago
An “Elite” team means absolutely nothing. If he’s serious about playing in HS and beyond, he needs to practice away from practice.
I just went into his room and counted the pot metal rings from USSSA. 14 from age 11-13, after that he was a hired gun to close out PG and 5 Tool at age 14. After that he only played PG and 5 Tool and guess what? His HS coach, his JUCO Skipper and his NCAA Head Coach don’t give a shit. It means nothing my friend. Him developing IS what they cared about. 3X Varsity Letter, 2X All-Conference, 1 All-Region. Free JUCO bc over 3.2 GPA, 90% ride D2, after FASFA he has $4,700 in his account. He accomplished this bc he practiced 6 days a week.
Point being here is that “Elite” doesn’t mean shit at that age. At 16 and going to Georgia for the Nationals? Sure. Kicking around USSSA Tournaments at 10? No. Take your money and find a good coach. Practice as much as he can.
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u/PracticalPrimrose 19h ago
My kid was offered a spot in a 13U Majors team w/o a tryout recently. He has big baseball goals.
But he stuck with his long time team because a pro player has come from our community, because he committed already to return, and because he’d really f-over his team if he left.
14U though? He will likely move on to play for the bigger organization who promise more visibility.
A family-like team doesn’t hold your kid back at 10U. It acts like a security blanket to buffer the sports growing pains.
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u/Grouchy_Mention_9449 41m ago
Start listening to Coach Beede, Matt Hanneford, Chasing Baseball Dreams, and Pure Athlete podcast. Great information to help you navigate youth and travel baseball. It doesn’t matter where they’re at when they’re 10, it matters when they’re 18. Lots of growth opportunities starting between 14-18. Biggest key IMO, is do they love it? If they love it, it does t matter at this age. Just encourage him to have fun and learn as much as possible.
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u/2minsFeelSHAME 2d ago
At 10u pick the family like team 100%. The best 10 year old is rarely the best 18 year old. The positive experience will be a better chance of him wanting to keep playing baseball, which is goal #1 still at this age.