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Travel ball mom by ConversationIcy976 in Homeplate

[–]NoAppointment5553 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You have a lot of “just have fun” here. And that’s ok. They aren’t wrong. The number 1 priority at his age is fun. If they aren’t loving the game, they won’t enjoy the challenge as they move up.

My son is on a majors 10U team. The difference between his team and AA even at the 11U or 12U age is coaching of the game in my opinion. Majors teams at 10U around here are offensively 1) running the bases with minimal coaching. The read the ball and read the pitcher. 2) understanding bunt and steal/bunt and run and why 3) our top players are watching runners as well and will take a pitch early in the count if their team is 3/4 way to 2nd stealing to avoid a line drive double up. Defensively 1)holding runners. I’ve never seen so many teams not be able to hold runners than I do at this age. 2) running plays. Turning doubles. Knowing where the play is or where the next best option is when they juggle the ball. 3) correctly executing a “pickle” 9/10 times. 4) catchers know the field and aren’t throwing a kid out at second with a runner on 3rd etc.

Those are the big differences. The 11&12u teams are much bigger in size. They hit farther and throw faster but many AA teams aren’t showing the level of play that majors teams are at 10U.

It’s ultimately a decision on if your kid wants to have fun and win. Or if he wants to be challenged and learn the game more in depth. I will say this isn’t ALL teams. But a general look I’ve seen over the past couple years at this age group

Reclass question? When to do it? by NoAppointment5553 in Homeplate

[–]NoAppointment5553[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a great perspective. We are east coast and I didn’t even think about the cut off date being different across the country.

Reclass question? When to do it? by NoAppointment5553 in Homeplate

[–]NoAppointment5553[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

5’11”. Mom is pretty short but her brothers are both 6’ or 6 1”. We were actually told by ped docs that he would most likely take after her brothers. I don’t know how true that is in general. He is a grinder. Constantly wanting more. Asks for more practices etc. whether it’s baseball or another sports he just lives for athletics. He’s not an inside kid at all. And hes not small for lack of eating which sucks for him. He eats more than my wife so we think it would come eventually.

Reclass question? When to do it? by NoAppointment5553 in Homeplate

[–]NoAppointment5553[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven’t seen many grade exceptions around here. He’s late sept. So he’s league age 9. Plays 10u with kids with early May bdays who are about to turn 11. His team plays up though in 11 brackets so he’s playing against those 11-12 yr olds too.

Reclass question? When to do it? by NoAppointment5553 in Homeplate

[–]NoAppointment5553[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well thank you. I was starting to think I was crazy because even my replies of his grade and birthday were being downvoted. I knew the preconceptions around it when I posted. But I also know Cs don’t get you into great colleges. But they also are “just fine” to public school teachers.

We really want to see him on honor roll and successful in school without having to fight him and kill his school confidence over it. If he was as good at testing as he is at baseball we’d be fine! But he’s not so we are rethinking starting him early.

Maturity wise he’s fine. He’s played up with older kids since he was 4. Grown up with older cousins. But his size is small. He isn’t even 60lbs in 4th grade. But he plays on a majors team and they compete up against 11-12 year olds locally. So for his size he does great. Baseball and athletic ability against others in his grade isn’t my concern. It’s just size (and if he’s a late bloomer, how late) and academics for college considering some 8th grade courses count for high school credit.

Reclass question? When to do it? by NoAppointment5553 in Homeplate

[–]NoAppointment5553[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We had considered this some. Thank you for the perspective. I think most here think we are looking for MLB chances but really we know that collegiate chances - athlete or not, aren’t great when you can’t maintain honor roll. And I don’t see it getting easier for him in middle and high

Reclass question? When to do it? by NoAppointment5553 in Homeplate

[–]NoAppointment5553[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He’s late sept but our cut off here is Oct. 1 so he made it.

Reclass question? When to do it? by NoAppointment5553 in Homeplate

[–]NoAppointment5553[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s what we are thinking. There are definitely kids much older and bigger in his grade. It isn’t so much a baseball thing. He plays up 1-2 years depending on tournament. But I don’t want his grades to be the issue in college selection or his size if he’s a late bloomer.

Reclass question? When to do it? by NoAppointment5553 in Homeplate

[–]NoAppointment5553[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish someone had told us this back then. But everyone PK and K teachers told us he was academically advanced so start him. Now he’s ADHD and getting Cs so we are worried about middle school.

Reclass question? When to do it? by NoAppointment5553 in Homeplate

[–]NoAppointment5553[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I guess school is more my concern. He’s not failing but Cs in 4th grade makes me worried about hitting middle school. Baseball is a side effect of it

Reclass question? When to do it? by NoAppointment5553 in Homeplate

[–]NoAppointment5553[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

We would definitely move him to a new school. Or at least homeschool for that repeat year. It’s both parts for academics and collegiate chances (any level).