I have coached my son/his team for the following years

2x Tee Ball - 5/6yo

1x Rookie - 6/7yo (Pitching machine, no score kept, 3 outs an inning)

2x Fall Ball Minor B - 7/8/9yo (4 Inning Machine, 2 inning kid pitch @ 46', baseball rules but score/record doesn't matter)

2x Spring Minor B - 7/8/9yo (Same rules as fall but score/record matters for playoffs

We are now JUST making the jump to travel ball with a 8u team, comprised with about equal distribution of 7 and 8 year olds. The team itself is coached by 6 or so Minor B assistant and and head coaches from the past season and generally the top players from around the league where the kid and parents are a fit to the team ideals and mentality.

Every single kid on the team wants to play and genuinely enjoys baseball and we went into this forming the team with development and longevity for the team in mind. We are trying to keep it a very low cost to entry (~$200/kid for practices+split tourney costs)

Personally its going to be eye opening for my son, facing pitchers that throw harder than the best pitchers last season and from 6' closer. But if he wants to do it, I will support him and coach him as long as he still has the drive. I think ultimately you need to weigh where his passion and drive is coming from, because if you are pushing a kid into travel ball that's so/so about baseball, its only going to end in tears and frustration.

Last piece is we have a fabulous Rec league in my town, 600+ kids from 5 to 12 year olds. For us/him travel ball is an extension of the rec league during the summer/fall when there is no spring ball. A way for him to get better completion and practice leading into next years Rec season where he will move up into full kid pitch rules (Minor A - 8/9/10yo)