Balancing Church and Travel Ball

[Gorilla33]

Preacherman-I was hoping you could provide some insight on this with your role as pastor and obviously having a high level ball player in the home. How did you balance providing Kirby opportunities to excel in ball, which requires being away from home on the weekends, while also keeping him and your family involved in corporate worship?

 

[RockyTopTexas]

respect to my parents because I know it wasn't easy

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

Our son played for a team last year that claimed to just play 4-5 tournaments over the summer, but then it became a weekly thing, even playing in other states. We left them in the fall, prayed for a better option. Got a letter in late fall regarding tryouts for another team and went through with that. He made the team and they play no more than 2 tournaments per month. They pray before every game and incorporate Bible lessons for the team in practice and games. After each game, they pray at the mound and invite the other team to pray. They were at a bit of a disadvantage due to the age and inexperience of most of the players; however, they have stuck with it and have since moved into the gold bracket and have won 3 rings. The team is truly a family. We have one player whose Dad is a Pastor and he just doesn’t play on Sundays if the game is during their normal service time.
It was a wise move and we are very thankful.

 

[preacherman20]

Biggest question I get asked from younger parents. My first answer is don't play full travel schedule unless there is no other option. If your kid is not the best in his recreation program or at least top 5, you don't need to play travel. Too many teams and players that think travel will make you better. I would say you are more suited to invest in training than the money it costs to play travel.
2. Find the right team. We were blessed to have a team that did devotions and prayer before and after every game. They didn't do everything right but did a lot right. We had several strong Christian men who led them every Sunday morning in a time or worship. I cannot stress this enough. I regret not keeping the first team Kirby played on together. They were stacked and a great set of parents. Every player except 1 went on to play D1 sports of some kind or got drafted right out of HS. We played one year of bad baseball then joined Crusaders. I was also blessed with a great set of parents around us who helped take care of my son when we could not go. My middle son was also playing college ball when Kirby was 10-14. So life was chaotic. then we joined Kansas City Royals Scout team where parents were encouraged not to go or if they went to not stay in the same motels. Did a great job of preparing them for P5 baseball and helping them grow up.
3. Don't chase the trophies. If I had to do it over again with Kirby early on I would do what I did with my older sons early on. We played every weekend with 4-5 other high level teams and rented a facility and got our own umpires. Everybody got 2-3 games, whatever they wanted, and we charged no admission. Each team walked to home plate before the game with the umpire fee and they were paid by us so that reduced the complaining. We played Saturdays and either Friday night or Sunday afternoon. Played very few true tournaments. But we did not miss Sundays and little stress on the parents and players. It was FUN.
4. My sons were required to be at church every other time other than Sunday morning and still held to that expectation. He was always at Sunday nights and Wednesday nights. I said if you are playing on Sunday then he can't practice on Wednesday night. I preach that family worship is just as important as corporate worship. Too many parents miss Sunday mornings and also don't come on Sunday nights or Wednesday nights and don't do family devotions.

Would be glad to speak to anyone about it personally and answer specific question. 423-791-4303

 

[preacherman20]

We prayed on the field before every game like GiveHim6inSC and prayed on the mound also after the games. Only had 1 team in 4 years refused to pray with us win or lose. When our team was put together, we looked for Christian families and the ones who joined later were the same and knew exactly what they were looking for. These are not public teams but private teams. We are not talking rec ball but travel ball where a player chooses to participate.

 

[txbo]

So,

Oh boy, praying for ya Turbovol.

I played tee ball all the way to pro AA.....Never missed a Sunday worship time. One does not have to be in a physical "church" house to have church. While in travel ball back in the 80's a parent or two would lead a bible study on Sunday's if we were on the road w/ travel ball. Probably only happened 4-5 times over a two summer period. In college we had chapel service in the dugout on road trips. The host team would provide. In pro ball the same thing, two pastors would come to the field and for any who wanted a quick 20 min. chapel service would be held in the dugout. Typically in the pros about 40% of the the team attended including coaches. I never had any problem in pro ball finding a church I could walk to on Sunday morning. Anywhere in the country. So I did both.

Worship first. Baseball second.

You can get a lot of the same things from a Chapel service or Bible study on the road.....BUT as a member of a Church, you can't give the same. There's someone sitting in a pew in your Church that can benefit from your fellowship.

 

[stevenrich2003]

Preacherman-I was hoping you could provide some insight on this with your role as pastor and obviously having a high level ball player in the home. How did you balance providing Kirby opportunities to excel in ball, which requires being away from home on the weekends, while also keeping him and your family involved in corporate worship?

I have always struggled with this. I see both sides of it. You want to give your kid their best shot at being successful on the field and to do that you unfortunately, have to do travel ball because that is where the best competition is. However, I have seen so many families dedicate so much time and money into travel ball that they lose all of their family and faith time together. The kid ends up burnt out with whatever sport and the lose interest and quit. Baseball or basketball specifically. I wish more folks understood that your kid is not going to the majors and sports are a tool teach them life lessons. Unless the kid is an absolute freak athlete they are not going D1 either. I ultimately decided with both of my kids that there are seasons for a reason. When is was whatever season for that sport that is what they played. Hope my thoughts helped OP.

 

[preacherman20]

As much as we did it, I actually deter families from going travel ball unless it is the only option. It consumes the entire family and that is not a good thing in most cases. My family is blessed that we love ball and my wife does to. We are not beach people so our vacations are always active ones not just go to the beach and sit so we have always fit our vacations around the baseball. For Kirby, it was not an option to stay in rec ball because he was playing up 2 levels the only year he played. They tried to make him play t-ball and then we went to one practice and coach would not let him throw the ball because he was afraid he would hurt someone and moved everyone to outfield when he hit. They moved him to coach pitch and he hit the coach with a line shot the first practice and the coach refused to pitch to him. Then I coached a pitching machine team that he played on as a 5 year old. We then went travel and never looked back.
On the faith side of it, most don't think about it but college baseball does not allow a player to go to CHURCH (church building) very rarely. I'm very thankful for the faith based organizations that minister to my kid on Sundays and other days. I have strongly encouraged him to do all the Bible studies and fellowships he can do. He even has started a few just for the baseball players. He very rarely gets to go to a church building but, as txbo says, gets the Bible study and fellowship from outside organizations and people. it is a tough decision and a hard one to make.
One of the ministries that is missing in this world is a strong ministry with travel ball. We do our online services so that our families can watch the services even when they are gone. In my church in Missouri, we had a young lady who played high level travel ball. They took a projector and sound system each week and watched our services together some time on Sunday morning between matches. Several time they had 200+ people watching which was way more than we had in our building. You have to get creative. I don't fight my parents who choose to do it, some pastors do, but I encourage them to find a way to use their travel ball for ministry as God leads.

 

[wtmvol]

My kids (twins) don't play baseball, but we've struggled for years with our decision to not do travel soccer. It feels at times like we've set them back, but we didn't want them to lose church friends/activities, it's expensive as hell, and from what I see most of the kids are completely burned out by 9th grade. I'm glad to see a plug for rec ball. My kids are by no means superstars, but in rec ball they clearly stand out, whereas in travel ball they would likely disappear.

Some parents legitimately have uber-talented kids where travel makes a lot of sense, but even for them with the college scholly as the carrot, I'm not sure they realize that by the time their child gets to college, they've basically pre-paid for them to get a scholarship with all the money they poured into travel ball for so many years. It just feels like a big scam to me, but I admit there's some sour grapes mixed in to that opinion.

 

[Ritzwatch]

I played in the 80s on a team that "travelled", but this was before the industry that is "travel ball" today. We mostly played weekend tourneys in E. Tn, but did go to Cincy or GA a few times. Even when away from home, I tried to make church worship happen. It was different than attending my "home" church, but it was better than skipping out.

One year, I had to participate in my high school's graduation on Friday night, so Dad drove me to an early am (5am?) Greyhound bus, leaving the station on Magnolia, to play outside ATL (E. Cobb, I believe.) One of my coaches drove me to a Methodist church for early Sunday morning worship. I went 6-8 in two that afternoon. 2-HR, 2-2B, 2-1B, flyout, and ended, disappointingly, with a swinging K.

Point is: Coach knew it meant something to me to go to church, so he made it happen for me. Don't know if anyone still does that, but if the coach knows it is your priority, there is a pretty good chance some kid on the bench will be willing to play the Sunday am game you miss. You just have to be willing to chance being Wally Pipp'ed.

 

[give_him 6]

Great topic. We are going through this very same issue. Church being interrupted by travel ball.

Regarding chasing trophies - this triggered something that irks me. One of the things that I have picked up on that irritates me to no end are the teams that play down in division to beat up on lower division teams to win tournaments. Are your players really getting any better by doing this? So sick of our team playing against teams that are on the USSSA or Perfect Game level of "Major" or "AAA" playing down in a AA tournament just so that their players get a ring or medal. (Ok. I am stopping my rant).

 

[OldTimer]

Very good topic guys, many have the same issue or concerns.

I had to delete several posts, the OP asked a great question to Preacher, and the topic is of interest to many.

This thread is not for debating religion in sports, if you don't have a specific answer or prior experience to the the OP's question, please don't interject your opinion on religion and sports. There are other forums for that debate......Politics

 

[drylo]

My kids (twins) don't play baseball, but we've struggled for years with our decision to not do travel soccer. It feels at times like we've set them back, but we didn't want them to lose church friends/activities, it's expensive as hell, and from what I see most of the kids are completely burned out by 9th grade. I'm glad to see a plug for rec ball. My kids are by no means superstars, but in rec ball they clearly stand out, whereas in travel ball they would likely disappear.

Some parents legitimately have uber-talented kids where travel makes a lot of sense, but even for them with the college scholly as the carrot, I'm not sure they realize that by the time their child gets to college, they've basically pre-paid for them to get a scholarship with all the money they poured into travel ball for so many years. It just feels like a big scam to me, but I admit there's some sour grapes mixed in to that opinion.

There’s no doubt that the cost of playing highly competitive youth sports exceeds any reasonable expectation of a financial return — especially in equivalency sports (including baseball), where scholarships are just partial anyway. To me, it’s essentially a luxury good —to be able to spend money to give my kids a chance as a kid to pursue a dream and have the experience of competing and working to be the best they can be at something they enjoy. My wife and I were both mid-major D1 athletes and value the experience, and our kids love sports, so for the kids’ sake, I’d love for them to have the opportunity to take a sport (whichever it ends up being) as far as they can (within reason, consistent with bigger picture life objectives), but I’m under no illusions that investing money in kids’ sports will ever be “worth it” in financial terms. And if they hang it up sometime before college, I just hope they have fond memories and some lasting legacy in terms of lifelong interest in fitness, appreciation of a particular sport, etc.

The challenge for me is I don’t really want a sport to completely dominate our lives (though we’re happy to spend a lot of time at the ballpark, etc.), but there are so many kids that play (whatever sport) so much and are so good… and it’s only going to be increasingly hard to keep competing as you get older if you’re just doing it at more of a casual level.

 

[OldTimer]

There’s no doubt that the cost of playing highly competitive youth sports exceeds any reasonable expectation of a financial return — especially in equivalency sports (including baseball), where scholarships are just partial anyway. To me, it’s essentially a luxury good —to be able to spend money to give my kids a chance as a kid to pursue a dream and have the experience of competing and working to be the best they can be at something they enjoy. My wife and I were both mid-major D1 athletes and value the experience, and our kids love sports, so for the kids’ sake, I’d love for them to have the opportunity to take a sport (whichever it ends up being) as far as they can (within reason, consistent with bigger picture life objectives), but I’m under no illusions that investing money in kids’ sports will ever be “worth it” in financial terms. And if they hang it up sometime before college, I just hope they have fond memories and some lasting legacy in terms of lifelong interest in fitness, appreciation of a particular sport, etc.

The challenge for me is I don’t really want a sport to completely dominate our lives (though we’re happy to spend a lot of time at the ballpark, etc.), but there are so many kids that play (whatever sport) so much and are so good… and it’s only going to be increasingly hard to keep competing as you get older if you’re just doing it at more of a casual level.

On a different sort of note, keeping your kids busy with competitive sports, also keeps them out of trouble, for the most part. Many of our friends who had kids playing sports at a youth age, got in "trouble"once they gave up sports in High School, they had too much time on their hands IMO.

 

[LA vol7]

I'm a minister too, and my son played travel ball and then college. We set limits of how many weeks a year he would travel, and then we cut it off. He played football as well, so it made it quite easy to say, "We'll travel in the spring and through the first part of July, but then you are coming home, and we are going to be in church."
It's funny, now my son has a son of his own playing his first travel ball, and I hear him saying the same things to his son that I said to him!

 

[BruisedOrange]

Wonderful, insightful responses, preacherman20!

Offering as someone who enjoyed years as a college campus minister outside the Bible Belt (and I sincerely hope expressed with appropriate sensitivity to the many faith traditions represented within VolNation), another "swing thought" to help parents in determining the right choices for your family is this reminder:

What you want your child to leave home with is a dynamic relationship with God Himself and His people (His body), not simply with an institution or a tradition. Sometimes in the busy-ness of life, we can get focused on the means to a worthy goal instead of the worthy goal itself.

 

[give_him 6]

As much as we did it, I actually deter families from going travel ball unless it is the only option. It consumes the entire family and that is not a good thing in most cases. My family is blessed that we love ball and my wife does to. We are not beach people so our vacations are always active ones not just go to the beach and sit so we have always fit our vacations around the baseball. For Kirby, it was not an option to stay in rec ball because he was playing up 2 levels the only year he played. They tried to make him play t-ball and then we went to one practice and coach would not let him throw the ball because he was afraid he would hurt someone and moved everyone to outfield when he hit. They moved him to coach pitch and he hit the coach with a line shot the first practice and the coach refused to pitch to him. Then I coached a pitching machine team that he played on as a 5 year old. We then went travel and never looked back.
On the faith side of it, most don't think about it but college baseball does not allow a player to go to CHURCH (church building) very rarely. I'm very thankful for the faith based organizations that minister to my kid on Sundays and other days. I have strongly encouraged him to do all the Bible studies and fellowships he can do. He even has started a few just for the baseball players. He very rarely gets to go to a church building but, as txbo says, gets the Bible study and fellowship from outside organizations and people. it is a tough decision and a hard one to make.
One of the ministries that is missing in this world is a strong ministry with travel ball. We do our online services so that our families can watch the services even when they are gone. In my church in Missouri, we had a young lady who played high level travel ball. They took a projector and sound system each week and watched our services together some time on Sunday morning between matches. Several time they had 200+ people watching which was way more than we had in our building. You have to get creative. I don't fight my parents who choose to do it, some pastors do, but I encourage them to find a way to use their travel ball for ministry as God leads.

1. I love the idea of a travel ball ministry. Definitely a need for that.

2. Where in Missouri is your church?

 

[fryeguy93]

My daughter just completed her sophomore year in high school and is on a local lacrosse travel team. Fortunately, there are not as many girls lacrosse tourneys as there are baseball, softball, and basketball. Between high school and travel team (same coaches) she has increasingly few weeks off from practice. She's got a few weekend tourneys in summer and then fall. I can't imagine 20 tourneys a years.

Her mother is interested in sending her to goalie specialty camps and my daughter is more interested in weeks off at this point. She may do more next summer. Unlike the Atlantic coast kids, she will not have a decade of experience for a div 1 scholarship. plus she's shorter than the stereotypical lacrosse goalie, so she's hoping on Div. II or NAIA. She has the perfect GPA so she's got options.

I was actually in Greenville, SC last weekend and lost the Sunday games due to the quasi-tropical storm.

Thanks for letting me brag a bit if nothing else.

 

[tn4elvis]

Biggest question I get asked from younger parents. My first answer is don't play full travel schedule unless there is no other option. If your kid is not the best in his recreation program or at least top 5, you don't need to play travel. Too many teams and players that think travel will make you better. I would say you are more suited to invest in training than the money it costs to play travel.
2. Find the right team. We were blessed to have a team that did devotions and prayer before and after every game. They didn't do everything right but did a lot right. We had several strong Christian men who led them every Sunday morning in a time or worship. I cannot stress this enough. I regret not keeping the first team Kirby played on together. They were stacked and a great set of parents. Every player except 1 went on to play D1 sports of some kind or got drafted right out of HS. We played one year of bad baseball then joined Crusaders. I was also blessed with a great set of parents around us who helped take care of my son when we could not go. My middle son was also playing college ball when Kirby was 10-14. So life was chaotic. then we joined Kansas City Royals Scout team where parents were encouraged not to go or if they went to not stay in the same motels. Did a great job of preparing them for P5 baseball and helping them grow up.
3. Don't chase the trophies. If I had to do it over again with Kirby early on I would do what I did with my older sons early on. We played every weekend with 4-5 other high level teams and rented a facility and got our own umpires. Everybody got 2-3 games, whatever they wanted, and we charged no admission. Each team walked to home plate before the game with the umpire fee and they were paid by us so that reduced the complaining. We played Saturdays and either Friday night or Sunday afternoon. Played very few true tournaments. But we did not miss Sundays and little stress on the parents and players. It was FUN.
4. My sons were required to be at church every other time other than Sunday morning and still held to that expectation. He was always at Sunday nights and Wednesday nights. I said if you are playing on Sunday then he can't practice on Wednesday night. I preach that family worship is just as important as corporate worship. Too many parents miss Sunday mornings and also don't come on Sunday nights or Wednesday nights and don't do family devotions.

Would be glad to speak to anyone about it personally and answer specific question. 423-791-4303

Prayer is so good for all concerned. I agree invest money in the training of the youngsters not travel ball. I think if a kid get 20 or 25games in over the spring that is plenty. They have to be able to be a kid also. I wish I hadn’t involved my sons so early in travel ball . It’s becomes a job for a lot of the kids

 

[taylorvol]

Wonderful, insightful responses, preacherman20!

Offering as someone who enjoyed years as a college campus minister outside the Bible Belt (and I sincerely hope expressed with appropriate sensitivity to the many faith traditions represented within VolNation), another "swing thought" to help parents in determining the right choices for your family is this reminder:

What you want your child to leave home with is a dynamic relationship with God Himself and His people (His body), not simply with an institution or a tradition. Sometimes in the busy-ness of life, we can get focused on the means to a worthy goal instead of the worthy goal itself.

Geez. You guys have got my dang allergies acting up again.

 

[volfannga]

Our son played for a team last year that claimed to just play 4-5 tournaments over the summer, but then it became a weekly thing, even playing in other states. We left them in the fall, prayed for a better option. Got a letter in late fall regarding tryouts for another team and went through with that. He made the team and they play no more than 2 tournaments per month. They pray before every game and incorporate Bible lessons for the team in practice and games. After each game, they pray at the mound and invite the other team to pray. They were at a bit of a disadvantage due to the age and inexperience of most of the players; however, they have stuck with it and have since moved into the gold bracket and have won 3 rings. The team is truly a family. We have one player whose Dad is a Pastor and he just doesn’t play on Sundays if the game is during their normal service time.
It was a wise move and we are very thankful.

Where in SC should someone look if they have a talented player? Asking for a dear friend.

 

[preacherman20]

We lived in Butler Missouri for 3 1/2 years. Now we live in Blacksburg sc

 

[VolBallGuy]

Pale blue dot.

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

Where in SC should someone look if they have a talented player? Asking for a dear friend.

Assuming you’re wanting to put the player in contact with a travel team? Our son plays USSSA ball, and he is on a team that is made up of local players. He joined his current team and his former team via tryout after an invite from a coach, based on how he performed during league play at the YMCA. Many of the teams, including his former team, have a larger pool to choose from, as they are located in larger cities. Our coaches’ goal is to keep our team together all the way through high school, which is the way an increasing number of teams are doing. I would check USSSA website and see what teams were from the area where the player is located, then either contact them at a tournament or try to reach them through local Y/rec dept channels.

 

[MT_Vol]

1. I love the idea of a travel ball ministry. Definitely a need for that.

2. Where in Missouri is your church?

I think there is an opportunity out there for an overall travel sports ministry. I know so many parents who have kids playing travel baseball, softball, soccer, AAU basketball and others that could use something of that nature. I wonder if that is something FCA could pursue?