Is Select Baseball Ruining League Baseball?

[Bobcat101]

[quote name="BBDad" post="1168155" timestamp="1327946716"]
[quote author=JWB link=topic=93312.msg1167664#msg1167664 date=1327839830]
Wrong...thats not always the case...alot of coaches kids may pitch,but alot catch too,including mine....as far as select ruining baseball, IMO it makes "some" little leagues stronger,and the competition better if the scheduling is set up, so the kids can play both, my kids currently play at BCLL,and play select baseball,and softball. BCLL does a great job of scheduling games during the week,so that it doesn't clash with weekend tourneys...we did play at another LL in Orange County that didn't care to make it work,and have lost alot of good players because of it. Select or league?....IMO it boils down to the kid,and how serious they are about the game,and at the end of the day its our job as parents to recognize if we're putting them in a position to be successful,or burning them out....But in some cases, I think Little league is ruining Little league
[/quote]

???  This will be the second year that OYBS will have no Saturday games.


[quote author=PhatMack19 link=topic=93312.msg1166860#msg1166860 date=1327686921]
[quote author=falconfanatic link=topic=93312.msg1166797#msg1166797 date=1327682658]
[quote author=westend1 link=topic=93312.msg1166786#msg1166786 date=1327681690]
[b]I don't know what is causing it, but go ask the orthopedic docs around here and they will tell you that they are seeing more serious arm injuries in young kids than ever before[/b].
[/quote]

Pitching is an unnatural act. You are going to have injuries regardless of what you do. Almost everyone who has played baseball for a significant amount of time is going to have shoulder damage.

Now I would say the increase of army injures among children is due to a couple of different things. One is they simply don't rest or recover properly. Its fine if you want to play 80+ games a year, but you can't have your star pitcher start a game and then go out and play a position. You have to give your arm time to recover. Two would be throwing breaking pitches wrong. If you don't throw sliders or curveballs properly you are going to get injured. Third would be the pitchers body is just not conditioned enough. Core and leg work are important, but by strengthening the small muscles in the shoulder with workouts you can do at home you will greatly reduce the risk of injury.
[/quote]

When I played, the only people having Tommy John surgery were professional players.  [u][b]Now its common place for kids as young as 13 to get the surgery.[/b][/u]  The amount of arm injuries now is ridiculous compared to just 10 or 15 years ago.  I guess that has nothing to do with increased workload.  ::)

I was a catcher my whole life and have had 3 knee surgeries because of it.  I also have a problem with a kid catching 6 or 7 games in a weekend.  That happens a lot in select especially at younger ages.  Everyone counts pitches but most don't realize the wear and tear on a catchers knees. 

I'm not trying to bash select or say it is bad to play that many games at a young age.  My whole point is to protect your kids.  Your kids future isn't worth some trophy.  Hopefully, your kids coaches are great and are concerned with their health first and foremost.  Just be careful.
[/quote]

I have been around alot of youth baseball for the last 7 years and I have not heard of 1 case of a 13 year old having Tommy John surgery.  To say that it is common is just plain unresponsible and untrue.
[/quote]



As my kids would say.... You got served. LOL.

[LLDad]

[quote name="PhatMack19" post="1168328" timestamp="1327962184"]
I don't really know what unresponsible means, but I have heard of kids as young as 13 getting the surgery.  The rise is high school age kids having Tommy John has increased exponentially.  Some of that has to do with the success rate of the surgery now and the rest is from overuse.  Here is an article that is a few years old that sites sources such as Dr. James Andrews(aka one of the best orthopedic surgeons in the world).  I value their opinions way more than yours.

http://www.chron.com/sports/high-school/article/Tommy-John-surgery-is-rising-among-young-pitchers-1588909.php
[/quote]

Hold on, you said it is [b]common place[/b].  That is way different than "I have [i]heard [/i] of kids as young as 13 getting the surgery"  (how many have you heard of?  Do you personally know any?).    I agree that it is on the rise but what you said in your earlier post in just not true and [i]irresponsible[/i].

[sportsman28]

I usually don't post on here because of all the negative feedback on here. But I will add to some already good points made on here, especially from falconfanatic.  Today athletes are much stronger and more athletic than ever before.  A lot due to the increase of the demands of lifting weights, training for speed/power, etc. Although not a bad thing, there has to be other factors to consider.  There has to be balance between the strength/flexibility/recovery.  Another factor to consider is the way we train.  A huge problem is for multi sports athletes.  First let me say that I am a fan of the multi sport guy as well as the guy who concentrates on one sport.  It has to be what the kid wants, both can be successful at the next level.  The problem comes when training the multi sport guy.  When its fall he should be in his building phase for strength and when the spring hits he should be in maintenance phase.  But its the opposite for the football guy.  When its football season he is in maintenance and spring he is in building.  There is a conflict there with baseball players because they must stay in football training year round.  Another factor is how we train baseball players.  There is not enough of proper warm up before practice or games.  When done properly it should take 45min to an hour to warm up before vigorous activity.  Its not happening.  Then there should be a recovery program for after you throw.  Your body has to be actively stretch from your fingertips to your toes.  There are so many muscles involved when throwing a baseball.  They all have to be oiled and lubricated before you attempt to throw.  Flexibility of the ankle, hip, thoracic spine all have to be stretched.  These huge components are being overlooked.  Proper mechanics, knowing that the delivery happens from the connections from the ground up.  Feet to knee to hip to spine to shoulder to elbow to hand is what throws the ball.  It has to be done in that order.  Young kids tend to throw with their arm way too early.  As they get older and throw harder and don't correct their mechanics then injury will be on the rise.  Its very true that if you pitch (one of the most gruesome amount of stress throwing down a 10 inch decline) then you may hurt your arm.  But you can lower your chances by making sure you take the time to properly prepare yourself before you go to battle.  You should work so hard to prepare in your workout cycle that the easiest day should be the day you pitch.  Thats not the case in what I am seeing.  There is a lot of quality coaches out there that are doing some great things for our youth.  Just stay educated everyday and if we all work together we can get better.  Don't be afraid to go learn something new.  Some time we have to look ourselves in the mirror and ask "is there something else i could be doing to be more productive".  And the answer usually is yes.  And I am including myself as well.  I don't have all the answers but will continue to strive for what is right.  I have been fortunate to learn from people way smarter than me. 

Thanks for allowing to put in my two cents.  I would gladly discuss anything we do at The Zone Baseball Academy any day.  We can agree to disagree and I will assure you I will listen to any advice you have.

Sam Moore

Ps The amount of rest we go by with our pitchers is:  every pitch thrown constitutes a hour of rest, ex.  24 pitches equals one day of rest.  That would eliminate select pitchers throwing 40 pitches on Saturday and another 60 on Sunday.  This has worked for our program.

[puddin tane]

[quote name="thetragichippy" post="1149616" timestamp="1324492893"]
[quote author=Dayton Transplant link=topic=93312.msg1149552#msg1149552 date=1324486013]
[b]Wherever you play, just make sure the fundamentals are taught correctly.[/b] That's your foundation for his/her future play. The rest will come in time. Good fundamentals in hitting-throwing and receiving the ball. They will build muscle memory and will make it much easier on them along the way. Eagle07 will agree with me on this.
[/quote]

Thats my point.....TRUE Story.....My son's 2nd year of LL, the coach walked up with "Coaching Youth Baseball the Ripken Way"......never played and never coached.. ;)
[/quote]

shoulda stepped up...volunteer to manage

[puddin tane]

my views

select isnt killing little league, my kid played both..preferred Little league...close to home, watch his buds, etc....

but---select ( i always hated the term) at 7, 8 or 9?

what i dont like about little league is all star teams at any level besides majors. 

Little leagues [u]not abiding[/u] by residency rules is killing Little League....its been common  at W.E.L.L....whats it do? Its hurts Amelia ( I had a W.E.L.L. kid, so its NOT sour grapes..just the truth)

[thetragichippy]

[quote name="puddin tane" post="1176861" timestamp="1329105918"]
[quote author=thetragichippy link=topic=93312.msg1149616#msg1149616 date=1324492893]
[quote author=Dayton Transplant link=topic=93312.msg1149552#msg1149552 date=1324486013]
[b]Wherever you play, just make sure the fundamentals are taught correctly.[/b] That's your foundation for his/her future play. The rest will come in time. Good fundamentals in hitting-throwing and receiving the ball. They will build muscle memory and will make it much easier on them along the way. Eagle07 will agree with me on this.
[/quote]

Thats my point.....TRUE Story.....My son's 2nd year of LL, the coach walked up with "Coaching Youth Baseball the Ripken Way"......never played and never coached.. ;)
[/quote]

[b]shoulda stepped up...volunteer to manage[/b]
[/quote]

Typical answer  ::).....but I didn't play either.  I would be no better than him....and at least I know that.

  I was talked in to taking a team this year, but before I commited I made sure I had plenty of people to help with BB experience