is it good to play up?

[Go Cardinals]

For those of you that don't know, I am currently a freshman. I have been asked to play on a legion team for Varsity players. I want to play varsity asap. Is it better to play with my age or to play up?

[Chris O'Leary]

For those of you that don't know, I am currently a freshman. I have been asked to play on a legion team for Varsity players. I want to play varsity asap. Is it better to play with my age or to play up?

At your age, I would go for maximum playing time.

[Love The Game]

Always play with the highest possible competition you can. It will only make you a better player. Don't expect to rip it up, you have to remember the opposition will be bigger,older, and more experienced so don't get down on yourself if you don't do as well as you'd like. Again, it will undoubtedly help in the long run. Good luck.

[korp]

Play up ... if you will PLAY. It does you no good to play at a higher level if you won't play but you will probably have some trouble at a higher level at least in the beginning because its harder but work alot and it will pay off.

[cosmo34]

I would say yes. The extra experience you get can only help. During little league I always had to play up with kids older than me. One year I was 9 playing in the 10-12 age league. I think this greatly helped my development as it taught me how to survive against kids who were far older and superior to me.

[CoachHenry]

As others have said, play as high as you can and still get lots of playing time, as well as maybe a secondary position. If you play too high and over overwhelmed then it will do you no good. If you play on another team and get to play almost every inning and in a few positions that will help you next year far more then uber compeition with you on the bench occasionally playing one spot.

[CoachB25]

Go Cardinals, my daughter is playing up. However, we are assured of playing time. Are you? If you are sitting on the bench as a backup without the ability to start a decent number of games, you'll do yourself a disservice. Also, what is the input of the varsity coaches? Are they selecting this team? Will they follow this team? You have to answer these questions before you make your decision.

[kylebee]

I agree with what people have said so far - that it is good to play at higher levels when you are younger, but the main thing is that you play close to full-time somewhere. Kids on our JV/Varsity squads are unhappy when they get sent down a level, but it almost always happens so they can get more innings pitched. The advice to get a lot of playing time applies especially in the case of pitchers!

[TG Coach]

For those of you that don't know, I am currently a freshman. I have been asked to play on a legion team for Varsity players. I want to play varsity asap. Is it better to play with my age or to play up?

How does a JV player make a Legion team? Legion ball is usually the best players from multiple high school varsity teams.

[TG Coach]

I would say yes. The extra experience you get can only help. During little league I always had to play up with kids older than me. One year I was 9 playing in the 10-12 age league. I think this greatly helped my development as it taught me how to survive against kids who were far older and superior to me.

LL is not relevant to high school age ball. In LL there's a vast difference in physiological age. By high school the physical playing field has leveled. It's more about talent than being physically ahead of others. Plus LL is a small field.

[Three A's baseball]

on the small field my son is 7 and plays with the 8's and he is not big for his age he is just pretty good for 7.

next year he can play with the 9s as an 8 or stay with the 8's.

does it matter at all when they are that young? should he play with the older kids or is it no difference?

[DerekD]

on the small field my son is 7 and plays with the 8's and he is not big for his age he is just pretty good for 7.

next year he can play with the 9s as an 8 or stay with the 8's.

does it matter at all when they are that young? should he play with the older kids or is it no difference?

That's when you want to do it in my opinion, when they're young. I say if the kid can play up and play even just okay, then do it. My son is 10, playing with 11-12. I've always moved him up and I think he's better for it.

[CoachB25]

How does a JV player make a Legion team? Legion ball is usually the best players from multiple high school varsity teams.


In our community, we only take players for both our Legion and Junior Legion teams from our High School. Years ago when our legion program was set up, that was a part of the "charter." Yes, every time that they take the field in the summer, they are playing an All-Star squad. It makes our kids better. BTW, we do really well each summer!

[cosmo34]

LL is not relevant to high school age ball. In LL there's a vast difference in physiological age. By high school the physical playing field has leveled. It's more about talent than being physically ahead of others. Plus LL is a small field.

My point was about facing superior competition making you better.

But you cannot seriously say that the only difference between an 18 year old senior and a 15 year old freshman is talent. Upperclassmen are still going to be well ahead of freshman physically, except for the Stock's and Upton's who come along a few times per millenia. You are absolutely nowhere close to being as developed physically as a freshman, as you are a senior.

[Go Cardinals]

How does a JV player make a Legion team? Legion ball is usually the best players from multiple high school varsity teams.

This team is as you described above.

This coach has coached me before, and he saw how the coach treated me this year. He knows what I can do.

[Go Cardinals]

I guess I make some things clearer...

The season is 30 games

any hs aged player, but mostly varsity

I don't know how much I'd start. I think the point, since he is inviting me to play, is to get a decent amount of pt. Again, he is a great coach.

Also, on top of this, I will be playing HS ball (summer program). We have 4 practices a week and some tournaments, which averages out to 2-3 games a week. The HS coaches say that HS summer ball is second to other teams (like Babe Ruth, legion, etc).

This coach is luckily under the impression that you need to develop your players.

[CoachHenry]

How does a JV player make a Legion team? Legion ball is usually the best players from multiple high school varsity teams.

It USED to be like that in my area when I was in HS. Now it is still "pretty good" but not the best.

[Jake Patterson]

At your age, I would go for maximum playing time.
I agree....

[Jake Patterson]

How does a JV player make a Legion team? Legion ball is usually the best players from multiple high school varsity teams.
Jr. Legion?

[Go Cardinals]

Jr. Legion?

No its for varsity

[Jake Patterson]

No its for varsityWhat is Varsity Legion? There is Senior Legion and Junior Legion.

[Go Cardinals]

What is Varsity Legion? There is Senior Legion and Junior Legion.

No I mean there will be mostly upper-classmen, so Senoir I believe.

[TG Coach]

My point was about facing superior competition making you better.

But you cannot seriously say that the only difference between an 18 year old senior and a 15 year old freshman is talent. Upperclassmen are still going to be well ahead of freshman physically, except for the Stock's and Upton's who come along a few times per millenia. You are absolutely nowhere close to being as developed physically as a freshman, as you are a senior.

The bi difference between a freshman and a senior is typically upper body strength. But a fifteen year old is physically fifteen most of the time. An eighteen year old is typically physically eighteen. But, many fifteen year olds can hang on the field with eighteen year olds. A preteen can be physically plus or minus three year his actual age. This is why you can't compare playing up as a preteen and playing as a teen.

[cosmo34]

[QUOTE=TG Coach;1197313This is why you can't compare playing up as a preteen and playing as a teen.[/QUOTE]

Once again I will point out that I was using that as an example of playing against superior competition. An EXAMPLE. Would you prefer the example of being 13 in the 14-16 yr league (like I did)? Same friggin principle of what I was trying to get across. Put your cookie cutter down.

[kylebee]

The bi difference between a freshman and a senior is typically upper body strength. But a fifteen year old is physically fifteen most of the time. An eighteen year old is typically physically eighteen. But, many fifteen year olds can hang on the field with eighteen year olds. A preteen can be physically plus or minus three year his actual age. This is why you can't compare playing up as a preteen and playing as a teen.

Yes, quite true. There is more variance in biological age at chronological ages under 16.

[DerbyDay03]

For those of you that don't know, I am currently a freshman. I have been asked to play on a legion team for Varsity players. I want to play varsity asap. Is it better to play with my age or to play up?

I'll tell you what happened to my daughter, in basketball and then softball...perhaps that will give you something to think about. It's a long post, but I think it's worth the read.

My daughter played on the Freshman basketball and softball teams when she was in 8th grade, playing up 1 year, and it worked out well for her. During the summer between 8th and 9th grade she was asked to play in a league with the JV basketball team, coached by the JV coach. She got a lot of playing time on the team because there was usually only 5 - 7 players available as well as the fact that she is a pretty good 3-point shooter.

She did well enough to be invited to play on the JV basketball team in the regular season. The difference was that all 14 girls were now available and her playing time was extremely limited - limited enough that it was essentially a wasted year for her. Had she stayed on the freshman team, she would have been a starter and probably a star. Instead she warmed the bench almost every game. Sure, she was practicing with the JV girls, but she was hardly getting any game time experience.

Now softball season comes along. The Varsity softball coach, who also happens to be the JV basketball coach, knows that my daughter had been to just about every softball open gym we ran over the winter, attended a number of clinics given at a local college and even helped out at town clinic for the younger girls. He also knew that she was one of the best players on the freshman team the previous year.

Before the season started he called me and asked me for my thoughts on moving her up to the Varsity team. My daughter and I had heard the rumors that she might be asked to play up and I knew how much she wanted too. That's when the coach and I, and my daughter and I, had the heart-to-heart talks about what was best for her, and ultimately for the softball program.

As hard as it was for her, my daughter looked back at what happened when she played-up in basketball and agreed with me that one year on the JV team was best thing for her at this time. Not only was she a starter, but she was the leadoff batter and co-captain. On the Varsity team she would have been a second-string 2nd baseman to a very good senior, probably only seeing play time during blowouts. As it is, she gets called up to the Varsity team for Tournaments and will join the team for Sectionals now that the JV season is over. On those games where she has been called up, she has been used mainly as a runner (she is quick!).

After the first tourny she told me how glad she was that she chose JV this year. The JV team was in the same tourny on the next field and she was watching her back-up making plays while she sat on the Varsity bench.

Going into this summer's basketball season she is an unknown quantity due to a wasted season on the bench. However, going into the summer softball season all the coaches know what she can do because she started, and played extremely well, in every game. Next year, when she will be on the Varsity team, she'll be a starter with more confidence and better skills.

Bottom line: You have to know if you are going to play. In both instances when my daughter played-up by more than 1 year, she lost valuable playing time. You may be told "You'll be practicing with the better players and that will help you get better." That's true. However, the game time experience at the lower level, as well as the chance to build your leadership skills, will help you, and the program, be even more successful in the long run.

[Go Cardinals]

First, thanks for the responses.

Anyway, I went for it, and it was a great move. The coach plays players, I started 1 of two games today. I faced two good varsity pitchers (shortened game due to time), and things didn't drop (and both atbats were tuff) I wasn't overwhelmed. I am also playing HS summer ball, which we practice like 3-5 times a week (I'll get plenty of time). I just need experience at a high level and playing time/ practice.

[Jake Patterson]

No I mean there will be mostly upper-classmen, so Senoir I believe.
So you are on a team that carries freshman college players?

[Go Cardinals]

So you are on a team that carries freshman college players?

No, why?


-

[Jake Patterson]

No, why?
-
Senior legion includes 19 y/o freshman college players. You must be playing Junior.

[Go Cardinals]

Senior legion includes 19 y/o freshman college players. You must be playing Junior.

It's obviously different here. There are 2-3 old sophmores per team. Everyone else is a Junior or senior (split half and half).

All I know is that almost all the pitchers we've faced were solid varsity pitchers. No 90's or anything, but solid pitchers with command of 3 pitches (generally fast, curve, and change). I've learned so much in these past two days. I look old, so no one knows that I am the youngest on the team.

Anyway, I think it was a good move to do. The coach is playing me a lot. I'm playing about every other game (start sitting, then come in. Next game, start, then get subbed toward the end). This coach cares about the players and cares about me. We lose a tough game, he doesn't rip us. We tells us how lucky we are to be young and to player a great game. He says it sucks to be on a losing side, but it happens. Man, I wish that he was my HS coach (last year).

Anyway, its fun.

[Drill]

At your age, I would go for maximum playing time.

Max time agree, but quality coach on a team that you learn something from instead of just showing up to play a game. If you are playing up good teachers and playing time.



drill

[Jake Patterson]

It's obviously different here. There are 2-3 old sophmores per team. Everyone else is a Junior or senior (split half and half).


Conor, I am an American Legion Baseball State Commissioner. This is a national program and all States follow the same rules. There is only Junior and Senior. If its different then it not Legion or your program is NOT operating under Legion National rules and run the risk of losing it's sanction.