Randy Smith: We Still Need Rec Sports

I have changed my stance on the differences between Select sports and Recreation sports. For years I was totally against younger kids especially, playing on a select baseball, softball, basketball or soccer teams. When these kids become older, say 15 or 16 it would be okay if they are still interested in playing. I was wrong-dead wrong. I swore that I didn't want my grandsons or granddaughters playing select ball on any level. It was too costly and I believed that kids would burn out by playing so many games. Wrong again.

I'm writing this column today because my grandson Coleman is in the midst of his first season of playing select baseball. As a member of the 8 and under Chattanooga Fury squad, he has played 29 games thus far. His team is 21-8 and doing very well. There is less than two months remaining in their spring and summer season and while I feared that his team may be playing 50-60 games, that's just not true. They only play on weekends and they have been off at least every third weekend on the average. When a weekend comes up without a tournament to play in, players and parents both complain about it. There is no burnout at all......yet.

I have heard a lot about the rec leagues around Chattanooga dying a slow death. It seems that more and more youngsters are choosing to play select ball which is cutting into the numbers of rec leagues. I don't believe this to be true, though I have recognized a definite change in the level of play. There are a few select teams that want their players to play rec ball during the week, to protect the sanctity of rec leagues.  The best players are going the select route because some parents think their kid is a mere step away from the big leagues. There are no scholarships handed out nor are there are any million dollar contracts signed at any select tournament I have been to this season. That is not going to change. The biggest positive I have seen regarding select baseball is the competitiveness of the teams and players. They are learning a lot about competition and commitment, as well as learning a lot about doing their best every time they play.

On the rec level, the youngsters play about 15 regular season games, then the best players move on to the all-star season. Playing all-stars is the next step toward playing select baseball. All star teams will play 25-30 games, playing tournaments just like the select teams, and select coaches are always watching the all-star games to look for talent for their own teams. 

I believe we need all levels of play no matter what the sport. Playing baseball is a great thing for any young person, though I realize it's not for everyone. If a kid really loves baseball and is good at it, if he wants to make the commitment to play select baseball, let him play. Parents should never force a youngster to play select baseball, when they are much more suited to play rec ball. That's a simple fact.     

All sports are great but baseball is the greatest. There should always be a place for kids of all skill levels to play and that's why I think the rec leagues are still vital to everyone. Let's play ball!