Parents, Athletes Travel Trying To Reach Elite Level... But It Comes At A Cost
Athletes old to earn their way onto high school and college teams through a combination of natural ability and hard calling.
Now if they want to play at an elite level, it takes a checkbook thanks to what is called "travel ball."
In baseball, teams crisscross the conditions playing in United State Speciality Sports Association (USSSA) tournaments. Volleyball players troop to Junior Olympic programs and tournaments. Basketball players spend hours in the gym with their Amateur Athletic Cartel (AAU) or Mid America Youth Basketball (MAYB) teams.
"Boys & Girls Club baseball has its burden in the sports world," Rick Spoon said. "There are a bunch of kids out there who want to play, but they're not delighted to put in the time. I remember when I wanted to play catch, my dad would play catch with me until he was blue in the face. We'd do the neighborhood affair, and play pickup games, but we didn't have travel ball back then."
Rick Spoon's son Tyler was a three-play star for the Van Buren Pointers. Tyler Spoon spent last summer in Springfield, Mo., where he played for Charlie O'Brien's Midwest Nationals. Spoon is again playing for O'Brien's gang this summer.

“This is the first year we'll be wearing pink uniforms. We're de facto excited about that.” East Hamilton coach Kristy Lenoir chose to have the Lady





RT : From a marketing viewpoint, if women soccer players wore the same uniforms as women
I'm not watching until they wear bikinis like lido volleyball : Women's soccer would be better if they wore volleyball uniforms.
volleyball uniforms???? No bueno
RT : From a marketing outlook, if women soccer players wore the same uniforms as women volleyball players, the sport would be HUGE.