I've been reading a lot about travel baseball here recently and how much time and effort spent the dedicated to it. For my own personal experience my grandson has now devoted since December until probably September/October  to baseball. They been having practice  once or twice a week  since after Christmas and as of today March 12th 2015 they've only played one game both of those in a practice tournament.

now that you have the picture the question is is that good for him, as a coach 34 years at the high school level in a coach for well over 40 years I question it. Every study you read there has been much of it recently  indicates that players become better athletes, begun better people, and are just better off all the way around in their life if they have diversity. Now I'm not saying there's not a time to start to dedicate to single sport that time is not when you're young by my definition young means actually under 18, though I'm sure somebody will argue there but I believe were kidding ourselves if we think we can make players starting at  8 or 9 years old and do nothing but a single sport.  I would be willing to bet a lot of money that for every one athlete that goes on it becomes very good in that single sport they dedicated all their time to  there are probably close to 100 that quit or find another sport.

So I'm going to offer this piece of advice you know you're doing your right by your player when you do what the player asks, there's the keyword what the player asks not what you thinks good not what you thinks should be done but what the player wants to do. Now  don't get me wrong  once you start doing something  do it right, and even do a hard  but please don't make your player become dedicated to a single sport at a very early age  or even up to high school. The odds of them becoming a better person are enormous compared the odds of them becoming a professional player. Think about it you and your kids will be happier if they diversify and enjoy and have fun.

Coach Arnald Swift's--  69 years a dad 45 years umpire and 50 years as a coach