The Next Level Shamrocks Baseball League
The Next Level Shamrocks Baseball League mirrors a professional baseball setting while providing players with the best opportunity to develop proper fundamentals through high-quality, on-field instruction under a controlled schedule.
The Problem
Having been involved in the game as a player and coach for over 25 years, I have been fortunate enough to see some major developments in the game of baseball as well as in the travel baseball industry.
Unfortunately, it is hard not to notice the problematic direction in which the game is heading. We are asking 13 – 16 year old players to play what would be considered a heavy college/professional schedule with less than half the roster size and undeveloped bodies. Injury rates are increasing by the day and many players are losing their competitive drive because they are burnt out.
What was once the most exciting part of the week – GAME DAY – occurs so frequently that the novelty has worn off. The reality is, when players play 80 games a year and pass up on being well-rounded kids that play multiple sports, baseball becomes a job.
As someone who truly believes in developing baseball players, I cannot sit back and watch this problem happen anymore. It is time to make a change and the time is now. This is why the Next Level Shamrocks Baseball League is being created. Every travel program preaches “player development,” but do they live it? Let’s take a look at the typical schedule of a competitive 13/14U baseball player in New England.
Typical 13U/14U Travel Ball Schedule
- Tryouts in July/August
- Fall Workouts/League (1 – 2 times / week)
- Off-Season Winter Workouts/Team Practices (2 – 3 times / week)
- Note: Remember, you have to somehow squeeze these workouts/practices in around demanding winter sports schedules, so chances are players are missing quite a few of these sessions or are burning the candle at both ends. Driving from hockey to baseball practice in the same night is very normal.
- Middle School/High School Tryouts (Mid-March)
- Travel Baseball Season (April – July)
- Double Headers on Saturdays and Sundays
- 2 – 3 Days/Week
- 2 – 5 Games/Week
- Middle School/High School Season (Mid-April – Mid-June)
- 5 – 6 Days/Week
- 1 – 4 Games/Week
During the middle school/high school season, players are playing anywhere from 3–8 games per week. Pitchers are being asked to throw 80–100 pitches on as little as 2 days rest and then go play their secondary position afterwards. It begs the question: is that developing your child as a player?
Let’s make this problem even clearer with a visual. Below are rough estimates for a middle school/high school player, college player and professional:
(They are rough estimates, but very reasonable…)
As I hope you cans see from the chart above, 13U and 14U baseball players are taking on the equivalent of a professional baseball player workload with half the roster size, half the body size, and a fraction of the physical preparation.
The Solution
So, what is the solution to this problem?
The Next Level Shamrocks Baseball League is being created to provide baseball players with the opportunity to develop in a player-first atmosphere. Our carefully planned league infrastructure, in-game instruction, and extensive on-field practices afford players the opportunity to develop to their potential without having to sacrifice their childhood or their safety. Make no mistake about it – participation in this league requires a substantial commitment. But, it is a commitment that is feasible and optimal for players to improve their performance on the diamond. Below, you will find a list of features that the Next Level Shamrocks Baseball league offers:
- On-Field Practices in the Fall (Sundays in September – October)
- Fall World Series (October)
- Winter Hitting Program (January – March)
- On-Field Practices in Spring (Sundays in April)
- Position-Specific Coaches at Practices and Games (May – July)
- In-Season Skills Sessions (May – July)
- 20 + Game Schedule Plus Playoffs (Late May – July)
- Batting practice and fielding practice before every game
- All Games at One Location (Lawrence Academy in Groton, MA)
- Games Filmed and Accessible to Every Player/Parent in the League
- Designated Game Changer/Stats Personnel for Unbiased and Accurate Stats
- League Standings
- League Leaders Posted on Website
- Post-Game Write-Ups
- Opportunity to be Selected for Our Tournament Teams
- Mid-Week Games and Practices (June – July)
- In-Game Music and Scoreboard
