Agreed it’s mostly more for show. As in show me the money and that is absolutely fine. Some folks fish, some folks collect toys. Some folks play ball. You do you as they say. My only thing is respect the game and sometimes it seems a little bit much at these tournaments. 10-12 years ago closed my business and worked for a good friend photographing youth sports around the southeast. Rec ball mainly but some travel. I remember telling dad about some of the things I saw. Also I knew a scout for the Florida Marlins, he mentioned HS kids but mostly college kids in his travels. He was on the road year round it seemed.

One of dads last doctor visits he was asked what he wanted to be remembered as. A player or a coach, without hesitation he emphatically stated a coach. Felt he reached and made more positive influence on young kids lives by being a coach. There are strong positives in playing team sports.

Dads testament is to just how many guys I’ve ran across thru the years that have come up to me to tell all about my dad and his positive influences he had on them.

The positives far outweigh the negatives with travel ball.