need some clarification>>>>rec ball vs. travel ball

Recently a comment was made that "there really isn't any difference between rec. ball and travel" What are the differences? Thanks. Any comments would help.

I'm stealing this from another post. Travel ball players hit and catch with their eyes open.

thanks! im a fastpitch mom. never played just wondered if there are differences.

While Rec Leagues sometimes have some altered rules, by and large they use ASA rules so no real difference there. The real difference is, as Chico alluded to, the level of play. Travel teams play to gain experience and to play better, rec teams play for fun (or recreation).

There is also the training, commitment,travel and intensity that is travel ball. The pressure to win against the best players and teams in the state can't be beat. Oh and parties by the pool.

Rec teams are usually local teams where the team is pooled from local kids thru some sort of draft process and no tryouts. They may play in a travel tournament but mostly play in twice weekly league. The coaches are usually dads who want to help out the community.

Travel teams have tryouts and can pool teams from anywhere in the state or out of state. They travel to weekend tournaments and sometimes play in leagues for extra reps. The coaches could be dads or non parent coaches. They also usually try to stay up on the latest techniques.

Rec is usually for fun and travel is more for the competition, and trying to get into college.

This is a very, very basic description. Certainly no offense meant to rec teams and coaches.

chicoflip said:

I'm stealing this from another post. Travel ball players hit and catch with their eyes open.

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LOL!:lmao::lmao:

In all reality there is a "Big Difference" between to two. While Local Rec. Ball has it's place in the community, Travel Ball usually offers a higher level of competiveness among the teams that play. If you haven't watched travel teams play, I suggest that you find a Tourney in your area and go see the difference for yourself.

FASTPITCH! Anything else, And you're playing to SLOW!

The difference is clearly the level of play and also the committment level of parents and players. The difference is huge!

Not sure about the committment level of some parents in travel ball

Tournament a couple of weeks ago a local rec team showed up that was undefeated and had never lost a game. They scored 2 runs in 4 games in their age group, and was run ruled every game by the 3rd inning. They were offered 2 additional games in the younger bracket and they were also beat at that level. All we heard from their parents for the first 3 games was "I don't understand these girl ain't ever lost before, and they can't hit the ball this weekend". Every year I see over zealous dad's and rec coaches think they have a travel quality team and some do but it is few and far in between. Their hearts are in the right place they just don't have the investment in the game to jump in with both feet. I believe if a girl has elected to play / try out for travel ball they need to go to an established team. Most of the coach’s have spent time working and learning with seasoned experienced coaches who play / coach fast-pitch 12 months a year (even during the high school blackout they are doing something to get better).

If I broke it down I would say that the differences are
1. Quality of Play
2. Experience of Players
3. Experience of Coaches
4. The best girls play the most
5. The girl performs the job that she can perform better than the others
6. 12 months a year verses 3 months.
7. The price of the bats $300.00 plus for travel and $19.99 at walmart in rec.
8. Bunting is a key part of a travel game
9. Travel Pitchers have more than 2 pitches rec has 2 on the plate and off the plate and the good teams have a pitcher who can throw a change up.
10. Travel parents can expect to spend $1000.00 to $3000.00 a year for fees, gas, hotels, bats, bandages, and walking tacos.
11. A girl can ride the pine pony the entire game in travel
12. Coaches don't have to suger coat the truth to a player because it is his neighbor
13. Travel parents own GPS units
14. One call systems
15. Travel teams have tryouts and cut players
16. In travel more games are won by fewer than 3 runs than run rules.
17. Travel has to take 1st or 2nd in a tournament to get a birth to the world series.
18. Pitchers are rated as Horses or Ponies in travel, rec is either the coaches daughter or the other girl.
19. Travel plays more that 1 or 2 games in a day (hopefully 4 on Saturday and another 4 on Sunday).
20. More than one uniform
21. Catchers own their own gear.

On the other side of the coin
I'm seen a pitcher cry for giving up the winning run to a rivial team in rec.
Rec teams can go to the lake on the weekends
Rec teams take off for vacations, travel teams take vacations to play ball.

4thgame... you nailed it big time!!! Nice!

We played an 11u team that was 12-0 this week and they were done in the first. Just a different game and each "type" has a place. Whatever place you are in... love it and live it for the kids...

I forgot two

Rocket tech in rec is made by NASA in travel it is Anderson

Travel you either swing rotational or liniar, and rec you either stick your tongue out or not, and you pick you front foot up (at least a foot off the ground) and step towards the pitcher and swing level. I believe it is called the 60/40 weight shift in the 80s mens slow pitch.

LOL!! That rocks! I don't know how you could think of all of that so quickly! You must have been waiting for this post for years! LMAO!

Way to go! SOOOO VERY TRUE!:lmao:

Travel costs more

Rec teams are all from one school,and don't say they can't play to loud around that High Voltage team out of Philo they've beat'en three of the teams you guys vote on and say are the best in the
14u age group and looking for more.

Rec players go for ice cream after the game. Travel players down a Gatorade and find a clear spot to do hitting drills before their next game which starts in 45 minutes.

should I be offended as a dad of a rec ball player who will be trying out in August for travel ball that so many of you have such a negative opinion/preception of rec leagues and their coaches??

I think it's an honest question given some of the more recent comments. Surely rec ball players are not the skill level of travel ball players but they all share a love of the game otherwise they wouldn't come back.

just an observation, but I think some of you need to check yourselves.

Honor&Glory said:

should I be offended as a dad of a rec ball player who will be trying out in August for travel ball that so many of you have such a negative opinion/preception of rec leagues and their coaches??

I think it's an honest question given some of the more recent comments. Surely rec ball players are not the skill level of travel ball players but they all share a love of the game otherwise they wouldn't come back.

just an observation, but I think some of you need to check yourselves.

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Don't be offended. Some of the posters get a little carried away at times. As for all these players, I would assume that every single travel ball player started off as a rec player. I know my daughter did, even though she doesn't play rec now. Has anyone's daughter began playing travel ball at age 5 in t-ball? Or did all of us get our start in rec? There are some good rec coaches out there, or these players wouldn't have some of the skills needed to play travel. As for the skill level, most players can get much better once they go through 10-20 4hr long practices over the winter.

Honor&Glory said:

should I be offended as a dad of a rec ball player who will be trying out in August for travel ball that so many of you have such a negative opinion/preception of rec leagues and their coaches??

I think it's an honest question given some of the more recent comments. Surely rec ball players are not the skill level of travel ball players but they all share a love of the game otherwise they wouldn't come back.

just an observation, but I think some of you need to check yourselves.

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I think you are seeing what you want to see. It's not a negative view but it is what it is. There is a difference and they are only spelling it out. Nothing wrong with rec ball. Nothing wrong with wanting to play just for fun but the commitment level is A LOT lower in rec ball. Why are you switching to travel? A higher level of play, better competition? Be prepared to commit A LOT more time and money.

No offence intended. They are two totaly different worlds. Both kids play for the love of the game, and that is what matters. Odds are there are girls in the rec leagues that could go toe to toe with travel players if given even footing. Travel players not only go to team practice, but work with skill coaches. They play ball 12 months a year, and still fit other sports in, along with school. Rec ballers usualy also play rec volly ball, when it is in season, bball in season, and socker in season. That is the difference neither is better than the other its apples to oranges.