Baseball vs Tennis for Junior

[First3Shots]

I have an 11 year old son. He is Top 50 in TRN for his grade.

He’s also a great baseball player on a high level travel team (in large part due to all of the tennis he has played).

It will be near impossible for him (us) to find the time to continue playing both sports at this level.

What sport would you focus on with the goal being help with admission to a high academic college? He says he likes both sports the same and doesn’t have strong feelings about it.

My gut says the odds are better with baseball. Junior tennis is an incredible grind and many of the top players are pursuing high academic colleges — typically that’s not the case with baseball and there are obviously more spots.

Thoughts?

 

[ChaelAZ]

He's 11 and chance for either are realistically slim. That said, you have to go with your gut.

I was in the exact situation with my son. We went with baseball and in a game right on his 13th birthday, he walked off the field, looked at me, and said he didn't want to play anymore. After some talking, we let him make that call. Yup, all the coaches, camps, actually setting up a whole travel team with two other families, and all the time he played since he could first throw a ball or swing a bat...done.

He went back to tennis, did very well and actually had a few offers to play college tennis, but actually chose not to pursue that either.

There is a lot more that goes into it later than just what we see as parents.

All the best.

 

[LuckyR]

Assuming he likes both equally (unlikely) the chances are better for baseball in my estimation. Partially due to the number of foreign-born semi pros playing in the NCAA. This coupled with the demise of inner city baseball has cut down on the competition (relatively speaking) in baseball.

 

[socallefty]

Being good in a team sport builds more qualities that lead to success in life later than being good in an individual sport which often leads to very self-absorbed individuals. A lot of adults who played competitive tennis as a kid act like jerks particularly on the singles court.

Also, easier to have fun as a kid in a competitive setting when your team is around you a lot. I would go with baseball for that reason. The chance of him becoming a pro is slim in either case and you shouldn’t base your decision around that.

 

[dkmura]

I'd suggest continuing to help your son clarify what HE wants to do with his future. As others have said, individual competition is quite different than a team sport. using values clarification tools will not only give your son the ability to learn for himself which sport to pursue, but more importantly, some mental guidance that he may find useful in the future. Don't go with your gut feeling, go with his!