06/27/2025
📣 What Are Parents Really Looking for in a Travel Baseball Program at the Youth Levels?
Southern Smoke Baseball recently put out a Player/Parent Questionnaire to better understand what families value most when choosing an organization to develop with — and the feedback is in.
Here’s what we learned:
🔑 Top Priorities When Choosing a Program
✅ #1 Value: Player Development (Athletic)
✅ Confidence-building
✅ Strong teaching & communication
✅ Positive team culture
✅ Growth as both player and person
⚾ Competition & Travel
• Most rate level of competition as “Somewhat Important”
• Reasonable travel: 90–150 miles
• Ideal tournaments per spring: 6–9
🧢 What Parents Look for in Coaches
• Teaching ability
• Confidence-building
• Player feedback & growth
• Real experience (playing/coaching)
💬 What Makes a Great Experience?
• Kids having fun and getting better
• Team-first environments
• Coaches who develop everyone — not just top players
🚫 Biggest Frustrations with Other Programs:
• Favoritism & “daddy ball”
• Lack of focus on development
• Poor communication
• Inconsistent practice
• No accountability
📅 Training Preferences:
• Year-round training? Mixed.
• Most prefer seasonal flexibility — especially for multi-sport athletes
• Many are open to off-season options that don’t interfere with other priorities
🎓 College Recruitment:
• 10u–12u: Less focus
• 13u–14u: Growing interest, but development still comes first
🔥 Why Families Are Looking at Southern Smoke:
• Structure, development, and teaching-based culture
• Strong coaching feedback
• Many answered Yes or Maybe about joining for the 2025/2026 season
👉 We’d love to hear from you too!
Fill out our quick survey and share your thoughts:
📎 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14PGjdMzzGQaROW3KGkYEFBJqZXgVRJIC2AHrCq1KImE/edit?usp=drivesdk
