Next Level Tournaments

11/26/2025

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

12/27/2023

Next Level Tournaments 2024 Tournament Schedule

www.playnlt.com

http://playnlt.com/nlt-events/

Next Level Tournaments
-Chucktown Throwdown-
10u-14u
Charleston, IL Area
April 20/21

Next Level Tournaments
-Central Illinois Showdown-
10u-14u
Charleston, IL Area
May 18/19

Next Level Tournaments
-Prairie Land Classic-
10u-14u
Charleston, IL Area
June 8/9

Meredith Jones
[email protected]
618-240-1263

Phil Britton
[email protected]
618-388-1000

12/16/2023

Registration is open!
$445 for registration.
NO GATE FEE
Register now and pay later
No "Stay to Play"

Next Level Tournaments 2024 Tournament Schedule

www.playnlt.com

http://playnlt.com/nlt-events/

Next Level Tournaments
-Chucktown Throwdown-
10u-14u
Charleston, IL Area
April 20/21

Next Level Tournaments
-Central Illinois Showdown-
10u-14u
Charleston, IL Area
May 18/19

Next Level Tournaments
-Prairie Land Classic-
10u-14u
Charleston, IL Area
June 8/9

11/29/2023

We are back in Charleston this year for the 2024 Season!

https://events.teamsnap.com/organizations/1037

11/26/2023

We are back in Charleston IL for 2024!

Our 3rd annual “Chucktown Throwdown” is ready for registration!

-Register now and pay later
-No gate fees
-No “Stay to play”

$445 per team

https://events.teamsnap.com/registrations/Mz1K0UFfOG8pOMiLCdlxlKGWUPj9CU7j1lJ3lDHHHmifSM2awC

10/14/2023

Charleston, IL Next Level Tournament Dates

April 20-21
May 18-19
June 8-9

Registration coming soon!

06/10/2023

Checkout results for this weekend’s tournament

https://events.teamsnap.com/events/23435/results

06/09/2023

Following along for this weekends 14u games!? Download the app to see it all play out!

Download the app to get schedule information, alerts and real-time scores with TeamSnap Tournaments.

To download the TeamSnap Tournaments app, go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to find app:

1. Google Play Store - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fanapp

2. Apple App Store - https://appsto.re/us/1ngndb.i

3. In app sign in using this your email address and follow our tournament, PRAIRIE LAND CLASSIC

4. Now you can see favorite your team, see division schedules, and can receive real-time scores, updates, and notifications.

You can also see results on the web here. Please note that you will not receive real-time alerts unless you are on the app.

https://events.teamsnap.com/events/23435/results/division