fullswing

That my be the reason you heard, as part of P.A. probation they were to have a STJFL board member at their sign for next year. This person was to ensure that the league rules were followed. So why would they vote them out if the STJFL was worried about team stacking???? They would have a member there. P.A. punishment was served up and they took it, may not have been happy about it and then voted out. Ya'll are way too talented for such a select league.

This maybe the second time the STJFL has split. After the first time the Lone Star league was formed, they have done well. The reason for the first split was certain teams were allowing 7th graders to play that meet the age and weight limits, but were also playing jr. high football. So it seamed that the younger kids were being left out. Also some of the team said they would not have a team without the 7th graders, so it was split. The STJFL rebounded nicely. This split, if it occurs has NOTHING to do with race at all. When the dust settles you all will know which association are really about the kids and which are about WINNING. WINNING is exactly why P.A. was voted out plain and simple. And the assocations that voted them out know its. What is really sad i really wonder how many of those board members brought this back to thier leagues to get a vote. It's all about the win people! Last years President of the STJLF tryed to block vote against P.A. but was unable to stop it. I would rather be a cockroach in a garage !!!!!! It appears to me that the STJFL is headed to a select style progam. Meaning they select who they want to play and who they may have a chance to beat. That is just the way i see and i have be coaching for 11yrs, now with my 3rd son. Thru the first split and hopefully the second one.

The STJFL Inc. is a non-profit youth based organization made up of communities both large and small from all over Southeast Texas. The primary goal of the STJFL is to provide all children of Southeast Texas an opportunity to participate in the Great American sport of Youth Football and Cheer. The STJFL emphasizes the value of discipline, team play, individual growth, self-confidence, and a commitment to learning. Come join or visit the STJFL for the experience of a lifetime.  This statement comes from the STJFL website homepage. ________________________________________________________________________________ As the first league EVER to be voted out of the STJFL you will not read a response to your question from the STJFL.  Unless you attend a STJFL board meeting and ask to see the minutes from the vote which eliminated PA from the league.  Did I say the first team? Ever? to be voted out? Chances are if you happened to attend such meeting I am sure STJFL board members will hide behind any unwritten rule that they can come up with, so good luck with the search for your answer. 

I understand that the STJFL is gonna a little bit smaller come next year. Too sad that P.A. Memorial was voted out of the STJFL. I guess it wasn't enough for them not to participate in the play-offs. Get a whole year to see the talent and then decided that the competition was too tough. Well P.A. i hope you guy's find a good place to play.

[quote name="BCgrad05" post="807931" timestamp="1275338940"] LCM and Ned will need Freshmen Carson Raines and James Swan to take their spots. [/quote] The top programs in this area grow their younster, but very few under classmen are able to step up at the varsity level and be top performers. Good luck to these two, varsity boys can hit the ball.

Powers I would take the advice from kf89. It appears that he has been around and worked with alot of young serious kids. IMO the bat can make a difference. The old saying "you get what you pay for" is true even in the bats for 7year olds. It sound like your son has a strong swing,the ball will come off the bat better with a little more expensive bat and he will probably swing it for a few more years. Not a bad investment. numberseven make a good point if the kid has not matured and does not swing very good, then buy the cheaper bat and let him mature a little. If he is hitting the ball well he will enjoy himself more and this will build confidence. Anyway good luck!

This guy has absolutely no idea what he is talking about. Unless, your son is a strong 13 yr old, he does should not swing a -3. Notice I did not say could not, I said should not. The weight of the bat has a lot to do with bat speed. A 13 yrs old can swing a -3 but he will not be able to generate the bat speed he can with a lighter bat. This changes several things, first he will have to committ to the pitch much sooner or he will be late on everything and the slower bat speed will not allow the same jump off the bat head. My son is 13 and he swings a -3 in the cage and a -5 in games. The -5 is a transitional bat and is made to transition from league play to high school play. Yes there is a big difference in a -3 and a -5. I agree. A couple ozs make a big difference. I would recommend not going to a -3 at 13. Just the adjustment of moving to the big barrel bat is hard enough for kids. The big barrel bats aren't balanced like the 2 1/4 bats at the 12 yr old level. I would go somewhere in the middle between what the kid used at 12 and the -3. At fourteen you can try the -3 or something real close to get ready for highschool. Also, most coaches/dads give their kids a heavier bat for the cages, hit-a-way, etc. to build strength. You don't have to spend a lot of money....i generally use something a little heavier and it's usually an old cheap bat that i'm not worried about abusing. spoonbill and silsbee88 you two guys are absolutely correct with the advice of your post. Bat speed and conditioning is very important for these young kids. If you do not condition the kids they may not hit the ball as well and he may lose confidence, you do not want this to happen!!!!!! Our 13 yr old team were all 8th graders playing AAA ball. So we felt that we should work our kids to the -3. Now they are all 14 yrs old playing HS baseball and guess what they are hitting with -3 bats. So at what time do either one of you guys think it is the right time to swing -3 at live pitching? Maybe the 13 and14 yr olds that you guys are talking about maybe 6th and 7th graders, and if so no do not go to the -3 at this time. If it is the season before you go to HS I would strongly recommend to you prepare your youngsters for the -3, and let them swing it at live pitching!!!!!!

You may not want my advice since I have absolutey no idea what i am talking about, but when I coached 5 yr olds as long as he can swing the bat with good speed i would say stay with that bat. Make sure his glove is big enough for the ball, not his hand. It is really kinda hard to tell someone what size bat a kid needs without watching that kid swing. Really at this age the kids are more concerned about how big the snowcone is rather than how big a bat they are swinging. Make sure he is having fun playing the game!!!

Silsbee88 you are absolutely right about bat speed with a light bat. And also about having to start earlier with the swing. These are some of the same issues that were brought up when our team decided to go the -3. All of the players on our team did very well. Not everyone has the $$$$ for all the different bats. If your son can hit the ball in the cage with a -3 why not let him swing the bat at live pitching?

Congrats BCLL !!! unbelievable charity. This is the type of thoughtfullness that makes all the hard work that everyone has put into an organization worth it. I'm sure you guys will come back bigger and better. Way to go wutup, it obvious that you have not volunteered for anything! QueenB77630 weak post. Talk about working for the kids.

When our team of 13 yr old went to the drop 3 there were some concerns. We had big and small players. They all adjusted very well. This gave them a whole year of swinging the -3, befor they reached HS. If you have him swing a -7 then -5 then -3 you will be selling even more bats on this forum. Remember we are talking oz. not lb.

awesome article! It would be nice if they would quit making all those rosed colored glasses. Although I didn't get the chance to read commits from the baseball side, i have witnessed acts of violence from parents and coaches in baseball,football and basketball. Even when i played little league way to may years ago. So i wonder were parents of today learn the meaning of TEAM. So WTB don't let the action of few sway you, there are alot of great people in all of our communities. Remember as long as there are those dang glasses out there a whole lot will not probably change.

There are a lot of good bats out there. The size of the barrel is on the bat 2 5/8 is a big barrel. I would let him swing a bat and let him choose. He will have confidence in the bat. I would push him toward a drop 3 bat ( 31in /28 oz) this will prepare him for HS baseball.

Congrats Coach Crouch!! Time to get busy and work those lcm boys, speed or no speed they've always had heart. I believe Coach Crouch can motivate these guys and bring the best of their talent to the field. Hopefully the community will leave him alone and let him get the job done. See ya BOJO.