Baseball · Red Flags
11 Questions to Ask Before You Sign Anything for Travel Baseball
Before committing to a club or program, ask:
The 11 Questions
- 1What is this coach's specific, verifiable playing and coaching background?
- 2How many years has this coach worked with this exact age group?
- 3What is the full, itemized annual cost, dues, mandatory showcases, private lessons, travel, not just the headline team fee?
- 4Which specific showcase events does the program attend, and what's the actual, verifiable scout/college-coach attendance at them?
- 5What is the team's pitch-count and rest-day policy, and does it follow recognized guidelines?
- 6If my child plays for multiple teams, who tracks total pitch count across all of them?
- 7Is the coaching staff background-checked and SafeSport-certified?
- 8Can you watch a live practice before signing?
- 9Are private lessons "recommended," or quietly required to stay on the roster?
- 10How many players from this specific program have gone on to play in college, and can that be verified independently?
- 11Is showcase-fee pricing transparent, with a clear list of who's actually expected to attend?
Red Flags to Walk Away From
- ✕A program that won't let you watch a practice first.
- ✕No clear, recognized pitch-count policy.
- ✕Mandatory private lessons bundled into "showcase packages" with no breakdown.
- ✕Showcase events marketed as scout-heavy with no verifiable attendance list.
- ✕Pressure to increase pitching workload or velocity for visibility purposes.
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We don't name, rank, or score any specific club, team, or organization. This page is general education only, always verify current details directly with the NCAA and USA Baseball.