This question formed the basis of our reader poll on the current intensity of baseball playing and instruction... multiple playing season, less time than ever for resting up, or training. When is it too much? As explained on the intro page, we asked the questions in both a generic/generalized way AND specifically personalized to Tom Hanson;s situation with his 6 year old.


The first significant questions in both versions of the poll asked what should take place in each of the 4 seasons and what seasons are important for baseball. The inner donut is the response from the initial generic poll, the middle donut shows the response from the Personal survey on when Tom's own son should play, and the outer donut combines both data series.

Interesting Observation...

• Those advising Tom (as opposed to just voting generically) gave more importance to the Fall and Summer seasons for his son, even at age 6.

We then asked what Tom's son should actually DO in each season. On the survey the questions were divide by season; here we've combined all the seasons (color-coded) into a single chart.

Playing other sports scored highest in the Fall (orange) and winter (blue). Training came second in the winter.

Summer (yellow) scored almost as high as Spring (green) for baseball, and as the inset pie chart shows voters were divided.
When we compared the smaller generic survey sampling with the "advice for Tom" version, a couple of discrepancies showed up.

Far more Tom voters thought his son should play another sport, but far more of the generic voters saw winter as a dedicated training season.







To recap the above "what should he do" question we brought it down to the simplest level ...how many teams should Tom's son play on?

In this and the following bar charts the personal survey results are to the left and the smaller generic numbers are tacked onto the end of the bar (on the right).

Unquestionably, voters believe Tom should chose based on a coach who is about teaching, and a team on which his friends play ...sports is a social activity.

The most notable variation bwtween those voting without being asked about Tom (generic, added on the right), and those asked to consider Tom's case specifically (the bars to the left) was in the areas of exposure to competition and to possible scouting.

We believe the difference is because advising Tom forced voters to acknowledge that his son is only 6 years old... friends and a fun experience now count more and the future less.


We also asked you about the changes you might make in a couple of years as the young player gets older ....would you stay with the same coach, or the same team, or is it better to move on?

Most advising Tom personally (larger pie) think he should change teams. But many more voting without considering the personal situation (smaller pie, yellow slice) believe players should go where the coach goes.

The thinking on training facilities is the same ...Tom is told to change way more than those who voted generically ...the yellow slice clearly says to stay with the instructor.



Nothing happens these days without considering the cost. so we asked questions about registration fees, about paid coaches, and about possible tax credits. The pie charts are fairly self-explanatory.


On the questions about tax credits, we asked because parents in some countries (Canada, for example) get a credit for registration fees for any sport ...it's an anti-obesity effort.

The reason that Tom Hanson, who was treated sympathetically and given great advice on every other question, was not supported for the personal tax credit is a bit of a mystery. It may have something to do with the fact that Tom himself is not perceived as needy. So that might be something to be looked at further - not making Tom needy, but how would we decide who deserves the credit.

Also from this survey we have realized we need to explore in more depth the question of team jumping (staying with a coach or team or not). That will happen soon. Meantime thank you again for both voting and caring about the results.

• Comments directly to Tom from many voters
• Survey Intro