My son aged out of Little League/Fall Ball/Camps, he's got big dreams, and baseball is his thing. So, that got me looking for his next step. There are a lot of great baseball academies and travel programs in the Sacramento area, so I started by talking to parents who have their kids in different ones, or parents who have kids that are now playing college ball and have done programs in the Sacramento area. What I got from that was a list of what I didn't want, and a list of what I wanted. Walbeck fit the bill on everything. If you're in the same spot I was, here's my list along with how Walbeck met our needs. Sorry for the long review - but hopefully I can answer some questions and save you some effort:
- You don't want a disorganized program. I heard horror stories from parents that some programs couldn't manage their teams or their businesses. Not knowing when the next practice or game is, or finding out about a cancellation only after arriving for a practice or game is unacceptable. Walbeck is very organized and runs like a well oiled machine. Their website for signing up for clinics is excellent and easy to use. You can check your schedule any time, and the system sends you reminder e-mails. The coaches use TeamSnap (a phone app) for team games and practices, and it's always up to date and scheduled way out. No questions ever about where to be, when to be there, what to bring, or what to wear. For travel, they even have a travel agent who works with everyone on lodging and can help you with getting there. Again, a well oiled machine.
- You don't want a-hole coaches who yell at the players, and you don't want a culture where the players negatively criticise each other. At Walbeck, the coaches have very high expectations for the players, but they are always positive and encouraging. Players making negative comments to their teammates is not tolerated. This makes for a great learning environment, a tight team that works together, and a positive experience.
- You want a place that teaches your kid responsibility and good values. At Walbeck, they emphasize responsibility, good citizenship, and solid academics. It's not all about baseball - you need all of those things to be successful and they realize that.
- You don't want some player's dad coaching your team. That's what I discovered seasoned baseball parents refer to as "daddy ball." I'm sure you've seen how it works. Generally, you get the situation where the coach's kid is the star and the focus. Or, if you're really unlucky, you get the Al Bundy-esque coach who "played a little ball in high school" and is woefully underqualified to teach at a higher level. Or maybe you get both. At Walbeck, the coaches are legit. Matt Walbeck played in the MLB for ten years, then followed that up with an impressive managerial career earning Baseball America's 2007 Minor League Manager of the Year award. (It's pretty cool when, after a travel ball game out of town, the umpire asks for your kid's coach's autograph.) He's truly amazing with the players. And, the coaches that work for him are all experienced and well-trained. They are all amazing coaches and role models.
So, that's the list. Walbeck Baseball Academy has exceeded my expectations on every requirement I had. After being in all of this for a bit, there's something else that I found important. If you've got to drive any distance to get your player to the academy you choose, you're going to be spending a lot of time there. Find a place that's comfortable. I appreciate that the parent waiting room at Walbeck has comfortable leather sofas, a big screen TV, tables with chairs (so you can get some work done), free wi-fi, free coffee, and games to keep waiting siblings busy.
If your kid needs to move on to something more serious and challenging, good luck with your search for a program that works for you. I'd recommend Walbeck Baseball Academy. read more