**CONCERNS**

 Playing time

 North Parkland believes in the value of game experience for player development.
 ALL players play in every game at the Junior Development and Knee-Hi levels.  If for some
 reason a player does not get in a game, he will start the next one.  The only exceptions
 would be injury or disciplinary reasons.  Starting with the Junior Legion, playing time
 becomes a more competitive issue on the older teams.

 13 year old kids should not be on 90 foot base fields

 We have found this to be just the opposite.  In today’s world of batting cages and indoor
 facilities, hitting skills are being developed better than ever but arm strength is not getting
 developed nearly as well as in the past.  We feel the best way to develop arm strength is to
 play on the bigger fields.  Another goal of ours is to develop as many high school players
 as we can.  With the lack of freshman baseball in the Lehigh Valley, we feel it is beneficial
 for kids to have some experience on 90 foot bases prior to trying out for JV programs.
 Junior Development is a way for us to give more kids that exposure. 

 My son could play 90 foot bases as a 13 and then have to play 80 foot bases as a 14

 Ideally all 14s would play on 90 foot bases but we can’t control the league.  We would love
 to see the Lehigh Valley Knee-Hi league go to 90 foot bases.  But given this scenario, we
 still feel the benefit of 90 foot bases will benefit all of the players even if they must go back
 to 80 foot bases for a season.

 Travel

 The Junior Development team does play in a league that requires travel into Bucks County.
 However, all of the other programs at North Parkland travel to places like Easton,
 Saylorbsurg, Springtown, etc.  Many have exhibition games in Reading, West Lawn, etc.
 Once they have been through the process many parents believe the travel is easier at the
 Junior Development level because of the roads you are using.  You are not spending time
 on 22 and 78 fighting traffic. 

 My son has never played any sports at North Parkland before, he doesn’t have a chance

 North Parkland’s goal is to develop players for its older programs and for high school
 baseball teams.  North Parkland prides itself on having a great deal of dedicated coaches
 that are not parents coaching their kids.  That is our preference whenever possible.  If
 developing players is what we want (and what we do) the best starting ingredient is the
 most talented and eager players.  It would be counter-productive to let any politics get in
 the way.     

 His Little league coach says he will be better off playing with him

 Unfortunately a tactic by youth coaches is to convince you that playing on their team is
 better than any other options.  The North Parkland program is one of the best in the
 State.  All we ask is that you try out.  Give yourself a chance.  And quite frankly, a youth
 coach in it for the development of players would encourage all of his players to try to play
 at the highest level they can.  If your coach is not encouraging you to do so….be weary. 

 My son doesn’t think he is good enough

 Recently too many players have not given themselves a chance because they just assume
 they aren’t good enough or they just don’t think they will like it.  We encourage you to give
 it a try.  Worst case is you get to learn from the North Parkland staff and return to your
 little league team if you determine it is not for you or if you do not make one of the teams.

 What kind of commitment is expected

 North Parkland believes in the multi-sport athlete.  However, we feel that in baseball
 season, you dedicate yourself to baseball.  If you plan on missing a couple days a week or
 if you will miss a couple weeks of the season, we may prefer to give the opportunity to
 someone else.  Church, family, and school obviously take priority.  If you think you might
 have a conflict, discuss it with one of the coaches at tryouts. 

 How long does the season run?

 Junior Development, Junior Legion, and Connie Mack all conclude with a State
 Championship.  If our teams make it to the ultimate game the season could stretch until
 late July or the end of July.  Senior Legion concludes with a National Champion so it could
 end later.  The Knee-Hi and Upper Macungie leagues conclude with a league champion so
 they usually end around the beginning of July.

 What equipment should I buy?

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