There's no denying travel ball has become the main vehicle to get to college. Weekend travel tournaments resemble college showcases. However, a player’s participation and a college coach’s appearance doesn't guarantee a scholarship.

That's a difficult pill for many parents to swallow, considering the financial commitment they make to have their son play travel ball. We're talking thousands of dollars each season. In turn, parents demand a return on their investment, namely, a Division I college scholarship. But there are only so many ways 11.7 full scholarships (the allotment the NCAA gives its baseball programs) can be diced up. Do the numbers. It's approximately 50 percent scholarships for each player on a 25-man college roster. The families who have the objective of their kid getting a college scholarship by playing travel ball are not grasping all of the benefits. Playing travel ball is as much about personal development as it is about athletic development. Or at least that's how it is with the most respectable travel programs, including the ones supported by the Amateur Baseball Report.

The opportunity to travel the country as a family, to experience the nuances of different towns and villages, to wreak havoc with your baseball buddies at different hotels, to develop a strong work ethic, to learn how to win and lose with grace, and to come to understand teamwork are the real values of playing travel ball. And, yes, competing against elite competition is part of the package. If the experience produces opportunities to play high school, college and professional baseball, a family has hit the jackpot. Travel ball can provide an incredible experience for all families. And, yes, result in a college scholarship. But families should regard the experience as more than just about baseball and not be disappointed if their child doesn't receive a college scholarship. The ability to develop the kid as an athlete and a person should not be minimized. The travel ball experience helps prepare kids for life.