James D Oeu

We know what we are signing up for as parents. Make informed decisions. Dave Gallagher runs a great program and he makes no promises other than giving your child the best chance to find his ceiling.

Whenever I see a parent comment this short and definitive, I feel the need to reply with a different perspective. Not to be dismissive of this family's experience but my family's has been significantly different. No doubt the program is expensive but we knew that going in. We paid the steep freight not because of any promise from Dave about our son's "upside" or "promise" but because we bought into his promise to give our boy the opportunity and coaching to reach his ceiling, whatever that may be. As a HS varsity coach for 20+ years in a different sport, that is the message I was looking for from the high end travel program director we were considering.
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Anonymous

Great organization

The previous comment is laughable...'I would take daddy ball over money ball'...it's probably from a parent who's kid is not that good, and who will probably quit baseball anyway because his kid is tired of 'daddy' trying to coach him. Have been with Gallagher for four years, and experience has been awesome. High regards for Dave Gallagher and all the coaching staff. It's not perfect, but awesome, and they are always trying to improve the process. The availability to quality instructors and training is top-notch, and kids improve exponentially who put in the time. However, there is always 'daddy' ball. ;-)
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Reason of review:
Good quality
9 comments
#1310082

mothballs, dont get it, anyway keep it in perspective that your kid is there to have fun and socialize not play baseball all year round and 80 games a year and all the BS to try and make him better. I have been around the best and until you are there you have no idea how much better and different they are from regular or even good players.

Good coaches can improve you a little but not much. Talent my friend is the key and you cannot buy it unfortunately If you could then Donald Trumps kid would be in the MLB. Do you think someone taught Steve Dalkoski or Nolan Ryan or JR Richard to throw gas. ..answer, NO!, it came naturally and they all said over coaching is detrimental to there growth.

So in summary slow down pal and go to a spring training practice field,, preferably the back fields and see for yourself and you will come out with a different perspective my friend. Bye Dave!

#1310502
@PissedConsumer1310082

Two things; first, you are old...thus the mothball comment. You are obviously not smart either, or you would have got that...so every thing you say is discounted.

Second, you think Dave would actually engage you in this banter? I will however, as not as classy. I umpire too, and think you afos.

May have to ask your great grandkids what the means. Stop commenting like you know everything.

#1303202

Stay another 4 more years and pay a total of 40k cash when all is said and done. Dave Gallagher could care less about you or your kid.

Ask them to volunteer there time for free as we all did back in the day and they will laugh @ you.

All the kids stink there under age 14 as with any youth sport. Stay with them and you bound to find a spot as long as you pay.Maybe they will even tell you your kids draftable .Keep drinking the Kool aid you *** @

#1308967
@PissedConsumer1303202

Volunteer?? He doesn't run a non-profit organization.

I bet your kid got a trophy every year didn't he?! Gotta run...going to see if my mechanic can volunteer his time to fix my car.

#1309494
@PissedConsumer1308967

Be careful of the mechanics they will rip you off too .Adults charging children for baseball .College.. MLPA buzzwords are you kidding me.

What does the MLPA have to do with youth baseball. If there doing such a great job why is the mlb 40% foreiners now.I'll tell you why because of people like you.get a real job..leave baseball to the kids.let them organize themselves.

Keep adults from ruining it and the psycho parents. I have been a umpire for 20 years and the kids are terrible compared to back in the day.I guess travel ball has really made an impact.Listen to what Joe Madden said last year

#1309600
@PissedConsumer1309494

Well, I have a real job, which is why I prefer to pay people to teach something I don't have the time or necessarily the expertise to do. Isn't that true with anything basically?

I will agree that there probably are some good dad ball programs around for free, but if you don't have that in your area, why wouldn't you pay someone who has skill set...if that's what your kid loves to do? Anyway, difference of opinions...but I can't help but think of mothballs when reading your replies.

#1393516
@PissedConsumer1303202

Travel ball for kids under 14 or 15 is just laughable. Why are you placing your kid on a “showcase” team?

What are you showcasing?!

How will that translate to 90 foot base paths? Save your money.

#1411378
@PissedConsumer1393516

Your so right Chris. I refuse to pay another penny for a lesson or training or any travel sports for my kids.Why?

Because it's not fun for them, they dont learn and the parents are delusional. Kids learn on there own and @ there own pace.Youth play should be pick up games and free play and little league which costs 70 bucks a year.If a parent does more than that they are a fool

#1672675
@PissedConsumer1303202

Spot on. He is in it only for the money.

Dishonest and phony. Worst program out there.

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Anonymous
map-marker South River, New Jersey

DONT JOIN THIS BASEBALL TEAM / DAVE GALLAGHER BASEBALL

THEY TEACH YOU THE BASICS BUT TALENT IS TALENT AND IF YOU DONT HAVE IT THEY CANNOT GIVE IT TO YOU.SAVE YOUR MONEY AND TEACH YOU OWN KID. OTHERWISE KEEP HIM IN A GOOD REC PROGRAM AND A SIMPLE LOCAL TRAVEL PROGRAM. YOU DONT NEED TO SPEND 4K FOR 6 MOS OF BASEBALL ITS WATERED DOWN ANYWAY AND NOT ALL THAT GREAT AND A LOT OF TRAVEL ALL OVER THE PLACE. I WOULD TAKE DADDY BALL OVER MONEY BALL ANY DAY.THE PLACE HAS VIRTUALLY NO COMMUNICATION AND THEY MARKET THEMSELVES CLEVERLY THRU TWITTER.STAY AWAY AND SAVE YOUR MONEY FOR YOUR NEXT BEACH VACATION.IF YOU KID CAN PLAY HE WILL BE SEEN EVENTUALLY
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
6 comments
#1348270

So funny when you realize that only 1% to 2% of kids playing at the high school level will make it onto a DI squad. And then the chances of that child receiving a "full" athletic scholarship at a DI program is less than 1/2 of 1%.

Heck, even the chances of receiving a tuition based program at a really decent DII school from one of their 11 available scholarships is very, very poor.

In short, anything more than the $150 fee to put your child on a Little League team is a poor return on your investment. How about putting all the money spent on travel teams into an anuity and cashing out when your kid turns 17.

They will be able to go to any school they want to (assuming acceptance) and walk-on to the team. There is no real value in spending thousands each year on 8u, 9u, 10u, 11u, 12u travel teams.

#1353575
@PissedConsumer1348270

Well said..lets keep flipping the switch so some parents wake up and put a end to all travel ball and the money industry these pig owners have created.

#1291512

The previous comment is laughable...'I would take daddy ball over money ball'...it's probably from a parent who's kid is not that good, and who will probably quit baseball anyway because his kid is tired of 'daddy' trying to coach him. Have been with Gallagher for four years, and experience has been awesome.

High regards for Dave Gallagher and all the coaching staff. It's not perfect, but awesome, and they are always trying to improve the process. The availability to quality instructors and training is top-notch, and kids improve exponentially who put in the time.

However, there is always 'daddy' ball. ;-)

#1348272
@PissedConsumer1291512

"Daddy ball" as you have coined it, has been the standard as long as there have been organized sports. If your father didnt teach you, you learned from your friends, league coaches, middle school and high school coaches and Legion coaches.

This trend of travel baseball and one-on-one coaching is only recent. Ask Dave Gallagher where he received his coaching from....it started with his talent and almost certainly did not transition into $4k a season travel teams.

The guy played Little League, Legion and utilized instruction from Community College (Mercer CC) coaches. Very unlike what you find yourself paying out to his establishment now.

#1349793
@PissedConsumer1348272

So true. Travel teams have started to decline as parents are be coming wise and future generations change..all we can do is keep flipping the switch. Free play and pick up are the true needs of children not organized travel .The great teacher is the game itself and the other players around thru trial and error.The cream will rise to the top naturally as it has for 90 years.Its absolutely mind boggling to pay to play baseball.

#1353577
@PissedConsumer1348272

So true.keep you kids in the 'LL

. They will have more fun

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Sojourner Ddz
map-marker Mercer County, New Jersey

Save your money

I could not agree more with the previous review. Now, are there good players there? Sure. Is it a higher level than most rec programs? Probably. But to assume the organization is what is making the difference would be premature. Kids with natural talent will shine no matter where they play; it is certainly not necessary to shell out this kind of money--which is, by the way, an obscene amount for a child to play baseball. The reviewer is completely accurate about the "clinics" and practices. The fees quoted, though, are not so accurate--it's actually closer to $3000. Plus another $200 or so for uniforms. So, it is very, very difficult to see how this is not, first and foremost, a money-making venture. Don't be fooled by any talk about how "it's all about the players." If this is anything other than another mad grab for dollars through organized youth sports, please, tell me how so... There is constant talk about players who will go to college and play baseball, as if they wouldn't have gone to college had it not been for Gallagher baseball. This is, of course, ridiculous. And maybe even shameful--to prey on willing and eager parents to that extent. Somehow, there is no shortage of parents who will throw money at whomever will tell them that their kid is great, and Gallagher has found many of them.
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
5 comments
#1348274

Like i have posted, i believe DI schools are at 12 or 13 scholarships. 1% to 2% of high school kids will be good enough to play at a DI program and LESS will receive a scholarship that will pay for more than 50%.

Those are used to cover anywhere between 25 and 30 roster spots. DII programs have 11 scholarships. These only cover tuition - so there is no really true "full" athletic scholarship below DI.

My point is - why dump so much money into ANY travel ball program when there is a less than .05% chance you kids will receive less than what would typically cover room, board and text books at today's colleges????

Or even worse, receive a 25% scholarship to a DII program that will only be applied to tuition???

Stash that travel ball cash for your 8 year old nd revisit it in 9 years. Better return on your investment and kid's future.

#1353578
@PissedConsumer1348274

Race to no where..so well said..the race that doesn't even exist.

#1303205

So true bring back youth sports to the kids. In the playground and parks and sandlots the game teaches them.Growing up in the 70s the talent level was so much better.natural players /real athletes multiple sport players.

Parents think they can buy talent and buy coaching? Who taught Dave Gallagher..nobody the game did.

#1348275
@PissedConsumer1303205

Mercer County Community College and American Legion ball. Not travel baseball.

#1224517

Your are 100% correct.They look for the early maturing kids which means nothing in the long run and its a money scheme for sure. The coaches/owners are money scoundrels and they have the best sales pitch in the world.

The children are innocent, the adults and coaches@ gallagher are the problem. The turnover rate is extremely high @ gallagher.

Save your money and most importantly your time and join a good littl