AYBA official: travel ball growth is squeezing rec play; group seeks turf for Field 5

Spencer, AYBA vice president, told the Alpharetta Recreation Board on the AYBA presentation that recreational baseball participation in the program has declined from 2024 levels and that travel or tournament baseball is a major factor.

"As of right now, we are down about 328 kids," Spencer said, citing year-to-year participation declines across age groups and noting that AYBA had 1,468 players in 2025, about 87% of whom were residents. He said the organization remains volunteer-driven and relies heavily on Wills Park and Webb Bridge fields.

AYBA presented a proposal to install artificial turf on Wills Park Field 5, a field Spencer described as especially prone to flooding and cancellations for the 7–8 age group. He said turf would increase playable days, better support practices and tournaments, and create a revenue opportunity that could help fund program scholarships and facility improvements.

The presentation attributed several trends to the growth of travel ball: younger children joining highly scheduled tournament teams, parents organizing ad-hoc teams, and greater expectations for year-round training. Spencer said travel play has shifted from selective travel teams to a tournament model that allows almost any team to enter events, which reduces rec rosters and changes development pathways.

Board members pressed AYBA on player safety and overuse. Spencer cited examples of excessive pitching workloads: "I've seen kids at 10 year old throwing a 108 pitches. Our limit is 65," he said, and noted seeing young pitchers requiring Tommy John surgery. Those examples were raised as concerns about how tournament schedules can strain young athletes.

Spencer also described partnerships with Braves Country and the Georgia Bombers travel organization as pathways for players who progress beyond rec ball. He said the city currently handles tournament hosting but that Braves Country runs only one or two tournaments at the Alpharetta parks now; if fields and scheduling permitted, Braves Country has the capacity to host many more.

On finance, Spencer said AYBA does not itself run most tournaments but would help underwrite turf costs and that hosting three or four tournaments per season would bring revenue without overworking fields. He described AYBA fundraising (a polar plunge that raised roughly $3,000) and a scholarship program that covers registration and equipment for a handful of children each season.

The board did not vote on the Field 5 proposal at the meeting; Spencer thanked the board and staff for their partnership and said AYBA will continue discussions about facility priorities.

The Recreation Board took no formal action on AYBA's turf request during the meeting; the presentation concluded with a question-and-answer period.