Journal of Athlete Development and Experience Volume 2 Issue 1 Article 2 March 2020 The Perfect Game: An Ecological Systems Approach to the Influences of Elite outhY and High School Baseball Socialization Max Klein University of Connecticut - Storrs, [email protected] Charles Macaulay University of Connecticut - Storrs, [email protected] Joseph Cooper University of Massachusetts Boston, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/jade Part of the Higher Education Commons, Sports Management Commons, and the Sports Studies Commons Recommended Citation Klein, Max; Macaulay, Charles; and Cooper, Joseph (2020) "The Perfect Game: An Ecological Systems Approach to the Influences of Elite outhY and High School Baseball Socialization," Journal of Athlete Development and Experience: Vol. 2 : Iss. 1 , Article 2. DOI: 10.25035/jade.02.01.02 Available at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/jade/vol2/iss1/2 This Research Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at ScholarWorks@BGSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Athlete Development and Experience by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@BGSU. JADE Journal of Athlete Development and Experience VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1 College of Education & Health Professions Department of Health, Human Performance & 01 RecreationJADE Volume 2, Issue 1, 2020 Bowling Green State University - https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/jade/ The Perfect Game: An Ecological Systems Approach to the Influences of Elite Youth and High School Baseball Socialization Max Klein Charles D. T. Macaulay Joseph N. Cooper University of Connecticut, Storrs University of Connecticut, Storrs University of Massachusetts, Boston Klein ([email protected]) is corresponding author. Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the elite youth and high school baseball socialization process as a whole and the role of professionalization and corporatization in this process. The unique nature of baseball’s development model in the United States (U.S.) through a dual-track feeder system (college or minor leagues) allows for a wide range of challenges and sociological factors to influ- ence elite youth and high school prospects. Understanding players’ experiences exposes these challenges and sociological factors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four former elite youth and high school baseball players, one parent of a player, two coaches, and two media members. Using Bronfenbrenner’s (1977) ecological systems theory, the authors examined multi-level sociological factors contributing to participants’ socialization experiences. Key findings revealed corporate-level factors including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) bylaws, Major League Baseball’s (MLB) collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and related commercialized changes in elite youth and high school baseball all had a pronounced influence on baseball players’ socializa- tion processes. Implications for policy and practice are discussed. Keywords: baseball, ecological systems theory, professionalization, youth sport socialization The increased professionalization of youth and highlights the multi-level influences that impact elite high school sport in the United States has significant players through their collegiate and professional base- negative impacts on athlete experience, including ball socialization experience. This is referred to as “adversely affecting the motivation of young peo- the elite youth and high school baseball socialization ple, exposing them to risks of injury, destroying an process. appreciation of sport, and often turning them away from sport and a recognition of the benefits of life- The purpose of this exploratory study is to long physically [sic] activity” (Gould, 2009, p. 82). examine the elite youth and high school baseball In other words, the overemphasis on sports for youth socialization process in the United States (U.S.) as a can result in burnout, extensive post-athletic career whole and the role of professionalization and corpo- trauma, and negative socialization (also referred to as ratization in that process. This study was guided by identity foreclosure) (Brewer & Petitpas, 2017; Coak- three research questions: 1) How is an elite youth or ley, 2012). These negative trends, as driven by private high school baseball player’s experience influenced and corporate interest (Coakley, 2011), are heightened by macro-, exo-, meso-, and micro-entities?, 2) Is for elite athletes whose socialization experiences in there professionalization within elite youth and high sport last beyond high school and into the collegiate school baseball?, and 3) If yes, which entities are and professional ranks (Farrey, 2008). The option for fostering the professionalization of elite youth and graduating high school baseball players to be drafted high school baseball? If no, why was this not present? by a Major League Baseball (MLB) team allows for Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory (1977) a unique impact of professionalization on baseball was chosen as a framework for the data analysis be- players’ socialization experiences. The increased cause it allowed for the multi-level approach required professionalization of youth and high school baseball in this exploratory study. While analyzing the data 14 JADE JADE Journal of Athlete Development and Experience Volume 2, Issue 1, 2020 Bowling Green State University - https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/jade/ using ecological systems theory, we found consider- Literature Review able corporate influence on the elite youth baseball socialization processes, beginning with the profes- Youth and High School Baseball sionalization of youth and high school baseball and Socialization is defined by Coakley (2015) as continuing through the experiences at the collegiate “a process of learning and social development, which and professional levels. Thus, we argue the necessity occurs as we interact with one another and become to establish a separate “corporate-level” within the familiar with social worlds” (p. 52). The distinction multi-level systems model (see Figure 1). between positive and negative socialization through This study is important because it examines sport involves the following differences: the professionalization phenomenon in youth sport …sport participation is associated with posi- with an Ecological Systems Theory approach that ex- tive socialization experiences when it expands plains the corporate-level influence on this profession- or diversifies a person’s identities, relation- alization. Professionalization of youth sport not only ships, and experiences, especially beyond the negatively impacts athlete experience in the ways ex- sporting contexts. Conversely, sport participa- plained above by Gould (2009), but also can be a site tion is associated with negative socialization for children to be exploited by adults (Gould, 2009; experiences when it constricts or limits a per- Lang, 2010; Burke 2001; Wiersma, 2000). Readership son’s identities, relationships, and experiences. should hope to gain an understanding of the corpo- (Coakley, 2012, p. 184) rate-level influence on youth and high school baseball and how this connects to larger trends impacting pro- The present study seeks to build upon the socializa- fessionalization and specialization in youth and inter- tion work of Coakley (2012, 2015) by exploring how scholastic sport. The ultimate purpose of this type of professionalization and corporatization impact the research is to safeguard against these negative effects socialization of elite youth and high school baseball and push for positive policy changes. players. The socialization process of an elite baseball player often begins with tee-ball or coach-pitch base- ball, but quickly develops into a selective club system beginning around the age of 12 (Daniel, 2013). Tran- Figure 1 sitioning into adolescence, summer-travel baseball Adapted Ecological Systems Theory becomes the primary time for recruiting and scouting. High school summer baseball is dominated by expen- sive travel ball and showcases, which often are inac- cessible for low- and middle-income families (Butler, 2011). This can be attributed to the current trends of youth sport privatization, which include commodi- fication, massification, and specialization at an early age (Andrews, 2011; Coakley, 2015; Hensch, 2006; Jayanthi et al., 2013; Singer 2012; Warner, 2012). Specific to baseball, research on professional- ization and socialization is limited. While most of the research on the experiences of youth and high school baseball players has occurred in the medical field (e.g., Lyman et al., 2002; Petty et al., 2004), there are a few works that help understand these experiences from a social development and experience perspec- tive. One such notable contribution in this area was King-White’s (2010) examination of the “celebrity JADE 15 THE PERFECT GAME Klein |Macaulay| Cooper Volume 2, Issue 1, 2020 Bowling Green State University - https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/jade/ identity” and “flexible citizenship” of the infamous ject to early professionalization through the inclusion Danny Almonte, a participant in the 2001 Little of statistical data at increasingly early ages, the pres- League World Series (LLWS) (p. 179). ent study seeks to provide an analysis of the systems influencing the socialization process including partic- Almonte, an immigrant from the Domini- ipation, scouting, and relationships. Relatedly, schol- can Republic, was hailed