DD's first softball try out...

**Greenmonsters** · 08-06-2012, 07:47 PM

Re the tryout team - you need to ask some questions - both of the coach and your DD. IMO, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the coach's DD is catching when she's not pitching and pitching when she's not catching. Does your DD really want to invest the time and effort to become a real pitcher? If she does, you will want an assurance that she will be given the opportunity to earn pitching time. If not, fine, will the coach give her the opportunity to earn time at her preferred position(s)? Would DD be happy just playing first base? Your DD's and the coach's answers (and the faith that you have in his answers being honest) will give you a sense of whether its likely to be a good fit. Make sure you do your homework and check out the coach's track record/Daddyball tendencies with some current (and former) players' parents, other coaches, umpires etc.

Re the other option - where and how much playing time would your DD get and would that work for her? Definitely need to check w/ the 10U coach to see if the playing down/pitching option is really a viable option if that's DD's desire. IMO, as long as she gets playing time, she'll probably improve faster playing with the more skilled players.

It's good to have options. Just evaluate them carefully and make the best decision you can with the information you have.

**southwestsoftball** · 08-06-2012, 10:46 PM

My dd loves to pitch. It is far and away her favorite position and she works very very hard at it. When we arent outside working on her pitching, she is in her room working on her lower half and making sure she is on her power line( electrical tape down her hardwood floor) and checking her technique in the mirror. The girl loves softball and loves to pitch.

Its important for me to raise a team first, humble kid. So I know she would be OK with playing first all the time but it certainly wouldnt make her very happy to be there all the time. I think in a perfect world, she would pitch and then split time at SS, Catcher and then squeak in some time at at 3B and in the OF. She truly enjoys all the positions on the field. Last year she robbed a homerun and everyone at the game treated her like she was Ken Griffey Jr or something. Lol. Ever since then she has loved OF just as much as 1B/3B/2B. I honestly thought the play was more hilarious and weird looking than anything. She was 7 at the time and she just flat out got lucky and jumped up and it stuck. Now everytime Mike Trout is on sportscenter she says " Look dad, that is like the play I made last year"

At 9 years old, I really didnt want to do the 12u thing with her but Im really not comfortable with this club situation just yet. You are all right in that I need to ask the coach some questions. I will give him a ring. If I hear what I think Im gonna hear then I think I may accept the position on that team and snatch up the girls I have in mind before they committ to someone else. I know they were invited( along with my dd) to a 12u try out this Saturday. ugh.

**MsDinosaur** · 08-08-2012, 11:08 AM

Ok, if pitching is her favorite thing, this may not be the team for her. I'd have a frank talk with the coach.

Are there any other 10U teams in the area?

**Perfect Circle** · 08-08-2012, 11:16 AM

I think just knowing this can help both coaches and parents disputes. 10 U does end up in a National Championships. From all accounts it is also FUN for the girls too. Neither one of you are even close. This year .... lookz like it was texas time :{))

**southwestsoftball** · 08-08-2012, 10:50 PM

Talked with coach and he said that the best pitchers will pitch. No matter who they were and if that meant either of dd's werent it....then so be it. He did say he hasnt seen my dd pitch and so its hard for him to judge, but its something they will be looking at closer in the next few weeks. Fundamentals and introducing how he wants the girls fielding etc was his priority.

I may be niave and quite honestly I KNOW right now my dd is penciled in as the #3 or 4 P at this point. However, I also KNOW that at worst my dd is the #2 and when she is pitching great and others start to lose control, he will place her in the proper place and all will sort itself out. If she has to start low and work herself up then so be it. Nothing wrong with proving yourself. If she wants to be the ace, she has to show him and leave no doubt.........regardless of where she is starting on the dpeth chart.

Lastly, I have had lots of conversations with him about the game and as I mentioned earlier he seems to know the game pretty well. Apparently he asked around about me and my dd and some people told him he needed to pick me up as a coach, so he offered me a position on the staff as a coach. I told him I would think about it and appreciate the gesture and I would let him know tommorow at practice. ( I guess his main assistant had a serious health issue and so wont be available to coach for at least 6-8 months).

**southwestsoftball** · 08-10-2012, 06:44 PM

Last 2 practices have only had 3 girls there including my dd. lol. So on top of my original concerns, now I am realizing that most of the other parents arent taking this as serious as some of us are. Unfortunately for some reason there is some sort of epidemic of 10U kids in our state. Not very many team at 10U here anymore. 10 years ago there were double. Not real sure why that is. My dd's prospective 10U coach has tried setting up friendlies but we havent had enough girls to fill a roster.

Maybe Im too stupid to take this all as a HUGE sign to turn and run!

There is some news, however. I got a phone call from a good coach I know who has been a looooong time AC for our states premiere club. He is starting his own club and there will be 2 12U teams to start this year. He has already said that my dd doesnt need to try out........she has a spot as far as he is concerned. He will take the better of the teams and then another guy I know will take the 12U B team. The guy with the second team of girls is a psychopath. He is a real jerk and my dd has said numerous times she doesnt want to play softball if its going to be for him. Many girls say that. In addition this guy has many times bad mouthed me to others about my coaching. ( I guess I wasnt teaching girls to squish the bug like he does..........hahaha!) and he consistently destroys his own kids spirit.

That all being said, I told my buddy that I really wasnt sure if my dd was ready for 12UA ball. I know she has talent but I have my reservations for sure. I also made it clear that she will not play for the "other guy". This means that if my dd plays for this club it has to be with the better team or not at all. He said numerous times thats not an issue because he wants my dd on his team and he "knows she is not only good enough to hang, but good enough to do very well." I voiced all my conerns and he and I came to a comprimise.

Try outs are in the next few days. Practice will start next week. He wants my dd to practice with his team for 2-3 days and he, the other coaches and my dw and I can all see if she belongs or if she needs another year to develop. I agreed to that and let him know that if Im not 100% convinced............she wont play with them. I figure if she does land on this team she will play 2/CF/SS. No pitching time with a group of girls that good and playing up that much. However, I suppose she can always guest pitch for other clubc so she can get work there.

LOL. All you people swore up and down that this time of year was flat out nutty and crazy. Boy you werent kidding.

**quincy** · 08-10-2012, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by southwestsoftball

Try outs are in the next few days. Practice will start next week. He wants my dd to practice with his team for 2-3 days and he, the other coaches and my dw and I can all see if she belongs or if she needs another year to develop.

Sounds like a good plan to me. You are stating some pretty good positions for your DD, they are all good postions, but if it is important look at positions too.

**MsDinosaur** · 08-10-2012, 06:59 PM

It is a crazy time!

Only 3 girls showing up? Do those other parents realize that their daughters are supposed to be at every practice? Then again, it's kind of soon IMO to be starting practices. This short period after tryouts and before school starts is the time most people want to squeeze in a last vacation.

I don't see much downside to practicing with the 12Us for 2-3 days--unless it makes coach #1 go berserk, but he should be busy trying to get the no-shows corralled! At the very least she should get a good workout and get to know some new kids.

**southwestsoftball** · 08-10-2012, 07:05 PM

Thats what I figure MSDinosaur. I just dont see why people think other peoples time is less valuable then theirs. Its frustrating. That group ooohs and ahhhhs when my dd is throwing strikes from 3rd to 1st or when she is hitting balls to the outfield and occasionaly hitting the fence. Well, guess what parents? My dd is no freak of nature. She doesnt have special shoes or a special bat. She comes to practice and works at it. SHe works at it at home with dad and by herself. Thats really all it takes.

**MsDinosaur** · 08-13-2012, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by southwestsoftball

Thats what I figure MSDinosaur. I just dont see why people think other peoples time is less valuable then theirs. Its frustrating. That group ooohs and ahhhhs when my dd is throwing strikes from 3rd to 1st or when she is hitting balls to the outfield and occasionaly hitting the fence. Well, guess what parents? My dd is no freak of nature. She doesnt have special shoes or a special bat. She comes to practice and works at it. SHe works at it at home with dad and by herself. Thats really all it takes.

So true. At the young ages, some extra work at home is all a normal kid needs to be one of the best. And as long as a girl keeps working, everything builds on everything else and over time she goes from being a little bit better than most to being a whole lot better. It's not really some huge mystery!

LOL, we were at a tryout where I heard someone ooooh when DD hit several to the outfield. I wanted to shake my head. IMO, she works hard, but she's just a regular 12U player. At 12, they SHOULD be hitting the ball out there.

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