Rec ball took a crummy turn

My daughter currently plays on a 10U travel ball team. She loves it. The only "downside" is that she only plays one position (3rd base). She has college aspirations (her dream) but has truly really only played 3rd base on any of her teams for the past 3 years. She has a great arm and is fearless, she loves 3rd. I have no problem with her playing in on her travel team, I just was hoping to have her play rec ball to develop at other positions so she is a true utility player. In the past our town has had 2 10U teams, one of the coaches moved up to 12U so I was told that I would get to take over that team. Unfortunately all registrations are in and now they are just having 1 10U rec team with a roster of 15. The previous 10U coach will be coaching the only team. I'm truly bummed that I don't get to coach, as I very much enjoy coaching. I am even more bummed that my DD is now once again with a "we have to win" rec ball coach (her reputation is not great, she isn't into developing players in multiple positions) AND the team is a 10U team with girls from age 7-11 because of a few sibling groups. I'm also slightly afraid that my DD will hurt some of the tiny girls, the difference in her at 11 and the younger girls is a vast gap. She is 5' and 96 lbs, there are 60 lb girls on her team. What should I do? Her TB team plays in about 6 tournaments a year. Should she just to TB? Make the most out of Rec ball and see what happens? She will stay on her TB team no matter what, I just don't know what to do about Rec. None of the girls on her TB team are from the town we live in, so Rec ball is also the only chance to be team mates with the kids she will play with in HS. Also I am possibly over thinking this.

Thanks in advance.

With a 15 player roster I would just skip rec, they will not miss her.

She will develop some bad habits anyways looking to she who she is throwing it to before she throws the ball. Not the end of the world but with 15 players I would just pass on the whole thing.

Also I can think of worst places to be stuck then at 3rd base. Even if they don’t do it practice work with your DD on her OF skills, they will come in handy in a couple years.

View the rec team more as social for DD more than softball development.
Tell her if she's not having fun with her teammates, then maybe she should do travel only.
Also as a travel girl, she could be a role model to some of the younger kids and try to help them with their game.

See if you can move her up to 12U for the rec team.

I wouldn't turn my daughters lose on a rec league and you probably shouldn't either. I don't believe that it is fair to the rec players and it may not benefit your daughter as much as you would like--playing at a low level. Instead, maybe take her out to the park and hit some balls to her at the various positions? Maybe we get some friends and have a whole infield? That'll probably be worth a lot more to an aspiring collegiate level player.

Let her play and have fun in the low stress environment of rec with her friends. You get to sit back and realize that none of it matters because you know that come Sunday she is playing real softball. My 10 year old plays rec and travel and the rec games are a blast, I really enjoy having "that" kid, I take a sick pleasure in jokingly criticizing her swing when she hits a triple when other parents are jumping for joy at any contact. It is kind of fun having the best kid on the team so let her enjoy it and let yourself enjoy it too. On Sundays she gets enough of a dose of reality that she is just one of many good players so let her be a hero one last season.

And don't forget that by having a more skilled player on a rec team, you are helping the other players have a template of where they need to be to be better players.

just read the other posts....glad we have a consensus

To the OP- I hope all this great advice gives you the clear help you need. Or just flip a coin.

Either do 100% travel, or find a way to make something positive out of rec ball.

For my travel-ready 10yo playing in her final rec season, the goal this spring is learning how to be a good leader on the field, at practice, and in the dugout. So far, she's doing great with it, and has been complimented as "gracious and patient" by one of the first-timer parents.

If she's looking for another position, try outfield. At 10U, nobody wants to play there, she won't tear anyone's head off with a throw, and it will help with TB, particularly as they get older.

RetiredCoach said:

I wouldn't turn my daughters lose on a rec league and you probably shouldn't either. I don't believe that it is fair to the rec players and it may not benefit your daughter as much as you would like--playing at a low level. Instead, maybe take her out to the park and hit some balls to her at the various positions? Maybe we get some friends and have a whole infield? That'll probably be worth a lot more to an aspiring collegiate level player.

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Since I seem to be the dissenting opinion here I want to offer a clarification. First, my DDs are pitchers. Even before my oldest DD pitched in travel ball, she had about a 90% strikeout rate in a rec league. Pitching a girl who would probably strikeout everybody I don't think is fair and it wouldn't benefit my DD.

The other scenario I would be concerned about is the OP DD probably can throw a bullet from third to first. Let's say little Suzy with a lifetime of two weeks experience playing fastpitch is stationed there. She may not be able to handle the throw and be hurt.

Anyway, just my perspective.