Should DD change team?

Tom V · Sep 22, 2016

At 1st year 10U player development, good coaching and training should be more important than wins and loses.
After a year you can always change teams, or find a 1st year 12U team to play up in if shes good.
The grass isn't always greener........

JJsqueeze · Sep 22, 2016

my magic 8 ball says to leave. It also says welcome to the crazy pitcher's parent club. Grab some coffee and some Prozac and enjoy the ride.

SPOILER ALERT:

You will also be dissatisfied with the new team. and the team after that....eventually you will either be shunned by all coaches in your area or you will find a team who's needs match your adjusted opinion of your kid's ability and you will have some fun.

MNDad · Sep 22, 2016

Beeg said:
Thanks everyone. Based on your feedback, the 2nd team definitely is the way to go. Now I just have to convince hubby. For years, her private coaches have been suggesting that she plays up. She can definitely move to 12U with the new team next year. The only reason we held her back 'til now was her height. She is only 4'2", so we want to make sure physically she can play against bigger players. We've been focusing on her footwork and speed (she loves being the fastest kid on the team despite her height), to avoid getting injured by hard hits.

This will give you some prospective of her 1st team, and that's why I am leaning toward the new team. Yesterday they played 2 games. First game against another 1st-year 10U team, one of our pitchers stepped up, and by the end of 3rd inning, DD's team was winning 8-5. The coach had a decision to make-use a pitcher who was consistent or use a wild-card. He decided for DD to pitch, and she gave up no runs, winning the game.

The 2nd game was against a 2nd-yr 10U team. We were the away team. Our first pitcher stepped up, and by top of 2nd inning we were winning 2-1. You'd think he'd use a pitcher who's proven to not give up runs (a.k.a, DD). Instead, he pitched his daughter (since she didn't pitch in the first game.) She pitched mostly balls, including hitting 2 batters. She was near tears and instead of pulling her out, she finished the inning by giving up 5 runs. Top of 3rd inning, score was 5-6, and he decided to use the last pitcher in the rotation who has been 50/50. She started giving up lots of walks. Again, instead of pulling her out and putting DD in, he let her finish, giving up another 6 runs (last pitch was so wild it gave up 2 runs). Game over after 3 innings since our 2 pitchers used up most of the game time, and we lost 5-12. If he pulled the struggling pitchers out, we actually would have a chance to beat a very good 2nd-yr 10U team. If DD is struggling, I'd want him to pull her out so she could regroup. I understand it is the fall, but I heard the assistant coach said they've already written off 1st year as a loss. That's great, except we are a travel team and we'd be spending a lot of money to not win.

You can't be serious. "Based on feedback the second team is definitely the way to go". Did you even read the feedback? If so you ignored anything that didn't meet your paradigm.

"For years her private coaches have been suggesting she play up". She's nine for Gods sake. How many years has she been seeing a private instructor?

The six pitchers in fall ball means nothing. It's a first year 10U team and the coach has to figure out who can pitch. There's nothing to be gained by winning a 10U fall game!!! Sounds like you've got a good situation and a coach who gets it. Listen to your hubby and stay put.

Consider she can be one of the best players on the first year 10U team or one of the weaker on the second year. IF you leave now I guarantee you'll leave the new team by Summer's end because she's not getting the playing time you want. The ONLY reason for her to play up is for your ego. Relax and enjoy the rest of the season.

Perfect Circle · Sep 22, 2016

Post video of all six pitchers, & I'll tell you what to do.

If the Coach dropped you... & another team came along and wants you ...GO !!!

If your joining the CrazyPitcher'sParents Club. You don't play FallBall...you work on your Skilz. You don't go to Tryouts... wait til May...after the friendly's... the team will find you... that's how its done in my Chapter.

Rocketech1 · Sep 22, 2016

You say she only walks a couple of batters but does she throw the slowest of all of the pitchers and gives up lots of hits? At the end of the day, if your DD really wants to pitch she either gets much better than the other pitchers where the coach HAS to pitch her or you leave for a team where they will only have 3 or less pitchers. Pitchers need to pitch to get better. Period.

PA SB Dad · Sep 22, 2016

There is a reason the show is called "Dance Moms" and not "Dance Dads". There would not be enough drama if the dads were the ones making the decisions regarding their DDs.

Beeg · Sep 25, 2016

Thanks. My point wasn't really in winning. My point is that it was a long, drawn out game because he wouldn't take out pitchers who were struggling. Why let the poor kids frustrated and upset with themselves. At close to 9pm, the rest of the team had to stand there in the field with nothing to do because we were giving up walk after walk.

Jr10234 · Sep 25, 2016

Beeg said:
Thanks. My point wasn't really in winning. My point is that it was a long, drawn out game because he wouldn't take out pitchers who were struggling. Why let the poor kids frustrated and upset with themselves. At close to 9pm, the rest of the team had to stand there in the field with nothing to do because we were giving up walk after walk.

Sounds like every little league game below age 12. I LOVE time limits!

Softball is a small world, leaving team now may bite you in a few years. Changing teams can be hard for girls, especially if another player loses time because your DD joined later. Might be better to pick up with this team when you can instead of jumping ship.m

Beeg · Sep 25, 2016

PA SB Dad said:
There is a reason the show is called "Dance Moms" and not "Dance Dads". There would not be enough drama if the dads were the ones making the decisions regarding their DDs.

Thanks and no thanks for your comment. It provides no value. I am on many different forums, and I post as the mom or dad depending on the forum. I wonder whether you'd say the same thing if I started by saying I am the dad.

Now I know what women have to go through being judged this way. Since this is a softball forum, I figure you have a daughter. I wonder how you feel if someone make this type of comments to her when she becomes a mother.

Beeg · Sep 25, 2016

Thanks again for everyone's replies. I am surprised by some of your comments. Just to clarify what my concerns are:

1) With 6 pitchers on the team, DD gets 5-7 minutes of pitching time every other game, meaning every other week. Even in the spring if the coach plays her a bit more, with 6 pitchers on the team, she may get an inning or 2 each game. (Knowing him, he will still rotate all the pitchers.) When I posted original, all we wanted was to see whether 6 pitchers is normal since this is the first time we experience 10U. With the 2nd team only having 3 pitchers, DD will get more pitching time. That would be the only reason we are considering the switch.

2) Since the coach lets struggling pitcher stay in the inning, it takes 30-40 minutes to finish an inning. I wanted to see if that's normal.

We have now experienced a few more games, and all the teams we've played against (about 8 now) have only 2 or 3 pitchers. Most will take out struggling pitchers.

Should DD change team?

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Tom V

JJsqueeze

Dad, Husband....legend

MNDad

Perfect Circle

Rocketech1

PA SB Dad

Beeg

Jr10234

Beeg

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