Beware the scary 10U players filling in in 12U

We were going to be short players today since some girls are on vacation on our 12U squad. I recruited some 10Us to fill in and after I got them to commit some parents of the 12Us said they were going to be in town after all so I wound up with a couple of extra players. I figured I'd just expand the roster to 11 and let the 10Us have some cuts against the better pitching (these are all star 10Us). As a courtesy I let the opposing coach know what I was doing, I even offered her the pick of the litter if she needed any players to fill out the roster (all our kids are on spring break right now so I figured she may be short).

She informed me that league rules dictate that if we have 8 then it is an official game so she would not approve of the 10Us being in the lineup and that we can only play 8.

Mind you that this is a small league that gets our asses kicked every all star season because they only play 11 games during their season and our pitching is low level at 10U. So our 10U batters really suffer because they just get walked all season then they have to try to figure out how to hit against real pitching in about 2 weeks during the summer.

no real point here except venting a little frustration at the narrow mindedness. So both teams will play with 8 players and we will let that extra playing time get wasted instead of using it on some girls that would love to play today.

No wonder our league is shrinking year by year. I know this is the last time I put up with this BS.

We got similar stuff in our rec league too. DW was on the board, and was one of two or three that considered the league's mission and policies in every vote. Being outnumbered like that trickles down and results in A hole coaches. Like the one opposing you.

We left. We returned after they asked, but on DDs terms. Because TB came first. She played as a guest player, didn't go to practices, only played in games, and coaches can't try teach her different fundamentals. Any coaching they did would be suggestions, so not to conflict with TB coaches (i.e., play her on we're gone). They used her every inning. Some parents on her team and opposing teams didn't like it. I understand fully. I liked it because I sat on a bucket a couple less times a week than usual. She got more reps.

Sounds like she wanted that extra edge in pursuit of the big win. Go with 8 and kick some butt.

That's pretty dumb on her part. At best those 10u kids will be easy ground outs if not K. Your best hitters are up more often. Less is more in Rec. I always wanted to send a few directions to the wrong field Lol.

SoAZDad said:

We got similar stuff in our rec league too. DW was on the board, and was one of two or three that considered the league's mission and policies in every vote. Being outnumbered like that trickles down and results in A hole coaches. Like the one opposing you.

We left. We returned after they asked, but on DDs terms. Because TB came first. She played as a guest player, didn't go to practices, only played in games, and coaches can't try teach her different fundamentals. Any coaching they did would be suggestions, so not to conflict with TB coaches (i.e., play her on we're gone). They used her every inning. Some parents on her team and opposing teams didn't like it. I understand fully. I liked it because I sat on a bucket a couple less times a week than usual. She got more reps.

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Wow. As a rec league coach, I would stay far away from your DD, if at all possible. That's not the kind of prima donna attitude I would want anywhere near my team or my DD. If you want to be on my team - even my lowly rec team - I will expect you to participate just as much as everyone else. If going to team practices, building camaraderie with teammates, and respecting the coaches is too much of a commitment, maybe you shouldn't bother with rec ball to get some extra reps in. It's taking away from the girls who actually want to be a part of the team.

EricF: I can see how you misinterpreted. The situation was, DD never signed up for the rec season discussed. The rec board EXPECTED her AND OTHERS to be back. When the board approached her (and my wife resigned 4 months prior but was still listed on the board because they didn't fill her position), they were way short on pitchers to compete with the other league's teams. So the league approached my DD, not the other way around.

DDs TB team was practicing some 22 hours per week. I fully guided her decision and fully supported her. Put an offer on the table for the league. They can take it or leave it.

They took it.

^ I have a pitcher in this very same situation. She is a 12U TB pitcher. She is 10. The rec team asked her to play, when she can. They came calling and she was willing to help. Her little sister is on the team. I would never call a little girl a prima donna. She has nothing to do with the situation.

In LL, we always borrowed from 10U. I don't agree with the coach that insisted they play with 8. This is supposed to be for the girls. I think that things are getting worse, among the adults, lately. Our league president was forced to resign. And it was all over the draft.

shelbysdad said:

That's pretty dumb on her part. At best those 10u kids will be easy ground outs if not K. Your best hitters are up more often. Less is more in Rec. I always wanted to send a few directions to the wrong field Lol.

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When a team is playing short-handed, they have to take an out whenever the empty spot come up in the line-up.

SoAZDad said:

EricF: I can see how you misinterpreted. The situation was, DD never signed up for the rec season discussed. The rec board EXPECTED her AND OTHERS to be back. When the board approached her (and my wife resigned 4 months prior but was still listed on the board because they didn't fill her position), they were way short on pitchers to compete with the other league's teams. So the league approached my DD, not the other way around.

DDs TB team was practicing some 22 hours per week. I fully guided her decision and fully supported her. Put an offer on the table for the league. They can take it or leave it.

They took it.

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I understand better now. I apologize for the harshness of my previous response. It sounds like your rec league is in rough shape.

SoCal_Dad said:

When a team is playing short-handed, they have to take an out whenever the empty spot come up in the line-up.

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For us (10U ASA), the lineup at the start of the game is the determining factor, not the full-season roster of the whole team. If we turn in a lineup card of 8 players before the game, then we are expected to bat 8 players for that game. The only way there's a out for a missed AB is if one of those 8 misses her turn.

We were short at 10U last Saturday so a few 8Us volunteered to help us out. Both me and the other coach were cool with it but the league nixed it. They didn't want to set a precedent of "recruiting" better girls to play up certain games. I guess I sort of understand it but still it's just rec. Let the girls have some fun.