Managing 12 players

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At 10U, unless you're legitimately competing for substantial championships (Metro, State, Qualifiers, Regionals, Nationals), my plan that I would share with parents is that I am going to play them all the entire season.

They're 9 and 10.

They need to play in games to get better. While practice is fine, there is no substitute for game experience. Playing all the girls will help you in the long run when a "starter" is out or injured and you have another girl who has played nearly 80% as often waiting to take her place in an important game. She'll be ready and able and eager rather than terrified.

In order to do this, you have to make your families understand that it is part of the plan. You have to have a vision for the team short-term, a year down the road, two years down the road. Formulate your vision, and share it with them and tell them that playing all 12 now is part of the plan to get them where you want them to be as far down the road as your vision leads you.
 
Jan 18, 2010
4,284
0
In your face
Like others have said, it depends on what type of 10u you're playing. Rec would be different from league, league would be different than B/C travel, B/C different from A level. Though all should have a "level" of fun, the higher ranks of softball almost require playing your best producers the majority of the time.

The harsh honest truth is, bat everyone, play everyone equal innings................but unless you're WINNING using that tactic...............it causes just as equal problems ( and sometimes more ) over a season. It's not about the plastic trophy, ask any girl who spends 6-10 hours a week sweating at practice, spending their weekends from 6am on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday giving their all. To them, they want the best chance for victory, even if that means sitting out for the greater good of the team.

During the week when we played 10u Rec we played the roster, on the weekends in TB we played our........premier players ( mostly ). Now, at that age it doesn't mean the same 9 players play the most innings every weekend. Some are on streaks, some slumps. Some a light comes on during the weekend, some it burns out. It all usually balances itself out, as long as you don't have nuts for parents who don't understand the game.
 
Last edited:
Aug 12, 2014
644
43
BTW; I'm sure there are others that win many more games than I do. But, that's not how I judge success. I had very new players at 12u last year, so we took our lumps. And all 10 players (with some moving up to 14u) that I ended the season with signed up for another year of softball this season.

The best quote I've heard about youth sports is "the best mark of a good youth coach is their players want to play again the next season."
 
Jan 18, 2010
4,284
0
In your face
I don't know any 10 year olds that will sit out for the good of the team. It is the coach that is about winning or living up to A ball.

Spend the time coaching the kids and let them all play. If you are a coach with any wits about you at all, you can still win with that strategy. It is the A-level practice and coaching that makes the difference and maybe a few early growth spurts and one good pitcher.

Even if you don't win, "A" ball at 10u is only remembered by the coach, maybe. I just looked at the local registration list for the u-trippers and there is like 8 A teams at 10u, so you can beat at 7 teams? In ASA, here they can't even make an A tourney out of 10s, so who cares.

Making 10u like pro ball because it is A-level is ridiculous. I just talked to a family of a D1 walk-on who did not start playing softball until she was 12, and I know a family of a A-level 10u player that is now more interested in making robots with the robotics club in HS.

To a degree I agree LF. The higher level teams I've seen didn't last long, maybe a one and done season, playing the roster. Kids at that age do know what's going on, or at least should. By comparison, A TB is like Advanced academic classes in school, you're the top of the curve mentally/physically. Most in either one of those categories are very driven. The academic student studies all week for the Friday test, if he/she scores low.........they know it and feel it. The athletic student practices all week for the weekend tourney, the scoreboard is their grading system, if he/she scores low.........they know it as well.

Again, you can't compare all the levels of ball across the board. Players, parents, coaches, are in certain levels for various reasons and that's great. But, you can't run rec like A TB or vice versa. Nor can you run a classroom of basic level students like the advanced students.
 
May 4, 2014
200
28
So Cal
its not just who you play and whom you bat.. there you will need to decide on the bat all/play all and the play top/flex camps - the other aspect of managing the team is managing the coaches and parents. You didnt say if it was rec or travel ball - If its a non-paid, rec team I would encourage you to recruit as many of the parents to be coaches as possible. The more coaches the better. Yes its harder for the manager as he/she needs to "manage" and be very open to suggestions and feedback but it makes for very effective, well run practices (nobody sitting around, nobody goofing off, every single girl gets 1:1 time with praise and constructive feedback)

If the parents are part of the coaching, are hearing you communicate your strategy, goals etc in every practice and game it will mean a lot less drama... they will be part of the workings of the team and will have a venue to discuss with you on anything they may not agree on.

4 or 11 coaches there still needs to be one golden rule: you are the manager and while you should always listen to parents/coaches advice or complaints at the end of the day it is YOUR final decision. Be clear you will not always do as they ask or want but will try to accomodate if possible.

What I found is managers that get into trouble with teams have too big an ego with a deaf ear to parents and other coaches and fear any change or accomodation of feedback will be seen as weakness. Learn to pick your battles, if you have two pitchers who both are great starters and you have 2 games coming up instead of randomly picking one for first game and second for the other game go and get the two parents and tell them you want to start both but arent sure who should start in which game and if they have input... those parents will be thrilled to be part of the decision and its a decision that wouldnt matter to you - you may just find that one of the pitchers has a wedding to attend the previous day and will not be well rested...
 

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