Coach or dad thinking?

WARRIORMIKE · Mar 2, 2015

Ok so this year I have a stud pitcher in rec ball who is 12 this year on my team. When she pitches in travel she's about average of others pitchers we come across. This year for Rec being that it's my last year of 12's I decided to stud her out and keep her down. However after a scrimmage game against a decent 14u team Im thinking maybe I should have moved her up and play above her level. However because of past seasons we have had I really want us to take first this year and with her we might be able to do it

Was I thinking like Dad by having her play down or strategically thinking like a coach? Maybe mentality its more like Jj's post of "softball revenge". Lol

quincy · Mar 2, 2015

I start worrying about the social aspects at that age, she would be playing with HS players.

WARRIORMIKE · Mar 2, 2015

quincy said:
I start worrying about the social aspects at that age, she would be playing with HS players.

I thought about that too. Another reason I kept my princess down. Lol

WARRIORMIKE · Mar 4, 2015

Ok No more regrets. I'll pitch my daughter and have her mow down the competition ! She deserves the wins. We're going for first this year! Lol

Rocketech1 · Mar 4, 2015

Explain to us again why a travel ball pitcher is playing rec league? Who benefits from this?

Little Angels Softball · Mar 4, 2015

quincy said:
I start worrying about the social aspects at that age, she would be playing with HS players.

If I think a girl is ready to play up (especially in that awkward transition of a 12-year-old playing up to 14U), my advice is to get the girl on a 12U club that has a few girls capable of doing the same and then letting the team of 12Us play 14U every once in awhile. This way none of the 6th/7th graders have to share a dugout with high school girls.

JAD · Mar 4, 2015

WARRIORMIKE said:
Was I thinking like Dad by having her play down or strategically thinking like a coach? Maybe mentality its more like Jj's post of "softball revenge". Lol

How much satisfaction are you and your DD going to get out of winning a REC league championship after she has been playing TB? I always get a kick out of reading the complaints on the local GA boards about teams "trophy hunting" in low level TB. I do not know your REC league rules, but in our low level TB (similar to REC All Stars) the tournament directors reserve the right to "redline" a pitcher, which means she can play in the game, but cannot pitch. It is designed to prevent teams from bringing in a ringor - or in this case, holding one back! LOL

slingnit · Mar 4, 2015

I think the 12u/14u aspect is being looked at way too hard. Sure there is an age gap but they are playing ball not becoming roommates. Instead of looking at it like a potential problem look at it as a chance for her to gain maturity and experience.

nicelag · Mar 5, 2015

Rocketech1 said:
Explain to us again why a travel ball pitcher is playing rec league? Who benefits from this?

If she is a average travel ball pitcher within her age group as stated what is the harm in playing rec? It sounds like they played travel ball in the fall. So, if my first baseman was average in fall travel ball then he shouldn't return to rec either? Sounds like dad may want to coach his DD one more year knowing this may be it before she gets handed off to the travel ball coaches. Nothing wrong with that in my book.

We play travel in the fall as the rec fall ball leagues can be very weak, for lack of a better term, and therefor basically a waste of time.

Enjoy the time with your daughter, and going out on top won't hurt either. Those "hey dad, remember when we won the championship in our last year of rec" conversations pop up at Thanksgiving dinner it will make for some great memories...

JAD · Mar 5, 2015

quincy said:
I start worrying about the social aspects at that age, she would be playing with HS players.

How many high schoolers are playing 14U REC ball? There may be a few 9th graders, but that is it.

I know REC ball differs in different parts of the country, but around us the REC leagues are pretty well depleted of talent by TB after 12U. I know some parks require TB teams that practice out of the park to participate in the REC league, but other than that I cannot imagine going back. I used to watch a 14U REC team practice before our 14U TB practice and their pitchers could barely throw strikes. An average TB pitcher would mow through most batters like a hot knife through butter!

Coach or dad thinking?

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