10U Strategy question

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Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
Playing time is never equal in TB or Rec. but everyone should play. More so is TB, you picked the kid.

Yes, you pick the kid but sometimes they don't put in the effort to get better and/or never truly develop the way the coach thought. You can't really cut the kid mid season so they get less playing time than the other players. DD's current team has 18 players (16 active) and she needs to keep challenging herself for playing time, especially batting. If not, other players will leap frog her. I could see the bottom 2-3 players who are not getting enough playing time leave and the team keeps the top 12 or 13. Cutthroat but this scenario plays out all the time where we play TB.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
The talent on the team varies though all the girls are talented. There isn't a one of them who doesn't work hard though. We don't have any kids who miss practice, phone it in, etc. It's definitely the most impressive team I've been a part of in 3 years of softball. It's almost shocking to have 11 girls this age who are all so dedicated. It's an awesome team.

The discussion here has definitely been helpful :) Is kinda similar to my emotional reaction to the idea of a 4th pitcher, versus how I feel having seen her in action. There's no way I can watch her play and think any coach with a brain would pass on her.

So yeah. It makes more sense to me now.
 
Sep 30, 2015
23
0
Florida
When I started up my 14U team this fall I had a meeting with all parents and players before we stepped foot on the field for our first practice. I explained my philosophy on playing time and how I was going to set the line-up for seed and elimination games. I think that most of the time, if you explain to the parents and players what it is you are planning or trying to accomplish the journey will be much smoother.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
When I started up my 14U team this fall I had a meeting with all parents and players before we stepped foot on the field for our first practice. I explained my philosophy on playing time and how I was going to set the line-up for seed and elimination games. I think that most of the time, if you explain to the parents and players what it is you are planning or trying to accomplish the journey will be much smoother.
And I think part of the problem is that we did have this. And none of what was said lines up with playing 9 to win. This is a new development.
 

Axe

Jul 7, 2011
459
18
Atlanta
And I think part of the problem is that we did have this. And none of what was said lines up with playing 9 to win. This is a new development.

10U Fall ball I'm batting 11 every game, even the Championship. Some kids are always going to sit more than others but it's first year 10U fall ball for crying out loud.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
The pick up is definitely a rock star. Much as I hate the idea of adding another pitcher (since my DD pitches), I don't blame him one bit for wanting her. All 3 of our current pitchers are very good but I think this girl is better than any of them. I could tell when she worked out with us she was good but watching her pitch yesterday in a game, I was pretty blown away. One of the best 9 year old pitchers I've seen for sure.

I have some good news, and some bad news.....the good news is that the best way for a team to improve quickly is to add a rockstar pitcher. The bad news is it is tough to get 4 pitchers enough circle time to keep everyone happy, especially at the younger age groups. Are all 4 primary pitchers, or do some of them play another position and consider pitching secondary? If your DD is the #3 or #4 pitcher and she really wants to be a pitcher, I would suggest moving her to a team that can offer circle time as their #1 or #2. Your DD may not win as many plastic trophies playing for the lower level team, but the best experience she can gain is by pitching AGAINST good teams, not playing for one.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
When I started up my 14U team this fall I had a meeting with all parents and players before we stepped foot on the field for our first practice. I explained my philosophy on playing time and how I was going to set the line-up for seed and elimination games. I think that most of the time, if you explain to the parents and players what it is you are planning or trying to accomplish the journey will be much smoother.

You are correct, although I think that discussion should happen even before the first practice, such as when the player is accepted on the team. Few years ago, my DD got on a team that previously had batted everybody. Then, after the first practice, he tells all the players that he'll be playing the best 9 in elimination games and wanted to make sure everyone was OK with that. Well, what is a player supposed to say at that point? We were fine with it, but that's late in the game to be making a philosophical change like that.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
My DD will be #4 as things stand now, though she's pretty determined to improve. Her location rocks but she's not as fast as the other girls. She's throwing high 30s in games while they're probably low 40s. She throws low 40s in practice when we've clocked her (which we don't do often), highest we've seen is 44, but she seems to slow herself down in games. All 4 are infielders when not pitching. My DD plays mostly 1st, sometimes short or third. You can probably tell we've gone back and forth a lot but in the end we just like this team too much to leave. We being not just her dad and me but also our daughter. She's so happy. I think we're going to pick up for extra pitching time in the spring, and hopefully her hard work will pay off and she'll move up the ranks. Of course, the others are all hard workers too ;) That's part of the love we have for this team. These girls are across the board awesome. Not just talented but great attitudes, hard workers, good parents.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
My DD will be #4 as things stand now, though she's pretty determined to improve. Her location rocks but she's not as fast as the other girls. She's throwing high 30s in games while they're probably low 40s. She throws low 40s in practice when we've clocked her (which we don't do often), highest we've seen is 44, but she seems to slow herself down in games. All 4 are infielders when not pitching. My DD plays mostly 1st, sometimes short or third. You can probably tell we've gone back and forth a lot but in the end we just like this team too much to leave. We being not just her dad and me but also our daughter. She's so happy. I think we're going to pick up for extra pitching time in the spring, and hopefully her hard work will pay off and she'll move up the ranks. Of course, the others are all hard workers too ;) That's part of the love we have for this team. These girls are across the board awesome. Not just talented but great attitudes, hard workers, good parents.

DO NOT become overly concerned with pitch speed, especially at the younger age groups. Focus on mechanics and speed will come with growth and practice. A lot of flame throwers at 10U just matured earlier than others. In the long run your DD is much better off learning proper mechanics and mastering the different pitches and hitting her locations. Trust me when I tell you that at 14U a lot of the 10U flame throwers are no longer pitching.
 

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