Softball potential at 8 years old

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Aug 18, 2016
29
0
I just started a 8U travel team. Recently picked up a new player from a local team. I was shocked ( if parent is telling complete truth) that the player was recently cut from her previous 8U team by text. The quote the parent gave me was that they received a text from the coach that stated, "your daughter isn't softball player material." I understand that at 8 you can definitely see potential in a player. But, can you really tell a kid to basically hang it up at 8 years old because you just aren't softball material? A week ago I picked up a player from same team that they didn't want anymore. She is going to be a good player for me now and hopefully in the future. I'm taking this girl who they say is not softball material and I'm going to make her a player.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Natural athleticism is pretty easy to recognize, even at that age. However, I have seen less-athletic girls with motivation and hard work develop into pretty damn good players. Props to you for wanting to work with the kid and prove the other coach wrong about her. Sometimes, all a kid needs is for a coach to believe in them.

If I recall, Jennie Finch was once told she should stop playing softball because she wasn't very good. I think it was later than 8U.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Some kids are naturals and you can tell in 8U. But those who work hard can catch them. I can't think of any valid reason to say that about a child that age. Shame on that coach. Some coaches aren't capably of helping players develop. They're the ones constantly recruiting because they have no clue how to coach kids up.

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Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
Natural athleticism is pretty easy to recognize, even at that age. However, I have seen less-athletic girls with motivation and hard work develop into pretty damn good players. Props to you for wanting to work with the kid and prove the other coach wrong about her. Sometimes, all a kid needs is for a coach to believe in them.

If I recall, Jennie Finch was once told she should stop playing softball because she wasn't very good. I think it was later than 8U.

And whoever that Jennie Finch girl is, she probable wasn't very good.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
The quote the parent gave me was that they received a text from the coach that stated, "your daughter isn't softball player material."

Did she show you the actual text? I find it hard to believe that a coach would say that. Think it, yes, but say it exactly that way? Then again, why would people surprise me.

The whole thing about potential at 8U fascinated me from the moment my daughter started playing 8U. Not because of my daughter, per se, but just because I love sports and find it very interesting why some become really good at a sport and others don't.

I remember the best girl in the league back then and saying, ''So that's what a future college player looks like at 8-years-old?'' And sure enough, she's 17 now and committed to a D-I school, almost despite herself, as she didn't really work hard for the first several years, but was so talented, and she also loved to play. (Just didn't love to practice or discipline herself until she got older.)

The other girl that I made a similar comment about actually had the work ethic, and she's now 17 also, and playing travel ball, with hopes of playing in college, but likely won't. Didn't grow. And, trying to be sensitive here, didn't stay fit. Great kid, though, then and now. But now just a mediocre player that got passed.

But I'll make this simple theory - The 2 most important predictors are, IMO -

(1) does the kid like to play? Really doesn't have to love it at first, but needs to like it enough to keep doing it, and perhaps most of all, not pick another sport. Some of the best younger rec softball players I saw chose soccer or volleyball or lacrosse or tennis, etc. I think my DD passed most people simply through attrition.

(2) does this kid have supportive parents? The kind that are going to support her habit, the lifestyle, work with them in the backyard, etc. Obsessive, crazy parents are actually the best, as long as they don't cause drama. When I look back on the rec program where my DD grew up, the players who went the furthest typically had very passionate parents, usually coaches.

The value of being athletic/good is that it enhances #1. It's more fun when you're good. So you're more likely to stick with it. You're more likely to want to play tournaments, all-stars, etc. If you're totally un-athletic, you'll eventually reach a level of frustration where it's no longer worth it.
 
Feb 3, 2016
502
43
Unfortunately some coaches need immediate results for a team during the season and player development doesn't always coincide with the timeline needed. Hard to find coaches to put in the time although the real work should have been done at home IMO. I 100% believe that the text was sent as described. I've known a girl who took batting lessons for a year before she could hit a ball. That girl wouldn't be denied and is now one of the best hitters on her team. I had faith in her work ethic to get better and it is nice to see a girl turned away make a change for the better.
 
Aug 18, 2016
29
0
I did not see the text so can't confirm it. The girls dad is a junior high basketball coach so I guess that is a positive unless he eventually convinces her to just play basketball. Looking forward to my next practice.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Unfortunately some coaches need immediate results for a team during the season and player development doesn't always coincide with the timeline needed. Hard to find coaches to put in the time although the real work should have been done at home IMO. I 100% believe that the text was sent as described. I've known a girl who took batting lessons for a year before she could hit a ball. That girl wouldn't be denied and is now one of the best hitters on her team. I had faith in her work ethic to get better and it is nice to see a girl turned away make a change for the better.

And really, who *needs* immediate results in 8U? If someone is coaching 8U and needs immediate results, he/she should resign immediately.

Unfortunately some coaches really do think this way & say it out loud. In first year 10U a friend of my DD's started catching lessons & was on a new team. She got one inning at catcher on that team, with a wild pitcher, and the coach told the girl's mom she wasn't catcher material and if it were him he'd save money on lessons. She was a young 9 at the time. She's on a new team this year and catching again. Who knows if she'll stick with it long term, if she'll develop and get great at it, there's no telling. But if she's motivated to do it how can a coach say at 9 years old she'll never get good at it? Even if he's right, she deserves to try. So while I wouldn't condemn the coach without having seen the text (gossip is gossip) I don't necessarily doubt it either.
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
You know what? I think it's possible that a coach could have said that. My children took karate for years, and for various reasons, I chose to transfer them from one studio to another. When I broke the news to the head instructor at the old studio, he dropped the "Mr. Nice Guy" persona and actually said to me, "Well, you know, your kids aren't very athletic." Um, EXCUSE ME? I couldn't believe he actually said that to me. My son isn't very athletic, but my DD? Seriously? He was just mad to be losing our $$$, but that was a low blow.
 

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