DD may not be catching? Just a ramble...

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Oct 13, 2014
291
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Metro ATL
With DD, I don't think she would ever play outfield in college. From what I've seen at least at this school, they put faster girls out there. DD is only about 3.0 home to 1st, but tracks really well.
BTW...blocking was her weakness in HS and our pitcher threw a lot in the dirt but they also didn't work with her at all. Our pitchers are MUCH better and the catcher coach for the TB team thought it would be a fairly easy thing for her to improve on since she has the other areas looking pretty good. I wonder if she could at least ask for the practice even if she won't get game time for now...

Would it also be possible for your DD to offer to catch for the pitchers at their lessons? Just an idea.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
With DD, I don't think she would ever play outfield in college. From what I've seen at least at this school, they put faster girls out there. DD is only about 3.0 home to 1st, but tracks really well.

That's not too slow for a college outfielder, IMO. It's not ideal perhaps, and the higher level you play, the faster you might need to be.

But if you can hit, track the ball well, hit, play smart, hit, have a pretty good arm and bat, you're fine.
 
Oct 10, 2011
3,117
0
Would it also be possible for your DD to offer to catch for the pitchers at their lessons? Just an idea.
That would be a possibility after the summer season is over, but because they practice 3 days a week, and travel on a lot of Fridays, I doubt she'd be able to. 10 weeks straight to start.
 
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
I'm a little confused so excuse my ignorance, but don't players who are interested in playing in college choose a travel ball team to primarily showcase their talents and the team should not be worried about necessarily fielding the most competitive team but about giving the players an opportunity to play their chosen position for exposure? It sounds like from your post that the team coaches goals and your DD's goals may not be aligned and the coaches have other plans for your DD. If it was me, the one paying the high dues for TB, I would make sure that my money was well spent on achieving those goals.
 
Jan 27, 2010
1,871
83
NJ
don't players who are interested in playing in college choose a travel ball team to primarily showcase their talents

I can only speak for DD's tryouts but she has always been told what spot or spots she was being offered. In her case it was catcher and OF. Just turned out their priorities were different and DD was of the mind what ever it takes for me to take the next step. They don't usually take a better catcher and put her in the OF to be the #4 outfielder. DD just happened to be #1 in the OF when it came to tracking balls off the bat and committing to the catch which is very hard to teach.
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
She wants to do at least some catching. She said even though she knows she's better at 3rd right now, she liked catching more and was just getting more comfortable when she got moved out of the position in HS.
DD loves this team and they are great girls. 4 are already playing in college and she and one new girl are the only ones not committed (they are all graduating this spring and DD will be a senior)
I'll talk to her and have her bring these points up to the coaches.

With the majority of her teammates either in college or committed, there is absolutely no valid reason why developing the 2 uncommitted players isn't a top priority for the team. Invalid reasons exist with the 2 most likely being coach's/organization's ego re winning percentage and/or coach's DD not being able to play her primary position ALL the time. At this stage of the game, the college girls are playing to have fun and stay sharp and/or work on improving weaknesses and, as long as they are getting their work in, aren't bothered at all if they aren't playing every inning in their primary positions as others probably made similar sacrifices to help them secure a college position.
 
Oct 10, 2011
3,117
0
At this point it looks like DD can get some good training but probably little game time as catcher. She played 3 games and 1 inning at 3rd out of 8 and the rest at left and right field. I have to say though she was very strong defensively and in 2 different games made plays in the outfield that I thought she'd never get to and they were game savers. Another throw in from the fence saved a go ahead run. She told me last night everyone keeps telling her she's way faster than she looks. Maybe once they see her in training more they may change their mind but the AC'S DD wants to get as much catcher time as possible and that's pretty much her only position. And yes, they want to win. Made it to the championship game and lost in ITB. She did have a great time though on and off the field.
 
Oct 10, 2011
3,117
0
Well DD just texted in how her day went at a camp for her #1 choice for schools. She said that after a brief infield/ outfield session, they asked her to catch in a scrimmage game. It surprised her because she didn't put that down on the form but they did know she had done some catching before. She still hasn't caught for TB but she said she did a good job.
I'm really hoping they see enough this week to make her an offer!
 
Last edited:

Cannonball

Ex "Expert"
Feb 25, 2009
4,854
113
Well DD just texted in how her day went at a camp for her #1 choice for schools. She said that after a brief infield/ outfield session, they asked her to catch in a scrimmage game. It surprised her because she didn't put that down on the form but they did know she had done some catching before. She still hasn't caught for TB but she said she did a good job.
I'm really hoping they see enough this week to make her an offer!

Good luck!
 
Dec 13, 2014
91
0
I'm a little confused so excuse my ignorance, but don't players who are interested in playing in college choose a travel ball team to primarily showcase their talents and the team should not be worried about necessarily fielding the most competitive team but about giving the players an opportunity to play their chosen position for exposure? It sounds like from your post that the team coaches goals and your DD's goals may not be aligned and the coaches have other plans for your DD. If it was me, the one paying the high dues for TB, I would make sure that my money was well spent on achieving those goals.

Our TB coach made the lineup strictly by what coaches are coming to see certain girls play certain positions. If someone is coming to watch your DD, speak up,
 

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