Should an 18U program be structured differently?

SB45 · Oct 13, 2016

In our area there are fewer 18U teams, which makes sense. They are typically structured the same as the younger age groups. Some fall ball before the snow flies, indoor winter practices, and largely focus on tournaments in the summer after school season. I expect this would be hard to manage and to keep the team together successfully over the summer...makes me think that maybe an 18U program should be structured differently...and what are the priorities from a player's perspective? Assuming an 18U team is largely comprised of...

HS seniors who will be finishing their last season of school ball and hoping to play in college
HS seniors playing their last school season and NOT playing in college
HS juniors who are older for their grade who still have ongoing motivation to play
16U eligible players who are playing up

If you expect your team to largely be seniors, whether or not they are playing in college...I can't see a lot of time, motivation, or focus on them playing in a full summer of travel ball after their senior season of school ball ends. So...my thinking is...does it make sense for an 18U program to be more weighted towards fall ball, maybe an indoor winter league, and 1 or 2 early summer tournaments to wrap things up?

RichK · Oct 13, 2016

If you have girls that aren't playing in college, it can be tough to get them to focus that final summer, of course. We've found some play for love of game and some say they are committed and then quit after high school season.

If you have younger girls still working, then a full summer season is obviously necessary.

Be very careful thinking that college-commit girls don't need to play a highly competitive final summer season. Ask their college coaches how they feel about that. D1 is obviously super-competitive and D3 schools we've had girls go to are carrying bigger and bigger rosters and have no problem cutting girls, even incoming freshman, if they aren't focused and ready to go.

SB45 · Oct 13, 2016

Thanks RichK...I would end up with largely non-college bound players I think. If going on to college, would college coaches expect players to -arrive at school early? play for specific coaches in summer? not play to avoid getting hurt?

riseball · Oct 13, 2016

Our 18U team has a mix of 8th - 12th graders and in the summer some college players. As players age out we bring on younger players. We also end up with an older player at times that got lost in the recruiting process or was with an organization that failed them. We only have college bound players or those actively working the recruiting process. If a player decides college ball is not for them, we help them find an opportunity with another team. While they are with us we do our best to prepare them physically and mentally for the rigors of playing softball in college.

let it be fun · Oct 13, 2016

SB45 said:
In our area there are fewer 18U teams, which makes sense. They are typically structured the same as the younger age groups. Some fall ball before the snow flies, indoor winter practices, and largely focus on tournaments in the summer after school season. I expect this would be hard to manage and to keep the team together successfully over the summer...makes me think that maybe an 18U program should be structured differently...and what are the priorities from a player's perspective? Assuming an 18U team is largely comprised of...

HS seniors who will be finishing their last season of school ball and hoping to play in college

HS seniors playing their last school season and NOT playing in college

HS juniors who are older for their grade who still have ongoing motivation to play

16U eligible players who are playing up

If you expect your team to largely be seniors, whether or not they are playing in college...I can't see a lot of time, motivation, or focus on them playing in a full summer of travel ball after their senior season of school ball ends. So...my thinking is...does it make sense for an 18U program to be more weighted towards fall ball, maybe an indoor winter league, and 1 or 2 early summer tournaments to wrap things up?

It all depends on your priorities. If you have a lot of girls who will not play in college, I would suggest playing a somewhat lighter schedule in the summer and also carrying a few extra players. Obviously these girls are playing for the fun of it so the priority is enjoying it. I have seen 14-16 girls work out just fine at 18U. That way you can work around grad parties, their last chance to go the the lake with their family before college, etc... Quite honestly, the most successful teams that I have seen with players who do not want to play in college are teams that do almost no fall or winter work, almost no practice, and just show up to play tourneys in the summer. Make it cheap and fun and good quality girls will be lining up to play.

SB45 · Oct 13, 2016

I think "It all depends on your priorities" is what I'm thinking too.

RichK · Oct 13, 2016

SB45 said:
Thanks RichK...I would end up with largely non-college bound players I think. If going on to college, would college coaches expect players to -arrive at school early? play for specific coaches in summer? not play to avoid getting hurt?

We're in our fourth year at 18U (I know others have even more experience, and definitely more D1 experience) but we've always played through nationals last week of July and then girls typically head off to college along with everyone else, a week or two later in most counts. Never had a girl have to end a season early...and as I said we've always had college coaches that want the best prepped against the best competition players they can get...good luck.

Should an 18U program be structured differently?

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

SB45

Dad, Coach, Chauffeur

RichK

SB45

Dad, Coach, Chauffeur

riseball

let it be fun

SB45

Dad, Coach, Chauffeur

RichK

Similar threads

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Share this page

Online statistics

Forum statistics