Question for Hal

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Jun 13, 2009
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Hal, you once posted a statistic (I don't know if you made it up or if it's real) about the % of pitchers that quit after a certain age. Do you recall what I'm talking about? I cannot recall what thread it was on or if it was an actual "stat" or just your experience.

CG
 

halskinner

Banned
May 7, 2008
2,681
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At the 16u level, 70% of the girls simply drop out of this sport for what is surely a multitude of reasons.

Not specifically pitchers but all positions.

Some association (I have always believed it was the ASA) did this study. That percentage was quoted to me by a Div 1 head coach of two different colleges. Not my experience or opinion. However, I dont doubt it for a second seeing how many 12u, 14u, 16u and 18u teams are at tourneys in my area. VERY sharp dropoff at the 16u level. Way less 18u teams than 16u from what I have seen also. ,
 
Last edited:
Apr 9, 2012
366
0
I see alot of 12U teams not make it to 14U around here. And even less 14U teams survive to 16U.......
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
Fwiw ...

According to the USSSA website, there were 3,162 teams registered nationwide for 12U in 2012. There 2,162 registered for 16U. That would be a drop of 31.9 percent.

12U - 3,162
14U - 3,171
16U - 2,152
 
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halskinner

Banned
May 7, 2008
2,681
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Dont know if USSSA would be a good overview.

Last I read, maybe 7 years ag/, the ASA had 12.5 million registered players. I thinkl the ASA would be the only group that could come up with those stats. I think ASA is strong everywhere where the other association are not strong everywhere.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
Dont know if USSSA would be a good overview.

Last I read, maybe 7 years ag/, the ASA had 12.5 million registered players. I thinkl the ASA would be the only group that could come up with those stats. I think ASA is strong everywhere where the other association are not strong everywhere.

I agree that the USSSA numbers may or may not mean much. More info required. But a 70 percent dropoff from 14U to 16U seems pretty steep. Perhaps you are right, but I would like to see the ASA's stats on it. Hope someone will dig them up.

For those that do dropout, I wonder what is the bigger culprit - Is it the weaker players, or the burned out players who are more likely to leave?
 
Mar 11, 2013
270
0
Jackson, MS
I overheard a discussion about the dropout thing today. They were discussing some kids that were ringers that should have gone on to play. They named some that they said were just burned out. Dads that were pushing them to play every weekend year round, made them good, but also burned them out. One just decided not to play any tournament ball this year and just wanted to play school ball, and their school wasn't going to be all that good.
 

halskinner

Banned
May 7, 2008
2,681
0
Every reason you can think of was kicked around some months ago. Boyfriends, drivers license, other sports, etc.

I still think the female ego thing has something to do with it too. If they feel they are one of the best players in their area, they stick with it. If they feel they are not, they drop out because who wants to be seen as 'Just another pitcher, 2nd baseman, catcher, whatever'.

I know when I was young college baseball standouts kind of of invadede the A div in my area. When they embarrased themselves because they could not hit a riseball, they all quit but a couple of them. Asked one if he was interested in playing for a 'B' team, thought I was gonna have to fight the guy he goit so mad.
 
Mar 31, 2011
93
6
I think the older girls want to avoid competition within a peer group. Failure or lack of success destroys friendships. The social climate that we have in HS drives most girls to avoid any competitive activity that could make them feel inadequate.

Had a local catcher/pitcher, 3 year HS starters in their Junior year have a "falling out" on the field, half way into the year. They were life long friends, grew up neighbors, practiced together for years, All-State, both had offers from DII colleges. Both quit. They are now very close friends again. No Softball at all.

On the dirt, whenever one failed they blamed the other. "she not hitting her spots", "she not framing", "she is not throwing what I called" Or "she dropped that strike on purpose". Drove them apart.

HS coach was actually glad when it was done. Instead of a run at state, he spent the year mediating between the two.
 

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