2 games into the season, we had about a dozen practices, softball minors manager here, we have 2 LA7s, 3 LA8s, 3 LA9s, and two LA10s (most of our LA10s are in Majors)
My dilemma is that one of my LA7s and couple of my LA8s (including my daughter) are outplaying the LA10s, one in particular.
Once I designate a P and C (only 4 girls willing to catch, including the 3 who can pitch), options are fairly limited to round out IF and have a reasonable chance to make outs in the field. I give every player some IF time each game (usually at least two innings, with only 10 it is pretty easy, and we play 4 in OF, so no one ever sits), but inevitably some girls end up playing more IF time than others, and the one LA10 will probably spend more time in OF than some of the LA7s and the LA8s, and all the LA9s (I give her IF time at 3B, since at this level generally the only outs you get from player at 3B are force outs at 3B).
One thing I really try to do is prepare older girls whatever level I am coaching at for the next level, but one girls absolutely moves out of way of ball every time it comes near her in field (she bats OK), the other tries real hard, very strong, just cannot coordinate herself for a decent throw. Worked hard with these two players in practices, but now that games have begun, not really a lot of practice time available (will be lucky to do one a week).
I am trying to balance making it possible for girls to make plays, with giving each girl a good experience and opportunities.
Do you think it will cause issues with the older girls and/or parents if the LA7s and LA8s are playing mostly IF, while some of the older girls play mostly OF (but still getting 2 innings a game normally in IF).
One thing I am doing this year is tracking where each player plays each inning, so if there are inquiries, I have good records to fall back on (one year when I had 16 kids (yes, 16!) I had a dad ask me after the 2nd or 3rd game why his daughter was not getting more IF time).
My dilemma is that one of my LA7s and couple of my LA8s (including my daughter) are outplaying the LA10s, one in particular.
Once I designate a P and C (only 4 girls willing to catch, including the 3 who can pitch), options are fairly limited to round out IF and have a reasonable chance to make outs in the field. I give every player some IF time each game (usually at least two innings, with only 10 it is pretty easy, and we play 4 in OF, so no one ever sits), but inevitably some girls end up playing more IF time than others, and the one LA10 will probably spend more time in OF than some of the LA7s and the LA8s, and all the LA9s (I give her IF time at 3B, since at this level generally the only outs you get from player at 3B are force outs at 3B).
One thing I really try to do is prepare older girls whatever level I am coaching at for the next level, but one girls absolutely moves out of way of ball every time it comes near her in field (she bats OK), the other tries real hard, very strong, just cannot coordinate herself for a decent throw. Worked hard with these two players in practices, but now that games have begun, not really a lot of practice time available (will be lucky to do one a week).
I am trying to balance making it possible for girls to make plays, with giving each girl a good experience and opportunities.
Do you think it will cause issues with the older girls and/or parents if the LA7s and LA8s are playing mostly IF, while some of the older girls play mostly OF (but still getting 2 innings a game normally in IF).
One thing I am doing this year is tracking where each player plays each inning, so if there are inquiries, I have good records to fall back on (one year when I had 16 kids (yes, 16!) I had a dad ask me after the 2nd or 3rd game why his daughter was not getting more IF time).