- Jun 12, 2015
- 3,848
- 83
Moving to the big name org at 10u/12u is a lazy (albeit tempting) approach to choosing a team. You get a pass on your first team, after that parents should learn to be proactive in finding the right teamS before tryout season. My attitude is to choose the best team fit and take it yr by yr at this age and help her enjoy the sport.
My DD had the opportunity to join a new big name org team (college connections...blah.blah.blah) with coaches that I knew and respected but we ended up choosing a closer no-name team with coaches and players that was a better fit for what MY DD needed THIS year. My thought is that if she is good enough and desires to play college then she can make the big name teams later when the other kids burn out or she just beats them out.
Of course there are just people that buy cars every 3 months so is it a surprise they move their kids on different teams just as often?
This is how I feel. We played on a bigger name A-level team last year and it just wasn't FUN. It was a lot of pressure, and my kid is mostly oblivious to that, but most of her teammates weren't. I never saw laughing or smiling during games; they did not seem to be having any fun. We thought hard about it and decided IF she decides she wants to play in college, BIG IF, we can transition to a bigger name in 14U. Before then, it doesn't really matter where she plays as long as it's good competition and she's the 1 or 2 pitcher. This fall has been probably the most fun we've ever had with softball - her as a player, DH as a coach, and me just as the cheering mom. I see her doing a little dance and laughing in the circle and I have no doubt we made the right call. If we'd continued the way we were going it's a lot more likely 14U wouldn't even be a thing, because she'd get sick of it before then.