I can't say that travel ball has exploded at 12U. 10U is still hard to find. And pitching at 14U is dwindling. Heck, it is dwindling at 12U, too. Coaches want 50 mph and 5 pitches.
I'm going to send the interviewer a tripod.
One other thing that hasn't been mentioned. The "Good Ole Boys Club" mentality within rec leagues. For the most part the leagues have many, many more boys than girls playing ball. It's not unusual for there to be a boys first mentality when it comes to the running of the organization. The girls will often get the poorer fields to play on and are often well down on the priority list of the organization. That can be disheartening for both the players and the parents.
One other thing that hasn't been mentioned. The "Good Ole Boys Club" mentality within rec leagues. For the most part the leagues have many, many more boys than girls playing ball. It's not unusual for there to be a boys first mentality when it comes to the running of the organization. The girls will often get the poorer fields to play on and are often well down on the priority list of the organization. That can be disheartening for both the players and the parents.
There are significantly reduced numbers for the rec programs around me, but there are dozens of travel ball teams that I don't remember hearing about a few years ago. ... When so much talent isn't playing at the rec level it diminishes the experience for the ones who are there. It's the law of unintended consequences in a way; the more advanced the sport becomes, fewer people have any interest in trying to learn it as it seems impossible to keep up with the kids who are already playing.
It look me less than 5 minutes to find the following in Facts: Sports Activity and Children | Aspen Project Play.I have done freelance for Aspen, and I can't find any softball specific data. It is all sports, it is not one sport against another that I can tell. If you can find a link to a report that singles out softball, let me know.