It sounds to me like the folks running your league are relatively inexperienced with higher level softball, and there was not much planning other than "let's have a 10U travel team!". So from that point of view, yes, the league is a train wreck. Is it something that can be fixed? Absolutely. However, poor planning and execution are certainly reasons to leave a program and look for something better. If this were an actual 10U travel team and not a rec league, would you pick up and leave? I would hope that you would. I don't think it is enough to say this is a rec league and you should cut them a break because they don't know what they are doing. They did not deliver on what they said they would, and I would look for better options in the future for my kids.
Am I doing the right thing?
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GG- So who are they scrimmaging on Thursday nights and Saturdays? Why is your DD not getting innings during the scrimmages? What I am hearing is that a couple guys who had kids on a pretty good rec all star team decided to make a travel team. They probably are the Daddy's of the two pitchers. I could be wrong. You will never get a fair shake as long as you are uner their guidance. No matter how many lessons you take your DD to. I have seen this scenerio countless times. They will run whatever girls that threaten their DD's playing time off. My suggestion is to find the closest local TB tournaments you can find this fall. Look around, make some calls, and drive a little if you have to. If your DD is serious about playing and you are as passionate about the game as you seem to be, I would find her an actual TB team to be on. One that practices a couple times a week and plays real torunaments on weekends. Are there any bigger name organizations around where you live? What part of the country are you in? Your PC may know of a some teams in the area also.
GG, joemcq is correct in that if your DD wants to pitch you have to find opportunities for mound time. High-quality pitching instruction, practice, etc. is all vital to her success, but nothing replaces game time experience.
Look on the websites of softball organizations around your area and they usually have a message board for teams looking for players or players looking for teams. I had to do the same thing with my DD....wasn't getting any mound time on current TB team....posted on a message board...contacted by a team that had little to no pitching...she turned out to be the best pitcher they had and she got lots of mound time. We stayed with her regular TB team because it is close to home and she has friends on that team. We still pick up with the team that gave her all the mound time. I owe that coach a lot. He was the one that gave my DD the chance and developed her into a solid pitcher along with her PC.
Hard decision to make sometimes.
Look on the websites of softball organizations around your area and they usually have a message board for teams looking for players or players looking for teams. I had to do the same thing with my DD....wasn't getting any mound time on current TB team....posted on a message board...contacted by a team that had little to no pitching...she turned out to be the best pitcher they had and she got lots of mound time. We stayed with her regular TB team because it is close to home and she has friends on that team. We still pick up with the team that gave her all the mound time. I owe that coach a lot. He was the one that gave my DD the chance and developed her into a solid pitcher along with her PC.
Hard decision to make sometimes.
From the standpoint of the local organization, fall softball is always more difficult to organize in our area. New school situations, distractions and less participation impacts players and coaches alike. It is often difficult organizing and getting the right teams in the right divisions while dealing with player or team defections. It is a fluid environment that volunteer organizations often have difficulty with. Even with the best intentions of the local softball association, it may look like thoughtless disregard.
Most softball organizations are making a good faith effort to provide a quality experience to the players. The problem is the affect on the player is indistinguishable from a poorly organized or malevolent organization.
Most softball organizations are making a good faith effort to provide a quality experience to the players. The problem is the affect on the player is indistinguishable from a poorly organized or malevolent organization.
My DD has been in much the same position of the OP. We stayed with the organization for a long while and supplemented it by finding a club team.
It was only in my DD's second year 14U that she stopped playing with the local organization and played club ball exclusively.
Keep at it. You will find a way. Your positive support and your DD's love of the sport will drive her success.
It was only in my DD's second year 14U that she stopped playing with the local organization and played club ball exclusively.
Keep at it. You will find a way. Your positive support and your DD's love of the sport will drive her success.
- Jun 19, 2013
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- 28
Just from what I've been seeing on DFP the last few months you guys are very serious about softball, or at least you and your daughter may be 
It sounds to me like you need to find some more like minded people to play with like many people above are suggesting. One of the newspapers in our area has an on-line forum where teams post for try-outs and pick-up players, you can ask your PC, I just googled softball tournaments in our nearest city and got the names of teams who had participated the prior summer - then I googled the teams themselves to find out where they were located and if they looked like a good options. Not sure how small of a town you are in, but hopefully there is a crew of folks not to far away that is serious about training this winter. We found our new team and my daughter is growing by leaps and bounds this summer. I can't imagine if we were missing out on all that she is learning and heading into next year with our old team. She needs a coach who is going to give her a shot to use all the skills you've been working on.
It sounds to me like you need to find some more like minded people to play with like many people above are suggesting. One of the newspapers in our area has an on-line forum where teams post for try-outs and pick-up players, you can ask your PC, I just googled softball tournaments in our nearest city and got the names of teams who had participated the prior summer - then I googled the teams themselves to find out where they were located and if they looked like a good options. Not sure how small of a town you are in, but hopefully there is a crew of folks not to far away that is serious about training this winter. We found our new team and my daughter is growing by leaps and bounds this summer. I can't imagine if we were missing out on all that she is learning and heading into next year with our old team. She needs a coach who is going to give her a shot to use all the skills you've been working on.
- Aug 20, 2013
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WOW! I am blown away. Yes joemcq51, the two pitchers are Daddy's girls. They do mix the travel and rec kids up evenly for the scrimmages, but as I thought before the season began, only the travel kids get the infield positions 99% of the time. I accepted it a while ago, but now I feel like, why should we fill out the outfield for them so they can practice before their tourneys. If she was able to field and hit, I would be happy with learning this. I am fine with her not pitching so much, with hopes on the spring. But like I said, no one is hitting and that means no one is fielding. Though she is getting a lot of sliding practice at home from being walked.
It is a quandry. I don't know that either her or I have our sights set as high to work towards travel. Honestly, I would just like her to be successful at rec. and then go from there. Taste a little success and then decide if she wants more.
We have thought about league jumping, but the other two in our area have the rep of being further disorganized. Each team has to have at least two pitchers in the spring. Each child can only pitch 3 innings a game and the games are 6 innings. So once the league starts the winter work outs in January, I will try and get a feel for how many "pitchers vs. teams" we have for the 10U. There are about 8 playing fall ball now. I may be totally wrong, but I would think that anyone who wanted a chance to pitch would play fall for the hopes of circle time--who knows. So as long as there are at least 4 10U teams, we should stand a good shot as long as we continue to improve.
How in the world do you call around to the 3 different leagues in the area to see if there is even a possibility of them needing another pitcher without seeming awful?
GG
It is a quandry. I don't know that either her or I have our sights set as high to work towards travel. Honestly, I would just like her to be successful at rec. and then go from there. Taste a little success and then decide if she wants more.
We have thought about league jumping, but the other two in our area have the rep of being further disorganized. Each team has to have at least two pitchers in the spring. Each child can only pitch 3 innings a game and the games are 6 innings. So once the league starts the winter work outs in January, I will try and get a feel for how many "pitchers vs. teams" we have for the 10U. There are about 8 playing fall ball now. I may be totally wrong, but I would think that anyone who wanted a chance to pitch would play fall for the hopes of circle time--who knows. So as long as there are at least 4 10U teams, we should stand a good shot as long as we continue to improve.
How in the world do you call around to the 3 different leagues in the area to see if there is even a possibility of them needing another pitcher without seeming awful?
GG
- Feb 7, 2013
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I'm not sure what the concern is? The obvious answer is your DD works hard and in the spring she will be one of the top pitchers. You said the current pitchers are walking everyone, so if I pitcher comes along (your DD) who is more accurate and effective, the coaches will pitch her. Don't take the easy route of trying to find a better league, its sounds like it doesn't exist in your area anyways. Good luck. I'm hoping in 6 months you have a success story to share with us.
- Jun 19, 2013
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It sounds like there is a lot to be concerned about. It sounds like a horrible version of rec fall ball. Why is trying to find a better league the easy route? Wouldn't it be the potentially harder route but with possible worthwhile benefits of better coaching (we've determined that these guys stand around on the side lines and watch the girls without input or training), better competition and better organization and even possibly better opportunities for pitching. If it doesn't exist I guess you don't have any options . . . we drive 45 minutes one way because we wanted the easy route ourselves.
I agree Class of 2020. If the coaches remain the same - and that often is the case - they will most likely pitch their own daughters. Pitchers parents are experts at backing into reasons why their little pumpkin should be in the circle. We aren't always a rational bunch..... : )
