Play up or stay in age group?
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- Oct 27, 2009
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I believe that if she stays with the 12U team they would be very competitve. I'm afraid she wouldn't grow as much in a comfortable situation where she wouldn't have to put as much effort in to maintain her position.
Another question: at what point do I let her current coach know we are considering moving up? Do we wait until we make a decision or let him know now?
Another question: at what point do I let her current coach know we are considering moving up? Do we wait until we make a decision or let him know now?
The big thing here as a developing athlete is where is she gonna get the mos reps. If she goes to the 14 team to sit on the bench and not get as many rep on the mound or at the bat or even in the field i dont think this is a good idea. At that age she needs to get as many reps as she can to develop into a player. If she is gonna start at a high level or see the field los by all means let er go but if she isnt gonna get many game reps her old team sound like the right fit to me.
- Oct 27, 2009
- 41
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She is being recruited by the 14U team as a 1st baseman and a power hitter. I'm being told that she would be a starter as long as she preforms.
well then by all means if she is gonna pla and see better ball then do it..remember when hye say "if" she performs that she is moving up a level so she may not perform to startwith but you keep pushing her to achieve what she wants to.
- Oct 27, 2009
- 41
- 0
yes I believe she would be the starting 1st baseman. My concern would be for her as a pitcher. If she goes to the 14U team she would be competing for the #2 spot with a chance to go after #1. If she stays 12U she have the #1 spot to begin with.
It sounds like the best thing for your DD to inspire to improve now might be to move up to the 14u team. Although staying down a year with a competitive 12U team would probably not hurt her as much as you think if the team is competitive and you play other competitive 12U or even 14U teams.
My DD is 10U eligible for 2010 but plays 12U now. In my DDs situation she was just so much more physically and emotionally advanced for her age than all the girls on her 10U team. The 10U team she left was mostly 1st year travel players or small 2nd year players and still learning the basics she learned the previous year. The experience would have probably slowed her development down. She attended the 1st practice and couldn't even play catch without worrying she might hurt them by throwing too hard. She was the biggest, fastest and strongest player on the team. The money was another issue. They were asking for as much money as the 12U teams in our area to play. I really didn't feel good about spending all that money for her to play with girls she'd have to worry about throwing the ball to.
Speaking from my experience, leaving your current team may be tough to do without upsetting your current coach, especially if you have already committed to the team for the spring and their roster is set. My DD did the switch in August after tryouts but before the team had started the fall and finalized its roster giving them time to try and find a replacement. From their point of view she will be hard to replace right now. If you are deciding to leave try to let them know as soon as you can and try not to take it too personally if they are upset initially. Understand that once you leave the team you may never be welcome back. If you give them a few days to cool down I'm sure they will realize what you did is for what you feel is in the best interest of your DD and hopefully they will respect that. If at all possible do it in person or on the phone and keep it short. Don't follow up with emails explaining your reasoning as it won't change their initial feelings no matter how sound your reasoning may be. Emails won't always have the same tone as a conversation in person or on the phone will and risk coming out sounding wrong and being forwarded all over the place all out of context.
Another thing to remember is that the softball world is a small world. You will bump into the same people again and again. While I think you should try to keep your commitments... your first commitment is ultimately to your daughter and what is best for her. Hopefully they will understand. You probably know in your heart what you think would be best for her. If she feels good about the decision as well then you probably will make the right decision.
Good luck.
My DD is 10U eligible for 2010 but plays 12U now. In my DDs situation she was just so much more physically and emotionally advanced for her age than all the girls on her 10U team. The 10U team she left was mostly 1st year travel players or small 2nd year players and still learning the basics she learned the previous year. The experience would have probably slowed her development down. She attended the 1st practice and couldn't even play catch without worrying she might hurt them by throwing too hard. She was the biggest, fastest and strongest player on the team. The money was another issue. They were asking for as much money as the 12U teams in our area to play. I really didn't feel good about spending all that money for her to play with girls she'd have to worry about throwing the ball to.
Speaking from my experience, leaving your current team may be tough to do without upsetting your current coach, especially if you have already committed to the team for the spring and their roster is set. My DD did the switch in August after tryouts but before the team had started the fall and finalized its roster giving them time to try and find a replacement. From their point of view she will be hard to replace right now. If you are deciding to leave try to let them know as soon as you can and try not to take it too personally if they are upset initially. Understand that once you leave the team you may never be welcome back. If you give them a few days to cool down I'm sure they will realize what you did is for what you feel is in the best interest of your DD and hopefully they will respect that. If at all possible do it in person or on the phone and keep it short. Don't follow up with emails explaining your reasoning as it won't change their initial feelings no matter how sound your reasoning may be. Emails won't always have the same tone as a conversation in person or on the phone will and risk coming out sounding wrong and being forwarded all over the place all out of context.
Another thing to remember is that the softball world is a small world. You will bump into the same people again and again. While I think you should try to keep your commitments... your first commitment is ultimately to your daughter and what is best for her. Hopefully they will understand. You probably know in your heart what you think would be best for her. If she feels good about the decision as well then you probably will make the right decision.
Good luck.
The long term goal is for your DD to get to a 16U team as quickly as possible. 12U and 14U teams aren't recruited by the college coaches. So, find the shortest distance between where your DD is now and where she wants to be.
As for being the #2 pitcher on a 14U team--your DD needs to learn how to compete against teammates. The single most important skill is learning how to compete for playing time. No good coach gives anybody anything. The sooner your DD figures that out and learns to perform at her top performance level at practices and at games, the better she will do. Going to a team where they give her the #1 slot will make her lazy.
As to 12U vs. 14U teams--there are good 12U teams that can beat some 14U teams. The normal 12U teams aren't very good. The good 12U team slaughters its opponents at the 12U tournaments. Most of the games are laughable.
As for being the #2 pitcher on a 14U team--your DD needs to learn how to compete against teammates. The single most important skill is learning how to compete for playing time. No good coach gives anybody anything. The sooner your DD figures that out and learns to perform at her top performance level at practices and at games, the better she will do. Going to a team where they give her the #1 slot will make her lazy.
As to 12U vs. 14U teams--there are good 12U teams that can beat some 14U teams. The normal 12U teams aren't very good. The good 12U team slaughters its opponents at the 12U tournaments. Most of the games are laughable.
- Oct 27, 2009
- 41
- 0
How can you teach a 12 year old girl to be that competitive? Or can you you teach it? Is it just there or not there? When ever we discuss her being more agressive and going after what she says she wants it seems that she just doesn't have that killer instinct.
I've had many converstions with her making sure that softball is what she is passoinate about and that playing in college is what she wants and not just what I want. She seems honest when she says that it is her dream to be the best softball player ever, but when it comes down to it lately she seems more concerned about not making someone mad because she took their spot. It is frustrating because I see how good she could be. She has so many natural physical gifts but just lacks the mental part. Maybe my expectations are to high right now?
I've had many converstions with her making sure that softball is what she is passoinate about and that playing in college is what she wants and not just what I want. She seems honest when she says that it is her dream to be the best softball player ever, but when it comes down to it lately she seems more concerned about not making someone mad because she took their spot. It is frustrating because I see how good she could be. She has so many natural physical gifts but just lacks the mental part. Maybe my expectations are to high right now?
