Stick it out or move on after season?

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Nov 4, 2016
7
0
Daughter has played ball for 8 years to include all stars. Has always been the top 3 player. Everyone kept pushing us to TB. Didn't know anything about TB. This is my daughters first real year of TB & she has went from Top dog to puppy pooch. This was expected since she actually landed an "A" class team mostly based off of her determination, willingness, effort, love for sport & etc... She is surrounded with girls that is much bigger, stronger & have been playing TB for years. She gets to play a few innings of the pool games & usually subs as a runner for pitcher/catcher during bracket but has yet to swing a bat during a bracket. She is not up to par in any aspects compared to the other girls but making gains. My biggest concern is that even if her team has 10+ players the coach continues to pick up any better players from any team & play them over the girls that are actually on the team. Some days I tell myself she will benefit from playing with a better team & eventually get there. Other days I feel that she had rather play for a lesser team to see more playing time. The coaching she receives is spot on & couldn't ask for better. However, there is constant & continuous pressure for her to get better, faster. I don't want her to burn out since between practice & private lessons she is involved 5 days a week not counting 6 if there is a game/tournament. I have asked her if she would rather play for a lesser team to get more playing time or had she rather play with a better team. She states to stay with her current team because of the obvious reasons. However, I know the pressure to become better faster is a huge burden & the lack of playing time is bothering her. Has anyone else been in this situation & what do you recommend? What was your experience? What do you recommend?
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
There was a similar post yesterday I think.

Coach is getting her in game a little bit which sounds positive to me.

My opinion would be give her a little time, don'the let them rush her.

Better sooner does not work.
 
Aug 10, 2016
686
63
Georgia
My biggest concern is that even if her team has 10+ players the coach continues to pick up any better players from any team & play them over the girls that are actually on the team.

DD isn't in TB but personally if this is happening, I'd be pissed and find somewhere else unless there were real reasons to stay. Being on an A level team is great but if she's not getting playing time, it's not going to help her get better. Is this a team where some of the bigger girls are going to be aging out?
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
What age you said playing for 8 years so I'm guess 14U at least...Only that super special player is going from All Star Rec to Travel Ball "A" level, in 5 years of rec All Stars I had 3 players that I would say were A level TB players the others simply would be where your DD is maybe on the team but on the bench.

If you have ten or eleven players and coach is calling in guest players rather than start/play your DD there is no other way to interpret it but that she is simply not ready. I know it might bruise her ego but she can't get better watching games from the bench. Find a quality B team where she is in the middle of the pack over the holidays and start practicing and playing with them in the new year. Just be honest with your coach and DD it just does not make sense if she is not going to play at least half the time to be on the team you are just basically subsidizing everyone else on the team. Does she play school ball?
 
Nov 4, 2016
7
0
There is not a better team to play for within a 50 mile radius & we actually feel honored that the coach see's something in her to keep on the team. The practices 3 days a week are extremely rigorous, effective & informative. I have witnessed girls crying puking, swearing never to return. However, the team seems to get better as daughter does but daughter is still behind. It really doesn't matter from my experience whether the girls are aging out if the coach continues to recruit stronger pick-ups from other teams which leads me back to my concern. It appears the pitcher, catcher, SS, 2nd baseman, will carry the load of the team very, very far. The rest of the team is utilized based on needs of position at current point, time, & score of game. I want to ensure that everyone understands that I'm in know way knocking the girls for being better, more experienced or superior to my daughter. Nor am I knocking the coaching, team or anything else. My only concern is what would you do in my daughters current situation based on other parents experience. She really loves the sport but I don't want her to lose interest by not receiving enough playing time. The best way I can describe it is that each girl serves their purpose until someone better comes along; then usually due to lack of playing time the lesser girl seems to move on. Except for the positions previously mentioned because it would be really difficult to find someone better at those positions so those girls are secure. When we win rings or huge trophies I'm not certain that they mean anything to her because she didn't have a lot to do with the outcome. This is my opinion & not my daughters words. Thanks!
 
Nov 4, 2016
7
0
What age you said playing for 8 years so I'm guess 14U at least...Only that super special player is going from All Star Rec to Travel Ball "A" level, in 5 years of rec All Stars I had 3 players that I would say were A level TB players the others simply would be where your DD is maybe on the team but on the bench.

If you have ten or eleven players and coach is calling in guest players rather than start/play your DD there is no other way to interpret it but that she is simply not ready. I know it might bruise her ego but she can't get better watching games from the bench. Find a quality B team where she is in the middle of the pack over the holidays and start practicing and playing with them in the new year. Just be honest with your coach and DD it just does not make sense if she is not going to play at least half the time to be on the team you are just basically subsidizing everyone else on the team. Does she play school ball?

I agree with most of what you said. It's really difficult to find an in between team (B) within a hours drive. My daughter is probably a "B" player with capabilities of being an "A" with work which is also probably what the coaches see. Yes, she made the school ball team.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
DD does not get to hung up on games, she wants to play though.

Practice is were work is, might take a little bit. She will catchup.
 
Nov 3, 2016
14
0
What would I do? My oldest was in a similar situation when she was 12. I explained to her the only way to pass the better girls is to out work them and that is what she did. Work work work. Success should be judged on rate of growth not only playing time. The goal was never to be the best 12 year old.
 

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