What would you do?

At the same age we practiced at the most twice a month on weekends we didn't play with optional practices during the week. It was a little different for us because our core of about 8 girls had been together 3 years which eliminated a lot of the need to work on specific things because they had worked on the same things for a while. You could also tell who wasn't taking lessons or working at home.

It would be different for a team that had not been together that long.

Seattlecoach said:

Are you talking about the recruiting level? Maybe.

But not at a high level. College teams will preach team chemistry and unity any chance they get. I think softball played right is very much a team sport.

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You can preach chemistry and "size of the dog" all you want but individual talent wins 9 times out of 10. Unlike other team sports there is little a teammate can do to help you hit, catch, or throw a ball.

Short of relays and double plays it is an individual sport.

The overall context of the conversation was with regards to team practices and how they are more practice at an early age.

GunnerShotgun said:

You can preach chemistry and "size of the dog" all you want but individual talent wins 9 times out of 10. Unlike other team sports there is little a teammate can do to help you hit, catch, or throw a ball.

Short of relays and double plays it is an individual sport.

The overall context of the conversation was with regards to team practices and how they are more practice at an early age.

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I think you forgot all of the things that are developed in team practices like:

- which player fields the bunt
- which player covers the base
- how to best handle a player caught in a rundown (pickle)
- learning defensive signs / plays for certain situations
- who handles the steal attempt and throw down assignments
- proper baserunning and picking up signs from 3rd base coach
- properly hitting the cutoff man
- the pitcher/catcher battery

When and at what age are you suppose to learn all of these fundamentals? on your own? in a tournament?

INSMAN said:

She loves playing with this particular group of girls. Here's the problem... They never practice at all. No fundamentals or anything on a consistent basis. Everyone is expected to practice on their own. But she hasn't developed at all, and has actually regressed from the player she was, before we joined the team. I always thought you practiced more than you played. But this team plays more than they practice and I don't see how she benefits from this at all. I can see this maybe at the second year 14U and up level. But at the 1st year 12U level, I don't buy it.

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OP – I truly feel your pain. I’m in a similar spot with my current 11U daughter.

We played 9U and 10U for a win at all costs Coach. Very limited player development and he admitted to not caring about practices, just wanted to Coach games. (My very loud reply to this was “Then you’d make a great Assistant Coach and should let someone else run the team.” – Yep, I was THAT a$$.)

11U we went and joined a different team with a very developmental philosophy. It was absolutely the right decision and one I made with no regrets. However, it made my daughter miserable…

We left a team with all her friends. She made new ones, but it wasn’t the same.
We left a team that wins a lot and joined one that loses a lot. Talent really matters, regardless of in-season development.

For 12U, we’re 99% likely to be going back. Means I’ll be the guy with a cap in hand, apologizing. And shutting up.

Context: DD is a pitcher. In 9U and 10U, she didn’t have to work hard to be the #1 and therefore, didn’t work hard. This drove me crazy. When we left, it forced the Coach to recruit another pitcher. In returning for 12U, there will now be another pitcher to compete with for circle time.

Rocketech1 said:

I think you forgot all of the things that are developed in team practices like:

- which player fields the bunt
- which player covers the base
- how to best handle a player caught in a rundown (pickle)
- learning defensive signs / plays for certain situations
- who handles the steal attempt and throw down assignments
- proper baserunning and picking up signs from 3rd base coach
- properly hitting the cutoff man
- the pitcher/catcher battery

When and at what age are you suppose to learn all of these fundamentals? on your own? in a tournament?

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I don't disagree with you.

GunnerShotgun said:

Softball at the older levels is an individual sport.

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Oh boy...hot button topic for me (and apologies ahead of time if I'm taking your comment in a direction you didn't intend). While there are absolutely individual skills that a player must acquire and master (hitting, throwing, pitching, tracking balls, fielding hard ground balls, etc.), communication and teamwork are paramount for success at the older levels. I love when my team of high level softball players (who communicate, play as a team, play for each other, play for the good of the team) play a team of high level softball players who care more about themselves and their individual success...we beat them 9 out of 10 times.

To the extent that some players at older levels (i.e., "recruiting" age) play only for themselves and their personal stats, we can can thank a totally f'd up recruiting climate and delusional parents convinced that their little muffin is the next Jenny Finch or insertyourfavoritebignamehere.

Regarding the OP and 12U practices, you've got to have them regularly. While players can and should work on those individual skills on their own, team practices - especially at that age - are critical for developing the team in-game chemistry, situational awareness, and comfort with the other players needed to be successful.

The "typical TB team" in my area regardless of age practices one time or less per week.

Rocketech1 said:

I think you forgot all of the things that are developed in team practices like:

- which player fields the bunt
- which player covers the base
- how to best handle a player caught in a rundown (pickle)
- learning defensive signs / plays for certain situations
- who handles the steal attempt and throw down assignments
- proper baserunning and picking up signs from 3rd base coach
- properly hitting the cutoff man
- the pitcher/catcher battery

When and at what age are you suppose to learn all of these fundamentals? on your own? in a tournament?

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I would say that once a girl has been playing competitive softball (e.g. good rec or TB) for 4 or more years these are things that get worked on a lot in a preseason
practice schedule but I guess with TB there really isn't any of that unless you don't play
in the winter and can do it then either outdoors if the weather permits or at an indoor facility.

In college baseball during the season our practices were geared towards the players getting their reps in at the plate, field, mound,etc. These are things which in a TB
environment can be done on one's own with either a parent or paid instructor. The other things can be covered in the limited the practices you do have. At 12U you shouldn't
have to be told/shown how to do them more than a couple of times if you are paying attention. 8U and maybe 10U yes, it will take more time just because they don't seem
to retain information as well at that age but once they start hitting middle school age it should stick fairly quickly, IMO.

I don't think anyone is saying that you shouldn't practice, but if you can't you can still play pretty well without practicing together a lot if you have good enough players.

INSMAN said:

DD is on a good team with a highly recognized organization. She loves playing with this particular group of girls. Here's the problem... They never practice at all. No fundamentals or anything on a consistent basis. Everyone is expected to practice on their own. But she hasn't developed at all, and has actually regressed from the player she was, before we joined the team. I always thought you practiced more than you played. But this team plays more than they practice and I don't see how she benefits from this at all. I can see this maybe at the second year 14U and up level. But at the 1st year 12U level, I don't buy it. I don't see this changing with this team either. Do you stick it out knowing she doesn't progress as quickly as she should? Or do you pick up chalks and find coaches willing to run structured practices and develop the players? The only reason we left the last team is because it dismantled. But the HC was committed to teaching the fundamentals and player development. Now... Not so much!

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What age group? I found through my DD's TB career that we practiced a lot more at the younger age groups. At 10U, 12U and 14U we practiced @ twice a week and on weekend when we did not play. 16U was more like once a week and sometimes on the weekends. 18U we practiced on weekends when we did not play.