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Aug 13, 2017
25
3
Looking for some input for my daughter. We are pretty new to this sport and learning alot. DD loves it and is definitely a work in progress in terms of learning the skills of the game as well as the nuances of playing competitively. Please bear with the long explanation...

Background
This past season we took the last spot on a 1st year 10u team in an organization that has a good reputation. Team had a very successful season. Coaching was systematic, well planned, and the practices were, for the most part, everything we wanted for our DD. She played alot of games, but sat more than the others...by a fair amount. Got maybe a 1/3 of the bats as the top players. Played mostly the same position when she did get to play. Sometimes in bracket play she did nothing but pinch run. She progressed in some areas, but regressed in some as well unfortunately. I think pressure to perform got to her at times. She got through it and was playing better by the end of the season. Like to think we have a handle on where she is....had option to go to team where coaching was not as good but playing time would be much greater....chose to go with the coaching. The team was playing at a pretty high level...its a great team with great coaching. Our DD is not a bad player, but she is behind the majority of the players on the team. So much, that we don't think it is a good fit moving forward (for the present time anyway)...and do not expect to be offered a spot on the same team.

Recent Tryouts
Went to a tryout for a new independent team in our town (3rd attempt by an independent team in this age group in our town)...offered after 1st tryout. Taking a spot on this team would assure her of plenty of playing time...more in key infield positions than not. Coaching??? no idea how. The schedule will be about 1/2 what we played on the previous team...and at a lower level. He expects to ease in for this season and possibly 1st season of 12u then get into the deep end by 2nd 12u season.

Went to a 2nd tryout for another organization that fields teams at pretty much every level...private workout.
2nd year 10u team. Got a voice mail offering a spot..fall/winter/Spring&Summer plans seem more in line with what I think will allow her to continue to build. Coaching?? Last years HC moved up to 12u with his DD. Coach has coached travel teams for years at 16u level...what does that mean? I have no idea. A step below competition wise from last team, but coaching I can't imagine will be same we had. This organization doesn't have a reputation for elite teams playing in national events or even focused on that level of play....they kinda control where their teams play and keep them in maybe a 2 hr radius.

Went to original team/club tryouts this past weekend...DD did pretty well, but do not expect an offer from her old team..their plans for NOW are bigger than where our DD abilities are. There will be a 1st year 10u team being formed that will take some 2nd year players...Coach has good reputation, good parents that all get along etc... Will play a schedule pretty close to what we played last year...a couple fall events, winter training, 6-8 in the Spring/summer.

Is there a drawback for a 2nd year 10u to play on a 1st year 10u team?? This is something that coach mentioned himself at parent meeting at end of tryouts...that if parent did not like idea of their 07 playing on an 08 team to please let them know. My only concern was that we would be looking elsewhere after 1 season...are there other concerns in this situation that I have not considered? I mean looking elsewhere is a concern, but what other reason would a parent not want to be the older year player on a younger team?

Any input would be appreciated...I just don't know what to do with our situation.

What are OUR goals...well to learn to play the game the right way, to continue to love the game, to progress as a player..to prepare her to play in high school & to look back on it as a great experience. As she gets older and HER goals become evident...we will change as needed. College ball is not THE goal, but if it becomes her goal we will adjust.


Kinda leaning towards
a. 1st yr 10u team in the hopes of quality coaching and opportunity will prepare her for 12U

the local new start up is last on my list...might be 1st on the wife's list unfortunately.

Any input would be appreciated..
 
Last edited:
Apr 20, 2015
961
93
Been there done that.... would not be an older member on a first year team because of exactly what you stated having to start all over again. Also have done the independent thing and it's extremely difficult. Given what you mentioned about it being the third try I'd bet there won't be a next time with that team either. If you think your kiddo is in over her head with her old team sounds like the 2nd year 10 at the slightly lower level will be the best fit for her...good luck

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Oct 30, 2014
292
18
Seattle
If the coaching is best on the '08 team I would choose that one.

After a year being on the bottom of a team is might increase your dd's confidence to be towards the top. Plus good coaching? Win, win to me.
 
Feb 20, 2015
643
0
illinois
I would choose the best team that she can join where she is going to be getting regular playing time. IF that happens to be the first year 10u team, that is ok. Sounds like they have good coaching. Only downside if having to find another team next year when she gets to 12u age.
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
To me it's simple. At a fairly young age the point of playing is to play. If you can find a team where you can get a lot of reps and have a good coach it's good situation.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
You seem caught up on her playing for an elite team. It sounds like she is not yet an elite player. This is a big issue around here, 8 million teams and they all want to play A. So you have like 3 teams that are actually A teams and 50 teams that should really be playing B except for the 1-2 A level players they managed to land, who will probably leave for one of the 3 that are actual A teams at some point. Those A players should just form a couple of actual A teams and the other girls should play at or just above their level. IMO at this age it is much more important to get the reps than to be able to say she played A ball on an elite team. Nobody cares about that at this age. Put her on a team where she'll be top 7 but preferably not top 3.
 
Jul 14, 2017
181
28
What are your daughter's thoughts and feelings? Was there one team with more chemistry? I wouldn't get too caught up in 1st/2nd yr team because more often than not teams are mixed AND when you are at tourneys a 1st yr team plays 2nd yr teams. Have you contacted her coach from this past yr? Ask him what she needs to work on. Let them know that you want to stay in the organization. I would let her play on the younger 10u team, gain confidence and skills, then move her up to 12u with the original team.


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May 4, 2016
200
28
What are your daughter's thoughts and feelings? Was there one team with more chemistry? I wouldn't get too caught up in 1st/2nd yr team because more often than not teams are mixed AND when you are at tourneys a 1st yr team plays 2nd yr teams. Have you contacted her coach from this past yr? Ask him what she needs to work on. Let them know that you want to stay in the organization. I would let her play on the younger 10u team, gain confidence and skills, then move her up to 12u with the original team.


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Exactly what team did your daughter like best? That is usually the answer.
 
Aug 13, 2017
25
3
You seem caught up on her playing for an elite team.
I clearly do NOT think this...which is why I stated that former team...which is a USSSA B division team...was not a good fit for her. Nowhere in my post were the words Elite or A level team mentioned by me in my search for input. There are not even any USSSA A level teams within 100 miles of where we live at that age. Not sure what you thought you read there
 
Aug 13, 2017
25
3
What are your daughter's thoughts and feelings? Was there one team with more chemistry? I wouldn't get too caught up in 1st/2nd yr team because more often than not teams are mixed AND when you are at tourneys a 1st yr team plays 2nd yr teams. Have you contacted her coach from this past yr? Ask him what she needs to work on. Let them know that you want to stay in the organization.

She says she wants to stay on original team...end of story on her end. I don't think there was any good way to measure chemistry in these tryout situations. being a mixed team not an issue..I realize you play some 1st year some 2nd year...my issue was on a new team for only 1 season, then looking again. I have talked to her former coach and gotten some feedback.
 

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