Skipping 12U

marriard said:

What other options are there?

If I could avoid it, I would. 14yr olds are a different species. Boys, classes, maturity, etc, etc... Often later practice times. Playing up more than a year is a big jump unless you are REALLY good or the team is not really that great (so a lower 14U team). if she is good for her age (but not great) where will she rank on this team? Is she going to get enough playing time or just be there making up numbers? All questions you should be asking.

Also if there are HS freshman on the team you are going to face the issue where some of this team is going to be playing HS at some point - a lot of 14U teams can't play during HS season. So even if it is OK this season, you are going to be looking again shortly.

The extra practice time probably has to come from you and your DD.

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We are in MO and high school ball is played in the fall. She has a few other opportunities out there with one being playing for a coach she has in the past. DD has said no to that due to daddy ball issues. Coaches daughter broke her hand midway through season and only sat a few innings due to TD decisions not the coach. The other option mom is saying no to due to distance even though step-mom and I have said we will take care of getting her to and from practices/training.

DD is an above average outfielder in 10u and has been catching 14U pitchers during lessons for around a year. The thing I am worried about the most is her fitting in because of the age difference. I think she can play OF just fine but will struggle behind the plate a bit. Batting is one thing that worries me as well but if she works hard enough she should get down.

No facts to back me up but I am OK with 14U, 16u starts to scare me.

https://www.discussfastpitch.com/being-softball-parent/34540-first-major-setback.html

Based on this post, I would not recommend a jump of 2-3 years ahead. Even a 10a player would struggle to move to 14b. 07's going against 04's is a major, major jump. Not sure what part of Missouri you are in, but guest playing the fall and picking up a team over the winter can be another option. Lots of Kansas City area teams are looking for catchers at the 12u level as well....

I would find other 12U options if it were my DD. There are too many negatives and not enough positives.

Socially is a concern. How is the softball in the area you will be playing at? My DD is staying down in 12U for another year (3rd). She was the #2 last year for a solid B class team. All the other girls moved up and are playing 14U. Ace pitched good this weekend. #3 thew ok but couldn't finish. #4 got pulled. #5 threw well for a 16U team. Only one of these pitchers would be a 12U A class pitcher. 12U is better locally for some reason in our area. We are traveling and playing 12U for better competition and not to far over her head.

My daughter moved to 18U as a 13 year old during the summer before entering 9th grade. Her high school coach believed that once you get to high school, you will be playing against older girls so get used to it. The jump from 10U to 14U seems different to me. First of all, the 12U years are some of the most fun and I would have hated for my daughter not to have had that experience. As other have mentioned, the social issues are more of a problem at that age. In a weird way, 18U girls focused on playing softball in college are more mature and less of a social issue than 14U girls who are just trying to figure things out. Skipping 14U may be ok, but I would not recommend skipping 12U.

I would say as long as everyone is open minded about the situation. She might sit the bench some. Just saying she's the
young one.. If she learns a lot from the coach and plays stronger with the older girls it might be worth it. My dd likes playing
with the older girls. I've gotten where I'd rather her be on a team her own age. If a older girls team needs a kid game day she's
always ready to help out.

jimbob2 said:

My daughter moved to 18U as a 13 year old during the summer before entering 9th grade. Her high school coach believed that once you get to high school, you will be playing against older girls so get used to it. The jump from 10U to 14U seems different to me. First of all, the 12U years are some of the most fun and I would have hated for my daughter not to have had that experience. As other have mentioned, the social issues are more of a problem at that age. In a weird way, 18U girls focused on playing softball in college are more mature and less of a social issue than 14U girls who are just trying to figure things out. Skipping 14U may be ok, but I would not recommend skipping 12U.

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Don't remember who but someone stated to not move up to fast because the scouts will be at the 14U and 16U games instead of 18U games. I have a 12U DD so I have no clue. Just thought it was interesting when I read it.

Tango said:

Don't remember who but someone stated to not move up to fast because the scouts will be at the 14U and 16U games instead of 18U games. I have a 12U DD so I have no clue. Just thought it was interesting when I read it.

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That is the common myth among those that have no idea how to get kids recruited, and/or are more invested in chasing plastic rather than getting kids signed. The idea that a kid who has the goods to play at the 18U level will have a better chance of getting recruited playing down at 14-16U shows a basic lack of understanding of the recruiting process.

My opinion is that 12u is the toughest to skip. A lot happens the ball gets bigger, the pitcher is further away, the girls start becoming women. In 10U there are kids who still sleep with a toy, at 14u there are girls who sleep with boys... Its a big jump, in the game and in the social aspects. If your dd is not the absolute best player in her age group and her growth as a player is suffering due to poor compitition at practice, I would hesitate to skip over 12U because there will be no advantage to doing so.