Playing Up. Hurtful or Helpful

We had DD move up when she was 12 to play 14U. It was a chance to play for a great coach. The plus side is that she learned a lot and got much better.
The downside was that she didn't connect with the older girls and had a hard time feeling physically over matched. She did fine and when she was 13 was
a great player, but I don't think she really ever got over it. In the end what happened was she thought that she was doing it to make me happy versus what
she really wanted. She lost out on a chance to be a 12U stud for a year. If I could do it again I wouldn't even consider it.

In the end if you decide to do it, make sure that your DD really wants to do it. If she does the benefits of playing up are tremendous, but I just keep an eye out
for the social interactions.

grcsftbll said:

I always think about the social elements too. Do I want my young 06 hanging out regularly with older girls? Big difference between 10 and 13, the things they talk about, how they act, etc.

Click to expand...

j/k I agree to a certain extent but it couldn't be any worse than playing basketball with teenagers at the local playground, with no adult supervision, when I was 10 or 11 years old. That was some education

After my dd's first year of 10U, she routinely played up as a guest. Then, as a first year 12U, she increased playing up. Her 2nd year of 12U, she rarely played 12U and really played "up." As a 14U eligible player, I don't recall her playing 14U at all.

I am a big proponent of skipping 2nd year 12u and going to 14u. Unless you're on a team that might contend for a 12u national title, play 14u. Get the transition over sooner.

If the choice is between 14U B and 12U A, take the A team. It’s usually a step down when girls “play up” to B teams.

I think a lot depends on the player and the situation. DD has a December birthday, so it almost feels like she is playing up the first year of each age group. If she would have been born a few weeks later and was eligible for 12U, I think that's where she would have played this season. She is a strong kid, but pretty undersized compared to most girls in 14U. I think she would have dominated most 12U pitching and could have really gave her a confidence boost. As it stands she is having a solid year in her first year of 14U...not setting the world on fire, but probably batting around .300 and is a big contributor to her team. In the long run (if she were eligible for 12U) which would have benefited her more?

As a note to the social element, I don't think any girls on her 12U team had boyfriends, but on her 14U team quite a few do. The conversations away from softball definitely change from 12U to 14U.

I think there is a big difference between incorporating a couple of under agers into a group that has experience at the level, is physically ready and can carry their weight. But moving a whole team into a level they aren't experienced with and are physically behind is a risky proposition. In my very inexperienced opinion anyway.

My granddaughter played lacrosse and because the ages are different, she was 6 and some girls were 12. I spent time getting to know the girls and often pointing out "You know, she is a first grader." Everyone was equal on the lacrosse field and I did not see the problems that I was expecting, after my softball background.

We played a team at a tournament that sounds a lot like the op. Competitive B level team at 12s. They were way over matched at 14. They lost every game by at least 15 and that was w teams walking off bases etc. The pitcher was ok. Several girls just were not used to the speed and power at 14s. Blowing ground balls by girls in the infield etc. unless the younger girls are your best players i would not move everybody up. The biggest jump in skill speed and power imo occurs from 12u to 14u. It would be a very long year for the team especially the young ones..

Thanks guys. I am of the idea to keep them at 12u. I think it would be different if just 1 or 2 of the players were playing up but the jump would mean 5 girls playing up. I think it would be more hurtful than helpful to them I just wanted to see if I was in the wrong way of thinking before I discussed with a few of the others.