Playing Up. Hurtful or Helpful

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Mar 7, 2012
144
0
PA
Does plying up when your not ready hurt you?

We have a great group of girls this year on our 12u team. They get along really well llaybfor each other. We are an average 12B team. The issue is we are a mix of 04/05. The parents are talking about taking the team and moving them all up to 14u instead of having them split next season.

My question is will it be harmful to the girls 12u eligible to play 14u (and probably have no shot at winning) when they could still use another year at 12s to refine their skills and possibly be competitive or will playing up the next level make them better in the long run.
 
May 16, 2016
1,020
113
Illinois
I would do what is best for YOUR daughter. I would recommend letting her build on her skills and confidence another year in 12U. Getting your butts kicked in 14U all year does not seem like a lot of fun to me. There is so much that depends on your daughters skill level and what her goal is in softball. If your daughter is one of the better players on the team I would personally go and look for a 12U A team in your area if that fits your budget and time allotment.

My daughter is in a somewhat similar situation. She is currently a 8u player, playing on a 10u B team that is average or slightly above average. She is a pretty good pitcher, especially in regards to her age. When she is not pitching she plays shortstop, and also bats in the leadoff spot for her team. Our team consist of five 10u players, four 9u players, and two 8u players. She was invited to move up with the 10u girls to make a 11U/12u B team next season. I declined the offer since I am not a fan of moving her up to play 12U when she will be a 9u player next year. I don't think going up to a bigger ball and a 40' pitching distance is going to help her development when she is that young.

We will be trying out for a few 10u A teams in July/August
 
May 4, 2016
70
18
East Coast
We will be trying out for a few 10u A teams in July/August

Many strong 10U teams play an occasional 12U tourney in the Spring or Summer to increase the level of competition. Talk about playing with house money! If you win, you are on top of the world. And if you lose, it's expected since the opponents are 12 year old giants. :)

From what I've seen, you're definitely making the right move to keep your daughter at 10U for another year, especially if she gets on a strong team with other above average players that will push her to keep getting better.
 
Jan 28, 2017
1,661
83
Daughter plays up as a 10 year old in 12U. Best move we could have made. IMO, in our area 12U TB is as good or better than 14U TB and a lot more teams. Two years away but will probably play 12U for three years and pickup with 14U some if she continues to progress.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Does plying up when your not ready hurt you?

We have a great group of girls this year on our 12u team. They get along really well llaybfor each other. We are an average 12B team. The issue is we are a mix of 04/05. The parents are talking about taking the team and moving them all up to 14u instead of having them split next season.

My question is will it be harmful to the girls 12u eligible to play 14u (and probably have no shot at winning) when they could still use another year at 12s to refine their skills and possibly be competitive or will playing up the next level make them better in the long run.

As a mixed 12U team with half the players moving up next year to 14U, how many times this season did you play up and test the waters? If the answer is zero, both the 12U and 14U players are not prepared to move up. If you have played up and held your own with some teams you already have your answer.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
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.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
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.

That is always the biggest concern when we bring a 14/15YO on to our 18U team.
 
Apr 26, 2015
703
43
DD is 12U eligible but plays 14U. This team is made up of 3 12U eligible girls, 3 girls who have to move to 16s this fall and the rest are 1st yr 14U eligible. The strongest 3 all around players are the 3 youngest players. We were worried about DD playing 14U - she is small only 5'2" and 80 lbs - a dad yesterday asked how she stayed upright when the wind blows- lol! But she is tough. She is the lead off batter and she catches and plays OF and is incredibly solid in both positions. I don't know if the younger girls on the team felt pressure to work harder because they are younger? But they have all earned every moment of playing time they get. They are all 3 starters and rarely sit. The team is a 14B team and has done well placing 1st and 2nd several times. They will play a 16s tourney to end the season and will move to 14A next year. We did not allow DD to play up until this year - but our experience this year has been nothing but goood.
 
Last edited:
Jun 11, 2012
741
63
DD skipped 2nd year 14s to play 16s and skipped 16s to play 18s but I never would have considered it at 12u. The change between 12uand 14u is big and she needed as much time as possible to grow and improve her skills.
 
May 4, 2016
200
28
My DD is an 05 and was the only 05 on the team asked to move up with the 06 girls this fall. I think she will be fine she played up to 12u when she could have stayed at 10u and never felt overwhelmed. My thought is playing against better competion only makes you better. Also she will be better prepared for a chance to make varsity as a freashman which right now is her main softball goal.
 

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