12U roster size

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May 22, 2015
410
28
Illinois
Back when I was AC for DD's team we took 14 girls. We had many of the same issues that Gambler Bob stated. It is not easy to juggle 5 girls sitting every inning and rotating them in so everybody gets playing time. We also batted the roster in pool play, and it just wasn't enough at bats for the either the better hitters or the girls that needed work. As coaches we tended to sit our girls on the bench more in favor of lesser talent sometimes just to keep the parents happy. If I were starting a new team I would take 12, and line up a couple of guest players to fill in if needed. It seems at 14U most teams around here take 11 players and keep a 12th spot open in case an A pitcher comes out of nowhere looking for a team.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Seems like sometimes ex-coaches make the best parents because they've been there.

Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no.

Our last team had a few parents that had spent some years coaching. One had also been a TB and college player. That flock made it a habit of second-guessing the in-game decisions being made by the team's very-experienced coaches. Their negativity spread like cancer outside the fences.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no.

Our last team had a few parents that had spent some years coaching. One had also been a TB and college player. That flock made it a habit of second-guessing the in-game decisions being made by the team's very-experienced coaches. Their negativity spread like cancer outside the fences.

I can definitely see that. Plus some of them just can't help but coach from behind the fence. As much as it annoys my DH I have to remind him to shhhh when DD is playing soccer. He's just dad, not a coach. I think it can be tough for them to get out of the habit sometimes. If one of them starts undermining the coaches that can't end well.

We've known we were adding a 12th for awhile. We only have one bracket level pitcher and it's just not enough. We've just been waiting for the right girl to come along (I think she has, very exciting).
 
Feb 20, 2015
643
0
illinois
Back when I was AC for DD's team we took 14 girls. We had many of the same issues that Gambler Bob stated. It is not easy to juggle 5 girls sitting every inning and rotating them in so everybody gets playing time. We also batted the roster in pool play, and it just wasn't enough at bats for the either the better hitters or the girls that needed work. As coaches we tended to sit our girls on the bench more in favor of lesser talent sometimes just to keep the parents happy. If I were starting a new team I would take 12, and line up a couple of guest players to fill in if needed. It seems at 14U most teams around here take 11 players and keep a 12th spot open in case an A pitcher comes out of nowhere looking for a team.

Agreed....sitting 5 girls on the bench regularly will make for unhappy players and parents. Most of the complaints from parents that I always heard was "we are not paying for DD to sit and watch" and "we are paying as much as everyone else."

IMO 11-12 players is just right, and have a few backup/guests if needed.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
Agreed....sitting 5 girls on the bench regularly will make for unhappy players and parents. Most of the complaints from parents that I always heard was "we are not paying for DD to sit and watch" and "we are paying as much as everyone else."

This is a rec ball - "everybody plays" - mentality (IMO). In TB, if you want to play more, get better! Or, find a team where your skill level is in the top 9.
 
Oct 3, 2011
3,478
113
Right Here For Now
In my experience we have found that 12 is too many. Also, unless a parent has a good understanding of softball and their daughter's talent level (which is almost never), most of them will not consider running as playing. Heck, I have had trouble convincing school ball parents that being the DP or the Flex was playing.

We tend to bat everyone and play everyone some on defense in every pool play game we play - fall and summer. We try to bat the roster in bracket all fall as well. In the spring, if a tournament allows, we'll bat the roster even in early rounds of a tournament if we are confident of winning. Even that can come back to bite you. We were able to bat roster for about 4 weeks in a row in pool and bracket in the spring. When we felt we had a good feel for who was producing and were in a tournament where the competition dictated not batting the roster, we had a parent furious because we "suddenly" didn't have their daughter batting in bracket play. Ugh - parents!

Trust me. I played every player equally in every pool play game we played in the past defensively and I batted the line-up offensively throughout all of the age groups (8U-18U TB Showcase) in my career. During Bracket play, I started the best 9 depending upon their play during pool play games both offensively and defensively but everyone got some innings during bracket play. However, the starters usually got more innings. This gave all of my players not only an opportunity to earn a starting position on Sunday by showing how hard they've been working during practices and at home, but it allowed them to earn a spot if they'd been in a slump either defensively or offensively and came out of it. By the same token, as they get older, their priorities change except for the most diehard of players. In HS you have Homecoming dances for 3-4 weekends in a row from 3-4 (at a minimum) HS's and several players from each one so now you are down 5 players for 4 weekends in a row. Add to that, vacations at various times throughout the year, family holiday travel plans for each holiday, Proms, NLI days, Family reunions which they don't want to miss since they might be playing college ball and won't have future opportunities to miss for the following 4 years, etc. etc. and 12 is not nearly enough at the older ages. Even at 12U, second year I was seriously concerned since I had 3 players injured. For 3 weeks I had to play with 9 and prayed no one would get hurt because DD would have had to go in injured and I didn't want to exacerbate her injury further. If I had to have put her in, I could've, but she would only have been playing at 40% at best. So there's an argument to be said for more players even at this age group. There's no right or wrong answer. As long as a the HC lets them know before they sign on that this is the way it's run, a majority of the team and their parents are amenable and will stick around.

You are correct in saying that many parents do not have a realistic view and/or knowledge of their DD's SB skills in the grand scheme of things. Just because they were a stud in rec ball doesn't mean that they're starters on their new TB team. That's the biggest problem I've had throughout the years with parents. They think their DD is batting .750 when she's actually batting .193. Just because your DD hit the ball doesn't mean it counts as a hit unless she reaches base safely.
 
Last edited:
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
This is a rec ball - "everybody plays" - mentality (IMO). In TB, if you want to play more, get better! Or, find a team where your skill level is in the top 9.

To be honest this is kind of our thought process. We love all the girls on the team and are invested in helping them grow. But if there are any who don't want to put in the work to earn playing time, it may not be the right fit for them anyway.
 
Feb 20, 2015
643
0
illinois
To be honest this is kind of our thought process. We love all the girls on the team and are invested in helping them grow. But if there are any who don't want to put in the work to earn playing time, it may not be the right fit for them anyway.

So, you replace those girls who are not the right fit with four or five more. There are still players on the team who are your best players, and your worst players. Four or five sitting on the bench is still too many IMO. If they want to work to get better or not. Maybe they work their butt off and get better, and replace someone who was playing all the time. One of them is still sitting. 11 is just right, and 12 max IMO.
 
Feb 20, 2015
643
0
illinois
This is a rec ball - "everybody plays" - mentality (IMO). In TB, if you want to play more, get better! Or, find a team where your skill level is in the top 9.

Agreed, however if you switch to a team where the ones sitting are now in the top 9, it is obviously a weaker team, and someone will still be the worst players on the team and someone will still be sitting and watching. 4-5 girls sitting is still too many.
 

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