Getting team to gel or click 10u

This spring my 10u team is a mix of 07 and 08 players. Individually each girl is very talented but as a team we are either very hot or very cold in tournaments. I’ve had teams with much less talent that won a bunch of games but they really clicked and had each other’s back. I was wondering if anyone may have any ideas on how to get a team to gel. The first of the season I thought we just needed to play a few tournaments and let them get to know each other and bond. Then our third tournament we went undefeated and won. Now the last two we have played are almost worse then the start of the season. Just no real team chemistry. Half of them acting like they had rather be anywhere else but on a softball field. Thanks for any suggestions.

At that age, i found a ice cream social always helped. Keep things less about softball during that time.

^^^^^ this.

Get them to bond off the field at that age. Have a pool party or a team cookout or something.

I am a big believer of Ice cream after practices and team meals after/between games.

Thanks for the responses so far. We have done several of those things. But will keep trying it. They all get along great and hang out between games and go to the bathroom in groups. But on the field half of them act like they are just there because their parents brought them. Coaches have tried to get them pumped up and excited to play but they just stay the same. Going through motions but no heart or determination. At 10u is it to young to have the players try and hold them accountable? Or having a good talk with them and explain this is not rec ball anymore and just going through the motions does not cut it. Do I bring in more players that want to play and bench those until they get their mind right?

I’m sure some if not all are there b/c of the parent. Maybe try small achievable in game goals. I found they only know of the moment.
Example : if fielding say, if we make good plays this inning, we go out for x, clearly subjective as you don’t want to create an environment where 1 person can get the blame for a loss of a goal.

Winning helps a lot. My advice would be start them into tournaments or round robins where they can win most of the game and boost confidence. They will begin to bond as a team. Winning has a habit of helping that process

We always had an away tournament in the fall/early winter so that we had to stay in a hotel. This had huge benefits. We live up north so many of the tournies are indoors and there is a lot of down time. We have great team moms that will always plan activities like "game night" where they play games like pie face or whatever, or do a craft, or something like that. They love it. We also have a holiday tournament that is also usually one night in a hotel and we do secret Santa and give have a party. This also is really good parent bonding time and we are very fortunate to have parents that are fun to be around. We do a white elephant and it is a blast.

My DD's 12U soccer and SB team are 50/50 competitors and "participants". I understand your frustration all too well.

Almost impossible to have a team full of competitors in any sport at 10U. Some are there because they love it. Some are there because they want to play with their friends. Some are there because their parents are pushing them. Some are there because their parents say you have to play one sport and they picked SB because they don't have to run too much.

Individual conversations with the kids helps in some instances. Sometimes they don't even know there is an issue because they are kids just having fun. Ask them what they do well and what they need to improve on. Then give them your opinions on what is good and needs work. If they don't change, have the same conversation with the parents present. No parent wants their kid to be the anchor on the team.

If that doesn't work, then start making them do laps/burpees/pushups when they mess up in practice.

Schedule a "fun" practice. You pick the teams and come up with silly games that are lossely softball related. DDs club coach does this once a season. He does egg/water balloon tosses, relay races where you have to scoop a grounder or catch a pop up while running, dizzy bat, sometimes a hitting or bunting contest.
He picks the teams so the girls cant pick their best friend on the team.
Have a parents vs kids game.
These things will help with the team bonding.