To move up or stay down.

[James Smith]

My DD moved up to 12U with a year of 10U eligibility left. Socially that probably was a bigger change then from 8U to 10U. She was still in elementary school while her teammates were in MS. If there were any social issues DD did not mention it and I did not notice them.

We will never know but I think she would have dominated 10U and would have had a chance to hit one over the fence. I watched some 10U games after she moved up and there were players every bit as good as her still playing 10U, she just moved up for various reasons that I will not get into to.

 

[Eric F]

I know you want to see her dominate 8U All-Stars, but is that what SHE wants, or is it your own ego talking? Continuing her development and keeping the game enjoyable are more important for her long term success (in my opinion).

You've seen what the younger 10U players look like. She might not be the #1 player in our league for 10U, but she's definitely going to be one of the better ones - even at 8 years old - and she's going to be pushing herself to be better all the time, because she's that kind of competitor.

 

[SyndreSoftball]

Does your league allow her to play 10U rec and 8U all starts next year? If that's the case, then that's the way I'd lean.

They allow it, She would just have to adjust form 10U to 8U. She would have to adjust getting hit in 10U, she was clocked at 42mph last weekend, but move back 5 feet and that 42mph gets ripped.

 

[SyndreSoftball]

What does she want to do? Would she prefer to be an 8u superstar or maybe just be an average player compared to the others and play with her friends. I bet friends will win and that's OK at 8 years old. Hard for a parent to hear, but that's why we haven't jumped at TB yet. She doesn't want to go play in possibly another town away from her friends.

She wants to move up, and her opinion does matter, it will have a big impact on whether she plays up or down. I just want to do what is best for her, which is why i ask so many people always for their opinion or prior experiences with the situation

 

[JJsqueeze]

I faced the same decision with my 8 year old this last season. I was leaning towards 8U so she could get the confidence of being the best player in the league, but she wanted to play with her friends and her sister in 10U. I really tried to convince her to stay down but I left it up to her. A big factor for her was having home plate live. She loves scoring on passed balls. She was very nervous at the beginning but she adjusted, did well and was on the 10U all star team. In hindsight, she was right and I was wrong. I am forever grateful to her for sparing me the agony of watching 8u games for another year too.

 

[SyndreSoftball]

I know you want to see her dominate 8U All-Stars, but is that what SHE wants, or is it your own ego talking? Continuing her development and keeping the game enjoyable are more important for her long term success (in my opinion).

You've seen what the younger 10U players look like. She might not be the #1 player in our league for 10U, but she's definitely going to be one of the better ones - even at 8 years old - and she's going to be pushing herself to be better all the time, because she's that kind of competitor.

No not that at all, Im one of the most modest guys around you know that, she actually said that, we were leaving lancaster and she said next year Im going to be that girl from Los Al that throws 48, and Im going to be the big girl from Santee who hits it to the grass everytime. Those are her words, then a week later she says dad I want to play 10U with my friends lol. You are right that is how you get better by playing against people on your level or better.

 

[Eric F]

I know you're a modest guy, my friend, but I also know you get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing her crush it (as we all do).

 

[canyonjoe]

Unless you just have a great 10U league, I would move her up for the season and make a decision on All-Stars. In our league girls do it all the time.

 

[SyndreSoftball]

I know you're a modest guy, my friend, but I also know you get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing her crush it (as we all do).

very true very true

 

[Eric F]

If crushing the 8U All-Stars is the goal, playing 10U during the regular season is going to be more productive towards that goal than giving her an easy cruise through 8U. One thing to keep in mind is that our All-Star team was pretty solid, and next year's team might not be at that level. As we saw again and again, one dominant player does not win it all. They need a strong supporting cast to succeed. As All-Stars approaches next year, you should be able to determine if the 8U team has a shot to do well. This year, it was pretty apparent from the beginning that the team was going to have some success.