At what point Travel ball? or are we already too late.?

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Apr 30, 2018
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This may be more looking for confirmation than an actual question, but here goes.

DD has just turned 11. Has played rec ball the past 2 years, which amounts to 1 team from each end of the county playing each other 5 or 6 times. Not a lot of development going on.

She has been pitching for 9 months and taking lessons for 4. mechanics not pitches up to this point, but she is progressing nicely.

Hasn't learned a lot about hitting other than what I have helped her with, rec ball was mostly which team could walk the fewest runs in. Her overall Softball IQ is certainly lacking at this point.

I realize she is a project at this point, but any free time she has she wants to be working on her game and I can see her long term potential. We don't have any teams near by, but I get the impression that a lot of them are expecting the girls to be farther along. Did a tryout where they were asking girls to slide and that is something they had never covered in rec ball and she froze.. went downhill from there. Told her for future reference its better to go down in flames,

School ball and such are down the road, I feel like TB is the next step, being on a team of girls that can actually play and share some of her enthusiasm would be great for her, I'm just afraid another year of rec just puts her farther behind and even more undesirable to these TB teams.

Thanks as always.
 
Apr 17, 2019
331
63
If her enthusiasm and motivation for the game are there, then for sure, find a TB team that will take a project on. Maybe some ppl on this site could help out in that regard. Just be honest with the coaches about where she's been vs where she wants to be.
I think a lot of coaches will take a girl that shows up behind, but coachable and willing to work over the girl that shows up with all kinds of talent but the wrong kind of attitude.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
I think a lot of coaches will take a girl that shows up behind, but coachable and willing to work over the girl that shows up with all kinds of talent but the wrong kind of attitude.
I am going to nitpick here (sorry...I swear ;) ) but this is one of my pet peeves. What I think you really mean (or not..please correct me if I am wrong..it won't be the first time in the hour that this happens) is "the girl that shows up with a great skillset". To me, talent is something you are born with.
 
Apr 17, 2019
331
63
I am going to nitpick here (sorry...I swear ;) ) but this is one of my pet peeves. What I think you really mean (or not..please correct me if I am wrong..it won't be the first time in the hour that this happens) is "the girl that shows up with a great skillset". To me, talent is something you are born with.
Agree, maybe I mean both. I've had the all-natural, "I'm slugging doing it my way, why should I listen to you?" girl; And I've had the "My dad played D1 ball, and told me not to listen to anything you say" girl. Prefer not to have either again, thank you :p
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
You're not too late at all. In 12U TB, we had a few girls come to the team that were fairly new to the game and didn't have great skills, but were athletic and worked hard. They all turned into good players. Finding a team that is focused more on development than winning will be the right place.
 
May 9, 2019
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Has played rec ball the past 2 years, which amounts to 1 team from each end of the county playing each other 5 or 6 times. Not a lot of development going on.

Development happens at home and at lessons. Games and practice is where it all comes together.
It seems like you're doing the right thing with giving her lessons and her attitude is great in that she loves to play. Keep it up.

If you truly want to get into TB, I'd do a lot of talking with other parents who have DD's in TB.. a lot of them here of course.
This is my DD's first season in TB after 2 years in house. A lot of lessons learned, and surprising things I've learned along the way.. some good.. mostly bad :)
 
Last edited:
May 2, 2018
200
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Central Virginia
First, it’s unfortunate she did not learn fundamental skills during her rec time.

Second, please take the time (if you have it) to personally develop your daughters skills by working with her when you can. It sounds like you could help her learn more in a month than she learned over 2 years of rec.

Third, it is never too late to do anything.
 
Apr 1, 2017
535
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The fact that someone is worried about 12u being too late tells me that these are becoming the exception. It’s unfortunate.

I think some of that depends on where you live. It doesn't sound like there are many options where the OP lives, so it might be more likely for the few teams around to be harder to get a spot. Flip side is if you are living in a more populated area, there are many teams wiling to give less experienced players a chance.
 

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