Defense, can anybody play anywhere?

[So Cal Seth]

She was decent athlete. Would make some nice plays then boot the routine gb. My DD only played ss when she was ill. She played well and had the ACs whispering. Lol.

All you can do is perform when called upon, right? Sounds like your DD did : )

 

[radness]

I deleted that.

Do you think I was referring to you? Because that would be interesting indeed!

The point is this: did a Midwest travel team really have a better ss than Reed?

Or was there a diff reason she played there?

So how moot can this stuff get?

Ha ... Wasnt certain.
Just want people to be comfortable sharing opinions 'n stuff.

Dont know about team and player you were reffering to.
However sometimes depending on a pitching strategy coaches will strategize deffensive players to fit goal.
Possibilty?

 

[Westwind]

She was an all American at Kentucky and is studying dentistry post grad.

Seems to be an awesome person in every way

 

[sluggers]

In rec ball, kids should be allowed to play as many positions as possible. The goal for rec ball should be for the kids to have fun and learn about the game.

I know everyone loves to talk about travel ball...but, unless we make softball fun and enjoyable for lots of kids, the sport will die.

In many ways, softball/baseball are anachronisms. IMHO, the sports are dying a slow death.

 

[YOCOACH]

In many ways, softball/baseball are anachronisms. IMHO, the sports are dying a slow death.

I would agree with this statement. However, I would expand it to say most sports are dying a slow death for a multitude of reasons such as kids sitting in front of the TV with their game console 19 hours a day, their noses glued to their cellphones on social media and the overprotective parental fear of injury just to name a few.

 

[joe720]

I think they should aspire to play all positions. My DD is a pitcher first. But don't think she's seen the bench for an inning in the last couple of years and there are multiple pitchers on the team. Org she plays for does position specific practices. Corners, Middles, and OF. She attends them all. I know a lot of people get into the minutia of positions but realistically fielding is about catching and throwing a ball.

Just because you played a position when you were 14 doesn't really mean that's what you'll be doing in the long run. From what i gather most college players regardless of current position played SS at one time or another.

 

[MikeP]

In rec ball, kids should be allowed to play as many positions as possible. The goal for rec ball should be for the kids to have fun and learn about the game.

I know everyone loves to talk about travel ball...but, unless we make softball fun and enjoyable for lots of kids, the sport will die.

In many ways, softball/baseball are anachronisms. IMHO, the sports are dying a slow death.

Last spring was our last year of rec for this very reason. I tried to move girls every inning except for P & C (none of the rec girls would even try) but the other teams we played, the coaches were so concerned with winning. One team was dd's travel team that kept all of his girls except dd, she refused to play unless I coached another team. Pretty bad that a 9 yo could see how ridiculous it was. Two of the other coaches would have a travel player switch from 4 to 6 to 5 during an inning depending on where the runners were and who was hitting. I saw girls all season on other teams never leave the outfield and no other girls got a chance to pitch. I know there were others that wanted to, but they weren't "good" enough. I played in the same rec league 40 years ago and it's a shame what it has turned in to. Rant over, sorry but this struck a nerve.

 

[Jdaddy]

There are plenty of parents who think their kids should play a certain position from the day they put a glove on. By 12U parents have made enough connections to where if Susie isn’t playing “her” spot, all the time, there are plenty of teams who will take her, whether it’s a better team or not. Playing the best 9 in bracket, as it should be, and moving kids around in pool just isn’t enough to keep parents happy. Now, with all of the “JR SHOWCASES” for 12U (straight up money grab), coaches are under pressure to play kids where parents think they will be playing once those P5 schools come calling. That is if they want to have them show up in the fall for tryouts.

So in reality, it gets tough to move everybody around past 10U and keep players. I would rather see kids wait til 14U to have an established primary and secondary position even though I know it isn’t going to happen in most cases.

 

[radness]

In rec ball, kids should be allowed to play as many positions as possible. The goal for rec ball should be for the kids to have fun and learn about the game.

I know everyone loves to talk about travel ball...but, unless we make softball fun and enjoyable for lots of kids, the sport will die.

In many ways, softball/baseball are anachronisms. IMHO, the sports are dying a slow death.

Really dying...
Where do you live?
Booming in California
There are so many teams there arent enough fields.
We do have more population. Then theres....
Texas, nevada, arizona, colorado,
Washington growing, also can mention other states as tournaments and showcasing
have more venues.
Add the $$$$$$$ millions being put into college softball stadiums.
Many many more d3 schools offering sb.
What now 293 d1 programs...
Add espn softball
Which btw more people watched softball College World Series than anything else in previous years.
Lets mention sb in olympics again!!!

 

[radness]

There are plenty of parents who think their kids should play a certain position from the day they put a glove on. By 12U parents have made enough connections to where if Susie isn’t playing “her” spot, all the time, there are plenty of teams who will take her, whether it’s a better team or not. Playing the best 9 in bracket, as it should be, and moving kids around in pool just isn’t enough to keep parents happy. Now, with all of the “JR SHOWCASES” for 12U (straight up money grab), coaches are under pressure to play kids where parents think they will be playing once those P5 schools come calling. That is if they want to have them show up in the fall for tryouts.

So in reality, it gets tough to move everybody around past 10U and keep players. I would rather see kids wait til 14U to have an established primary and secondary position even though I know it isn’t going to happen in most cases.

Nice explanation!
This is why comment
Goals can make a difference!!
AKA what people want to do for whatever the reasonings.