Is winning important at young age?

[Midnight_sky]

Looking for some opinions. Daughter is 11.
we left our fall team. (Horrible daddy ball inexperience coach . Going to PGF looks like a clown. Pro is there’s talented kids on the team)

We got an offer from another team that ‘s not very success in fall. (3-17)
With not winning so much team.
She will have plenty of playing /mound time. She’s a pitcher.
Will not be daddy ball . He respect her work ethics . Good winter training if it happen.

We do not have a lot of choices for teams in our area. Except if we willing to drive 2+ hours. (She also got an invite from them)

Do you think winning is important at this age? She hate losing but hate the coach who not treat her fairly more.

 

[_MIA_]

Is this new coach any good? What kind of practice does he run? At that age the difference between 3-17 and 10-10 is sometimes just one good pitcher...

 

[JayW]

Winning is always important. That’s why they keep score.

 

[cvsoftball]

what constitutes a young age for parents?

 

[Top_Notch]

I have yet to have a coach ask what DD record was as 10U, 12U, or 14U. What's more important is continual progression. It's also important to play with kids of an equivalent talent level, against similar or better teams.

 

[mmeece]

It always feels better to win more than you lose, but otherwise winning is definitely less important at this age than getting good coaching, playing enough innings to improve as an individual, and having fun. Besides, she may be the player they need to turn the corner.

 

[NBECoach]

If you are first year 10U it's only important to an extent and that is when you are playing other first year teams. You should almost expect (but do not tell them this) to lose to most 2nd year 10U teams. Unless you have very talented 1st yr 10U players there is a pronounced difference between 1st yr. and 2nd yr. 10U

The last 10U team I coached was 18-18 the first year, but 38-7 winning 3 tournaments year 2. Yes our pitching and defense got that much better, so that we dominated 1st year teams.

 

[RichK]

Winning is always important. That’s why they keep score.

I guess you haven't made it to showcase age yet, where for half the season they don't (technically) keep score at all

 

[RichK]

To the OP: at a young age a pitcher needs mound time. Hopefully they are good enough to make a difference in game outcomes and if not eating innings is a good consolation to help them improve.

Overall, I don't think winning is as important as playing winning-style softball -- meaning: is the team doing things in the right way from practice to pregame to game-play and are they playing good competition? Do that and i n the end (if not immediately) you'll win your fair share of games and get better in the process even if you aren't winning tournaments..

 

[Shiloh]

Winning is not important at 12U, except to the parents and player. More important is to go to a team where you will play and develop; good competition is a bonus.

As others have pointed out, your DD's pitching could make a 3-17 team 17-3 especially as a second year pitcher.

Does the coach of the new team have a solid reputation? How are the team dynamics? Ask to talk to a parent or two. If the team sticks together for the next season after a 3-17 season, that is a very good sign. How many girls are returning?

It sounds like you and your DD are ultimately going to have to join the 2+ hour away team, if she is already good enough to play on the PGF-level team at 10U. So the question is when to make that jump?

Right now, you have time. Whatever you decide it will be the right thing. For now.
But be sure to stay in touch with that other team. You're going to need them!

Congrats!