We went to a meeting last night for a team that want's my DD for spring and summer. It is a 12u team will be my daughters 3rd travel ball season and 1st in 12u. They said they are going to have an A team and B team I get that. My concern was that they were saying they will move girls back and forth between A and B team during the season. I am fairly new to this so do not know if this is normal for this age group. There were a couple other concerns but this is my main one. When my DD first did 10u there was an A and B team. Her first season she was on the B team the A coach would say i should have took her but left her with the B team for that season. The next season he picked her up for the A team. This is why it is a bit awkward to me. I guess my concern is not if my DD is on A or B but as an organization it feels like they don;t really care about the B team. Like I said fairly new to all this so is this the norm for 12u? Your thoughts are appreciated.
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- Nov 18, 2013
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It’s rare for girls to permanently move up from B to A and leave the B team shorthanded. Moving them to sub from B to A is fairly common. The organizations I’m familiar with would only do it if the B team wasn’t playing that weekend. Moving from A to B doesn’t happen as often, but I have seen it done with role players so they can get more reps. Some programs do it to go trophy hunting.
When girls move up or down it’s usually a case such as the A team is chasing a PGF berth and the B team is going ASA so there’s no eligibility concerns.
When girls move up or down it’s usually a case such as the A team is chasing a PGF berth and the B team is going ASA so there’s no eligibility concerns.
Other than to help out when one of the teams is shorthanded, I would be concerned. I would want to know "why" they are doing it and what are they trying to achieve before making a decision. It's hard enough to create a team bond and chemistry without shuffling players in and out. If a girls been on B and gets moved "up" mid-season, how will she be accepted? Will she have the same relationships the others have built? If a girl gets moved down from A to B, how will she feel? What will it do to her confidence?
Usually A and B are built either on age (1st year, 2nd year) or on ability, or a combination of both. You get offered a spot on one, and that is your home for the year.
Usually A and B are built either on age (1st year, 2nd year) or on ability, or a combination of both. You get offered a spot on one, and that is your home for the year.
Like mentioned above, have seen different teams within the same organization move players back and forth, but usually only done if one team is short handed for a game, or tournament for some reason.
You are right to be concerned.
I have only seen this work well once before - when the teams practiced together. They then chose the A/B team for the coming weekend based on whatever criteria they determined until they were forced to freeze their rosters. They had 4-5 coaches who coached both teams and how coached what team on the weekend changed all the time.
Otherwise, every other time whatever team you start with you stay with 99% of the time (unless someone gets injured on the 'A' team - then the 'B' team get raided for their best player).
No, I would not put my DD on a team whose coach kicks players off his team in mid-season with the consolation, ''You can still play for our B team.''
If it's just a case of teams borrowing players, that's fine. But it should not be a safety net for a coach who chooses a player that isn't performing as well as he hoped.
If it's just a case of teams borrowing players, that's fine. But it should not be a safety net for a coach who chooses a player that isn't performing as well as he hoped.
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Thank's everyone for the input it helps me out out since I don't know what to expect at a new age level. We have two more teams to meet with in the next week are there any red flags we should look out for when finding the best fit for DD?
- Nov 18, 2013
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Coaches overstating their programs accomplishments. Some will brag about winning “State” or “Nationals”, but don’t tell you it’s not the top tier or one of the many local/regional “nationals”. They’ll brag about helping kids to college and list alumni that left their program in 8th grade.
The biggest for me is some coaches promise the moon and never deliver. They’ll guarantee to get your kid in college or hitting .600 or pitching 60 mph. Do your homework and don’t take their word for anything.
The biggest for me is some coaches promise the moon and never deliver. They’ll guarantee to get your kid in college or hitting .600 or pitching 60 mph. Do your homework and don’t take their word for anything.
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