Help please!!!

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Sep 9, 2014
75
6
More dilemmas!!LOL

I need some advice from all you experience parents and coaches. Here it is DD is a freshmen 14yrs old playing varsity since the school doesn't have a JV team. We are looking for a travel team for when the school season is over and as of right now we have two teams interested. Here is the catch one of the teams is HS division and the other a 14U team. Both of this teams are coach by HS coaches with good reputation in the area one to be her actual HS coach right now.

Right now she is NOT getting to play much since the HS roster is humongous and most of the starters are above my DD in experience . HC keep telling me that she will be a very good player that is why he wants her in their travel team, they will be playing ASA and lots of showcases this season and the roster will be reduce to 14 players. The 14U team will also be playing ASA and occasionally a showcase but since they have a smaller roster 11 players my DD will get to play a lot more probably always.

What you guys suggest?

Thanks
 
Feb 26, 2012
105
0
Indiana
You right! However the level of play in this two age groups is very different.

Understood...but unless the level of instruction and the amount of practice time is enough to offset the lack of game playing time...the level of play will not matter.
 
Aug 1, 2008
2,314
63
ohio
14 is a lot of players on a team. If she is in the top 9 best maybe play on the 14 roster team. If not, then go for playing time as long as the competition will be high enough.
If she sits a lot in the summer it will be a long season



SL
 
Sep 9, 2014
75
6
14 is a lot of players on a team. If she is in the top 9 best maybe play on the 14 roster team. If not, then go for playing time as long as the competition will be high enough.
If she sits a lot in the summer it will be a long season



SL

So you dont think that facing better pithing will be better in the long run?

Thanks
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
I don't know what "high school level" means. Is that 16U or 18U?

a) The rule is that your DD should play on the highest level team where she *plays*. "Plays" is averaging 4 to 5 innings per game. In other words, she would sit maybe 1 out of 3 games. You need to have a frank discussion with her current HS coach how much playing time she will get on his team. You have to be open and frank about this. (It puts you in an odd position...while you should not talk to the HS coach about playing time on his HS team, you *should* talk to him about playing time on the TB team.) If she is going to play in only 50% of the game, she should play on the 14U team.

b) You need to determine the level of play of the 14U team. Some 14U teams are good. Some aren't. If it is a bad 14U team, it doesn't matter if she plays every inning of every game, it is going to be misery.

c) I don't think 14 players is too many on a good 16U or 18U team. If a team is good and goes deep into the tournaments, you need a bigger roster.
 
Nov 18, 2013
2,255
113
Look at where the best coaching and training opportunities lie. All the playing time in the world won't help if she's being taught wrong and facing inferior competition.
 
Oct 22, 2009
1,532
0
PA
Your DD needs to know what it is she wants and expects from travel ball this summer. Is she playing to have fun and improve a little? Does she want to earn a starting spot on the HS team? Does she want to play beyond HS?

18U teams around here generally carry 14, 15, 16 players. It is not too many. A good coach will get every player exposure at a showcase. I think 11 is not enough for a 14U team. If your DD is playing for fun, then fine, she will be guaranteed playing time. If she wants to get better, she needs to learn to fight for playing time and put a lot of work in on her own. 14 players on a roster will make her work harder to improve. 11 will not. It depends on what she wants out of the travel season this summer.
 
Sep 29, 2014
2,421
113
Also what is the make up of the higher level team, if 12 of the 14 girls are playing ahead of her on varsity he is not going to change his mind all of a sudden and have her starting.

Unless the 14U team is terrible that is probably the way I would lean...you could even ask the HS coach if that team has a good reputation.

How big is HS team...if it is more than 25 why not have a JV?
 

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