What do you think is better for development...to be a top player on a B team, or to b

Thoughts? Anyone speak from experience either way?


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Does the B-level team play up? Circle time against A-level teams is the best way to improve.

Limited experience here but what we decided after last year was that we want DD in the top 7 for hitting, and #1 or 2 pitcher, and we want her to play on a team that plays where they fit, competition wise. Last year we played on a team that classified itself as A, spent all year getting killed, and everyone was so miserable the team fell apart. That was no fun. There are also teams that should be playing higher level but stay down to trophy hunt. We're not interested in that either. We wanted DD to not feel like she can't throw hard because her teammates can't catch, or that she has to pitch 6 outs per inning because she has no defense; but also that she would get plenty of circle time. By some miracle we ended up on a team like that this year and it's been really an amazing year.

In my opinion it is better to be at the bottom of an A team as opposed to the top of a B team. You are more motivated to work harder when there is better competition to play with and against. Can't keep ascending once you've reached the top of the mountain.

But that's just my opinion.

I would agree with ^^^ although it's hard to find that perfect balance. DD has always been in the top 9 on her team. Which is where she wants to be. This is the first year that I actually think DD is in the top 1 or 2 on her team and it is getting frustrating because she wants to work hard and play hard and most of the other girls on her team only want to play (and not play hard). I think her team is probably drawing to an end so she will have to go find a new team and that will be challenging - she wants to work hard and play, but she will most definitely have to work harder to prove herself to a new coach. (For reference, her team has been one of the top teams in the state for the past 2 years. This year they have fallen to somewhere in the middle.)

The reason I say it can be tricky is because I've watched one girl on DD's current team work hard all year. She never gets a chance to play. She may come in as a runner, or occasionally (and I mean VERY occasionally) bat (even in pool games). She is probably one of the weaker players and her parents say they've seen great improvement in her. She is definitely motivated, she is always working hard at practice and always has a great attitude, but for some reason the coach doesn't see it. He will get angry with her when he puts her in a game and she makes mistakes, but unless she gets a chance to play she isn't going to be able to learn how to fix those mistakes. I would definitely not want DD to be on a team where she constantly worked hard and had nothing to show for it. A player needs game time. So as long as the player is a weaker player on a top team that is still getting SOME game time I would say that's ok...but if the player just sits...no bueno.

joe720 said:

In my opinion it is better to be at the bottom of an A team as opposed to the top of a B team. You are more motivated to work harder when there is better competition to play with and against. Can't keep ascending once you've reached the top of the mountain.

But that's just my opinion.

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It's been said before the best place for you is the best team possible that you can PLAY on...sitting on the bench and watching 80% of the time is not going to help you much...for a pitcher I would think as a #1 that mean over 50% of the innings as a #2 that means getting 30% of the innings; as a position player that's in the field and batting over 70% of the time. The most ideal situation is being the about #4-#6 best player in the team. You are secure in your position and where you should be but if you let up you could find yourself at the bottom and coach might look for a replacement but working harder could make you one of the top dogs

DD 2nd year 10u, her team was a B team. Finished 4th in state. Finished 4th at the WS. We were in the championship game every normal double elim tournament we played in. At the time it was fun. Looking back, we should have played A.

I believe you get your DD on a team where she's going to play and when they play, play the toughest competition possible, at least competition that is going to make you better. If your DD is playing B and hitting .450, she's in the wrong place. She should be playing A.

Also, as far as 10u goes, every first year 10u team gets their butts kicked, a lot. First time facing live pitching, etc. Its just the way it works from my experience.

spleen1015 said:

DD 2nd year 10u, her team was a B team. Finished 4th in state. Finished 4th at the WS. We were in the championship game every normal double elim tournament we played in. At the time it was fun. Looking back, we should have played A.

I believe you get your DD on a team where she's going to play and when they play, play the toughest competition possible, at least competition that is going to make you better. If your DD is playing B and hitting .450, she's in the wrong place. She should be playing A.

Also, as far as 10u goes, every first year 10u team gets their butts kicked, a lot. First time facing live pitching, etc. Its just the way it works from my experience.

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i'm not 100% sold on that. You probably need to find a sweet spot and .450 might be the top of that but your 3,4,5 hitters should be hitting around .400 for power...maybe not in the finals against a stud pitcher but against all the middle of the pack team yes.

You want your dd to play a lot. But you also want her to be pushed by other players on her team to continue to improve. The competition for playing time might be more important then the game competition for player development.

It's been said before the best place for you is the best team possible that you can PLAY on...sitting on the bench and watching 80% of the time is not going to help you much...

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This....not going to improve sitting and watching.