Looking for advice HELP!

My DD was asked to join an 8U TB team last fall. This was a newly organized team so it was the first time we were together. The team had a few practices with no tournaments in the fall and then did not start back up until rec ball was over at the end of spring. The team practiced twice a week and had 4 tournaments with zero wins, and were considerably out scored in every game. Come to find out that half the team is older and will need to move up to 10U. Now some of the parents want to break off and start their own 8U team. I don’t know if the 8yr old parents really know anything about managing a TB team because that is what you have to do as well as coach. Accounting, fund raisers, getting sponsors, and everything else involved other than just coaching as well as getting enough kids to fill a team. So far no one has been willing to manage the team just help coach. The team moving up has sponsors and seems very well organized but I feel is lacking in providing quality practices. They treat the girls great but sometimes I feel that they are a bit too easy on them. There seems to be little discipline and some of the girls need it. Do I stay with the well-organized team and take a thrashing at 10u or split and hold my kid back with the 8U team that who knows what will happen. I also have to note that I am not sure exactly dedicated the 10u team really is. My DD is extremely dedicated and wants to play all of the time. The 10u team may not even practice until next spring after this fall and they really need to practice.

Was your daughter one of the best 3 players on the current team?
If she moves up to 10U is she ready for the full softball rules that that entails?
Are there other organizations in the area she could play with?
Would the 8U team have quality coaching and practices?

If the 10U practices are going to be more of the same I would not want to be with that team.

Of course she is top 3 I'm her dad.

Fundamentally I don't think any girls 8 or 9 are ready to move up.

Mentally I think she is ready for full softball rules.

Seems like other teams in area are way more advanced (out coached and out played)

I wouldn’t worry about wins and losses. At 8U any team you’re on is going to have girls who grew up with older siblings or parents that are more involved and others who’ve never picked up a ball. If your DD is learning, the coaches are fair and positive I’d stick with the current team. If she’s not developing you need to look at option C, finding a new established program. Under no circumstances would I join half a team of disgruntled parents where all they wanna do is coach so they can make sure they’re DD’s get to play their favorite positions.

softballdad27 said:

Of course she is top 3 I'm her dad.

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I meant w/o the daddy rose colored glasses. But if she's top 3 then you have a choice, move her up she can probably handle it or keep her down as a big fishin a small pond. There are pros and cons to both.

Fundamentally I don't think any girls 8 or 9 are ready to move up.

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Well if that's the case then staying in 8U would seem an easy choice.

Mentally I think she is ready for full softball rules.

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That's good.

Seems like other teams in area are way more advanced (out coached and out played)

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If the same coaches are moving to 10U what makes you think there will be improvement? Or are there some contimplated changes to the staff?