Advice on DD choosing next season's TB team

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May 15, 2016
926
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MY 12 y/o DD has been the starting catcher for her LL team two years ago, then a town team, and finally to a serious TB team this season. She had a brief time not being the 1st catcher in the middle of June, when her mechanics were off. She corrected the problem and caught 2 1/2 games out of the four games they played at their big out-of-state tournament two weeks ago. This past weekend, at a local tournament, last one of the season, she played left field for three games and third base for the fourth game. Third base was her secondary position all season when she wasn't catching. She said her coach told her she is very strong playing left field and that is why she put in left so much this past weekend.

She loves her current team, all female coaches, most of whom have played college ball. I thought it was very important that she is coached by women who have played the game on the college level. She has been dreaming of being a catcher for a D1 team for years. She says she is enjoying the out field and playing third, but catching still seems like her favorite. She is going to two of her friend's pitching lessons this week to catch for their lesson, to get more catching time in.

Here is my question, would it be a disadvantage for her to stay on her current team if she is getting minimal catching time, for the sake a training with college experienced coaches, or should she look for another team that is going to give her more time behind the plate? Is overall training worth losing out on game time catching?

Thanks.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
Here is my question, would it be a disadvantage for her to stay on her current team if she is getting minimal catching time, for the sake a training with college experienced coaches, or should she look for another team that is going to give her more time behind the plate? Is overall training worth losing out on game time catching?

It's a trade-off, but if you really want to be a catcher, you need to get on a team that allows you to catch. I don't think your coaching staff's college experience automatically makes them a stronger staff than one without experience. Not saying it's not a coaching asset, but it is often overrated.


She said her coach told her she is very strong playing left field and that is why she put in left so much this past weekend.

This was not the real (or entire) reason that she was in LF, but rather an attempt to make her feel good about it.
 
Jun 11, 2012
741
63
I would have her talk to her coaches about her catching potential for the upcoming year. If she's not going to catch approximately 50% of the time then it's time to explore other avenues.
DDs current coaches are former college baseball players who coached their daughters for years (none of the daughters play anymore) and they are the best coaches she's ever had. I think it's a huge plus for coaches to be former athletes but if the young former college softball players are not going to get her where she needs to be it's time to move on.
 
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
I have been wondering about that.

I don't think the coach would put her best catcher in LF and leave her there. Catching is too important.

That doesn't mean the coach lied about your DD being a strong left fielder, or that the coach doesn't think your DD can catch. But at the very least, the coach is saying she's got catcher covered so let your DD fill a need in the OF. Sometimes coaches will break a tie between equal catchers by deciding 'this one can't really help me anywhere else in the field, so she's got to stay behind the plate. This one is more versatile, so off she goes to another position.' Squeaky wheel gets the grease.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
I don't think the coach would put her best catcher in LF and leave her there. Catching is too important.

I would normally assume that, but a father of another player on the team told me he thought my DD was better behind the plate than the one who caught this weekend. The girl who was catching was letting a lot of balls get by her, my DD is very strong at blocking. Who knows? We are assuming coaches make rational decisions.
 

sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,132
113
Dallas, Texas
If she wants to be a catcher, then has to catch.

The best course of action is simply to go talk to the coaches and ask if your DD can get more time behind the plate. TB is not like playing in college or playing on a HS team...you are paying for it, so you should be asking questions.

My guess is that the coaches do not believe your DD can develop into a D1 catcher, so they are trying to help her develop so she can play in college. But, you need to talk to them.

but a father of another player on the team told me he thought my DD was better behind the plate than the one who caught this weekend. The girl who was catching was letting a lot of balls get by her, my DD is very strong at blocking.

This is an example of a misconception by a parent. Blocking is very important for 12U, but not so much for college players.

Size, batting average and "pop" time are the most important criteria for college.
 
Last edited:
Feb 4, 2015
641
28
Massachusetts
Bob, you wrote she caught 2.5 of 4 games in a big tournament, then the following weekend played other positions at a little local tourney, the last one of the season.

There are a lot of unknowns here. The coaches might have used the last tourney to give girls other opportunities in preparation for next year. How did your DD do in the big tourney? They trusted her to play 2.5, did she play well and keep that trust? Are they confident in her, or do they need to look for depth at the position? How much catching did she do over the season? Thinking about leaving the team is a lot to read into a single weekend.

Talk to the coaches about next year. Get a realistic assessment of your DD, and where they think she is in her development, and what they intend next year. If they are good coaches, and it's a strong TB team, I would think twice about leaving so quickly. If your DD wants to play D1, she's going to need to beat out a lot of girls to get there. Why not start here? Going to a weaker team where she can have the #1 catcher position is not going to make her a stronger competitor.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
DD declared she wants to stay with the same team, and doesn't care what position she plays. I could see the thought of leaving her team was upsetting her. So the decision is made. Thanks for everyone's input.
 

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