What are the goals for Fall Ball for a brand new team?

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May 15, 2016
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My twin daughters' 14u team, newly formed from four different teams, 5 from the team's 12u, 3 from another team, 2 from still another, and 2 more from even another, had four practices so far and went to a tournament today. A father new to the team and I disagreed on the purpose of Fall Ball for such a team. He felt the girls should be put in one position for a few weeks so they can get a feel for the position, and begin to play it well. I thought the best thing to do was to mix things up, have the girls play different positions, see how things evolve and wait until after winter workouts to start figuring out the fielding positions and batting order.

I imagine there are many different opinions on this. I am interested in hearing different thoughts and experiences with a new team during Fall Ball.
 
Last edited:
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Fall Ball is going to be a free for all for us.

Making a new team might be different though. I can see trying to figure out what you have.

Not so much batting order but fielding.
 
May 16, 2016
1,024
113
Illinois
With a team like your twin daughter's team with so many new players that have not played much together I believe the fall season should be to find out where the girls fit in defensively and hitting wise. I think the head coach should mix things up a fair amount. Let the girls compete against each other for their defensive positions. Maybe the team has 5 girls that all want to play middle infield positions. The fall season should be used to figure out the pecking order of those middle infielders, figure out who the top shortstop will be and best 2nd baseman. Also use the fall season to figure out the girls secondary positions.
 
Feb 4, 2015
641
28
Massachusetts
Agreed. Put them in different positions and let them begin to earn their position and playing time for the spring.

Maybe the other father just wants his DD to play a certain position and is worried about the competition? If so, look out for this dad to complain about playing time or position next spring if his DD ends up in a different position.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
Agreed. Put them in different positions and let them begin to earn their position and playing time for the spring.

Maybe the other father just wants his DD to play a certain position and is worried about the competition? If so, look out for this dad to complain about playing time or position next spring if his DD ends up in a different position.

Could be that he is worried about the competition. It also seems like it is more than that. During the first game on Friday he was complaining the coaches were putting the outfielders too far back, the short stop not close enough to 2nd, the list went on. The coaches have all played college ball and he has only coached LL and a town team. I am going to have to trust the coaches.

I knew him when we both had daughters on the town team, he and I got along great, I rarely heard talk like this. Oh, well.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
I have my list too, not vocal about it though or it will drive you and anyone around you nuts.

Our SS play way to far back is top on my list, I always tell DD to move up. If coach tells her to move back fine but until they do she plays in closer then any of the other SS.
 
Nov 18, 2015
1,585
113
I could see the SS positioning being a valid complaint - but only if the coaches don't have experience at that age level. If college ball = baseball, then there may be an adjustment period for the coaches too, as they learn the dynamics of a 60' vs 90' field.


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May 15, 2016
926
18
I have my list too, not vocal about it though or it will drive you and anyone around you nuts.

Our SS play way to far back is top on my list, I always tell DD to move up. If coach tells her to move back fine but until they do she plays in closer then any of the other SS.

Good that you know it would drive others nuts. Our team contract states that parents are prohibited from talking to our daughters during a game or practice, not that every parent observes that part of the parent contract.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
I could see the SS positioning being a valid complaint - but only if the coaches don't have experience at that age level. If college ball = baseball, then there may be an adjustment period for the coaches too, as they learn the dynamics of a 60' vs 90' field.

I agree, if our coach never coached before and played baseball, that would make sense. Our 14u head coach was the assistant coach of the organization's 16u team this past spring, and she and assistant coach played on the same college team. I guess those experiences aren't enough in some parent's minds to convince them the coaches know what they are doing, or to put it another way, know more than the parents do.
 
Jul 14, 2017
181
28
No offense, but it doesn't matter what either you or the other father thinks. Neither of you are coaches. Every parent sitting on the sidelines has an opinion on how a team should be run. Regardless of how either of you feel, it is up to the coaches to decide on how to choose positions/batting order. It is not an easy task to truly do what is best for the team AND keep 12 players and their parents happy.


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