12u struggles

DD is first yr 12 and the transition from 35' & small ball has been difficult. When she's on she's great but when she's off it's bad. She has adequate speed and a CU but the confidence has taken a hit. Last outing started and walked 5 in 3 innings. No hits and trailing 2-1. We win 10-5.

Tell me they figure it out with hard work???

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She will figure it out.

Some players jump and forth and do not care, other it takes a little bit.

She is going to use the 12" ball for the rest of her life so she is in no hurry.

1st year 12U batters have trouble driving the ball, 2nd year are probably the best batters she has ever faced. She needs to get used to that too when pitching.

Lot going on. ☺

At 10U, any pitcher that can consistently avoid the walk will be very effective. The jump from 10 to 12 is probably the biggest transition, because you have a bigger ball, you're further away and just throwing the ball over the plate can result in some hard hit balls. The next transition at 14U is not quite as difficult since most kids don't even notice the change from 40 to 43.... although you start leaving pitches fat at that level, they start leaving the yard.

Having 2 DD's I can say the jump from 10U to 12U was the hardest. My older one is 13, and while not a pitcher, is playing second year 12U. Her team really took some hits first year 12U. Now that we are second year we are one of the teams that deals it out on occasion. The best thing for us was playing open tournaments with a gold and a silver bracket. That kind of naturally filtered out the really strong teams from the newer teams while still allowing plenty of competitive play.

DD2 is a pitcher on a 10U team. She pitches in the 42-45 range. Last night, for fun, she was throwing the 12" on the radar and it was only registering like 40. She also said she couldn't get her grip for her change up. Granted she had never tried the 12" before so I'm sure in time it would get easier. But it took her a good year to be a strong pitcher with an 11" ball I'm positive it will take time to adjust to the 12". Like others have said they throw the 12" from now on. Everyone knows first year 12U takes time to adjust. Just try to stay positive and supportive, it will come.

To answer your question in short, yes they figure it out

My DD got her butt chewed by her PC for not putting in enough practice time. PC says it's all about how you practice.

HUGE transition from 10U to 12U, particularly for smaller girls or girls with smaller hands.

She'll grow. Just keep on putting in the work and it'll come. The best advice I can give is don't worry about adding more pitches to her repertoire ... worry more about location and being able to throw all of her pitches exactly where they're called. If she puts the ball over the plate, second-year 12Us will pound it and 14Us will put it where no one can catch it. Have her use the corners, the bottom of the knees and the top of the letters and have her get used to understanding each umpire's strike zone so she can take advantage of anything he/she is giving that may be a bit out of the strike zone. Changing speeds helps, too!

Tio1 said:

DD is first yr 12 and the transition from 35' & small ball has been difficult. When she's on she's great but when she's off it's bad. She has adequate speed and a CU but the confidence has taken a hit. Last outing started and walked 5 in 3 innings. No hits and trailing 2-1. We win 10-5.

Tell me they figure it out with hard work???

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DD is first year 12's as well. At 10's she gave up very few hits. Was either a walk or a k. Classic 10u.
We were concerned how she would handle getting hit now at 12u due to bigger ball, extra five feet, batters that have more experience, and potentially a few years older since she is a late-ish 2005 and still 10. Just like your dd she might give up only one run in three innings and then give up a bomb to a very good 2004 or 2003 batter in the next inning. We did tell her that 1st year 12's is the biggest adjustment she will make and everything is about learning. Kind of frees her up to just go out and pitch. Try to hit your spots, but most importantly just have fun and throw the ball. Whatever happens, happens. Enjoy the 3 innings giving up just one run, and try to learn from the other innings.

This is an old post but much appreciated. I am asst coach for a 1st year 12U team and we have struggled our first few tournaments. Still competitive but too many errors and not enough good solid hits. Girls still having fun which is the most important part.

My 10u DD practices with a 12" in ball and at 40'. Adjusting to the 11" and 35' isn't a big deal.

Nothing unusual with P struggling for a little bit, nothing unusual with P not struggling.

Seen both and can not figure it out, only a short term thing unless they are bouncing back and forth in games.

If they are bouncing back and forth in games and struggling I would stop doing it.