2nd try out today...

[SoftSocDad]

The big thing is my wife and I DO NOT want to be one of those group of parents that puts our dd in a bad situation or plays her up because its strokes our ego as parents. We arent those type of people.

Then unless your DD is the stud of studs at 9 years old - and I'm fully aware that there are some super-talented young girls out there - is the question of having her playing on a 2nd-year 12u team really on the table?

The things 12- and 13-year-old girls talk about are very different from the conversations going on in the dugouts of 9-11-year-olds. Those two years make a very big difference at that age that were not so apparent when a 6-year-old plays up in 8u.

A 12-year old has more in common with a 15-year-old than a 9-year-old. You're responsible for protecting your own daughter - that's not my domain - but without even considering the negativity potential with regards to that AC, I think it's only fair that this viewpoint be shared with you.

Add to that the fact that, in your words, 'DD loves to pitch', you'd be making a softball mistake by cheating her out of that development. As everyone above has stated, if she wants to pitch, she needs the innings. I'll go a step further and say that, if she's not the CLEAR #1 on a 10u team, then she is not a 12u pitcher. At all.

 

[SoftSocDad]

Our story - my DD is a stud pitcher, but while she could make several of the area 12u teams, she would not be a star, nor would she be a top-2 pitcher on any 2nd-year 12u team I've seen. In fact, she would not even be the #1 pitcher on the best 10u teams I have seen.

Your area may be very different from where we live, but I couldn't see putting a young pitcher in a position where she's unlikely to ever see the circle, so I'm uncomfortable suggesting someone should do that.

 

[rdbass]

SoftSocDad is giving great advice.Get mound time.No sub.for mound time.What pitches work at 10u(mostly fastball) may work at 12u(fastball & change up) wont work at 14u(pitches better move)Fastballs down the middle are mistakes.