Hi all...I just wanted to get some honest, unbiased opinions about whether I am justified in being pi**ed off.
My daughter played 8u for our town "travel" team last summer. It's a small thing...2 tourneys, but it's the first experience for these girls in "competitive" games where wins & losses count. Also, it gives the girls who really enjoy softball a chance to play with and against other girls who are into it also, as opposed to our rec league where half the girls like it and half aren't paying attention. Anyway, she did very well and she improved tremendously playing with the better players and the girls 1 yr. older. She loved it and was excited for her 2nd year of 8u eligibility this summer. Now it appears that there may not be enough girls to form an 8u team this summer. There will, however be enough (maybe a few too many) for the 10u team. I inquired about my daughter trying out for the 10u team & was told that she can't. The rule has always been that girls can't play up because it weakens their correct level team by "losing" the best players to the age above & it's not fair if they take the spot of a 10u girl who obviously can't play down to 8u...so they want everyone within their proper age bracket. That was fine & I can see their reasoning.
My problem is that, when it appears that there will be no 8u team, everything changes. In this case, neither the 8u girl or the 10u girl has an alternative to 10u, so why not just hold open tryouts? Objectively, my daughter is better than a fair amount of the girls that will be on the 10u team. She is probably the top girl in her year in our town. She wouldn't be the best on the 10u team, but without a doubt, if they held open tryouts, she would make it over many of the girls (of the proper age) who will be playing. The issue I have is that with no 8u team, why not let everyone try out for 10u...and an 8 yr. old is, in fact, under 10. By not letting everyone try out, they are essentially choosing the team based solely on age & my daughter may not get to play this summer because of it. My daughter loves to play & will be so upset if they won't even give her a chance to try out. If weaker players make the team while potentially stronger players sit out the summer, why even have tryouts? I honestly think that if they make her sit out this summer, I will find an independent 10u team for her to play with next year when the town league will be relying on her to be an important part of their 10u team.
So I ask you guys for your honest opinion...am I unreasonable for being annoyed ??
My daughter played 8u for our town "travel" team last summer. It's a small thing...2 tourneys, but it's the first experience for these girls in "competitive" games where wins & losses count. Also, it gives the girls who really enjoy softball a chance to play with and against other girls who are into it also, as opposed to our rec league where half the girls like it and half aren't paying attention. Anyway, she did very well and she improved tremendously playing with the better players and the girls 1 yr. older. She loved it and was excited for her 2nd year of 8u eligibility this summer. Now it appears that there may not be enough girls to form an 8u team this summer. There will, however be enough (maybe a few too many) for the 10u team. I inquired about my daughter trying out for the 10u team & was told that she can't. The rule has always been that girls can't play up because it weakens their correct level team by "losing" the best players to the age above & it's not fair if they take the spot of a 10u girl who obviously can't play down to 8u...so they want everyone within their proper age bracket. That was fine & I can see their reasoning.
My problem is that, when it appears that there will be no 8u team, everything changes. In this case, neither the 8u girl or the 10u girl has an alternative to 10u, so why not just hold open tryouts? Objectively, my daughter is better than a fair amount of the girls that will be on the 10u team. She is probably the top girl in her year in our town. She wouldn't be the best on the 10u team, but without a doubt, if they held open tryouts, she would make it over many of the girls (of the proper age) who will be playing. The issue I have is that with no 8u team, why not let everyone try out for 10u...and an 8 yr. old is, in fact, under 10. By not letting everyone try out, they are essentially choosing the team based solely on age & my daughter may not get to play this summer because of it. My daughter loves to play & will be so upset if they won't even give her a chance to try out. If weaker players make the team while potentially stronger players sit out the summer, why even have tryouts? I honestly think that if they make her sit out this summer, I will find an independent 10u team for her to play with next year when the town league will be relying on her to be an important part of their 10u team.
So I ask you guys for your honest opinion...am I unreasonable for being annoyed ??