Moving up to 12u

[wheresmycar]

But it gets more real.

It's not "real" until you are playing 7 inning games with no time limit.

 

[_MIA_]

It's not "real" until you are playing 7 inning games with no time limit.

In that case OU has only played 8 real games all year..

 

[softball dad 6]

It's not "real" until you are playing 7 inning games with no time limit.

Way back when my dd played her first HS game she said she looked up at scoreboard thinking the game should be about over. It was the middle of the 3rd inning. She said it was the longest game of her life.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

 

[uncdrew]

It's not "real" until you are playing 7 inning games with no time limit.

I concur.

 

[uncdrew]

Way back when my dd played her first HS game she said she looked up at scoreboard thinking the game should be about over. It was the middle of the 3rd inning. She said it was the longest game of her life.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

Isn't it crazy? Really good players not yet in high school honestly feel games are about 3-4 innings long.

Stupid travel tournaments.

 

[_MIA_]

Isn't it crazy? Really good players not yet in high school honestly feel games are about 3-4 innings long.

Stupid travel tournaments.

Every single kid you watch on TV this year went through the same experience. It isn’t like you are doubling the length of a marathon..Adjustments are made quickly.

 

[DryHeat]

Speed.

- pitching is faster
- balls come off the bat faster. Better be ready in the field.
- runners are faster. Can't bobble that grounder and throws better have something on them.
- balls are thrown faster. Can't dawdle to the next base
- every decision needs to be quicker. Fielding, running, swing or take, everything.

The difference in size, strength, and skill at 12u can be astonishing. Many teams coming up from 10u can just be overwhelmed by the older/bigger teams.

On the plus side, it is a time for serious skill growth. More than at any other point, although 14u is close.

 

[bmwbykrydr]

Concur with most of this; speed is the main difference. Both sides of the game across the board. 10U is little girl ball, 12U is big girl ball, 14U is young adult ball, and it shows!

Also, though the 12" ball and 5' longer pitching distance can be something to contend with, it is also better/easier to get movement out of the bigger ball. The taller laces catch the air more and those drops, curves, rise balls and screw balls start to show their ugly faces more and more. Teach your batters how to see them and what to do about them, but also teach your catchers how to catch/stop those pitches.

In two years, the only thing the pitchers have to deal with is a 3ft move with the same ball, so not near as much of a shift for them.

 

[Dummy]

Pitchers who can't keep the ball from hitting the dirt and wearing out the catchers causing dropped third strikes, and out fielders who can't get the ball in quickly to prevent inside the park home runs seem to come to my mind without much thought.