DD is a second year 10u (turning 11 this year) on a travel team as a pitcher/3rd base. Skills are probably average relative to other second year girls on her team. She also wants to play on her local little league team starting up this spring. Not trying to overstate her skills, but I feel like she was one of the top players on the team last spring and competition wasn't challenging. In fairness, the formal season was cancelled, games consisted of informal scrimmages, and they may have had trouble finding suitable teams to play due to parents wary of covid.
For the local league starting this spring, I was thinking of having her do 12u. I doubt she'd pitch, and she may just end up on the bench, but I was thinking practicing/playing with older kids would help push and challenge her, and would facilitate the transition to a 12" ball for 12u travel in the fall. Also, she happens to want to go to the 12u team. With that I was set to have her try out for 12u when I mentioned this to her pitching instructor. She felt that creating a mindset of having the ability to dominate other teams (as a 10u player) outweighed the benefits of being challenged in 12u play.
Curious if you've been in the same position and/or what everyone's thoughts are?
For the local league starting this spring, I was thinking of having her do 12u. I doubt she'd pitch, and she may just end up on the bench, but I was thinking practicing/playing with older kids would help push and challenge her, and would facilitate the transition to a 12" ball for 12u travel in the fall. Also, she happens to want to go to the 12u team. With that I was set to have her try out for 12u when I mentioned this to her pitching instructor. She felt that creating a mindset of having the ability to dominate other teams (as a 10u player) outweighed the benefits of being challenged in 12u play.
Curious if you've been in the same position and/or what everyone's thoughts are?