I have a 12-year-old who is starting the process of rec to select. We attended a indoor practice for one team and she was automatically asked to join the team due to her hitting alone. Fast forward to the next practice (open practice so the breakdown was 5 core players, 2 new girls who accepted invite to join and 2 new or visiting players), let's just say it was more of punishment than practice being done. The first drill was fielding/throwing from SS to 1st base, as I watched the coach receiving the throws at first did not move the glove from one location and any thro that wasn't to the glove was counted out loud for everyone to hear. The drill was completed with the number being around 12-13and the coaches gathering the girls around 1st base to tell them give us 105 jump squats (this was about 20 minutes into practice) Seemed a bit stern to me but figured they had their reason for the jump squats. they moved on to some fly ball drills and calling ball while in the air (about 10 minutes time). Next drill was situational fielding with runners to get the out at first, this is where we drew the line and eventually pulled daughter off of the field. It literally was hit a ground ball or two and have the whole team do 10 burpees. This continued on for a bit and the total number of burpees was pushing 50-60 range (about 10 minutes into the drill) when we made the decision that this team wasn't an actual fit for us. We pulled her off of the field and left the fields. My wife and I both coach rec ball and stress to make the time the girls are on the field a learning experience to develop them a players and people. We always stress teamwork and want to have the girls always want to come back to the game with a smile on their face.
My question to everyone here is this a common way for a practice in the select world? In my opinion this type of practice will only have the girls get burnt out and hate playing the game in general.
My question to everyone here is this a common way for a practice in the select world? In my opinion this type of practice will only have the girls get burnt out and hate playing the game in general.