Stuck in the Outfield!

[canyonjoe]

I will agree with others who have stated that the importance of the OF increases as the players get older. Most college outfielders and run like deer, take great angles on balls, and will lay out for a ball in the gap. That said I would like to encourage all players, regardless of age or level to work on hitting, because I can promise you that if your DD is knocking the cover off the ball her coach WILL find a place for her to play - or DH!!! I cannot tell you how many times a parent on our TB team has come to our coaching staff asking why their DD is not playing, and 98.2% of the time it is not because of her glove, but because her batting average is below .100!!!

We have a kid on DD's team. Plays C,1B,OF. Asked her where she likes to play and she says "Wherever they put me as long as I'm hitting".

 

[coachbob]

I see soccer and Lacrosse players getting the premium outfield positions at 12U over girls who have been playing softball since 6U.
You want to see a coach do a back-flip? Tell him you're favorite position is center field because you love running, sliding, and diving for balls.

 

[Eric F]

Especially since I'm a little familiar with the caliber of the league in this specific case, if this young player has progressed from being a first-timer to an all-star in less than 1 year, this says a lot about her natural abilities as an athlete. I would not recommend holding her down in 10U for next Fall, but work like crazy from the end of all-stars to the start of Fall Ball to continue her development in ALL areas of the game. NOTHING will help her to progress more than her own determination...and practice.

 

[bucket pinata]

Wanna make the team of your choice next tryout season, Work hard at covering lots of green and reading flies , how to charge ground balls then Have your DD walk up to the coach and tell them my goal is to be the best center fielder in the state, anybody can cover 20 feet. bet you make the roster. every year both my DDs coaches would love to have that kid show up at tryouts.

 

[YoungBuck]

I will agree with others who have stated that the importance of the OF increases as the players get older. Most college outfielders and run like deer, take great angles on balls, and will lay out for a ball in the gap. That said I would like to encourage all players, regardless of age or level to work on hitting, because I can promise you that if your DD is knocking the cover off the ball her coach WILL find a place for her to play - or DH!!! I cannot tell you how many times a parent on our TB team has come to our coaching staff asking why their DD is not playing, and 98.2% of the time it is not because of her glove, but because her batting average is below .100!!!

I couldn't agree with this more. I'll be the first to say my DD is unathletic, slow, etc... she plays because she CAN hit !

 

[Sweet Lou]

Not sure if this has been asked but is the request from the parent or the kid? Do you know if the kid is happy playing OF?

I know baseball is different but I always loved playing OF, especially CF growing up. While I did get IF time and liked that too, I was always happiest running down FBs or throwing out runners from the OF on defense and after age 12 was pretty much OF full time.

Could be the kid actually likes the OF.

 

[NorthMS]

1st, the players has to work on her own at other positions if she wants to play them. I don't hold the All Star coach responsible, but during the regular season, this girl should have gotten time at different position. At 10u, its too early to tie a kid to a certain position.

 

[Little Angels Softball]

Some of the best players I have had the privilege of watching have all been outfielders. They are three of the consensus "best player in the world" candidates of the last 15 years.

I wonder if Laura Berg, Jessica Mendoza and Caitlin Lowe really wish their coaches would give them more time in the infield.

 

[Bchbum54]

Sorry for the non reply. I've been out of town in a tournament. She has been playing softball for less then a year and in the outfield the entire time. She just wants a legitimate chance to play and experience playing in the infield. With that said, she just won a game MVP this weekend but it was for her offense, lol. And once again another weekend in center field

 

[CycloneSoftball22]

Teach her to embrace being a great center fielder. That would benefit her more as she gets older than anything. I always played catcher because that was my skill set. I never wanted a "legitimate chance" to experience being a pitcher