the right age?

I have a little girl and I was just wondering about the right age to really begin softball and practicing and travel ball.

 

Now !!

Put a ball in her hand right out of diapers..serious the younger when you start with correct mechanics the better it will benefit her later !!! My DD started when she was 4-5 years of age, and she was actually left-handed, but I changed her and she has a canon right-handed.


guru

 

Let her decide

My DD started in baseball (t-ball) at age five. She also played soccer (hated it), gymnastic (too tall), basketball (played thru Jr Hi), volleyball (quit after making all-conference her Soph year when that coach said she had to play travel ball to be on the team). Point is to start her playing whatever is in-season and pay attention to what SHE REALLY LIKES. If it's softball great! If it's soccer, my sympathies (I would rather watch paint dry).

As for travel ball I'm in the later than sooner camp. We started at 12U but she played in a good rec league and had "all-star" ball in those leagues. From my perspective travel ball before 10U is virtually indefensible unless you just like staying in Sleep Inns and cherish that "free" breakfast.

 

Dukedog- you just became my favorite poster

 

Wow

My feelings are deeply hurt !!!


Guru

 

Guru.
Let me explain,
Braves meant dukedog4 is only Braves favorite in the "makes perfect sense" category

You are EVERYONES favorite poster in the "makes no sense at all" category
I hope this soothes you hurt feelings

 

Okay You Will Pay For That !!

DD get your things we are moving to Butler !!!---LOL

Guru

 

Like DukeDog, my older daughter started T-ball at age 5 (then switched to T-Ball softball when that league formed), went to her first clinic at age 9, quit doing rec cheerleading age 10 so she could play fall softball (after breaking her arm wiped out most of her spring season), started travel ball at age 11, started private pitching lessons later that year. This year played JV and is just finishing up the summer travel season with a trip to the Hawaiian Tropic Classic in Myrtle Beach.

I agree that 10U is the earliest I see being reasonable for travel ball, and some girls aren't ready for the committment they should be being asked to make for the level of expense and effort required of their parents and coaches.

My younger DD (10) can't decide whether she likes softball or soccer better and alternates between spring and fall. Her ADHD is more compatible with the continuous activity of soccer, but I think she wants to be like big sister.

 

My dd started out with rec t-ball 5 then went to rec but you can find rec like Mecklenburg county when she turns 6-7 she could play 8u and they have fall and spring. Char-meck has 8u pitch two innings then the coach comes and pitches. It is a good way for the girls to get used to hitting off another girl not just a coach then try 8u TB in the spring if she like rec let her play if she loves it try TB. Rec is only a game or two a week TB is at least 3 in one day.