12u--16u

What is the possibility of a 13 yr old who played 12u this past summer and 14u this fall jumping to the 16u's. I need some input on what you all think? Besides playing with older girls, what is the difference in the makeup of the speed in the game now?

 

Let her play where she can excel

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I have had several 13 yr olds playing with 17-18 yr olds and it has worked great. I have had the 13 yr old out hit the 17-18 yr. old at times.
There are some special kids out there, who are very mature for their age, that can play at the higher levels at a very early age. I would not push the kid that way though. It needs to be something she is comfortable with. It is very hard to succeed if the comfort level is not there and she is always intimidated. I have a kid right now who pushes herself to be as good or better than the older girls. She will not be held back. She likes to compete. She is now 14 but was 13 during last summers play. If she, the parents, and the coach think she can handle it, I say go for it.

 

troop, first, do what's best for your DD. Don't put her, at that age, in a position where the "fun" of the game gets lost, or buried under too much pressure to succeed at a level beyond her years.
Here I go again Fish... In baseball, you rarely see a kid play beyond a year or two above their age group. Occasionally you have one like Josh Hamilton, but he's just a freak! This allows the kids to "grow" into the game. Of course the increase in the field size has something to do with it also.
Anyway, in softball this seems more prevalent and I don't think it is necessarily for the best, for the players, or the competition at the different age levels. This is not a knock on you CardCoach at all. It's just that I would like to see the best kids in each age group play within their age group. This would create "waves" of talent continually "cresting" into the college level.

 

I'm with Rick on this one. If the players and parents understand there will be good days and tough ones and the young lady can honestly handle it, then go for it.

My 2 DD's have always played up 2 or 3 years and that worked out great so far for the older one. she 's playing at the college she always dreamed about. Hopefully the youngest DD will have the same opportunity.

Last year my 14U team had 3 girls who were 1st year 14U and two 2nd year, the rest could have still been in 12U. However those girls stepped up to the challenge and had a great deal of success as a team in 14U. We also played in 5 16U tournaments last year, winning one, finishing 3rd in another and competitive in all the rest. When things didn't go our way, we never made excuses that we were young and that's why we lost. If we were going to play with the big girls, then we had to accept the results and just work hard to get better.

This year we will play 14U in the spring, then most of this summer and all fall, it will be 16U and showcases. The experience our girls gained last summer will pay off this year and hopefully allow us to be even more successful.

So again, if the girls can handle physically and emotionally, then by all means let them play up.

 

My daughter is going to try to make the jump. She played 14 u last smummer at twelve and did well. She played some 16u and she decided to try and make the jump.

 

The Only Caution/Advice I would Give !!

Is she mature ?? Because 14U-16U girls talk a little different than 12U girls in the dugout, also hopefully she doesn't get left out because of her age when the other girls go to the mall or just hanging out. Most 16U girls are dating boys by that age, and there are probably things that you don't want your 12U girl to hear...just a caution !!!...skill wise I would have to see her, but it will better her to be challenged I will agree with Rick on that aspect of the game !!

Guru

 

Guru, You are exactly right. That is one of our biggest concerns. She does have older siblings, but we are not trying to rush her into growng up. We were just wanted to find the best place for her and to raise the bar as far as a challange.

 

Let your kid be a kid!
Playing 14u is awesome!
Why take that experience from her?
IMO, play 2 yrs of 14 and jump to 18u.
BELIEVE ME, ALOT will be going on in your DDs "person" over the next couple of years!!!!!
Its your job to watch the road she goes down.
I'll bet you would not put her in a Corvette on her 16th birthday.
Be patient and watch her grow up.
And they grow up way too fast.
Wish ya'll the best!
JMO.
Fishman

 

Something about so many being able to "play up" has always perplexed me. It seems to me that the skill level should be so strong on the older team that a much younger player wouldn't have much chance to replace the older player.

With Marlin's permission , is this an issue in baseball? Why or why not?

 

...if you want to raise the bar as far as a challenge, why not put your $ into pitching or hitting instruction, and then let your DD hone those skills she's learning against kids her own age?
Confidence is bigtime, maybe 14u will be where she learns it and 16u too early is where she loses it.