Burnout

You sprinkle in a dose of "why did the coach do that?"... like putting a 5ft tall player at first base and the kid wonders if they have been set up to fail.

Sometimes the coach puts the girl at first that can dig the balls out of dirt, go after foul balls and make the plays. True many first basemen are tall but just because you are 6ft tall doesn't necessarily make you a first baseman. Sometimes a coach makes those decisions based on what he has to work with on his particular team. My 5'2" daughter primarily plays first base for her high school and tb team and has done a good job. I believe she is the shortest player on both teams yet still plays first base. Sometimes she plays second and outfield. Not that first base is her favorite position but instead of questioning the coach she plays where she will best benefit the TEAM.

 

I agree with this 110% and 12 being the youngest. Play rec ball till then but let them try other sports or do other stuff. I would not even start a kid pitching until 12 either.

 

In the scenario to which I referred the player was set up to fail.

I am certainly happy that your daughter is an outstanding first baseman.

 

My DD was playing 14u this summer. She started hating it. I could'nt figure out why. She always gave 100%, has a new hitting instructor who she likes alot and she is ripping the ball. What was the problem? The problem was, everytime her team got behind they gave up. It was not that she was tired of TB, she was tired of playing with girls who did not have that drive to succeed and play hard even when you are losing. She enjoys the break away from TB right now, but she is looking foward to trying out with some quality teams next month.

 

It just drives me crazy when people think that a short girl can't play first base. My daughter's high school coach told her to her face that she was too short to play first base. The tall girl she had on first wasn't working out so one day she gave my daughter a chance and that is where she has played ever since. I can understand your position because my daughter's basketball coach put her in a position that she wasn't comfortable with and she didn't feel like she was good at and it made her not enjoy playing basketball. The coach explained to her that she was the best that he had to choose from in that position and that is where he wanted her to play. I guess what I'm trying to say is that sometimes we all question why a coach does what he does but as parents we don't always know the circumstances behind the coach's decisions. I don't think a coach intentionally tries to set girls up for failure. He evidently had confidence that she could play that position and thought she was the best one he had available to play it.

 

I never said a short girl couldnt play first. I was referring to a specific situation in a set of circumstances that occured several years ago.

I could be a totally different circumstance than having a short girl at 1st base defensively. Let me phrase it this way: the girl was played out of position... take height and position out of the equation.

 

TIME OFF!!! Everyone for the most part is playing year round. I think they can start early 8u but have fun teach them how to throw,catch and hit properly. Don't put all the pressure on them. I have seen coaches in 8u,10u playing like it was the college world series. They are yelling at the players instead of teaching them how not to make the same mistake. Encourage them at a young age or they will not continue to play. You don't have to play every weekend. They need to do other stuff besides softball. Most of the time it is the parents that cause problems. Their kid is not playing where they want them to but the kid may not have a problem where she is playing but they are on the sideline talking to other parents about how bad the coach is because they are not playing the girl in a certain spot and not batting fourth in the lineup. Ease up and enjoy your kid playing because you are putting them in the middle of a lot of turmoil on and off the field and that usually leads to not wanting to play. 16u is usually the time when you figure out if your DD really wants to play TB. If they don't want to go to college and play ball there is really no reason to play TB after 14u. Parents don't need to push them to play 16u,18u because if they have to that is a problem and usually leads to bad feelings. Its alright to push them but don't push them away. PARENTS NEED TO GIVE THEIR DD A HONEST LOOK, EVERYONE WANTS THEIRS TO BE THE NEXT JENNIE FINCH BUT DON'T BUILD THEM UP TO SOMETHING THEY ARE NOT BECAUSE IT WILL HURT THEM IN THE END.

 

started taking a group of them to the mall (dirty, sweaty, uniformed) and turned them loose. stayed in the food court (after feeding them) and just waited. they would always come back happy and i think since all of them was all messed up they didn't have that, who is fixed up the nicest, competion going on. they could just be themselves. wouldn't hear the burnout blues the rest of the weekend. also, pool time at a hotel works wonders. as they get older let them pick one weekend to do whatever they choose (within reason) and don't mention or look at a softball.

always remember that kids also get tired of piano lessons, dance lessons, music lessons, soccer, baseball, what ever it may be. you have to work hard to make it fun too and not just let them quit until all is exhausted. i get burned out with working but i get up the next day and go. i think i need a fun day too.