Everyone has an opinion I would like imput

I have a dd that has played one year of 12u. She has practiced with 14u teams and some have asked her to come out for tryouts. She just turned 11. One of the directors of a softball group not going to say AAU,NSA,USSSA...etc. Approached me and said I needed to find a better team for my dd to play on so she could be put with her ability. I don't think she is ready(well I am not ready) for 14u. I would like her to play with a second 12u year team. Her coach now wants to know if she will stay, another coach from a team that is moving up wants her to play with them. Our team this year was not a top team not even in B bracket play. She likes the girls on this team and on the team she played with 2years ago. She is confused. She can't play school ball until next year and that is all she talks about. I am trying not to make decsions for her but I think another team would be best for her. I would like imput from other parents and see what you would do in this situation.

 

My dd is a pitcher and when she was 11 she was pitching to 14s and it made her twice the pitcher because she had to step it up and learn how to be a pitcher and not a thrower. The team that I put her on was a good team and the girls were not too bad in the dug out-yes remember the older girls talk about some things that you might not want a 11yr old to here but if she is truely ready to go up then do it. You will know if she's ready by looking and seeing if she fits in and by that I mean does she look as good as the older girls. jmo

 

Leave it up to your DD. Don't let others tell her or you what she should do. I am sure they have her best interests at heart but as others have pointed out on several threads, let her play the game and have FUN. If she wants to go to another/better team fine, if she wants to play up fine, if she is happy where she is and having fun, that is fine also.

No matter what, if you make a change and she is no longer having fun, make another change.

 

Tough call! I have said to always ask yourself 3 questions at the younger age groups. 1. Is the team getting better? 2. Is your daughter getting better? 3. Is the coach fair with the players. If you can answer all 3 with a "yes" then I see no reason to leave a team. If you answer "no" to any one of the questions then leaving should at least be thought about. This is all just my humble opinion. Remember this though...the grass ain't always greener on the other side...choose carefully.

 

There is no one way to go on this subject. You must decide what is best for your daughter. Don't worry about the "friends" aspect. Switch teams and she'll make new best friends plus keep a few old ones. ChaCha is absolutely right about 3 questions. to add to it, think about "does DD need to be further challenged?" To get better you have to play more competitive teams. There is a limit though, don't get into a situation where she gets Whupped. Playing out of your league can be demoralizing. On the other hand staying down and finding a better team where she can shine is a real confidence builder.
One suggestion is to look at who she will potentially play school ball with. Develop thier talents too and you'll get double benefit, TB and MS. We have 5 players on our TB team who will play highschool together. It is one way Harnett Central has managed to develop a winning tradition and we plan to continue it for a few more years, I hope.

 

To answer the question #1 most of the team left the next two tournaments will be with fillins the others moved up to different 14u teams which left 4 including my dd from the orginal team. #2 she seems to be going backwards and playing to everyone elses potential. #3 the coach is a nice guy most of the girls she will play ball with are on a team moving up to 14u but that whole team is staying together the team is full. The girls that are moving up that want her to play have also split up alot of the girls are going other ways and the new 12u team will start over. My dd told me yesterday she wants to play with girls that want to play ball so I started looking for teams near us and then both coaches called me today and I confronted her and she said she really did not know what to do. So I feel that it is up to me my husband will not give me any imput so I told him I would ask around.

 

Here's you're answer...

You answered your own question.

She's 11 years old and she is probably having a great time where she's at!! Let her develop at her own rate. If she is going to be the next Jennie Finch, it will happen without someone else making suggestions. Don't put her in a situation that she is not developed for. You will also be putting her at risk of getting burned out early.

Were you already saying to yourself before this director approached you: "Gee, I think my dd needs to move up?"

If you decide to move up...good luck!!

 

If she will get a good amount of playing time and not be riding the bench then I would advise playing up. If she won't be a starter, though, based on her skill level I would stay at the level she's at.

Assuming the other considerations are acceptable, of course.

 

I play on a 14u TB team and we have one girl who is a rising 7th grader while the rest of us our rising 9th graders. (I realize your daughter might be a little younger). But, the girl on our team has no problem fitting in and is one of our top players. Granted, I do think she hears some things that the older girls talk about that girls her age shouldn't. If your daughter is comfortable where she is and wants to stay, stay! There's no rush to get up to 14u, she'll get there eventually. And if she's that good, she might make the other players on her team better, which will help you all out.
~hope this helps~

 

jasmynlindsay.....so nice of a PLAYER to actually answer a parents question.....most of the time, it's the players themselves who's opinion is what is most important. I'm sure that parent will take into consideration your opionion above other parents....because we are all here for the GIRLS!!!