16U question

I see the 16U age group getting weaker and weaker. It looks like so many players are opting to play 1 year of 16U and then move up to 18U or they are skipping 16U all together. I do know that in the 16U/18U combined tournaments that I have seen the college coaches do not pay much attention to the 16Us. I hear many parents tell other parents and kids they should play 18U as soon as possible without giving much regard to the talent level of the player. No doubt in my mind that a junior in high school should be playing 18U ball if they want to play college ball even if they could still play 16U. It looks like the feeling now is that sophomores should also be playing at the 18U level. It also looks like that just about any freshman that can play a little is also wanting to play 18U.

Is there anyway to change this trend? Should we even attempt to change this trend? Should the ASA go to an odd number system instead of an even number system....9, 11, 13, 15, 17 instead of 10, 12, 14, 16, 18?

 

16U Still Serves A Purpose In ASA

Based on the number of quality teams attending this year at the 16U ASA Nationals in Seattle as well as the large number of college coaches in attendance, I would say there is nothing wrong with playing 16U.

However to get the greatest benefit and to get on the college coaches radar early, you must play on a team that plays in the ASA tournaments where the coaches recruit- such as in Boulder & Aurora, CO, various ASA regional qualifiers and of course in the ASA Nationals. Local tournaments where the college coaches will look at 16U players include all three of the Cardinals tournaments- Cherry Park and Walnut Creek, the Dynamite Classic in Columbia, the Hot Times in Florence, and the ASA state in Cary.

If a player on a 16U team has contacted a college coach and sent him/her their summer schedule that includes these tournaments, the coaches will if at all possible, make a point to watch you play.

With more and more players committing earlier, college coaches are looking at the talent on the 16U teams so they can get a head start on their competition. But this can only happen IF those teams play in the tournaments the college coaches attend.

 

Very True!

UNC sent both assistants to the 16U ASA Nationals this year (Seattle). My '05 daughter received her first D1 offer during the Spring of her junior year in HS. The coaches from that school saw her pitch for her 16U team in Florence (since then the Bandits have seperated the 16's and 18's to different weekends, though). As commitments get earlier and earlier (not necessarily a good thing, I think) coaches will pay more and more attention to 16U.

 

Excellent post.....

This trend of racing to the upper age divisions in most cases, does not always serve the athlete. 16U is an important step, as it is usually the first opportunity for an athlete to be showcased. The level of play at the 16U age group is competitive, especially amoung the established programs.

The players and their parents should ask the coach hard questions about how this move will make the athlete better. The answer is not that " you will play better competion and be more visible to the collegiate scouts ". They will be seen at the 16U level. The upper level coach and team has a responsibility to continue to develop the player. It should be a 2 way street that benefits the player and team.

The pressure to move up, in most cases comes from the coaching ranks, hoping to bring up, the next " can't miss prospect ". The choice to push a kid to a higher level should depend on what benefit the move will have for the player, not the next level coach or team. There are many documented cases of kids rushed to the next level, and then struggling to make the transition. This happens allot with pitchers. Make sure your new coach knows the difference between a rise ball and a bowling ball.


Everyone is rushing to "be seen".

We are starting to see a new method to the madness evolving...
The "14U Futures" showcase tournaments... what's next...
8U coach pitch early signing....

 

OK, most responses I see make it seem like the coaches are really attending and scouting 16U tournaments...I just disagree. Yes, perhaps the ASA Nathionals and the Colorado tournaments get some attention at the 16U level, but I do not think the others do. I was at the Hot Times 16U tournament in Summerville, SC. this year and I can tell you there were not many coaches there at all...perhaps 3 to 5. However, if the trend is starting to lean a little bit in the 16U levels favor then coaches and parents should be aware of this. I just believe the 16U level is weakening in NC and hopefully if the word gets out that college coaches are attending these tournaments it may help to strengthen it.

 

Pitchers need to dominate

Agree 100% with Charlie, especially regarding pitchers. The most successful ASA Gold team in the eastern US is the Shamrocks (2005 Gold National Champions) based in northern VA. They always have a super 16U team along with the ASA 18U Gold team. Their approach is that pitchers need to learn to dominate the opponent. Pitchers may stay @ 16U thru the junior year in HS. Of course, some of the pitchers are offered without ever moving to 18U due to the reputation of the organization. There's nothing worse for a pitcher than to be "rushed up". Pitchers need "successful" innings.

 

Can you name a pitcher from NC in recent memory that was dominate, signed with a D1 school, and pitched at the 16U level as a junior in high school? The freshman pitcher for the Lookouts who plays at Washington High School is pitching at the 18U level and is doing very well. The freshman pitcher for the Dominators Gold who pitches for Jordan Matthews High School pitched a split 16/18 schedule this year and did very well...both will no doubt pitch at the 18U level from now on. The kid from the Vipers that throws so hard may have pitched at the 16U level, but I would bet it was only for 1 year. Did the Caviness girl or her teammate that were so good that pitched for the Challengers (Charlie) a few years back pitch at the 16U level as juniors in high school?

 

Nope

That's why I cited the Va Shamrocks example. They do things a bit differently and are pretty successful. Of course their 18U team plays a Gold schedule (we've already had that discussion). Since there is no elite Gold team in NC to "graduate" to D1-bound pitchers typically move to 18U early. Perfectly understandable. My DD moved to 18's after only one year @ 16's. That said my DD (who was a dominate TB pitcher and plays @ the D1 level) did receive D1 offers as a result of being seen in 16U ball so it can happen if your in right place and perform well.

Recruiting is getting earlier and earlier. Whether that means kids will get "fast-track" to 18's or coaches will start recruing 16's will vary across the country. Those girls committing early should be careful though. Around 40 D1 schools will have new coaches this year including locals Radford and WCU. Attrition is even in worse at D2 level. My advice is to take those official visits!

 

Lauren Caviness Harnett Central now plays at Campbell
Carol Lilley DH Connolly now plays at Elon

Both played 16U for me during their 16U summer in 2002 ( between their soph and junior years in HS )