43 feet at 14U?

[ontheblack]

just leave it as it is.

Instead of 16u being the division with the biggest identity crisis, 14U will become the transition division, as many of the better 2nd year 14U teams opt to play up. Those studs that can play up effectively, will, while the majority will continue to progress at a more normal speed as the are still growing.

[bugs]

Have heard Premier will most likely go to 43 feet at 14u.

[SoCal Breakers]

Agreed.

Hotwheels is correct. Many will change their form in order to just get it "over the plate" and you will start having injuries. Why do we have to be in such a hurry to get these girls throwing college distance? Just because the college coaches recruit younger and younger does that mean we have to have our 12 year olds doing what 20 y/o's are doing in college? I think this is bad thinking, but I doubt anyone looked at this type of thing when the decision was made. I understand there are some BEASTS out there pitching in 12 and 14U (as well as a few in 10's ), but I think it is better for them to move up for the competition than to try to drag the entire team to a different distance. As it stands, there are no rules as to how many pitches can be thrown in a game, day, weekend, tournament etc. and whether anyone wants to hear it or not, the ace on most teams throws the vast majority already increasing her chances at injury. Spout all you want about having two or three pitchers (and I agree that you need them), you will still have that "go to pitcher". Lets not kill them before they hit high school.

One solution might be to change the age up dates. Since the seasons technically change on September 1st (as most organizations require that their teams "age up" then), why don't we use that as a age cut off? This would get the high schoolers in one age bracket and the rest below. This would also help with the spring "destruction" of many 14U teams that straddle the 8th grade and 9th grade line in second year 14's. Plus, then you could leave the legitimate high schoolers at 43 feet and leave the younger girls alone.

Give the kids a BREAK! Enough is enough.

Great post!...I know that some of us on here have taken heat in the past for being overprotective of young pitchers but this is really crazy to move it back in 14's...Being 13 years old is OK...I'm sure everyone saw several hundred softball interviews over this past week...Did any of them or even one of them mention what they did as a 12 or 13 year old kid????? NO they didn't because they were still learning and mostly being kids...I know the die hards say "Not my kid"..."She loves it, wants to practice all the time"....BS!! JMWO

Your right Hotwheels my 13 year old dosen't want to practice right now. She wants to have a little girl time before school starts next week. Let the first year 14's stay at 40.
What is the rush!!!

[artomatic]

Hotwheels is correct.

Your right Hotwheels!!!

Lt. Col. Gordon Tall from 'The Thin Red Line': "It's never necessary to tell me that you think I'm right. We'll just... assume it."

Same goes for Hotwheels...

[soupy62]

Great news! Let's start destroying their arms even sooner!

exactly my point i do not want my pitchers to sacrafice form so that the ball isnt getting pounded. The jump from 12 to 14 is a pretty good jump physicly i feel like that jump isnt as extreme from 14 to 16. If ASA makes that jump to 43' i will not try to compete at that level ill keep them down. But without travling all over how do i push these girls if they are one of the best in the area. Dont take that wrong we can be beat on any day lol. But for the most part getting decent games will be tough.

[lvtwft]

It is too soon to move them back to 43 feet. Like mentioned before the girls are much more physical at this level. Now having the P back at 43...Feel sorry for that 12 year old that gets pounded by a 14U girl that has developed into a beast and I would be afraid to play 3rd or P in front her with a P whom is P'ing at 43 for the first time.
There is a lot of physical development in this age group. Giving them 3 more feet to crush the ball here is not the best thing in the world. IMO
In the world, what do 12 year old and Olympic pitchers have in common...?
Nothing, that is a great reason why they do not need to be pitching at the same distance, just going to get girls hurt.
Since Gary from Premier post here...Gary, think about it, read the post, dont move the girls back.
Thanks,
Concerned parent.

[weekend4trvl]

Great news! Let's start destroying their arms even sooner!

Cool-it Sam , 12"s aren't moving back until 2012 , but we'll also go back to wooden bats...so it's all even.

[mercateer]

** NOTE: Pitching distance for 13U on up will be 43 Ft beginning 1/1/2011. Using 43 Ft is optional
at the state level during calendar year 2010. Pitching distance for 15U on up was
previously set to 43 Ft.
this is from the usssa rule book on here site,
I know all JV and Varsity school ball will be 43feet

[3'sDad]

DD is moving up to 14U. As a 12U this past season, she pitched from 43' in middle school ball. Did she notice a difference - yes. She told me more balls were put in play by moving the pitching plate back 3' for school. She had a bit less zip on the fastball, but more time for the movement pitches to move.

Overall, not a bad thing.

[12inchballs]

DD pitched from 38' in MS ball this year, played 14U during tournaments for the 2010 summer season throwing from 40'. Played HS level for league, throwing from 43'....there was no success from 43'.....could not throw strikes, much less get the ball to break consistantly and she is now done with pitching....too much....too soon.