Creating a 10u Travel Team in SoCal - Need Feedback

[rfmnz]

my kid will disagree with you. because of her level of playing skills she is playing down when she played rec. The only time she plays up if when you have a squad of girls that all can catch, hit throw and run. Her last season of rec was frustrating for her, some kids have a competitive streak and rec is not letting them play at their full potential.

I feel the same about a lot of kids I see. Play up/down to their competition.

[Tyler Durden]

I wouldnt do this. Let them play fall ball, have fun in the winter, then go back to rec. Playing TB for a few months then going back to rec doesnt make sense.

I also agree with Sam on this. DD2 is 9 playing first year 10s. I am already seeing overuse injuries with some of her team mates - at age 10!

You have to ask yourself why you are doing this. If it is to make them better faster then thats the wrong reason. They dont need to play this much.

Appreciate the feedback, for and against. This is a pipe dream as of now and am considering all your points. Thanks again.

I always enjoy these "I'm considering starting up a team" threads. My advice is 1-follow the tips given by handsinsidetheball, and 2-Listen to rsanchez73.
Sam's negativity is well-intentioned. However, his reply seems to be "we all did it when our daughter's were that age, but you shouldn't do it, because we all did it only to gratify our own selfish needs". Yes I'm paraphrasing, but that seems to be the gist of his objection.
The facts are, 8th graders are now verballing. Is your DD or any of your players of that caliber? Who knows. It's certainly not for me or any other parent to say. Does your daughter want to play that often or work that hard? Again, not my call.
The one thing I would urge you to do is to be very aware of any overuse of pitchers issues. Don't let that happen. Remember, you don't need to win. You just need to build those players skills in all facets of the game, both mental and physical.

[Sam]

my kid will disagree with you. because of her level of playing skills she is playing down when she played rec. The only time she plays up if when you have a squad of girls that all can catch, hit throw and run. Her last season of rec was frustrating for her, some kids have a competitive streak and rec is not letting them play at their full potential.

Nothing personal.....but you are talking about 9 & 10 year old girls playing a f*cking game. Who gives a $hit if they play to their potential. Do you ensure that your kid plays hide and seek only with kids who are of a similar playing level?

If she didn't think the 10 year olds in rec were competitive, have her play up in 12u rec. Don't begin the process of tearing up her body at this early age.

[E Train Dad]

Some really great advice here from some folks that have had multiple kid's through the system.....Travel ball is a HUGE step up from Wreck......no matter what age....kinda like learning to surf, there are no beginner waves.....you jump right into the big leagues from the first wave, cause there is another one right behind it! My 12U daughter was the starting pitcher on our travel team and was worked hard.......until her femur pulled away from her growth plate and now has a titaniam screw holding it together.....we are almost 9 months into it and she is back pitching but in a limited role. Take the advise of these folks as they are sage in what they say, 10U is......well....10U! IMHO, there should be no 10U Travel.....Let her enjoy All Stars.....it is awesome! They get a sense of travelball and the competiton, but not with the total commitment.....too many girls quit Softball after 12's due to the commitment.....don't let it happen to you!

[impose ur will...]

Like Digital Underground said "do whatcha like"
Just make sure your doing it for the right reasons.

[8u/10udad]

my kid will disagree with you. because of her level of playing skills she is playing down when she played rec. The only time she plays up if when you have a squad of girls that all can catch, hit throw and run. Her last season of rec was frustrating for her, some kids have a competitive streak and rec is not letting them play at their full potential.

Nothing personal.....but you are talking about 9 & 10 year old girls playing a f*cking game. Who gives a $hit if they play to their potential. Do you ensure that your kid plays hide and seek only with kids who are of a similar playing level?

If she didn't think the 10 year olds in rec were competitive, have her play up in 12u rec. Don't begin the process of tearing up her body at this early age.

I agree with the girls being allowed to play up. However, you have leagues that have to approve the play up and then won't because they don't think the girl is able to handle it. If a girl is bored in the lower level, let them play up. Who can say, if the girl can handle it or not, during a 15 min evaluation.

[rfmnz]

I agree with the girls being allowed to play up. However, you have leagues that have to approve the play up and then won't because they don't think the girl is able to handle it. If a girl is bored in the lower level, let them play up. Who can say, if the girl can handle it or not, during a 15 min evaluation.

Definitely a factor to consider. Sometimes politics or relationships can determine whether or not your kid will "qualify" to play up a division at tryouts.

[ontheblack]

I agree with the girls being allowed to play up. However, you have leagues that have to approve the play up and then won't because they don't think the girl is able to handle it. If a girl is bored in the lower level, let them play up. Who can say, if the girl can handle it or not, during a 15 min evaluation.

Definitely a factor to consider. Sometimes politics or relationships can determine whether or not your kid will "qualify" to play up a division at tryouts.

Does that apply here? I though this was a team just playing the winter.

[Sam]

my kid will disagree with you. because of her level of playing skills she is playing down when she played rec. The only time she plays up if when you have a squad of girls that all can catch, hit throw and run. Her last season of rec was frustrating for her, some kids have a competitive streak and rec is not letting them play at their full potential.

Nothing personal.....but you are talking about 9 & 10 year old girls playing a f*cking game. Who gives a $hit if they play to their potential. Do you ensure that your kid plays hide and seek only with kids who are of a similar playing level?

If she didn't think the 10 year olds in rec were competitive, have her play up in 12u rec. Don't begin the process of tearing up her body at this early age.

I agree with the girls being allowed to play up. However, you have leagues that have to approve the play up and then won't because they don't think the girl is able to handle it. If a girl is bored in the lower level, let them play up. Who can say, if the girl can handle it or not, during a 15 min evaluation.

Or maybe the parents have overestimated the talent level of their DD........naw.....that never happens.

[rfmnz]

Does that apply here? I though this was a team just playing the winter.

I think this was in reference to girls "playing up" during Fall rec season.