Sit or Play?????

[play4fun]

I saw several girls (I will not name anyone) this past weekend who could be starting on any given team but chose to sit the bench so that they can be on a top team. I watched all weekend and they hardly stepped on the field.

My question is:

These players could start and get 3/4 if not all the playing time on numerous other teams so is it better to play most of the time or sit the bench to be on a top team?

I don't understand the thought process of having your child sit the bench when she should be playing to get even better.

What's your thoughts?

[shutup&playball]

More then 12 DD is wrong i think but some of this teams can help that child be come better player
some teams do not have the coaching.


So it wounld be nice to know more?

[Blendin N]

Depends on the age. I personally would rather have my DD on a team that she can contribute. If her skill level is that of an average or below average team than that is where she belongs. I have seen where you take an average player and surround her with above average players and she will become above average in a short time, but those opportunities are few and far between unless you are good friends with the coach. Sitting the bench all of the time will never make her a better player, just add hardware on the mantle.

[play4fun]

The ones I saw are already top notch players but were sitting the bench because either they are to new or haven't earned their spots yet. The players in front of them will be tough to knock out of their postions.

Do you continue to sit the bench until you earn your spot or play for another team? Is it really worth more trophies and a shot at going to nationals?

Do you think it is the players decision or the parents who want the recognition?

[heybuckethead]

Starting on a lesser team is not always the best thing for a kid. Sometimes, but not always. I personally have talked players and their parents into accepting supporting roles because I believed that in a short time that player would move into a starting role. The key is for the parents and player to sit down and clearly talk about why they chose to move to the "top" team and then not lose faith in that decision too quickly. Stars may move right in to starting positions at the top of the order, but not most new players. A girl who is sitting the bench now on a "top" team may well just be paying her dues before earning her starting spot. Sometimes it can take two or three or more tournaments, but eventually she gets the job as soon as the (good) coach and her teammates develop some trust in her and see attitude, leadership, and results in practice and games. Sometimes a good player, but one who will not start, needs to ride the pine on a much better team to motivate her to move to the proverbial next level. I've known a lot of really, really good players who just needed to see what the next level looked like up close in practices and in games before they chose to commit themselves to reach that level themselves. If they had stayed on lesser teams where they were stars without trying they never would have elevated their games.

[cinnaman]

My DD is a pitcher on a very good team. Prior to this team, It didn't matter how well she pitched if her lesser team couldn't execute on defense or score any runs on offense. A good pitcher can't win a game, but she can keep you in the game.

After coming back from a national event we re-evalutated the team. Play on a lesser team and get plenty of playing time or try-out with the better teams? We chose to try-out for a better team. She made the pitching staff of a much better team. Her playing time is down overall but she is working so much harder on all aspects of her game. Her new coach has evaluated her skill set and challenged her to become a better overall player. She has accepted this challenge.

As her father, I believe it has made her a better player as she approaches high school.

[Texas19]

I agree with cinnaman, we were in the same position and decided to move up and try to make a better team. My dd has worked harder to improve her game because she's not the star of this team and that has made her a better overall pitcher. She has hit a little bit of a wall this year not improving as much as in past years. Just wondering if any other pitchers have gone through this our other pitcher went through this last year and is pitching very good this year. Maybe an age thing 12u body going through so many changes. Any thoughts ?