Assuming the player can play any of these three levels and would be considered at least average at any level.
Which of these three levels should a player with aspirations of playing Division I or even high level Division II college softball be playing if she is a soon to be sophomore?
TX
My advice, go to the "Is this a Joke or What" discusion. We were just talking about this.
Good Luck and I think it depends on your kid.
Good Luck and I think it depends on your kid.
- the1fan
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:10 pm
That topic is exactly why I posted the poll. Just to try and get a vote on it over the course of time. Thanks.
- softballrulznut
- Posts: 116
- Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:25 pm
The player should play her age bracket, regardless of her level of talent. Gold coaches are crying constantly about all the fool's gold teams at the gold level.
The Gold coaches are the blame for the problem.
They keep robbing the 14s and 16s of their best talent. The 14s and 16s seldom get to an ASA nationals because their best got jerked to a Gold team. Then that Gold team does not get to a Gold Nationals because their talent is young and unseasoned. The other 14 and 16u girls, and their parents feel left out, so they start a fool's gold team. Meanwhile most college coaches have started attending 16u events, and even 14u events so they can get past the fools gold, and be ahead of the curve on good young talent.
Play your age!
Gold coaches, if you have to recruit young to fill your team, coach 16u or 14u.
God give us common sense.
The Gold coaches are the blame for the problem.
They keep robbing the 14s and 16s of their best talent. The 14s and 16s seldom get to an ASA nationals because their best got jerked to a Gold team. Then that Gold team does not get to a Gold Nationals because their talent is young and unseasoned. The other 14 and 16u girls, and their parents feel left out, so they start a fool's gold team. Meanwhile most college coaches have started attending 16u events, and even 14u events so they can get past the fools gold, and be ahead of the curve on good young talent.
Play your age!
Gold coaches, if you have to recruit young to fill your team, coach 16u or 14u.
God give us common sense.
- ru4u
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2009 2:46 pm
An average sophomore playing 16u will get no college looks. An sophomore playing at the average 18u gold level will at least get on the list for some Div. I, Div. II. By the time that avereage 16u is a junior she is far behind the curve for the fall of her junior hear because now she is just working like crazy to get looked at. Too many lost opportunities.
- heybuckethead
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:10 am
ru4u wrote:The player should play her age bracket, regardless of her level of talent. Gold coaches are crying constantly about all the fool's gold teams at the gold level.
The Gold coaches are the blame for the problem.
They keep robbing the 14s and 16s of their best talent. The 14s and 16s seldom get to an ASA nationals because their best got jerked to a Gold team. Then that Gold team does not get to a Gold Nationals because their talent is young and unseasoned. The other 14 and 16u girls, and their parents feel left out, so they start a fool's gold team. Meanwhile most college coaches have started attending 16u events, and even 14u events so they can get past the fools gold, and be ahead of the curve on good young talent.
Play your age!
Gold coaches, if you have to recruit young to fill your team, coach 16u or 14u.
God give us common sense.
You may want to have some experience before you start telling people what they should do based upon uninformed "common sense." Two six year olds can come up with solutions to world hunger using impeccable common sense but there is a reason their conclusions are lacking.
BTW, "common sense" dictates rather clearly that no single answer to this question is optimal for all kids in all situations.
John
10 years from now I'll wish I felt like I do these days.
-
Blind Squirrel - Premium Member
- Posts: 1138
- Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:02 am
The biggest problem I see is parents of freshmen and sophomores trying to make decisions based on their own common sense or worse yet, the advice of 16u coaches. Instead they should be relying on the advice of college and 18u Gold coaches. It's my experience that most parents don't really know where their daughters are best suited to play to get recruited.
- onedownonetogo
- Posts: 123
- Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:05 pm
onedownonetogo wrote:The biggest problem I see is parents of freshmen and sophomores trying to make decisions based on their own common sense or worse yet, the advice of 16u coaches. Instead they should be relying on the advice of college and 18u Gold coaches. It's my experience that most parents don't really know where their daughters are best suited to play to get recruited.
This is exactly what I believe as well, but I just wanted to get a sense for the overall belief out there. Seems to be that the majority is leaning to 18u Gold. And it's clear that no one believes that 18u A is the way to go.
- softballrulznut
- Posts: 116
- Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:25 pm
How about some stories from folks who have been there and made this decision, and think they made the right decision or regretted their choice. I personally would like to here from those in the previous three or four years because of the changes in recruiting, 16u, and 18u Gold.
- heybuckethead
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:10 am
DD is 2012 and played a full schedule of Gold Ball this year.
It was the best thing we have ever done for her.
As a parent, I had to consider what my DD's goals were. She wants to play at the D1 level at a Major D1. In my opinion, the best way to achieve this was to play up and face the best of the best. She excelled in all phases of her game. She gained valuable experience that she would not have gotten playing at her age bracket.
In turn, she was seen by the very coaches that she dreams of playing for someday. She made an impression on these coaches because she was young and had major game. She faced 2008 D1 Pitchers and Major D1 Bound Pitchers and had 4 Home Runs in her first season of Gold Ball. She played every inning of every game and was the cleanup hitter. She also got valuable experience on the mound facing 2008 players etc. There were some bumps along the way, but she is a more prepared softball player because of the experience.
If a kid has what it takes, which includes determination, dedication and the willingness to face the challenge, then by all means, let them play up.
It's worth it.
It was the best thing we have ever done for her.
As a parent, I had to consider what my DD's goals were. She wants to play at the D1 level at a Major D1. In my opinion, the best way to achieve this was to play up and face the best of the best. She excelled in all phases of her game. She gained valuable experience that she would not have gotten playing at her age bracket.
In turn, she was seen by the very coaches that she dreams of playing for someday. She made an impression on these coaches because she was young and had major game. She faced 2008 D1 Pitchers and Major D1 Bound Pitchers and had 4 Home Runs in her first season of Gold Ball. She played every inning of every game and was the cleanup hitter. She also got valuable experience on the mound facing 2008 players etc. There were some bumps along the way, but she is a more prepared softball player because of the experience.
If a kid has what it takes, which includes determination, dedication and the willingness to face the challenge, then by all means, let them play up.
It's worth it.
Abuse is a perverted way of "winning" over others. It is the opposite of being a good sport.
- Ovr_tha_Fence
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2009 8:54 pm
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