Play time or being on a good team

[Southpaw729]

In a true "organization" a younger player will grow within the organization, be taught consistent fundamentals and best plan to reach her fullest potential on the field (similar to a major league organization).

As such, if she has to "ride the pine" for a while until she matures more physically and mentally it still may be better than playing on a one trick pony team that is here today and gone tomorrow.

In the end professional coaching and a well run "organization" is always a quality athlete's best path to becoming her best and having the best spot at a softball ride (partial or full).

I encourage parents to think long term. If your DD is 12, 13 or 14 it is still all about development. Winning should be secondary to the process of her mastering a very difficult game.

If she is good enough she will play and advance in a top organization over time. If not there are plenty of over travel team options.

[Iluvblue]

In a true "organization" a younger player will grow within the organization, be taught consistent fundamentals and best plan to reach her fullest potential on the field (similar to a major league organization).


So tell me which top name organization is giving preference(for gold roster spots)to some kid that happened to play on their organizations 14u team? I started the Monarchs for this exact reason, and I can tell you if you think playing on some 14u team is helping your kid make the Gold team, you are CRAZY. Now if the kid is damn good, or the 14u coach is damn good and helping your kid get better and helping her chances of making the org gold team, that is totally different.

and under almost NO CIRCUMSTANCES is it better for that player to ride the pine. They need to play to understand the speed of the game. You cant get game experience by sitting... although I think players can learn a ton by watching, bu tthey better also be getting plenty of dirt time as well.

[papadan]

I am always in favor of playing time over sitting the pine. I also favor players playing in situations where they are able to develop some of those intangible skills that are difficult to measure, such as leadership. Often when young players play on older teams, they are not viewed as one of the leaders or given many opportunities to be a leader. They are generally working very hard to keep up on a physical level with their older teammates. If a player is a studette on a younger team, let her keep working on her softball skills but help her develop the ability to be vocal leader on the field, the type of player that is truly encouraging those around her to do better, and actually makes those around her better. When she reaches the 16, 18, and Gold levels she will still be a studette, but one that stands out because of her ability to lead.

I would also look at going to established organizations who only carry 12 or 13 players on their younger teams as opposed to organizations that do not have a good history of preparing players. A good coach will be able to get 12 or 13 players plenty of game time and quality practices. However, as others have stated, don't marry yourself to the organization thinking that playing at the younger levels will guarantee you a spot on the elite teams later. Just look at many organization's elite teams and see how many of their current players actually played for the organization for more than three years. At the younger levels it is all about playing time, even better if it is with an established coach.

[Iluvblue]

papadan may only have 2 posts, but he knows a thing or two:)

[lovsofbal]

Just because you have a big name team on your jersey doesn't mean you are going to be on the main fields. Usually, it is only the main team that will.

Look at the Firecrackers, if ALLLLL of their 18u teams were on the main fields, there would be no room for any other team.

Exactly