Poor Coaching at the 10u/12u Travel Level?

[CALIsftballparentME]

Hey Everyone,

Pretty new here, but there's a topic I definitely had to bring up so I can get everyone else's take on it.

So the past few friendlies my DD has been in with the teams she's played/been with I have been seeing a lot of infield favoritism like we saw a lot of in rec ball. It only looks like favoritism to me because my DD and her friend both who is in the same situation have primary positions in the infield(DD-MINF, friend-C/IF). The coaching staffs they have both been a part of have had their core group of girls (Which just so happen to be their daughters) who are not AWFUL at their positions, but are not (In my extremely unbiased opinion) on the same level of aggression as my DD and her Friend are in the infield. The thing is that my DD and her friend are probably 2 of the fastest girls on the team, so they are both very reliable outfielders.

The problem I have is not that I want my DD and her friend as the starting Infielder/Catcher every single game, but my fear is that come tournament time, they both will be underdeveloped in their primary positions and thus errors will more likely to occur in the positions they are most confident in, just because friendly after friendly they are locked up in the outfield.

I understand Daddy-ball is a virus in the softball world. You didn't get picked as the the All-star coach, so now you take your DD and start the same favoritism crap on other girls, etc. But in my opinion when a rec-ball coach decides to go travel there is a BIG change that needs to be made personally. Every girl should be getting reps at every position, not just your daughter, 3 games in a row, 4-5 innings straight. I had the pleasure of seeing this years Corona Angels 01 team and they seem to do exactly that. Girls were swapping in and out of different positions and everyone looked like they had been getting reps there and were confident in what they were doing.

So is GREAT coaching really only going to be found on the top 10u teams? That is extremely unfortunate, because we all know how exclusive those teams are to already developed girls, not much room for the strong, but still developing ones. So it would be foolish to think that my DD can make those teams as of right now but I'm sure it will definitely happen down the road.

All in all what I am trying to get at is that the Travel 10u/12u level IS NOT a D1 association. Stop trying to envision the infield/outfield/battery that will win you games in Friendlies. And STOP treating the Outfield as a place to just throw your new players into, so you daughters will be covered when ball after ball is going through their legs.

So 10u/12u coaches I have some questions for you...
- Are you making your daughter better by having her believe Daddy will keep her in a secure spot on the infield she doesn't have to actually work for?

- Do you think you can keep girls on the 10u level team all the way to 18GOLD if they aren't even given a chance to play at where they want to get better at?

- Don't you think after 5 errors in a row, it might be time to swap out your 2nd basemen? (lol ok maybe that was a bit personal)

- Are you really developing the girls to be as well-rounded as they can be, or are you looking to win for the sake of bragging rights?


REALLY THINK ABOUT IT!

comments?

[softballmom13]

I don't know who you are but, I LOVE YOU! You are absolutely correct in your comments! YOU and your DD and her friend just need to find a Team that will develop her skills and get her to the next LEVEL. They are out there, I promise... you just need to look for them. The biggest advise I can give you is LOOK for THE Coach who is a REAL coach away from Travel Ball. Look for teams that have a small roster (Play Time, not Pine Time) and most of all LOOK for that team that the Girls, Coaches and Parents are supportive of each other. YES, they actually exist. You are correct STOP treating the younger travel ball teams like a D1 school team. These are Little girls who have A lot of Softball ahead of them and the serious ones who plan on going onto college... need to get Better.... hence PLAY not PINE!

Where do you live? If you are close to Orange County... I know a team for you! Great athletes, coaches and parents...

Good Luck and Welcome to Heybucket!

[hotwheels]

Hey Everyone,

Pretty new here, but there's a topic I definitely had to bring up so I can get everyone else's take on it.

So the past few friendlies my DD has been in with the teams she's played/been with I have been seeing a lot of infield favoritism like we saw a lot of in rec ball. It only looks like favoritism to me because my DD and her friend both who is in the same situation have primary positions in the infield(DD-MINF, friend-C/IF). The coaching staffs they have both been a part of have had their core group of girls (Which just so happen to be their daughters) who are not AWFUL at their positions, but are not (In my extremely unbiased opinion) on the same level of aggression as my DD and her Friend are in the infield. The thing is that my DD and her friend are probably 2 of the fastest girls on the team, so they are both very reliable outfielders.

The problem I have is not that I want my DD and her friend as the starting Infielder/Catcher every single game, but my fear is that come tournament time, they both will be underdeveloped in their primary positions and thus errors will more likely to occur in the positions they are most confident in, just because friendly after friendly they are locked up in the outfield.

I understand Daddy-ball is a virus in the softball world. You didn't get picked as the the All-star coach, so now you take your DD and start the same favoritism crap on other girls, etc. But in my opinion when a rec-ball coach decides to go travel there is a BIG change that needs to be made personally. Every girl should be getting reps at every position, not just your daughter, 3 games in a row, 4-5 innings straight. I had the pleasure of seeing this years Corona Angels 01 team and they seem to do exactly that. Girls were swapping in and out of different positions and everyone looked like they had been getting reps there and were confident in what they were doing.

So is GREAT coaching really only going to be found on the top 10u teams? That is extremely unfortunate, because we all know how exclusive those teams are to already developed girls, not much room for the strong, but still developing ones. So it would be foolish to think that my DD can make those teams as of right now but I'm sure it will definitely happen down the road.

All in all what I am trying to get at is that the Travel 10u/12u level IS NOT a D1 association. Stop trying to envision the infield/outfield/battery that will win you games in Friendlies. And STOP treating the Outfield as a place to just throw your new players into, so you daughters will be covered when ball after ball is going through their legs.

So 10u/12u coaches I have some questions for you...
- Are you making your daughter better by having her believe Daddy will keep her in a secure spot on the infield she doesn't have to actually work for?

- Do you think you can keep girls on the 10u level team all the way to 18GOLD if they aren't even given a chance to play at where they want to get better at?

- Don't you think after 5 errors in a row, it might be time to swap out your 2nd basemen? (lol ok maybe that was a bit personal)

- Are you really developing the girls to be as well-rounded as they can be, or are you looking to win for the sake of bragging rights?


REALLY THINK ABOUT IT!

comments?

Welcome to Heybucket!

[Imperial SB Dad]

Relax, it is a long journey and you DD and friend will get their chances. Enjoy the ride and don't sweat the bumps along the way.

[Fastpitch4Life]

Have you discussed this PRIVATELY with the manager/head coach? There may be a method to his/her "madness". Speedy/agressive outfielders are a must even in 10U. Does your team practice outfield/relay drills? Maybe your DD is being "developed" but just not in the way you would like. Did you try out for the CA '01 team? I've seen them play, too, and they are very well coached.There are a number of teams advertising for players at this point, at least a couple with coaches with no kids on the team. My guess is that if your team loses games regularly due to errors with current infielders, your coach will do something about it.

[artomatic]

Dear first time poster, here's what I take from your post:
1) you have a chip on your shoulder regarding daddy ball. Whether it's from past experiences, or whatever, it comes out in your post. Especially the dig at the second baseman.
2) you are well on your way to becoming a coach's biggest problem, a sideline assassin. Keep up that path, and get others to join you, and it is a sure recipe for your team to fall apart. It will also give you a reputation that no top team will want any part of. Unfortunately, your kid will be part of the collateral damage, and it will hinder her chances of getting on a top team.
3) you admire the top teams, but you don't think your kid is ready for that level.
4) your rose colored glasses regarding your kid's talent level extend to her friend's talent level as well.

If your kid continues to progress in travel ball, she will end up on a top team, whether by tryouts, or recruiting by those teams.
It just happens or doesn't. You can call it fate, destiny, or whatever, but the top players in socal end up playing for the top teams.

Your options are:
1) Continue to complain about your team's coaches, and the problem will take care of itself by either the team falling apart due to parental drama, or your kid gets booted from the team, diue to same parental drama.
2) Fulfill your commitment to the team for this season. Sit quietly on the sidelines, and don't get caught up in all the drama. Root for the whole team's success, including supporting the coaches, and if it doesn't work out, move on after the season is done.

I'm being pretty blunt here, so you can accept this advice or get defensive, but this is how it works.
The top gold programs do not put up with any parental drama whatsoever. Most of them have a simple rule: sit down, shut up, or get out.
It would be in your and your kid's best interest to start following those rules now, so you have a smooth path and give your kid the best chance of success.
JMHO, of course.

[Talksalot]

Sounds like a few teams that I have seen recently. Daddy/Mommy ball exist here in travel too. Stay away from smooth talking coaches no matter how bright your DD is she will sit on the bench. Go see their practices see how coaches interact with the players and make your decision based on that. If coaches have players standing around then go to another team as that coach does not know what the heck they are doing. True travel coaches know how to run practices. Now just because coaches have played college ball or are currently playing does not mean they can coach. I am not saying I am a coach I just have seen practices/games here and there. Go out there study teams and make the right decison for your DD is what I am trying to say.

[access2]

Welcome to Heybucket-

Thank goodness your child's in 10u...and enjoyable time and full of fun times to come. I would say find a coach who may be going at this for the second or third or fourth etc- time around in this crazy travel ball world...they may have learned (usually the hard way) a few things or two as they move up to 12s, 14s, etc...to pass on to the little ones.

There aren't that many 10u travel teams to begin with, so just relax, see if you can get involved and support the team as best as possible - hence maybe get some brownie points

Complaining about the dad coach is not gonna help, and some may argue here if it weren't for dad's there is no travel ball - no matter how bad he was/is.
Its still early for your DD, so you have to figure out the goals you and your DD have made- and that will lead to the level of investment of time and $$. The higher skilled players, by magic or some unexplained reason find their way the rosters of the better coaches and teams.

just my quick un-thought out .02 - Disclaimer: Heybucket advice is not scientifically tested or proven, nor approved by the FDA. .

[jbat13]

[CALIsftballparentME]

Dear first time poster, here's what I take from your post:
1) you have a chip on your shoulder regarding daddy ball. Whether it's from past experiences, or whatever, it comes out in your post. Especially the dig at the second baseman.
2) you are well on your way to becoming a coach's biggest problem, a sideline assassin. Keep up that path, and get others to join you, and it is a sure recipe for your team to fall apart. It will also give you a reputation that no top team will want any part of. Unfortunately, your kid will be part of the collateral damage, and it will hinder her chances of getting on a top team.
3) you admire the top teams, but you don't think your kid is ready for that level.
4) your rose colored glasses regarding your kid's talent level extend to her friend's talent level as well.

If your kid continues to progress in travel ball, she will end up on a top team, whether by tryouts, or recruiting by those teams.
It just happens or doesn't. You can call it fate, destiny, or whatever, but the top players in socal end up playing for the top teams.

Your options are:
1) Continue to complain about your team's coaches, and the problem will take care of itself by either the team falling apart due to parental drama, or your kid gets booted from the team, diue to same parental drama.
2) Fulfill your commitment to the team for this season. Sit quietly on the sidelines, and don't get caught up in all the drama. Root for the whole team's success, including supporting the coaches, and if it doesn't work out, move on after the season is done.

I'm being pretty blunt here, so you can accept this advice or get defensive, but this is how it works.
The top gold programs do not put up with any parental drama whatsoever. Most of them have a simple rule: sit down, shut up, or get out.
It would be in your and your kid's best interest to start following those rules now, so you have a smooth path and give your kid the best chance of success.
JMHO, of course.

I have read your advice and I can understand how you are confused.I will assume you are everything I was talking about inside of my post or else you would not have responded so unnecessarily aggressive. I have no problem with the coaches themselves, great guys, like I said my concern is for not only my DD, but every other girl in the 10u/12u TRAVEL level that's trying to get better at ALL ASPECTS of the game. Most everyone here has experienced Rec ball at some point in time so they have seen kids where it would just be hard just to trust them to play a ground ball right at them. So they get tossed/hidden in the outfield, simply because they are not there. On the Travel Level I KNOW my DD is capable of holding it down in the infield(not being cocky or anything it's just the truth) just as much as in the outfield. As far as admiring the top teams, I just assume that the organization heads look for quality coaches throughout their teams. I don't think I am wrong it wanting a quality coach for my kid?

My problem is what I have seen from a few teams so far they my DD has been around is that same REC ball mindset that its easier to just toss girls in the outfield all day long and keep on keeping on with your set infielders(whether it be running practice drills or in friendlies). Coaches at that level need to stop trying to have a set starting line-up and develop their team as a whole, that's all I am saying. If I am wrong for saying that, then so be it. I'm not anything like a sideline assassin, drama starter, etc so I'll just ignore all those jabs. I love this team, and obviously I am thankful for the coaches giving my DD a chance anywhere on the field. All I'm saying is develop ALL your girls if you're going to coach at a level that requires this much commitment. I mean come on, girls get college scholarships through this and this is where it STARTS!