Rec or Travel?

[BearsDad]

My DD is on a travel team now. she catches and plays 3rd. the team is doing well. she is also a pitcher, but not on the travel team. she was one of the top pitchers in the rec league.
She wants to keep pitching so I was thinking about going back to rec so she can. I think she is a better catcher than a pitcher. so eventually she'll have to decide. she is just moving up from 10u. going into 12u. When should you focus on one or the other?
thanks

[SoCalASABlue]

JMHO but what you think her best position is doesn't matter. And the "team is doing well" is irrelevant. Why can't she do both? Moving up from 10U to 12U, there has to be a travel team out there that she can pitch for. Feed that dream until SHE decides one or the other.

[Luther]

I agree with the previous post. I would stay in travel but maybe find a less competitve team that will allow her to keep on pitching.

[hit4power]

there has to be a travel team out there that she can pitch for. Feed that dream until SHE decides one or the other.

While I agree, I'd quickly add that its worth understanding what the gap is so she can work on it. In other words, why isn't she pitching for the current travel team?
Its good to play different positions and a lot happens (i.e., puberty) in this age range, so no reason to make a hasty decision about what she will be best at later on.

FWIW mine pitched through 16U, but by then it was pretty obvious she wasn't going to get any serious college looks as a pitcher, so she moved to being solely a position player when she moved to 18G. It's all worked out fine and she pitched HS ball all four years which scratched the "itch to pitch". She would tell you she's a better hitter for having been a pitcher.

I wouldn't go back to rec if you can avoid it.

[GIMNEPIWO]

Ask your DD what she wants to do ... 10 year olds have an opinion too ... If I was you, which I was but am no longer ... I let them carve their own trail and just tweaked their course ... IMHO

EDIT : I found that as I coached and parented /// Mnay gals liked to play REC because ' it was fun ' and liked to play travel because ' it was competitive ' ... Can't they have both and maybe learn a little in the process as they play other positions which may not be their best ?

[catcherdad]

Of course, the answers to these questions depend upon your goals. If you intend to be a serious college player I think you need to make a choice at 14U. I have seen 10 players try to do the pitcher catcher thing. Several of them did it the way you suggest. Catcher in select and pitcher in rec or pony. Their smaller high schools loved having the flexibility, but none of these players were able to make elite select teams at 18U. I remember the select tryout where one of these players said she played every position on the field.

My daughter loved sb and early on wanted to catch. In 5th grade, her high school coach said, by high school, if you have caught 100 full games you will have the experience to be a 4 year starter. He was right.

So, if you want to have fun and play ball, I would find a select team where she can do both. But if you want to play D1 college ball, I would assess her talent, size, motivation (pitchers have to practice all of the time) and choose one of these positions. Of course, there is no problem adding outfield or first base as a second positon to pitcher or catcher. Softball is a sport where repetition and exposure to game situations dramatically improves a player's skillset.

[NORCALGOLD]

Don't go to travelball till your DD second year of 12. She will thank you one day if she plays all the way thru H.S. and beyond and so will your family and checkbook. At 10 & 11 let her play rec and be a kid.
Don't think that she will fall behind, the people that worry about falling behind are the parents of kids that don't have much talent and will peak and a younger age.
Talent will always rise to the top.
Remember all the work in the world will only get you so far if you don't have the talent to began with.
You can start running a mule around a race track everyday for years, It still wont beat an in shape thouroughbreed in a race no matter what.

[fastpitchdad05]

Don't go to travelball till your DD second year of 12. She will thank you one day if she plays all the way thru H.S. and beyond and so will your family and checkbook. At 10 & 11 let her play rec and be a kid.
Don't think that she will fall behind, the people that worry about falling behind are the parents of kids that don't have much talent and will peak and a younger age.
Talent will always rise to the top.
Remember all the work in the world will only get you so far if you don't have the talent to began with.
You can start running a mule around a race track everyday for years, It still wont beat an in shape thouroughbreed in a race no matter what.

I second this. My DD started travel in her 2nd yr of 12U and is doing just fine. She loved playing with her friends in Rec including all-stars. Probably will be her fondest memories.

Let her be a kid for a while.

Oh and that checkbook relief thing helps, too.

[DonnieS]

Don't go to travelball till your DD second year of 12. She will thank you one day if she plays all the way thru H.S. and beyond and so will your family and checkbook. At 10 & 11 let her play rec and be a kid.
Don't think that she will fall behind, the people that worry about falling behind are the parents of kids that don't have much talent and will peak and a younger age.
Talent will always rise to the top.
Remember all the work in the world will only get you so far if you don't have the talent to began with.
You can start running a mule around a race track everyday for years, It still wont beat an in shape thouroughbreed in a race no matter what.

I second this. My DD started travel in her 2nd yr of 12U and is doing just fine. She loved playing with her friends in Rec including all-stars. Probably will be her fondest memories.

Let her be a kid for a while.

Oh and that checkbook relief thing helps, too.

Guys, giving out advice like that - depends on location. In the heart of lots of talent and skill and people who are familiar with travel, fine. Where we are from we had to get away from wreck ball as soon as possible, and to help us out, a hostile board of directors were so happy to see us leave. They still tell lies about those days, such fine christians. Their 10 commandments hops over the 8th.

[Fredegar]

Agree with NorCal and Fastpitchdad ... if your Rec league isn't too painful, stay there, save money, let her enjoy time with her school/neighborhood friends. Plenty of time to get serious during second year 12U or 14U. As NorCal said, talented kids will rise to the top, regardless of whether they started TB in 12U or 14U.

As for your other question, if possible, let her enjoy pitching and catching thru 14U. No harm in keeping her more well-rounded. Once she starts doing more serious showcases at 16U and up, you'll probably want to encourage her to focus on one or the other.