Playing Up

[dirtlover]

There is no rush. Softball is not a race. We kept our DD age appropriate until 16's then 1 year at 16U and on to 18U at 16 years old. It is ok to be a bigger fish in a smaller pond. It is also ok to hang with your own age group. I don't care how old my DD is the caliber of coaches and players around her is what is important. Skill set and moral base. Remind her mother to be a parent to her 15 year old as well. That seasoned around the block kid entered our world on a 14U team. The best part is the morals of the rest of the team kept that kid a little more in line. Exposure will come if she is in a good org. Keeping her on track beyond the mark of 18 years old is the most important. Not just saying "hey your 18 go rock it, live your life"

[Ed Hill]

I thank everyone for the posts that have been made so far. The moral aspect being pointed out by some is one that my sister has considered. She has expressed a reluctance for me to provide too much information about the team that is asking my niece to play for it but I will say that the team finished in the top 15 in the ASA 18 gold national tournament last year and it is located in a southern state. They did not qualify to play in the PGF national tournament. In looking at their website, they have historically had about a dozen girls sign with what I would call mid level D1 programs (Conference USA, Sunbelt and Southland teams) with a couple of other girls signing with some SEC and Big 12 teams.

The 18 Gold coaches keep telling my sister that my niece has big time D1 potential and that that the earlier that she can get on the radar, the better. The keep assuring her that coaches continue to scout 18 gold teams because off the fact that so many girls play up. On the flip side, other people whom my sister feels are knowledgeable are saying that more D1 coaches scout the 16U tournaments because they are looking for recruits 2 to 3 years ahead (i.e. 2015 and 2016 graduates) of the current year. My sister is a single mom and I have sort of stepped into the father figure role for my niece. Neither one of us has had any previous experience with a decision like this. We want to do what is best for my niece but we also want to make the best decision that will help her achieve her goal of playing softball at the next level. I was just looking for any feedback from anyone who has experienced a similar situation.

[PDad]

Team rosters are only rigid for championship play (i.e. qualifiers and nationals). Some key questions are:

- Is your niece good enough to be an impact player on the 18G team and get regular playing time in elimination games? Her exposure will be limited if she's on the bench.

- Which team has a better track record and will be more competitive at its age group? Being on a mediocre/weak team limits exposure even if she's the best player on it.

- Does the org operate as an integrated set of teams or is it a confederation of independent teams? Good orgs will bring players up for showcases. The coaches will also direct colleges to check out players on other teams in org that match what they're seeking.

- Which team's coaches have the better recruiting background and connections?

[Vess Express]

I think you can get exposure at either level, but I feel it’s important to play more than sit.

I would also suggest you ask your niece what she is looking for (Even though I realize, it is not always easy to get an answer from a 15yr old about their future, whether it’s in 5 min. or 5 years). Does she want to stay close or far from home: a bigger or smaller school atmosphere: what might she be interested in as far as a degree? Those answers could help you get pointed in the direction of certain schools. She could start contacting those schools herself. Also, look and see if a school will be at any particular tourneys or showcases, and let them know that you will also be there. Maybe your niece can pick up with a team going to one of those showcases.

I’m not sure if you are in Texas, but there are always teams here looking for players to showcase/ play with their 16/18u teams. We have a lot of organizations here that attend showcases, and also play at certain universities/colleges in front of the school coaches. You can go to fastpicthsoftball.net. They have a pretty good bulletin board where teams are looking for players, and vice versa. Also, if you see a team out playing, get on the internet and search. They probably have a website of some kind.

I personally do not like depending on some big org. to do it all for me. If you have enough money, you can do that, and that’s fine.But still, ask your niece what she is interested in. Sometimes the big orgs want the girls to go to a particular school because it looks better to put on their website, but it is not what the girl wants. If money is an issue, I would be sure and look at all choices including JUCO, or Div II, wherever your niece could possible get a full ride. She just needs to be happy there, and hopefully get a degree.

As a side note to the whole morality thing - as stated above, at 15 the girl probably knows much more than you think. At 12 and under, I would be more concerned. As far as the “dyk*s”, I have played with many, and they are like everyone else. Some are nice, and some are not. In my experience, everyone on the team will come to know how you feel, and they will typically leave you out of conversations concerning their “preferences”. Only once was I hit on by a teammate that didn’t know me well yet, and I treated her just like I would a guy. I told her I was not interested in any way, shape, or form, and that was the end of it. Also, as 3’s Dad did, sometimes you have to just flat out tell your kid what is going on. Trying to hide it usually makes it worse.

[sittingonabucket]

Ed. I'll post my 2cents worth, but it's probably redundant. I have a 14 year old that plays 18U. we played 16U at 13.

I think a lot of it depends on the position of the player. fast is fast at any age. If she's a really fast kid, age doesn't matter for most positions.

I think, at least for us, pitching is a little different. Pluses on playing up is mistakes and bad habits get exposed (i.e. over the back fence), downside is injuries. We can only hold up to 7 innings a weekend at the 18U level. 14U is a walk in the park.

What we have done is try and play some 14U and 16U on the side while we are on this crazy 18U ride. It helps keep her confidence up striking out a bunch of 14U kids, when at 18U, we might strike out 1 or 2.

Bat bat swings also get corrected real quickly playing up. or you sit a lot.

good luck.

as a foot note. I'm on my second one. I burned the first one out with all the playing up and pressure. Trying to learn a new trick as an old dog.

[CheckWriter]

Ed. I'll post my 2cents worth, but it's probably redundant. I have a 14 year old that plays 18U. we played 16U at 13.

I think a lot of it depends on the position of the player. fast is fast at any age. If she's a really fast kid, age doesn't matter for most positions.

I think, at least for us, pitching is a little different. Pluses on playing up is mistakes and bad habits get exposed (i.e. over the back fence), downside is injuries. We can only hold up to 7 innings a weekend at the 18U level. 14U is a walk in the park.

What we have done is try and play some 14U and 16U on the side while we are on this crazy 18U ride. It helps keep her confidence up striking out a bunch of 14U kids, when at 18U, we might strike out 1 or 2.

Bat bat swings also get corrected real quickly playing up. or you sit a lot.

good luck.

as a foot note. I'm on my second one. I burned the first one out with all the playing up and pressure. Trying to learn a new trick as an old dog.

I'll admit the wild ride part is a family affair but, do you pitch too?

Edited to fix the to too two typo! They're you go ... Corrected!

[rdelawder12]

We had that delima the fall of dd's freshman year, stay and play 14u or move up. she started out at 14u for 2 tournaments, then moved to 16u since the fall is about playing up anyway. fall of her sophmore year she moved to 18u and hasn't missed a beat. the social thing is nothing since they are all in HS together anyway and are playing on the same HS team, but for club ball it was very beneficial. after she verballed, she wanted to try a year at her own age 16u this past fall and that was a horrible experience, because once again 16u in the fall is loaded with 14u teams, so it was like playing with kids versus playing with women. she is a junior now and we relocated to the new england area, dd will now be playing 23u this summer to prepare for college. JMO, but all freshman should be playing 16u and all sophmores that are ready should be playing 18u, beause your senior year most schools are completely done with recruiting for your final summer of 18u eligibility, not that one cant find a school, but it's tough to do during the summer before college starts. it's always ok for the 14's to play 16u, but never ok for 16's to play 14u, if that makes sense....

[dabill]

Sittingonabucket sounds like you haven't learned your lesson with your first one. If she's only 14 playing up in 18s I smell burnout.

[PDad]

Ed. I'll post my 2cents worth, but it's probably redundant. I have a 14 year old that plays 18U. we played 16U at 13.

I think a lot of it depends on the position of the player. fast is fast at any age. If she's a really fast kid, age doesn't matter for most positions.

I think, at least for us, pitching is a little different. Pluses on playing up is mistakes and bad habits get exposed (i.e. over the back fence), downside is injuries. We can only hold up to 7 innings a weekend at the 18U level. 14U is a walk in the park.

What we have done is try and play some 14U and 16U on the side while we are on this crazy 18U ride. It helps keep her confidence up striking out a bunch of 14U kids, when at 18U, we might strike out 1 or 2. ...

I'll admit the wild ride part is a family affair but, do you pitch to?

^^^^

[Tyler Durden]

Sittingonabucket sounds like you haven't learned your lesson with your first one. If she's only 14 playing up in 18s I smell burnout.

Agreed. To me, his whole post seems peculiar.