2 position player???

[MoeFoes]

I need some good advice here from the MINDS OF HEY BUCKET...
As of late my DD has decided she would like to pitch. She is currently a catcher. She has worked her very hard at it and has done very well. I have always entertained her when she wanted to practice pitching. Something has happened as of late and she is actually doing well pitching. I have taken her to see a highly recommended pitching instructor and he says "She's got it". DD would like to play both positions. You and I know how demanding both positions are. DD is the type of player that will give everything she has at everything she does.
So my questions are:
1. At what age does your DD need to decide what postion she would like to play?
2. What injuries/wear & tear will become common if I allow her to do both?
3. Do you let DD do what she loves to do or to you make the call yourself?

[d-fense]

We are in the same boat...I'll be interested to see what replies you get.

[Tucson]

I think that this is a good problem to have. I say yes. Go for it.

I do know of one young lady that played both positions all the way through JC.

[momo3]

My dd started doing both this season. She is in 10u. She is the second pitcher and the first catcher for her team. It's a hard task. At first my thinking was she is only 9 why would I make her choose she'll be fine.... But as the season progesses I realize something will give soon. First of all lessons for each are expensive. She is very good in both areas but she will only be good/very good and never be the best she can be if she if she doesn't choose. She is on the fence on what is her passion so we'll probably go through rec. winterball and tell her she needs to choose. Not a good feeling but it is what is. Would love to hear others feedback from others on how to handle this.

[3'sDad]

She's 9...let her play where she's interested in playing and has a passion to play.....DD plays 12U and pitches, catches plays IF and OF..... they'll tell you soon enough whatthey prefer to play and not play position-wise.

[Sam]

Pick one or the other...can't do both when she gets to the older ages....if you allow her to do both, she is wasting half of her time when she could be learning another position which she will actually play.

[Coach11]

She's only 9?

Yeah....definetly let her give pitching a try. If there isn't noticable improvement by the time she's playing 12U, than perhaps it's not meant to be.

I would avoid having her pitch AND catch games in the same day however.

[SnocatzDad]

I would guess that of the 12 players on any elite 14U or older team all 12 pitched or caught at sometime in their career. Doing one or the other or both is a great way to get a kid who is a dominant athlete at a younger age very interested in the sport. Good pitching is always at a premium, but the skill's aren't transferable to other positions. At least with catching your working on arm strength and game awareness which is pretty transferable to other positions even if dropping and blocking isn't.

[HBDave]

My DD did the pitch/catch thing in 10U. I agree with the advice to avoid doing both in the same day. If for some reason it has to be done make sure she pitches first and catches second. If it goes the other way she will have no leg strength and she won't last very long in the circle.

[play-more/talk-less]

I totally agree with Sam pitchers don't catch and catchers don't pitch and neither play short stop.