What would you rather have?

[aquarius]

:lol: The real deal at 10u ! Best let them have fun at that age or they will give you the real deal and quit at 14u !

[CrushersDad]

Ok which had you rather have? Talent that has topped out at 10u and is very good or an above averge player who in a year or so will be the real deal??

Also an above pitcher that throws 40 to 52 or a all around true utility player with power, speed and can start a rally at anytime she hits the field??

Oh, ummmm, let me see....

Jeesh, I really hate these trick questions..

[thedoanezone]

Ok which had you rather have? Talent that has topped out at 10u and is very good or an above averge player who in a year or so will be the real deal??

Also an above pitcher that throws 40 to 52 or a all around true utility player with power, speed and can start a rally at anytime she hits the field??

Does that really matter when you have 10 other girls that can kill it just as fast?!?

[dueceduece]

40-52

40-52 that is quite a gap there. I would venture to guess it is 40 -45.

sounds like you have beef with your DD's playing time. I am guessing.
If you are unhappy just find a better fit for you and your DD. No need to get wrapped up in drama and bring the rest of the team into it.

[texas_snowman]

Also an above pitcher that throws 40 to 52 or a all around true utility player with power, speed and can start a rally at anytime she hits the field??

Only practice will help her stop making all those fielding errors....oh wait....you mean she can start a rally for HER team at any time she's in the field. Silly me

[zko2000]

Ok which had you rather have? Talent that has topped out at 10u and is very good or an above averge player who in a year or so will be the real deal??

Also an above pitcher that throws 40 to 52 or a all around true utility player with power, speed and can start a rally at anytime she hits the field??

I'm going to try and give you a straight answer.

1. No one has topped at 10U, and you have know way of knowing who will be the "real deal" unless you have a crystal ball. Look at fundamentals, coachability, attitude, work ethic, etc... If you push too hard too soon, you will lose them. Seen it happen too often when parents try to turn their girls into 9 year-old super stars.

2. Be as honest about your assessment as possible, especially if your own kid is involved. Just because a 10 year-old threw one pitch at 52 once in a pitching lesson, going downhill, with a tailwind doesn't mean she can do it consistently and with accuracy. Be wary of anyone who says that their 10U pitcher can hit 52. 40-45 is a very strong 10U pitcher and a borderline average 12U pitcher. Keep in mind, that if she can only throw a fastball, she will get lit up by stronger hitters as she gets older. Also be aware, that when you move up to 12U and you have to get used to the bigger ball, she will lose mph off her pitches. Again, look for excellent form and solid fundamentals of pitching. As long as she has average speed, it is more important that she can hit her spots, work a batter, field her position, and not get rattled when things go badly and the game is on the line. Make sure the fastball and changeup are solid and she can throw them where she needs to.

3. As far at the utility player, speed is important, but again is the player coachable? I had a girl on my last team that had speed and a great attitude, but she had some fundamental flaws with her receiving the ball and transitioning to a throwing position. Somehow she usually made the play, but I held my breath every time. She could hit off of average pitching alright, but still had some fundamental flaws that really became apparent as the pitching got better. To get to the point, no matter what we worked on or what private coaches said, she would nod her head and keep doing what she was doing. She was just not at all coachable. If you can teach the fundamentals, look for coachability. Speed is gravy.

[dirtqueen]

First of all, I dont subscribe to the notion that there is "talent that has topped off at 10u". We have no clue as to what that 10u girl can do at 14, 16, or 18. Young athletes develop at different times. The young stud in 7th grade may not even make the team in high school. But a few will remain and continue to grow. Between elementary school and high school there are many suprises to come. Enjoy the journey with your daughter but don't be suprised if your daughter jumps off the train while others are jumping on. And please don't be that parent that insists that your daughter plays only one sport during her years prior to high school. That softball stud may end up going to college on a basketball, track, or volleyball scholarship because you let her be an athlete with all options open. Let your kid be an athlete. You never know.

[artomatic]

angela lansbury was still pretty hot in bedknobs and broomsticks...

[artomatic]

obviously you didn't read page one of this post, and my moral dilemma...

[Bring it]

Have all of your opinions related to the safety of children made into laws?

Safety Squirrel

The self proclaimed Heybucket intellectual strikes again!