Just because she didn't make it doesn't mean she isn't good

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I think alot of parents get unnecessarily offended when their kids don't make a team. Just because she didn't make a team doesn't mean she isn't a good ball player. She may be great but the position is aready filled with a great player who has already put her time in with the team all year. There were some good players who came to my try-out who didn't make the team because the only positions they could play were already filled. If the players would make themselves more versatile, they would probably get more attention. I can't take a team of 7 shortstops or I will have 6 angry SS and 12 angry parents. The coach has to fill the spots the best way possible to give the girls a chance to be successful. Not everyone will agree with her/him, but that is why you should try-out for as many teams as you can until you find the right fit.
 
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If a team already has positions filled, should they not advertise that? Why have catchers come out if you are not looking for catchers, or pitchers, or infielders, etc, etc? Seems like it is a big waste of the girls' time and it is tough enough to get through try-outs anyway....:confused:
 
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Sometimes its an age thing. The teams my DD wanted to tryout for are probably going to field teams made of of '96 players. My DD is a '95. :(


Anybody looking for a IF/OF/Pitcher with a '95 birth year? Bats left (slap/bunt/swing away), throws right. Southwest Ohio, please. ;)
 
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I agree with the first post. Also, another thing that can happen is that your dd has a bad day at the tryout, which may ruin her chance of making the team.
 
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I can't take a team of 7 shortstops or I will have 6 angry SS and 12 angry parents. The coach has to fill the spots the best way possible to give the girls a chance to be successful.

Why not this is how the colleges make their infields, and outfields by making some of these SS into outfielders................then they get Pitchers, Catchers, and First basemen
 
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If a team already has positions filled, should they not advertise that? Why have catchers come out if you are not looking for catchers, or pitchers, or infielders, etc, etc? Seems like it is a big waste of the girls' time and it is tough enough to get through try-outs anyway....:confused:

Sometimes teams want to see if there is anyone out there that is better at that position.
 
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Why not this is how the colleges make their infields, and outfields by making some of these SS into outfielders................then they get Pitchers, Catchers, and First basemen

Because the parent of one of those SS's in the outfield comes on OFC and bashes the coaching staff, cause his/her DD is better than the girl currently at SS in their mind. ;&;&;&
 
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Try to explain to 12 parents that you want to make their shortstop DDs into outfielders and you will see 90% of them leave. For some reason there is a horrible stigma on the outfield positions. Our Kent coach used to always tell us, an error in the infield costs bases...an error in the outfield costs runs. All the outfielders I ever played with were VERY proud to be outfielders. Once you get into travel ball, there is nowhere to hide a bad player. If you can't play, you shouldn't make the team. Sticking bad players in the outfield is for rec ball where noone can hit to the outfield. Outfield is a vey important position in travel softball. Outfielders have to be quick, have good gloves, and strong arms. They have to listen well, think quick, know their coverages, have good range and not be afraid to run the balls down or dive. The best softball player I ever met in my life was a center fielder who played with me at Kent and also played on the Canadian National team. She was the only player that ever scared me on the field and at the plate. Outfielders be proud, it is a VERY important position!!
 
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Klump --you are a roll ! well I guess I have to own up to the fact that my kids a dedicated OF . But PARENTS ----PAY ATTENTION having a kid that falls in love with the OF is a great thing ! My kid had offers from lots of pretty good teams --not because she is the 2nd coming of Kaitlyn lowe (well OK she is , JK ) but because she is exclusively an OF ! and a good one you think you could win 1 single game at nationals without a good solid OF ? You think coaches don't like appreciate parents who they know won't be complaining about IF time ? Smarten up --your kid wants to play OF --encourage it ! wow was that soapbox time or what MD
 
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I didn't read all of this so sorry if I am off topic...lol. My daughter loves the outfield. SHe would prefer to catch but that is her second position and was her only position this year. Outfielders are very important especially as they get older!
 
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Klump:

As I posted a few weeks ago when there was a thread about what you look for in tryouts, Donna Newberry at Muskingham says exactly the same thing that the Kent State coach says about the relative importance of infielders and outfielders. But she has the option of converting her best athletes to outfielders. Unfortunately in travel ball, especially at the younger ages, parents aren't able to see that once the hitters catch up to the pitching in the later years, an experienced outfielder is going to have a leg up in travel team tryouts and in making some college teams.
 
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Good post Klump. My dd received an offer last year only to have it pulled later that same evening, b/c a player thought not to accept an offer actually did. DD took it personal, that she was not good enough, so her work outs intensified and she became that much better, so her denial was a blessing.

At older ages, you better have an awesome outfield, this is where your better athletes need to. I've seen to many plays in the OF hurt the outcome of many games.
 
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My dd is moving to 16U. First and second years of travel, she was a catcher...a wiry, long-legged, but pretty good catcher. She played first this past season on JV. This summer she was "stuck" in center field where she found her new favorite position.

She says that she gets lots of action and gets to use her speed and judgment. What a joy to watch her run down a fly or back up 2nd base!!
 
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My dd is moving to 16U. First and second years of travel, she was a catcher...a wiry, long-legged, but pretty good catcher. She played first this past season on JV. This summer she was "stuck" in center field where she found her new favorite position.

She says that she gets lots of action and gets to use her speed and judgment. What a joy to watch her run down a fly or back up 2nd base!!

Nothing like watching a stud CF take of business in the OF. My favorite, by far the most under estimated position on the field. I love those CF'ers that think every ball is theirs...(not saying they take balls away from other fielders, they just go after everything and run the OF)....its a thing of beauty to watch. A stud in CF makes your whole defense better.
 
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First I believe it is Mrs. Miss or Ms. Klump second shouldn't your good outfielders also get some infield time and vice versa. Not necessarily in bracket play but at least in some pool games. Uber center fielders are supposed to play that way their like the catchers of the outfield.Of course you already know that.
 
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I think outfielding takes a bad rap with a lot of the coaches ONLY making rotation in the OF positions. Developing the players in all the positions is good thing. Players shouldn't have to feel that if they are place in outfield they are second rate.
 
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Why not this is how the colleges make their infields, and outfields by making some of these SS into outfielders................then they get Pitchers, Catchers, and First basemen

Because girls want to play only that position and nothing else. She, and her parents, do not want to hear that she has to play multiple positions and may only get 50% of the playing time at shortstop.

Trying to piece together the defense is like a jig-saw puzzle. One piece changes the entire set-up.
 
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Maxfly I agree 100% with you. My DD played for a team last year where the outfield was the only place rotations were made. Sends a bad signal to the players! The outfield is extremely important and especially at the older levels
 
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First I believe it is Mrs. Miss or Ms. Klump second shouldn't your good outfielders also get some infield time and vice versa. Not necessarily in bracket play but at least in some pool games. Uber center fielders are supposed to play that way their like the catchers of the outfield.Of course you already know that.

I agree with you 100% on the CF/ Catcher statement.
 

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