Looking for opinions on moving from 10u to 11u

default · Jul 5, 2010

I am looking for some opinions on the move from 10u to 12u. After playing 2 years of 10u travel ball, we are closing in on a decision to make for next season. If dd was born 16 days sooner, then this wouldn't even be a topic for debate. Given that is not the case, then what opinions do you have on either staying another year of 10u ( play 3 years of 10u) or move on with the girls that you have been playing with to 11u? The player being an average player but with underaverage height and weight, 10 years old and 56 lbs. Do you hope height and weight will catch up and move on to 11u ? Do you go with another year in 10u and wait for another year of growth? I am sure there are some good points to be heard on this decision and I would be interested in hearing them. Thanks for your input.

default · Jul 5, 2010

Unless your DD is lights out... and absolutely ready in every way (mind, attitude, physically, committment) I'd stay down. I also understand not having to build another team with a whole new cast.... that's hard. I've done it twice and it has it's challenges. Ask hippie28 on a PM what his thoughts are about staying down. I'd bet he would say it's a hard but worthwhile decision to think it through and get feedback from your coaches and just be honest with the situation. My 2 cents...

default · Jul 5, 2010

randco said:
I am looking for some opinions on the move from 10u to 12u. After playing 2 years of 10u travel ball, we are closing in on a decision to make for next season. If dd was born 16 days sooner, then this wouldn't even be a topic for debate. Given that is not the case, then what opinions do you have on either staying another year of 10u ( play 3 years of 10u) or move on with the girls that you have been playing with to 11u? The player being an average player but with underaverage height and weight, 10 years old and 56 lbs. Do you hope height and weight will catch up and move on to 11u ? Do you go with another year in 10u and wait for another year of growth? I am sure there are some good points to be heard on this decision and I would be interested in hearing them. Thanks for your input.

Robbie,

I would say stay down. I think that would be huge for her confidence knowing that she has 2 years of 10u Travel ball under her belt! I'm sure it would be tough since she has probably built friendships with all of them, however I think staying down would be the smartest move. Why does fastpitch have the age cut off on Jan 1st? It divides up grades too much imo. Should be in August like other sports IMO!

default · Jul 5, 2010

I have to agree w/ Les & skredsfan - stay down & let her enjoy a year of dominance. Yes it is definitely difficult to build & learn a new team but you always need to do what is best for the dd which is why each one of us gets in this thing they call fastpitch

Good luck w/ your decision.

default · Jul 5, 2010

If you keep her down get her familiar with 12inch ball while still using 11. It depends on the maturity of the player. Size does not sway my opinion. I like to see younger studs up their game.

default · Jul 5, 2010

Keep her down and let her be a stud this next travel ball season.

default · Jul 5, 2010

this would be a good 'poll'. Good luck with your decision. It's a hard one for some and easier for others... neither is more right than the other.

default · Jul 5, 2010

DiamondDad316 said:
Keep her down and let her be a stud this next travel ball season.

Agree with that. Let her shine at her own age group as she has put in the time and paid her dues, most likely behind other players. Might also bring out some leadership qualities in her that she couldn't express in being the youngster.

Most of your decision will be in considering positioning, her talent level, and her mental toughness. If she wants to pitch or catch, but doesn't win her spot currently and is playing right field, she should stay down and develop where she wants to play and is most likely to have success. If she is a stud player that can handle the challenge of playing up and outplays her team, her development might be delayed by sticking it out another year in 10U.

I will be facing that problem with my own daughters next year, as they are 2 years apart, but the younger one is a better and more mentally sound player at her age than the older one was. The temptation is to play them on the same team for logistical reasons, but not at the expense of what's best for them.

I wish they would get rid of the 2 year (10u, 12u,14u...) groups altogether and just have single age groups. Seems like there are enough players in the sport nowadays to do this.

Ask around for honest opinions of her talent level and how she handles a challenge from other coaches and people who will be frank and objective with you. Lots of times, parents don't have the best grasp on a players true abilities.

default · Jul 5, 2010

The real question should be, will she be bored playing a 3rd year at u-10.
Then, our the rest of her team mates moving up or staying down.
Is it about winning hardware or help her move along in developing strong fundamentals.
I have seen where most of the attention at the u-10 level is focused on the weakest players, will she get the proper attention.
Will she work harder or get lazy being a dominate player in the age group.
If she can handle the bigger ball, challenge her to play at a higher level.
Most players just want to learn, be challenged and get better.
Why not play that 3rd year in 12 or 14's

default · Jul 5, 2010

Lester said:
this would be a good 'poll'. Good luck with your decision. It's a hard one for some and easier for others... neither is more right than the other.

I know where you're going with this, but honestly...this would not make a good poll question. Every player and personality is different. You would have to decide that on a personal basis.

default · Jul 6, 2010

dd is an early feb. birthday and thought about the same thing. I have let her be the older girl and stay in her age group. 2 years of 10U and now 2 years of 12U ... I think she has grown as a leader and become more confident in herself because of this. The change in her attitude on the field over the last year is amazing - She walks on the field with so much confidence now... I love it and hope it will carry over to her real world as an adult. Life is more than softball - or so I have heard

default · Jul 6, 2010

I agree with most of the others, I'd have her stay down unless she is dominating at 10-U. The hardest year for a girl is the first year of 12-U because there is such a big difference between first-year and second-year 12-U girls. For entire 11-U teams, it's rough unless the team is incredibly talented.

I can't count how many times I've tried to counsel parents that your 11-U team, while very talented, is going to lose a lot of games. At that age group the parents rarely listen and 11-U teams have more problems than any other age group.

At 12-U, the best pitchers will be in the high 50s and perhaps a few throwing 60. Is your daughter ready for that or will she be overwhelmed? At 56 lbs, that sounds like a tough task, even if she is 70 lbs by next summer.

Once girls are in 8th or 9th grade, then it's time to play up if they are top-notch players.

default · Jul 6, 2010

ziggywoman said:
dd is an early feb. birthday and thought about the same thing. I have let her be the older girl and stay in her age group. 2 years of 10U and now 2 years of 12U ... I think she has grown as a leader and become more confident in herself because of this. The change in her attitude on the field over the last year is amazing - She walks on the field with so much confidence now... I love it and hope it will carry over to her real world as an adult. Life is more than softball - or so I have heard

Good points.

default · Jul 6, 2010

Scooter7 said:
I wish they would get rid of the 2 year (10u, 12u,14u...) groups altogether and just have single age groups. Seems like there are enough players in the sport nowadays to do this.

This year I've seen many teams listing 9U, 11U, 13U but as indicated above, grouped in with the 10U, 12U, 14U. There may be a time where single age groups in tournaments are commen. Sounds like a good poll as well.

default · Jul 6, 2010

Robbie I think give her that last year of 10U to grow and build confidence and ability. That's what we're doing with our 8YO.

default · Jul 6, 2010

JoeA1010 said:
I agree with most of the others, I'd have her stay down unless she is dominating at 10-U. The hardest year for a girl is the first year of 12-U because there is such a big difference between first-year and second-year 12-U girls. For entire 11-U teams, it's rough unless the team is incredibly talented.

I can't count how many times I've tried to counsel parents that your 11-U team, while very talented, is going to lose a lot of games. At that age group the parents rarely listen and 11-U teams have more problems than any other age group.

At 12-U, the best pitchers will be in the high 50s and perhaps a few throwing 60. Is your daughter ready for that or will she be overwhelmed? At 56 lbs, that sounds like a tough task, even if she is 70 lbs by next summer.

Once girls are in 8th or 9th grade, then it's time to play up if they are top-notch players.

EXCELLENT post JoeA1010. As a parent of a very young 11U (Nov. 98), I agree! At this age group, some of the girls are just more physically mature and stronger. We did face a girl throwing high 50's (perhaps 60- or at least it seemed that fast), twice this year and very few young 12u's can turn on a pitch thrown that fast. My kid isn't very small- she's 5'3 and 101lbs and even she makes the comments that some of the girls she is facing look like they are 15yrs old.....

and I have seen a center fielder this year make the throw from center field to home with NO problem....its just a different level- but a lot of fun

default · Jul 6, 2010

I appreciate all of the input from the previous posts. I know several of you have traveled this road or have coached through the same issue. Nice to hear different points of view along with explanations why.

default · Jul 6, 2010

Randco: Although I agree with ALL of the posts about the huge jump from
10's to 12's there is another side to think about - My DD was 2 weeks shy of being able to stay down @ 10's this year - Unfortunately we had to move her up and were very worried about her transition - She is ALWAYS the smallest player on the field (as most of my friends who know my dd will attest), however moving to 12's has given her a nice chip on her shoulder. She has worked harder this summer than I have ever seen her work - She has gotten SOOOO much stronger and has played very well at this level. I would consider giving your dd an extra year at 12's instead of 10's - Everything that I hear is the hardest transition is from 12's to 14's....why not prepare her at a more difficult level? Even if she loses some playing time next year, she will grow physically very quick (too quick) and you will see a HUGE change in her from a maturity standpoint. Just another side to think about - Good luck and enjoy every day you have....it's so much fun.

Mike Petros
Ohio Stingrays 98

default · Jul 6, 2010

Something else to consider however is how much playing time is she gettting at positions she wants to play as a 9YO? If she's playing a lot of OF (for example) and isn't happy there that probably won't change if she moves up next year. Come back for a year and maybe she's starting every game at short.

default · Jul 6, 2010

If your daughter pitches and is on the small side of the size range I would make the decision to keep her down if her hand size was going to compromise her grip on the bigger ball. No sense rushing to a bigger ball only to grip it poorly and relearn grip once hand size catches up.

If she's really small and has trouble gripping even overhand throws on the bigger ball I'd make the decision to stay down for the same reason. No sense taking a good thrower and turning her into a kid who palms the ball because she doesn't have the hand size to grip it.

If she's small with big hands, I'd move her up to keep her engaged. Last week saw a girl who like your daughter has always been on the small side (although with a little more meat on her) and has played up since she was 9. She played 12U her last year of 10U elligibility(would have been her 4th year at 10U otherwise). Played 14U her first year of 12U elligibility and then her family moved following year and dropped down to play 12U at her new location because playing up wasn't allowed. She ended up quiting this year which is a shame. I can't lay the complete blame on lack of competition, but I think it's a contributing factor. Several times when I asked her how it was going she just rolled her eyes. Her team was winning and she was performing great, but I could tell she felt it was like playing in gym class, fun but not challenging. She's good enough that I asked her to play for her big sisters team (16UA) as a pickup player for a league game when we were short players and she fit in fine, had several hits and even caught the second game of a double header(still 12U elligible). Looking at how much fun she had that night it's hard for me to beleive she is walking away from the game. Hopefully the right opportunity will happen for her in the future to bring her back to the game.

Looking for opinions on moving from 10u to 11u

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