dosent anybody stay in one place any more?

[cobb_of_fury]

My dear wife and I were talking this morning about all the Team moves - Who moved from Team A Elite to team B Gold.
Got me to wondering... Are there any 18U teams that have been together since 10U? 16's how bout 14's surely some 12's
This is not a judgment of moving - I completely understand moving to a better team - My DD has done it. I was just curious.

While you think about please enjoy Miss Carol King Singing FAR AWAY - in honor of all those team Changes
[video=youtube;1GAaWz4X4nU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1GAaWz4X4nU[/video]

 

[Hilliarddad3]

I highly doubt it, they usually implode from within. You may have four girls that stay the course as an average.

 

[Lenski65]

Since 9u my dd has had 4 head coaches. This is her last year of 18U. We have only left one coach to get to a better team. All of the other times the teams imploded.

 

[daboss]

It's difficult to find 11-12 girls 10u of age that keep the passion for 8 years and stay playing together. You're asking a lot from kids that age. Many will discover other interests while some will accept they simply don't have what it takes to play at the same level of their teammates. A host of reasons can be shared why the entire 10u team is still not together.

We come from a small school district with no reserve program. I believe it may lend some insight that will help you understand the scenerio you have shared. Wiyh no reserve, that means either you make varsity or get cut. Because there is no reserve the coach is more likely to keep extra players. The largest number is from the incoming freshmen class, straight from the travel ball and Rec programs in the area. Some of these same girls may never see the softball field in competition. The first year will be the last for many. As sophomores, the ones left are trying to become starters in the worst way. Again, upperclass players with more experience will normally win out in a head to head battle but not all. Each year a class of seniors will graduate and open the door of opportunity for a starting position. The cycle repeats itself year after year. As the girls get older they see what is going on. Hungry incoming freshmen wanting immediate attention and with talent. Sophomores that didn't play as freshmen step up their game in hopes they'll break the line up. If not, there won't be many trying out as juniors unless they played as sophomores. Some returning juniors and a senior or 2 will find their positions challenged by new blood and their spot wasn't reserved just for them. Seniors, satisfied if they play and going for any awards available while the ousted senior either quits or spends the entire spring making everyone's life miserable because she decided to go swimming all summer instead of working on her game like all the underclassmen that showed up in Feb.

Bottom line; I would share with 12u girls what I found to be true more often than not. I'd put them in a circle and have them look both left and right, then tell them that at our school in most cases the girl standing directly on each side of you may be the only 2 left other than yourself to be still playing ball as a senior. Attrition will thin them out. I believe this same analogy can be used for travel ball but the numbers left standing may be more like 50-70%. Why? Because travel ball is paying to play and besides the money aspect there isn't always the pressure from younger players to move up and take the jobs available. Many could..........

 

[FastBat]

/\/\/\/\/\/\
You nailed it. People, who haven't been through it, don't really understand this. That's why I believe in encouraging all kids.

Drop out reasons are many: the kid has to work/earn money to live on, parent gets sick/pass away (happened to my friend in HS), players get tired of it and want to be "normal", like another sport better, bad grades, cliques (close friends don't play), discipline problems, alcohol/drug problems, boys, etc. Or they wake up one day and stop being a tomboy!

I would be very surprised, if more than 2 players on any 18u team, would have played together as 10 year olds. One step further, if they did, I doubt they would have played together all 9 seasons consecutively. The odds are just against the players! But, boy would that be neat, they would be friends for life: for sure!