how many girls are dedicated to outfield at 12u ?

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Most avoid it like eating Brussel Sprouts . But DD is a funny one. She started at 10u in centerfield and has no desire to move in. She cracks me up --I broke the news to her that this weekend's scrimmage is a 6 on 6 and she says " I guess I don't need to go then do I " ;D ;D I've already had the "you will do what your team needs" speech. But boy she does'nt like the infield. It's not an aggression thing, she's very aggressive. Just likes center . MD

 

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Re: how many girls are dedicated to outfield at 12

My DD is exactly the same way............ loves centerfield and really has no desire to play anywhere else. Like u stated above, not an aggressive issue. Just realizes the importance of having a stong outfield in fast pitch. She knows that come later on in high school and hopefully college that there are not a lot of girls lined up for outfield positions like there are for the other positions.
It's just like I have always told her, u do not have to be an infielder to be a standout!! ;D

 

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at least there are 2 of us. LOL ---She has griped for 2-3 weeks about taking reps in the infield. MD But I tell "Honey we are practicing indoors, there is no outfield" ;D

 

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I have two players that thought they were being demoted when I moved one from 2nd to LF and the other from SS to CF last season. By the end of the season, they were recognized by many teams/coaches we played as being the best OF combo they have seen all season. I can't begin to tell you how many games we won with these speedy, sure handed outfielders with good arms and game savy. They made plays at 12U that left the older teams/girls, who were watching, in awe of their abilities. They now understand how important they are to the team and like the OF positions. With the team being 13U this year and playing mostly older teams, they will be even more important.

You cannot win without a good outfield (unless you have a clone of Jenny Finch pitching for your 14U team.)

 

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Re: how many girls are dedicated to outfield at 12

there's a stigma that is attatched to playing the outfield the girls get in 10's or 12's from observation, their parents in the car during the game-over hassle-speech and from their own confidence when placed there....

still, when taught correctly, the right fielder can be an integral part of the 12u game...agressive girls who can cleanly field and throw get extra outs at first...i have more examples, but nonetheless, it's hard for a girl to see the "big" picture when outfield is valued at 14 and above by working on those skills as a 10 or 12 since they all want to be infielders....

of course, if you can hit, that puts you in the lineup regardless of position, which is why Beth McBurly gets to play first....

 

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as has been said before "there is no way possable to hide a kid on D" the ball will find them the very inning you but them in the game where she is not comfortable . MD

 

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IMHO young teams seem to have trouble getting players interested in playing the outfield because of the palyers' experience in rec-ball where the mentality is, if you can not play anywhere else, go to the outfield--especially right field. We have fought that thinking for a long time and, because of that, we have one of the best outfields at 18u. We have always explained that all colleges need 3 outfielders. Keep encouraging the outfield play!

 

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I started playing outfield last season at the 12u level, and at first i really hated it, but as the season went on, i grew to love it!!

it's especially great when you're playing a team that can really hit too, because then you get a lot of action.


I also agree with rickv, in rec ball the girls who aren't exactly the all stars on the team get put in the outfield, and i think that takes away from the position a little bit, making it seem a lot less fun and important.

 

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Thunderstruck is right you NEED a GOOD outfield as the girls get older. Btw my dd might be offended by that Mcburly remark. ;D

 

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After SS, I try to put my next best athlete in CF. It may not always be my next best player, because the CF must possess the ability to run and catch fly balls, and from my experience you can make a good outfielder an infielder, but it usually doesn't work well the other way around.

On another note though, most of you that have a DD that likes the outfield are playing centerfield. Take your DD and move her to RF or LF, and I doubt that she has the same Love for the outfield. :-?

 

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I'm comfy in my glass house MD

 

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Re: how many girls are dedicated to outfield at 12


Like stated above, my DD loves playing centerfield. What a feeling she gets catching that blast off the bat for the out, making that "incredible" throw home to put out that runner, or covering second on the steal. But because of different games situations, she has played left and right field and still feels the same. She just prefers the outfield, period.
Outfield is outfield, just as infield is infield and there is a job everywhere that needs to be done.
Understanding the game and the importance of every position is the difference between a good overall player and one who only has tunnel vision. That can be corrected with good coaching and supportive parents.
Unfortunately, there has been a stigma that has been put on outfielders from the rec league days and most of the time, that stigma comes from the parents. "My baby is too good to play the outfield."
Do they even realize what they are saying??????? ;D

 

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One piece of advice, colleges and older travel teams will pretty much always have the fastest running girls in the outfield. You only need quick reflexes to play infield, outfielders have to fly.

 

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DD doesn't care where she plays .. as long as it isn't "Left Out" .. LOL Of course it is much more fun when the ball comes your way. In some games I have seen the outfielders get more plays than the infield .. so you never know in any given game. It's all good!

 

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If our outfield had more plays than the infield I think the coach would be having a little talk with the pitcher.

 

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my dd has always played infield from the time snce she was 4.we went to travel ball and they put her in the outfield and she was devistated till she was talking to the hs coach and her batting instructor one night when they told her the most calls that they get from college coaches is looking for outfielders because they r few and far between because of the fact that the girls think they r demoted when playing outfield. her eyes lit up after that and thats where she wanted to play from then on and turned out to be one of the best outfielders on the team . not a better feeling in the world than a fly ball hit to right, left or center and your daughter catching it , throwing it to 3rd or home for that double play .mid season a girl asked her why she like it so well and wanted to be out there , she told her the reason behind it and turned a few more girls onto the same idea.