inexperienced player

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My daughter will be thirteen in december, so she has
been trying out for 14u teams around the akron area.
So far, all there has been is rejection after rejection.
How hard is it to get on a travel ball team. ?This is her
first year trying out. ?Coaches keep telling her to work
on her game and try out again next year. ?It is a little hard
to work on your game if no one will give to a chance to
play on a team. ?Any advice out there? ?With all the
rejection, she is starting to doubt ever playing softball
again.

 

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You are in Akron?

 

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You have a priveate message.

 

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While we were holding tryouts last week for our 14U teams, I experienced girls just like your daughter. They have some talent, but they're behind everyone else. The reason they're behind everyone else is that they have missed the years of travel ball (10U-12U), where the talent levels between the girls is closer, and there was a more level playing field. The girls they are trying out against have been playing travel for 3-4 years, you can clearly see the difference in talent.
My suggestion would be to try and get your daughter on a community based travel team, or a new organization that is just getting started at her age level, where the expectations are not quite so high, and she could compete and gain confidence and experience. It is never to late to get started, you'll just have to be persistant and patient till the right team comes along.
In the mean time I would use the money, that you have saved by not being on a team, and find her a coach to work on some of her problem areas. In the Akron area there are countless people giving quality instruction, and with proper fundamentals being reinforced, you should see improvements right away.
I don't live near the Akron area, but I have been to a place in the Akron area called Pronios. I'm sure they have someone or know of someone that could help your daughter. Good Luck!

Coach Yeater
14U GFOD Thunder

 

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Sent you a private message.

Please contact me if you have more questions

David Poling 330-699-5750 or 330-472-0846
polingsportsphoto@sbcglobal.net
;D

 

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Brookbanks and Pinnacle Sports are other places to try to find some defense and hitting classes.

 

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Dont know if this will help but here it is.

First get her involved in all the hitting and fielding classes you can, Have her work hard on the correct fundamentals. also watch and study the game to learn it. you can learn with her.
also check with some of these teams to see if see can be added as a sub.with this she will be able to practice with the team and improve her skills. She may not get the game expierence but practicing with better players speeds up the process and learning. Your hope is that a coach will see the hardwork and dedication and throw her a bone. She can get back up to speed if she is an athlete and she wants it bad enough.remember that to be 3-4 years behind(competitivly) means she needs to try and get 2-3 seasons of ball in every year. I have seen kids make this jump and it is possible.
If she gets the chance to play on a team go for a b or c team at the very least.Try not to put her with kids that do not have her same commitment or they will hold her back from reaching her potential

 

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my dd was also a late starter for softball. she tried it when she was around 11 didn't care for it much then at 13 decided she wanted to pitch. started lessons and it took off. she played on local teams that played tournaments with only one or two being overnighters.. and in leagues until last year (last year of U16) its not too late.. your daughter can do it, she just needs to find a team that is local to you that may not be a true travel team but plays alot of local tournaments/leagues. also like the others suggested have her take lessons.. that helps.. but foremost if she wants to play don't let her give up. If she keeps improving by the time she's U18 you may not be able to tell she started playing much later than the others. good luck.

 

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southernpride as mentioned earlier taking pitching lessons and other skills instruction is a great idea. ? going to clinics with your daughter, ? watching games, ? and reading up on the skills and techniques needed is a good idea too. ? However the best way to develope is to play. ? The more innings the better. ? find a team she can play for even if it is not a very good team. ? ?or start your own team and put her where you want her, ? i'm sure it has been done before.

 

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Fall ball is also a good time to improve skills. Fall ball leagues tend to be more instructional and not all the pressure of qualifying tourneys, etc. If she improves during Fall ball and works on skills over the winter also understand there are always teams that lose players for one reason or another (usually injuries catch up to teams as the season goes on). There is a section in this forum where coaches are looking for players and players loking for teams. Sometimes after the Summer season starts teams need players, even as just extras. These extras have a great chance to be part of a team, get in a game and make an impression, and stay with that team the following year. Watch this forum and I'm sure you will find what you're looking for.

 

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Thank you for the advice. ?To answer some of the things
brought up. ?We do live in Akron. ?For the last two years,
my daughter has attended classes from Brookbanks for
hitting/fielding/catching/pitching. ?Pitching did not work out
very well. ?She loves being a catcher. ?After most of the
tryouts, the coaches all said that she has alot of potential
but they are looking to be an elite team this next year and
they don't want her to feel left behind.

 

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You pretty much said it all right there. In most cases, by the time girls are at 14U, most of the teams have been together for awhile and are looking for seasoned players and not looking for projects.
I had basically the same problem, but only as a coach. I am back coaching at GFOD and looking to build a 14U team. Most of the girls that came to the tryouts and were offered a spot, were hesitant to commit because the team had no history, and the players and parents had a fear of the unknown.
My knowledge and experience was not enough, these people wanted to know that the team that I was putting together would be competitive and play at the better tournaments. It is really frustrating to put a team together, when no one is willing to commit.
I know I may have rambled off the subject a little bit, but I think it reflects the attitude people have at this level.
Anyway, don't give up hope and Good Luck.
Shayne Yeater
14U GFOD Thunder

PS: My team is pretty close to being completed, and I'm very happy with the group of young ladies I've assembled.

 

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We are a BRAND new team and I am willing to give those girls with heart and a willingness to learn a chance. ?
Lady Knight, that is EXACTLY where I am at right now. ?It is hard to find players when you are a new team. ?I am finding it is the proverbial, which came first, the chicken or the egg. You need players to become a good team and you have to be a good team to draw players.

BTW....we are Whitehall Wrath 14U

 

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At the risk of repeating myself this is why you want to get your teams and players started at the 8U/10U level in travel ball. Pretty hard to develop a core group and a reputation as a team and coach starting at the 14U level. Wont say it cannot be done but its pretty hard.

The coaches for my daughters 18u select team that just finished this summer are starting all over again. What age?

10U.

 

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i see alot of girls at various tryouts who have alot of talent but are behind the others for some reason or another. ? my advice would be to not give up and get out and practice as much as possible. ?daily practices even if it's just for 45 minutes helps. ?it's hard to make the jump but extremely possible.

 

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i see alot of girls at various tryouts who have alot of talent but are behind the others for some reason or another. ? my advice would be to not give up and get out and practice as much as possible. ?daily practices even if they're just for 45 minutes helps. ?it's hard to make the jump but extremely possible.

 

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i see alot of girls at various tryouts who have alot of talent but are for one oreason or another behind everyone else. ?my advice would be to never give up and practice as much as possible. ?daily practices even if they're just for 45 minutes help. also try to get on a local travel team to gain experience. ?it's hard to make the jump but extremely possible. ?

 

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i see alot of girls at various tryouts who have alot of talent but are for one oreason or another behind everyone else. ?my advice would be to never give up and practice as much as possible. ?daily practices even if they're just for 45 minutes help. also try to get on a local travel team to gain experience. ?it's hard to make the jump but extremely possible.

 

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i see alot of girls at various tryouts who have alot of talent but are for one oreason or another behind everyone else. ?my advice would be to never give up and practice as much as possible. ?daily practices even if they're just for 45 minutes help. also try to get on a local travel team to gain experience. ?it's hard to make the jump but extremely possible.

 

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Can you say that one more time?!