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Is it a common thing that there is such a large disparity between teams at this age. Teams seem to be eighther really good.......or really not so good. :-/
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Alot depends on what type of a rec league is feeding the program.
Are they parents who don't really know the game or coaches who happen to be parents?
Also those who have pitching will usually come out on top.
Are they parents who don't really know the game or coaches who happen to be parents?
Also those who have pitching will usually come out on top.
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That's the way it was when my DD was playing middle school ball. My DD learned to be a catcher because there was nobody who had caught before -- there is nothing she can't do (she thinks).
Finding a catcher is a simple problem compared to finding a pitcher. Since the middle school teams in our area are only a single grade not all teams have a decent pitcher. Pitching is very inconsistent. Often just getting enough players is a challenge.
However, I think it is a valueable activity to provide. Getting the girls thinking about playing for their school in addition to playing during the summer will help when they get to HS ball. Since the Middle Schools don't have a 'playoff', predicting the end of the season (and the start of travel ball) is much more accurate and easier to plan.
Finding a catcher is a simple problem compared to finding a pitcher. Since the middle school teams in our area are only a single grade not all teams have a decent pitcher. Pitching is very inconsistent. Often just getting enough players is a challenge.
However, I think it is a valueable activity to provide. Getting the girls thinking about playing for their school in addition to playing during the summer will help when they get to HS ball. Since the Middle Schools don't have a 'playoff', predicting the end of the season (and the start of travel ball) is much more accurate and easier to plan.
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:-?I'd have to disagree with the catcher comment. DD's school team has 4 pitchers, 2 catchers, and only 1 catcher can catch anyone(she's also one of the better pitchers), the other--only slow pitchers. It's almost like she's distracted (her eyes are all over the place, doesn't seem focused) and she will not get her body in front of the ball, doesn't hustle, slow footwork and can't make the throws.Coach has no help, parents aren't allowed to help (school board rule 
)It would be nice if there were time for the other catcher to work with her, practice doesn't happen, no indoor facilities available for these girls, and weather doesn't cooperate either---sigh--a long season ahead
)It would be nice if there were time for the other catcher to work with her, practice doesn't happen, no indoor facilities available for these girls, and weather doesn't cooperate either---sigh--a long season ahead
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I'll probably get flamed for this, but middle school ball is just rec ball with your school's name on the jersey. :-X
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Wave10U
You are correct. However, it is just as important to those young ladies as any other school sponsored sport (volleyball, basketball). In small school districts it is important to have spring club ball for the girls to get games. They will move from spring club ball to summer rec leagues having between 15 to 20 additional games played. This is the first year for our school district having a spring club team. They lost the first, won the second and lost a close one in the third game. Have seen great improvement in those young ladies in just a shrt period of time.
You are correct. However, it is just as important to those young ladies as any other school sponsored sport (volleyball, basketball). In small school districts it is important to have spring club ball for the girls to get games. They will move from spring club ball to summer rec leagues having between 15 to 20 additional games played. This is the first year for our school district having a spring club team. They lost the first, won the second and lost a close one in the third game. Have seen great improvement in those young ladies in just a shrt period of time.
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Wave10U, I debated on repling but yeah, that statement deserves to be flamed. If you made that statement to my school team you might get a fight. I have coached rec, community travel and middle school and I don't see one as being more or less worthy than the other. When you have the choice of a young lady playing ball or being somewhere else maybe not so good where is the down side? I have an 8th grade team right now that could play against any community travel team and hold their own, that said the girls I have coming up from 7th are right now at the rec level. The talent level and interest does vary tremendously from class to class. My 8th grade team had 27 girls try out and by contrast the 7th grade had 16. I have 4 girls that can pitch, get it over the plate for strikes and can bring it at a decent velocity. My #1 pitcher will play for a upper level travel team this summer, she tops out at 54 MPH off my radar gun. I am blessed this year to have such a talented group but next year will be even more fun and challenging to develop girls with less experience and talent.
I have coached rec, community travel and middle school and I don't see one as being more or less worthy than the other. When you have the choice of a young lady playing ball or being somewhere else maybe not so good where is the down side? I have an 8th grade team right now that could play against any community travel team and hold their own, that said the girls I have coming up from 7th are right now at the rec level. The talent level and interest does vary tremendously from class to class. My 8th grade team had 27 girls try out and by contrast the 7th grade had 16. I have 4 girls that can pitch, get it over the plate for strikes and can bring it at a decent velocity. My #1 pitcher will play for a upper level travel team this summer, she tops out at 54 MPH off my radar gun. I am blessed this year to have such a talented group but next year will be even more fun and challenging to develop girls with less experience and talent.
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Go4 I am with you with respect to the question. It depends on the years and classes coming through. Our MS team right now has a mix, our other two middle schools have some talented girls that play summer ball. Our 2009 HS class, which went though the middle school two and three years ago were 24-1 over two years school ball, were our travel team in the summer at that age and won a few tournaments over that summer. Unfortunately, that talent got split between two HighSchools, but it does spread the wealth of skill I guess you could say. There are quite a few sophomores in that class, starting varsity for both schools right now.
Playing for their school at any age gives them a sense of Pride, Commitment and Team regardless of skillset. At this age, there is a disparity of maturity in physical size as well. We played a team yesterday with girls my height and we have a few girls pushing 5' if they are on a ladder. It all balances out at some point though.
Playing for their school at any age gives them a sense of Pride, Commitment and Team regardless of skillset. At this age, there is a disparity of maturity in physical size as well. We played a team yesterday with girls my height and we have a few girls pushing 5' if they are on a ladder. It all balances out at some point though.
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I am in no way meaning to diminish the benefits of middle school ball. I am simply refering back to jsad's original post about the big discrepencies between the quality of teams. You have everything from sanctioned school teams to teams that are just thrown together with no real affiliation to the school except the logo on the jersey. Alot of the time the coaches are left to deal with 18 kids on a team because kids are rarely cut at this level. I'm not advocating cutting kids, I'm just pointing out the reality.
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I wish all middle schools had teams. I understand that most schools do not have the funding for such and God Bless the parents who on their own time start up the "school club team." There is a starting point for everything, does any one believe Jennie Finch came out of the womb throwing 70m.p.h rise-balls? If you get these young ladies together and work with them and the players themselves work hard, you'll see amzing results, and it will only benefit them in high school.
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What age are we talking here?
Our Middle school is 5th and 6th graders (NO school team)-our 7th and 8th graders are at Junior High School (DO have school team).
Our Middle school is 5th and 6th graders (NO school team)-our 7th and 8th graders are at Junior High School (DO have school team).
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6th, 7th, 8th, is usually the grade groups that is considered when talking about middle school/junior high ball
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My view on this surrounds my dd. She plays travel ball in the summer and worked hard on her pitching this past winter, moving up as 1st year 14u. Her team is fortunate to have several other girls that play travel ball as well. I have noticed that as the season progresses that the work she put in through the winter is slowly fading as runrule games mount. She has gone from spotting pitches to just firing fastball down the pike witch still arent hit. When this season ends and the travel season begins that will change. Guess my point is how do you keep a players focus while facing lesser competition?? :-?
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Probably fortunate that our school district does not have Middle School ball. ?I'm guessing my daughter would want or feel obligated to play and I'd have to think our travel coach would fry us if she told him she was going to miss practice or Spring tourneys for MS ball.
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jsad, just have her treat each team like it's a team that she has had to work hard to get out.
have her throw all her pitches in all the zones.
have her focus on mechanics and that kind of stuff.
have her throw all her pitches in all the zones.
have her focus on mechanics and that kind of stuff.
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its hard to instill on the travel dd,s to make everyone else play to their level,, not drop to the team avg ,, its a constant balancing act to let them relax a bit and play with their classmates and still keep that sharp and aggressive edge their going to need in about 4 to 6 weeks, they almost seem hesitant to show how realy good they are, maybe afraid of alienaiting themselve from their friends?... who knows all i know sometimes it hurts to watch
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ss is always telling dd (c) not to throw down so hard ;D
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Definately painfull to watch. dd had a game this evening that went 2 and a half innings and was stopped at 21-0 I felt bad for the other team. :-[
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Middle school ball 7th and 8th grade is about representing your community, having fun, playing with classmates etc. It in a way prepares them for playing high school. I have been in several games this year where defeat was very apparent, I kindly let the umpire know some ideas how to get out of innings (hint hint) and I have also been in games where it is reversed and the other coach is doing the same. Also been in a few battles. keeping everyone on the same page is important. 1st try to make it a game and then I begin to work with the other team coaches & umpire. It's no fun winning 20 to nothing and it's no fun losing that way either. It is what it is and go from there. But it's still important for the players.
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to keep the middle school post alive,,,, Fairborn won the Centerville Classic today, going undefeated in 4 games,, ,nice job girls, thanks to the folks from Centerville for a great Tournament