Question for someone thats been there

[default]

As this years season is quickly coming to an end and teams are preparing to think about next years roster, dd and I find ourselves with a decision to make. DD is an 11 yr. old whos team will be moving to the 14u division, we have been with this same group of girls for the last 4 yrs. Has anyone moved their dd up early and regretted letting her miss the last year as an older 12?

 

[default]

Does she play on the same level as the girls moving up?

 

[default]

Yes she does, in fact she has played three 14u tournaments this year. We all know in advance that no matter what age group you are in, moving up as a first year team you are going to take your lumps.(unless you have a team like the Slammers). I'm just undecided on which way to go, move up and stay with the same group of girls and have the first year growing pains, or shop around for a top 12u team. I'd love to stay with the same organization (of which I coach), unfortunatly with our demographics, it would be tough for me to draw the talent that is needed to be a top team at 12u.

 

[default]

move her up. she'll fit in just fine at 14u. All of our 12u teams will take some lumps next year at 14u because there are no Slammer type teams at 12u. I don't see why she'll take any more than the rest of us. Though, more importantly, what does she want to do?

 

[default]

Thanks Keith, I'm sure it doesn't matter to her one way or the other.

 

[default]

Tough decision. I don't think it depends so much on how she compares to her current teammates. I think the more important consideration is what type of 14u teams you plan to compete against next year. If you're asking a typical 6th grader to play against a group of VERY GOOD freshmen-to-be kids, I'd say no way. Notice I said "typical". I never would have let my DD as an 11 yr. old play up against a team with equivalent talent to her 14u team. She could have held her own against an average 14u team, but they were NOT playing average teams.

Admittedly, the Slammers are a very good team - for their age group - probably currently the best in Ohio. BUT, when playing up a couple of age levels (as they typically do), it is NOT against top level teams in the state - and Bill knows that. That's no slam (pun not intended) against them, because what they have accomplished to date is rarely attempted by anyone else.

If your DD pitches, be aware that a GOOD 14u can hit the ball MUCH harder than an 11 or 12 yr. old. That's about the only real danger. All things equal, those two years from 10 to 12 make a big difference. At 14, girls are starting to develop muscle mass and quickness that is not there at 12. Now, if she's playing in a lower level tournament against teams similar to a freshman high school team, there's much less to worry about. Only you know your daughter's skills, and it's one of those tough parental decisions.

 

[default]

Great player and and even greater kid, she will be fine at 14u.

 

[default]

Thanks Danny for the kind words. Sammy brings up some very good points, I'm not concerned about her getting hurt as she has already played against some very good 14u teams. I was more concerned if maybe I would be cheating her out of an oppurtunity to play with a group her own age, she has never had the chance to be an older player since she started playing travel ball. She does pitch, and has pitched a few games at 14u this year, and your right, they hit the ball a lot harder. Decisions,decisions.

 

[default]

Challenge the skills not the age group. If she can play at that level now, she will only get better if challenged!

 

[default]

First, I totally agree that this is a difficult decision, with important arguments on each side. I think I come down on the "playing up" side, especially if she is comfortable with her long-time teammates. Unless she can move to one of the superior 12U teams, you run the risk of a tournament schedule that has your daughter playing teams that simply won't challenge her. My spouse and I have returned to the 12U age group this year and we have found that despite -- or probably because of--the plethora of tournaments, our team has played many games that were of little use to either side. Unless your daughter's new team gets invitations to the select 12U tournaments next year, you may find staying down was a disappointment.

I'm also basing my opinion on some recent buzz that there may be several tournaments next year reserved for 13U. I think this is a wonderful option for teams making the difficult transition from 12U to 14U. If there are some good 13U tourneys offered, we plan to take advantage of a few so our girls can remember, in what may otherwise be a stressful year, that they were a fairly successful 12U team.

 

[default]

cgs, thanks for the insight, that is exactly where I find myself right now. I still want her to be challanged so making the right decision is important. I believe that you are right that if we were to stay down we would have to find a new team, one that would be playing the select tournaments.