Roster size consensus, how many Softball Players?

[TheSoftballZone]

I know this has been discussed before somewhere, but would like opinions from coaches and players as to how many players they carry on a roster and why?

 

[spartansd]

10U - 11/12 depending on commitment
12U - 11 committed players
14U - 12/13 time to start getting serious
16U/18U - 13+ college coaches are looking for players who know how to compete not just in games but also for playing time. How can you get a feel for how a player is going to react to sitting for 1-2 years when their whole life they played on teams with 10 players and where they are never truly held accountable for playing performance by lack of field time? Also you need to always have some speed to pinch run on the bench.

This idea of never asking your daughters to compete has gotten out of hand. There is a pretty decent 14U team in Michigan that is at 9 players and has stated they are only willing to ad 1 player to get to 10 because they all want to play.........how about they all compete for time?

 

[BulldawgsDirector]

I promised myself a long time ago I wouldn't get sucked into these stupid arguments.

 

[spartansd]

The Beverly Bandits do not seem to have a problem carrying 13+ players.

It is a joke. And this attitude about sending $$$ should equate to a certain amount of playing time is the big issue. Take that attitude back to the rec leagues. This is supposed to be travel ball. And hence the watering down of teams.

 

[cobb_of_fury]

The Beverly Bandits do not seem to have a problem carrying 13+ players.

It is a joke. And this attitude about sending $$$ should equate to a certain amount of playing time is the big issue. Take that attitude back to the rec leagues. This is supposed to be travel ball. And hence the watering down of teams.

So wait...teams are more watered down because they have ... Less players? Because it's bad that players want more playing time? - So teams would be less watered down with more players?
I'm confused.

For the most part; People do not want to spend hard earnd money for their kid to ride the bench. why should they? If there's another team with a need and they can get playing time, It seems far better to me to PLAY on a less talented team then to sit the bench on a better team. They are not going to improve significantly on the bench no matter how hard they compete.

Yes, compatition makes girls better - They should compete to be on the better teams at try outs and when they fail at that they should go to a lesser team and PLAY and get better.

13+ Girls on a team is a great way to get girls to Join SOXXER and BAXXKITBALL

As for the Beverly Bandits They have no problem with 13+ because they are the Beverly Bandits... and there are people who wouldn't mind paying to have their kid ride the bench for them. But most teams are not the Bandits...

 

[HITTER23]

The Beverly Bandits do not seem to have a problem carrying 13+ players.

It is a joke. And this attitude about sending $$$ should equate to a certain amount of playing time is the big issue. Take that attitude back to the rec leagues. This is supposed to be travel ball. And hence the watering down of teams.

 

[BulldawgsDirector]

I promised myself a long time ago I wouldn't get sucked into these stupid arguments.

 

[BulldawgsDirector]

I promised myself a long time ago I wouldn't get sucked into these stupid arguments.

 

[okiedad1961]

When your playing mostley showcases ,you would expect a smaller roster,at least I would .Value for your money is were I'm at.Will not pay a premium price for her to sit.You could play on 3 showcase teams and throw in a couple camps of colleges your interested in for Bandit type of money and get as much concentrated exposure.

 

[spartansd]

I guess we can peel this back.

If you are serious about playing in college you should be on a 16/18 team that carries a larger roster and competes for playing time.

My comment above was about HS......honestly are we going to start the HS vs travel ball debate.

I have no issues with teams that are playing for fun or carry a low number of players so that no one sits. But do not call it an "exposure team" or a college prep team that is all. And yes I absolutely think there is a watering down of teams due to the mentality of "I pay so I better play". That is a contributor for sure. You yourself just said if I am paying $500 then my DD better play.

 

[The3dm]

10U - 11/12 depending on commitment
12U - 11 committed players
14U - 12/13 time to start getting serious
16U/18U - 13+ college coaches are looking for players who know how to compete not just in games but also for playing time. How can you get a feel for how a player is going to react to sitting for 1-2 years when their whole life they played on teams with 10 players and where they are never truly held accountable for playing performance by lack of field time? Also you need to always have some speed to pinch run on the bench.

This idea of never asking your daughters to compete has gotten out of hand. There is a pretty decent 14U team in Michigan that is at 9 players and has stated they are only willing to ad 1 player to get to 10 because they all want to play.........how about they all compete for time?

I think you nailed it perfectly!!! At 16u & 18u I have found that the intensity of the players leads to many injuries (often season ending). Nothing worse than being left shorthanded on Sunday due to injuries, college visits, graduation, etc.... The coach has to be just a little bit better to ensure he/she keeps all the players engaged and prepared.

I always thought of it this way: 9 on the field, DH for my weak or slumping hitter, two runners (to keep pitcher/catcher legs fresh) and a pitcher in the wings. That makes 13 if my math is correct. JMHO

 

[spartansd]

When your playing mostley showcases ,you would expect a smaller roster,at least I would .Value for your money is were I'm at.Will not pay a premium price for her to sit.You could play on 3 showcase teams and throw in a couple camps of colleges your interested in for Bandit type of money and get as much concentrated exposure.

You are not getting 10% of what the Bandits girls are getting. I have talked to many college coaches (D1 high and low level) and they all say that one of the things that bothers them about many travel teams are the roster sizes. They complain that the small roster size creates a sense of entitlement between the parents and players. And that when they get to college and are forced to actually compete for playing time they often crumble because they have never been asked to really compete. And competing for batting order location in not competing.

Listen I am going stop replying because I think my thoughts are not really main stream in the community. But they are some of the issues that players have moving into the college game. I guess we can agree to disagree on this topic. My hope and expectation is that my DDs get this figured out before they get to college. My personal experience is one of good and bad. I have a 14U eligibly DD that starts on a 16U exposure team and a old 16U player on the same team that struggles to stay on the field but does hit full time. And the discussion is that if you want to be the go to starter you must take it. Do not let the coach ever see anything but your best. Do not expect the coach to accept errors from you. I am looking at this from a perspective of preparing my DDs to play on a college team. I do not think the older one is D1 material but that is really up to her not me. If she wants it bad enough she can make it happen. The younger one is definitely D1 material but maybe she gets a better deal at a D2 or NAIA school. Again it is up to her at that point.

 

[Ri-domination]

You are not getting 10% of what the Bandits girls are getting. I have talked to many college coaches (D1 high and low level) and they all say that one of the things that bothers them about many travel teams are the roster sizes. They complain that the small roster size creates a sense of entitlement between the parents and players. And that when they get to college and are forced to actually compete for playing time they often crumble because they have never been asked to really compete. And competing for batting order location in not competing.

Listen I am going stop replying because I think my thoughts are not really main stream in the community. But they are some of the issues that players have moving into the college game. I guess we can agree to disagree on this topic. My hope and expectation is that my DDs get this figured out before they get to college. My personal experience is one of good and bad. I have a 14U eligibly DD that starts on a 16U exposure team and a old 16U player on the same team that struggles to stay on the field but does hit full time. And the discussion is that if you want to be the go to starter you must take it. Do not let the coach ever see anything but your best. Do not expect the coach to accept errors from you. I am looking at this from a perspective of preparing my DDs to play on a college team. I do not think the older one is D1 material but that is really up to her not me. If she wants it bad enough she can make it happen. The younger one is definitely D1 material but maybe she gets a better deal at a D2 or NAIA school. Again it is up to her at that point.

I love it! Sounds like truth, earn your way!

 

[wvanalmsick]

For the most part; People do not want to spend hard earnd money for their kid to ride the bench. why should they? If there's another team with a need and they can get playing time, It seems far better to me to PLAY on a less talented team then to sit the bench on a better team. They are not going to improve significantly on the bench no matter how hard they compete.

Yes, compatition makes girls better - They should compete to be on the better teams at try outs and when they fail at that they should go to a lesser team and PLAY and get better.

You said it, but I will expand. This girl's skill level is not at the same skill level of her teammates so she will see more pine time than playing time. She is on the wrong team but Mom and Dad went with the Big Named, High Caliber team instead of taking off the rose-colored glasses and getting her on the right team.

 

[freddieball]

Sorry I got off topic. I think 11-13 is good. Just in case of injury or someone getting sick

 

[Bink44]

spartansd...very well said! If it's any consolation...you understand the process quite well. I wish more parents understood the process instead of making excuses as to why everything should happen on there individual DD's timeline.

 

[Fairman]

Speaking for most travel teams (NOT some national gold showcase team with all D1 players)

10U through 14U; I would look for 12 or 13 on a team.

16U and 18U I'd look for a little larger roster because of conflicts with life and the players are more specialized.
A 18U team with a ton of seniors needs a hard core and some fill-in players to cover for graduation parties and senior silliness. I've seen rosters of 16 so we can have 10.


As a pitchers dad I would want three healthy pitchers. Two is to much work if you go deep on Sundays and you are only one line drive away from having only one. Four means that someone isn't getting enough work and is irritated. As the pitchers get older they get more reliable certainly on 16U & 18U teams three (healthily) pitchers is enough.

As for the comments about competing for playing time....that is all well and good except that your dd only has maybe 10 seasons before she is in college....spending an entire season watching someone else play will do her little good. She needs to be on the field. Being on a national gold showcase team and just carrying the equipment will not advance her skills. Lets not be delusional here....in order for her to get better your dd must play this game, not just ride the pine. If she is sitting 4 out of 5 games she is on the wrong team.

 

[coachjwb]

Theoretical question ... your DD is on a very good team with very good coaches which practices frequently. If she is getting a lot of good quality instruction and practice, and is playing 50-60% of the team's innings in actual games, does that qualify for "riding the pine" and finding another team?

 

[Fairman]

I have jumped at the chance to put my dd on a team with quality coaches and quality players but knowing that my dd wasn't the number one stud and wouldn't get much work on Sundays.....I knew that this coach would work with her, help her get better and give her a chance.....by the end of the season she had improved and was getting the lions share of the work. She paid attention, developed as the coach thought she could and she reaped the rewards.

Aged into another team with another set of coaches in similar situation but these coaches didn't work with her and had their minds made up as to who was playing and where. (daddy ball with twins..the worst) A completely wasted TB season.

Make sure that the coach has integrity and actual knowledge not just reputation and really good players (proving he is excellent at recruiting)....good luck it is a jungle out there.

 

[JoeA1010]

I agree with spartansd. With a college showcase team, the roster should really be larger. In my opinion, the main factor leading to girls having problems or quitting in college is the inability to be able to mentally handle competing for playing time. The pressure to perform just overwhelms many girls and many do not think it is right that they are expected to perform at a certain level to earn playing time. After all, they have been a star in high school and travel, so why did they get recruited if they weren't going to play? That is the attitude that many bring to the table and it ultimately runs them right out of the game.