The Outfield

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What is the deal with 12U girls not wanting to play the outfield? I loved playing Left field when I was a kid, now I ask my girls to take some fly balls balls and you would think I just asked them to write me a ten page essay. Part of it might be that when they played rec ball that is where coached stuck the not so great players, but at this age playing travel ball that is where the big arms and speed come in. I just can't seem to get them excited about it. What is a coach to do?

 

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I know exactly what you are saying. I think alot of it has to do, like you said, with the girls coming from rec ball and not getting any action in the outfield. My daughter played outfield for her 12u team last year and was the same way when we started practicing this time last year. It was like pulling teeth to get her to work on outfield drills. However, after playing the outfield for the majority of this summer, she has embraced it and loves playing outfield now. Going into her final year of 12u for 2013, she actually has a chance of getting a 1st base position if she wants it. The other night we were talking and she says "dad, I think I would just rather stick with the outfield". Go Figure!

 

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Outfield for most 12u players is like a death sentence. I think the rec ball stigma of the weakest players playing outfield follow them into their early years of travel. Once they hit 14u, I see alot of pride in playing the outfield....as it should be. In travel ball, your outfield can make or break you...I just wish there was a way to convince the girls of that at 10u and 12u. Have them watch a few games with the older age groups and they will see first hand how important the outfield is and how those girls love and own their outfield positions. A great outfielder who loves her position and plays it like a beast will get snatched up at tryouts as quickly as a great pitcher. One of the best players I've EVER played with was a centerfielder at Kent and went on to play on the Canadian National team....she was AMAZING and you couldn't convince her that outfield sukked!!!

 

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Easy......It's where they stick the weaker players all the way up to about 12U. Soon the value of a great outfielder will be recognized and the stigma goes away.

 

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There are a few things I see in a game that are simply awesome: that perfect change-up for strike three, the double play, the great slide under a tag bang-bang play, and the crazy catch in the OF that no one thought would be caught.

Like many are saying, OF is as bad as a trip to the dentist for some kids, they just don't want to go!

My dd happens to like the OF, maybe not her favorite position, but she does enjoy it when her team has played against teams with big bats.

She has told me though that she has played with girls that admit to purposely not doing well in OF practice because they don't want the coach to pull them from the infield.

 

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Easy......It's where they stick the weaker players all the way up to about 12U. Soon the value of a great outfielder will be recognized and the stigma goes away.

I wish I could agree with the "stigma goes away"!! We had a girl quit our team in the middle of the season this season because she was playing outfield. She played for our team for 2 1/2 years at outfield, but during hs played short. She was an amazing outfielder, (a pretty good ss) but when I complimented her on how much I liked her out there, her mother angrily told me "MY DD IS NOT AN OUTFIELDER"! This was a 2nd year 16U team. I think the parents can't let go of the stigma.

 

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Im at 12u for a 2nd time and I work hard to convince certain girls who I see as having outfield talent. Sometimes it works and when it doesnt move on and find girls that will buy into that.

 

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Just watch ESPN's daily Top Ten plays. (yes, it's MLB, but the concept is the same.) You see more amazing outfield plays than infield.

 

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I agree some of it is that the parents can't get past the rec ball mind set that OF is where the "weak" players go but I also have to say that some responsibility has to be put on the 10u and 12u coaches out there. They are putting their "weakest" players out in the outfield or using OF as a punishment. Also they don't ever want their daughter to play OF middle IF for them!

 

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I meant only middle IF is good enough for their daughter.

 

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Good 12u teams have good OFers. As much skill and knowledge is required to play those positions. That is what should be taught to lessen the stigma early.

 

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What is the deal with 12U girls not wanting to play the outfield? I loved playing Left field when I was a kid, now I ask my girls to take some fly balls balls and you would think I just asked them to write me a ten page essay. Part of it might be that when they played rec ball that is where coached stuck the not so great players, but at this age playing travel ball that is where the big arms and speed come in. I just can't seem to get them excited about it. What is a coach to do?

Do NOT take this the wrong way! - it is merely an expression and NOT directed at you :

"It's the PARENTS stupid!"

Actually, it should be: "It's the STUPID parents!"

 

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I meant only middle IF is good enough for their daughter.

Please......my dd has NEVER played middle infield in her life, we actually WANT to win. :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

 

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My daughter has always liked playing Outfield. Getting a chance to rob a girl of big hit or throwing a girl out on the bases has always been exciting to her. I would take her out to the diamonds and hit ball after ball trying to challenge her range-she loved it. What kind of OF drills are you doing? Push your OF in practice and hitting pop ups won't cut it-kids will be bored.

 

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Shooting the outfield is one of my players favorite drills.....it's hard as heck but they love it!!

 

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I've always been a big believer in making each girl learn, and rotate through in games, an infield and an outfield position. There is one exception to this in regard to safety with younger girls who may not be ready for the fast pace of the infield.

I think this is important for several reasons: teaches the importance of every position, increases overall skill development, teaches infielders to understand the mental aspect of the game better, adds depth to your team if an outfielder goes down, teaches the girls that coaches don't see the outfield as punishment and all girls are being treated equally/fairly and finally I think it would probably reduce the overall need to replenish the team at the end of each season.

 

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Have one of your pitchers talk to them sometime about how important OF is.

 

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Please......my dd has NEVER played middle infield in her life, we actually WANT to win. :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

then you are a good coach, just saying not everyone is

 

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Outfielders are your last line of defense. My DD bought her outfielders dinner a couple times last year for a couple of outstanding catches they made on some of her mistakes......

 

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Parents need to be cooperative and put away their notions about any stigma to it. Coaches need to coach it as though it's a position and not a punishment. Then for many it will just take time for it to become less boring and for the isolation factor to wear off. It wasn't until 14U my DD actually enjoyed it. When they start to make the cuts and catches more consistently then they start to look for the next play. Stopping runners from advancing on overthrows, throwing out the ones that do and doubling off others makes it fun and garners more praise and cheers.