At 11u last year, it was my DD's first year playing travel. She had never played OF a day in her "life" (4 years in rec ball at that time). She was picked up by Thunder to be an outfielder and she learned SO much there and really likes it. Towards the end of last season and now this season at 12u she catches - which is her first/greatest love in the game...but when she is not catching she is usually playing OF. She loves it there now as a secondary spot.... and has made some awesome plays in the past year. I have seen her make some truly game-changing/saving catches that I didn't think she would/could make...I've watched her throw girls out at first from RF.... her favorite is when she caught a fly ball in fairly deep RF and made a perfect throw to third (without a cut) to get an out on a girl that was running (and tagged up) from second...these were just a few examples of the very exciting plays and the smile on her face after them is priceless.
I definitely think the attitudes of girls not wanting to play outfield comes from parents not wanting them to...especially at the rec level. It is true that at the rec level that is where you put your weakest players and a lot of players at the travel 10u and even 12u ages are just coming out of rec. To be honest, until the spring before 11u, my family didn't even know the travel world existed! I think what played a big part in my daughter learning so much, as well as enjoying the OF is how the outfielders would often be taken seperately and work on drills, techniques, and have discussions about situations while the infield worked on their stuff. There were also times that all girls did OF drills, but the girls that played it primarily were taught (very well) as a small group. I think this makes quite a difference. It shows them that they have an important role and there are important things to learn. In rec - often for defensive practice the whole team would be put in place and the coach would hit balls to everyone. Well, most rec coaches don't even hit the balls to the outfielders very often and really try to work on the infield defense. So not only do those girls (in rec and lower travel) not see much action in games, but they aren't seeing much in practices either. It does create a stigma for the girls, as well as the parents...then they bring that stigma with them when/if they transition to travel.