The Right Number

[Dawgsdad]

I was wondering if anyone have any thoughts or comments about what is the right number of girls to carry per team? We are going back and forth.

 

[tygerblood]

12 seems to work..

 

[Coachemup]

In my opinion, 12 is too many. I think you are asking for playing time and parent issues by having that many kids on a roster. I have yet to see kids tap out in the 3rd or 4th game of the day because they were tired and couldn't go on. I know many coaches think they need extra kids in case kids need a break, but it generally never works out. You are usually stuck rotating 3 kids in right field for an inning at a time which ticks off parents. You certainly need a 2nd catcher to give the starter a break from the hot gear, but I would generally only keep 10 kids, maybe 11 if you are able to find a solid 3rd pitcher.

 

[jdcii]

Younger age groups 10-13u - 11 girls. 14u & up - 12-14 girls. Jobs, boyfriends, school activities, and type of schedule are all factors. If you listened to the podcast, western teams carry almost a full roster (20+) girls. I'm seeing more teams in Ohio carry 12 and I think we will see that number rise in the coming years as coaches learn how to manage the larger size rosters.

 

[flarays]

Younger age groups 10-13u - 11 girls. 14u & up - 12-14 girls. Jobs, boyfriends, school activities, and type of schedule are all factors.

BTW - tag line is epic

 

[jdcii]

BTW - tag line is epic

Thanks, we should have T-shirts made up. lol

 

[coachjwb]

If you carry 10, you better pray for luck ... no quitters, no vacations, no illnesses, no injuries, no car breakdowns or family emergencies ... the odds are you are going to lose one somewhere along the way unexpectedly, and then you are worrying if you're going to have enough to field a team. In my mind, it can be done with 11 but 12 is the ideal number ... parents just have to accept that their DD's aren't going to play every inning, and coaches have to figure out ways to get girls in games without "rotating 3 kids in right field" as suggested above.

"Also survived the great crash"

 

[Louuuuu]

... parents just have to accept that their DD's aren't going to play every inning

You be so right. And that should mean every parent. Having the team studs on the bench for a few innings here & there benefits the player by letting their brain take a break. Many players can physically endure 4 or 5 games in a day, but we tend to forget the mental part.

Plus, it shows that you truly have a TEAM. Not 9 starters + those 3 scrubs in the dugout...

 

[SonicMojo]

11. You don't want to go into a tournament with only 9, and you don't want to bring a sub to a tournament and play the sub while your regulars sit the bench.

 

[coachjwb]

Agreed, Lou! If you have a team of 12, the math works out where you can play 3 girls 90% of the innings, 3 80%, 3 70% and 3 60%. When you add in the DP/Flex, EH's and pool games where you can bat the entire line up, the playing time should be sufficient to keep everyone happy. I'm not saying that it always is, but it should be ...

 

[CoachTEA]

We went with 11 this year (against my wishes) and next year I will carry 12. Almost every tournament we played in this year required subs (heck, we have 3 this weekend in Georgia) and whereas it is always great when players sub for you, it isn't same (signals, defensive schemes, chemistry, etc.). As stated previously, as these ladies get older there are more outside commitments.

 

[CARDS]

I agree with Coachjwb, 10 is not enough for travel softball and leads to problems during long tournaments, heat, injuries, vacations etc. If the coach communicates with the parents on the team expectations practice and game plans there generally is no issues with 12.
12 is the best number IMO Three pitchers, two catchers and work with "all the players" under 13 on the fundamentals of infield and outfield play so they are gaining skills at a primary and secondary position.

Coaches just need to remember to recruit players that fit their needs not a roster spot. Over the years I have seen this year in and out leaving one or two ladies as the utility players and not happy or growing their skills while they sit the bench (this seems to happen a lot on teams under 14U)...

Once the ladies leave 12U they start becoming more position specific and here is where the coach needs to watch how he recruits even more. If little Suzie tries out and makes the team as a middle infielder and you already have three now she is moved to OF or a corner position she and the parents will most likely be unhappy with playing time, pos. etc.

Parents also need to understand that it is good for ladies to have to compete during practice. Good players get better when they are pushed and if the player has thought of playing in HS or college or in some of the larger travel events they have to get on board with rosters larger than 10...

 

[ssandy]

In my opinion, 12 is too many. I think you are asking for playing time and parent issues by having that many kids on a roster. I have yet to see kids tap out in the 3rd or 4th game of the day because they were tired and couldn't go on. I know many coaches think they need extra kids in case kids need a break, but it generally never works out. You are usually stuck rotating 3 kids in right field for an inning at a time which ticks off parents. You certainly need a 2nd catcher to give the starter a break from the hot gear, but I would generally only keep 10 kids, maybe 11 if you are able to find a solid 3rd pitcher.

Agree 100%. This is travel ball you commit to play and should be there unless there is a major family event or illness. These girls sign up to play, parents pay a lot to let them. They want to be on the field not sitting in a rotation. An inning here and there I understand we have done it, but if girls are sitting out whole games you are going to have irate parents and rightfully so. No one wants to pay the cost of travel ball for their DD to sit 50 to 60% of the time. Coaches need to put their expectations out there at tryouts and if people are not willing to commit to the practices and travel schedule then travel ball is not for them. JMHO

 

[CoachTEA]

Agree 100%. This is travel ball you commit to play and should be there unless there is a major family event or illness. These girls sign up to play, parents pay a lot to let them. They want to be on the field not sitting in a rotation. An inning here and there I understand we have done it, but if girls are sitting out whole games you are going to have irate parents and rightfully so. No one wants to pay the cost of travel ball for their DD to sit 50 to 60% of the time. Coaches need to put their expectations out there at tryouts and if people are not willing to commit to the practices and travel schedule then travel ball is not for them. JMHO

SSandy - you hit the nail on the head! The key is setting the expectations upfront and living with what you established. I try to tell parents my exact thoughts on where I am headed with things based on what I know at the time. Sometimes parents only hear what they want to hear and that is an issue, but if you are open, honest, and upfront with issues hopefully cool heads will prevail.

 

[coachjwb]

With a team of 12, there is no reason for someone to be sitting out 50-60% of the time IF properly managed. In the scenario I described above, no one should be sitting more than 25% of the time or so. Just curious ... is that too much? Keep in mind that in travel softball, you usually play 5 games or so in the course of a weekend. And just to clarify, even if everyone on the team is 100% committed, injuries, illnesses and family emergencies do happen. I have coached well over 100 youth sports teams over the years, and I can't remember even one time where we had all of our players available to play in more than 90% of the games.

 

[FP CIA]

You be so right. And that should mean every parent. Having the team studs on the bench for a few innings here & there benefits the player by letting their brain take a break...

Completely agree, however, you have to have coaches that are willing to have those players on the bench even if that means falling behind or losing a game. I think there may be just as many coaches that don't understand this concept as there are parents. The Coach has to be a developer of players and a manager of the team.

 

[FP CIA]

With a team of 12, there is no reason for someone to be sitting out 50-60% of the time IF properly managed. In the scenario I described above, no one should be sitting more than 25% of the time or so.

Exactly, if properly managed this shouldn't be that hard. This one I do put more on the parents because I don't think there are too many players that mind sitting out a FEW innings if the culture of the team is good among players. It is generally the parent that questions their DD, "why is so and so playing?" .... and then offering an opinion to their DD. It does depend on the culture of the team and the tone at the top. That means the tone of the coaches take toward how they play their roster and the culture they communicate to everyone from the beginning.

 

[LADY_KNIGHTS]

If you have the right mix of talent 12 is a great number. Keeps drills, throwing etc. even so a coach doesn't have to jump in and help with warm ups. And if you as a coach instill an attitude that each and every player is competing "with" each other for playing time and not competing "against" each other the benefits are even greater as no player becomes complacent with their work habits. I as a coach am not there to ensure equal playing time, that will be determined by each and every player themselves by the amount of work they put in and their dedication to the team and the sport.
Most want to play at the college level, I think we can all agree. Those that are use to a lot of playing time and not sitting because they are use to a small roster will fail miserably at the college level when they are put on a team with a roster of 20-30 players.

 

[bh2424gh]

Does the type of team play any role in this? A showcase team vs. a team that is focused on ASA or PGF.

 

[Ferrigno20]

12 is the magic number, 10 way too many things can go wrong. We were at 11 this year and still at times we only had 7 girls at practice. 12 and the best 9 start.