Wednesday Fun - What age group is the hardest jump?

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What age group is the hardest jump to make?

Based on whatever criteria you want, skill, commitment, adjusting to speed, etc.

 

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The younger it is, the harder the jump. For example, if they played all the way up to 26-U, the jump from 24-U to 26-U would be irrelevant. The toughest scenario out there is for a team of all first year 10-U players trying to compete against a team of older 10-U players.

 

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The younger it is, the harder the jump. For example, if they played all the way up to 26-U, the jump from 24-U to 26-U would be irrelevant. The toughest scenario out there is for a team of all first year 10-U players trying to compete against a team of older 10-U players.

The difference between a 2000 and a 2001 is big. The biggest difference I've encountered. I coach and all 2002 and 2001 team. Win/loss we struggle but I found something interesting last week. Last Sept at our first practice I clocked their overhand throw and H to 1st times and kept the chart and re-checked them last week. Avg overhand throw increased by 10 MPH with the biggest jump being 16 MPH and lowest being 7 mph. Avg increase in H to 1st was .3 with the biggest being .4+. They are still behind the 2000's who clearly have also improved, both in physical skills, focus and game sense.

So I'm going to say the biggest jump is 8u to 10u. Pitching mound goes back 5' and dropped 3rd strikes, along with physical and emotional maturity is the difference.

 

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My dd started at 8. Have to agree the younger ages. Skill levels and pitching vary so much.

 

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The younger it is, the harder the jump. For example, if they played all the way up to 26-U, the jump from 24-U to 26-U would be irrelevant. The toughest scenario out there is for a team of all first year 10-U players trying to compete against a team of older 10-U players.

Completely agree. You wouldn't think that would be the case, but the experience from 1 year to beginner is huge. The first years have not experienced what is is to be on a competitive team yet. It is a big jump.

 

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In my opinion, girls develop and mature greatly between the ages of 10-15. It seems like every "six month" in age makes a difference as they change so fast during this time frame. I would guess that the jump from 10u to 12u is probably more difficult for pitchers as they are changing pitching distance (35 ft to 40ft) and also going from an 11" ball to a 12" ball. The size difference, including physical maturity, in this age group is amazing. I watched the Silver Creek Starz play the Lasers Red in PA and at the end of that game, the tallest girl from the Red (5'11" i'm guessing) stood next to the shortest girl on the Starz (4'11") and these two posed for a picture together.

 

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In my opinion, girls develop and mature greatly between the ages of 10-15. It seems like every "six month" in age makes a difference as they change so fast during this time frame. I would guess that the jump from 10u to 12u is probably more difficult for pitchers as they are changing pitching distance (35 ft to 40ft) and also going from an 11" ball to a 12" ball. The size difference, including physical maturity, in this age group is amazing. I watched the Silver Creek Starz play the Lasers Red in PA and at the end of that game, the tallest girl from the Red (5'11" i'm guessing) stood next to the shortest girl on the Starz (4'11") and these two posed for a picture together.

I agree...the ball size and 40ft pitching mound is a change to get used to. But the physical maturity is the biggest difference as well. Just looking at 11u versus 12u teams, there are a big difference in physical size as well a maturity.

 

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From 10u to 12u is a huge difference!! Some of those 11u players look like they still belong in 10u, they have not hit puberty yet and can be pretty small. Some of the 12u players look like they have kids of their own, most of my players tower over me. In that year between 11 and 12, the girls really mature physically. They get alot stronger and faster and that is hard for the younger girls to compete with.

 

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Between the physical changes to the girls and the changes in ball size and pitching distance, I don't think there can be much debate that the jump from 10 to 12 us the hardest.

 

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I think each jump has big challenges:
And I am talking at the highest level of each age. Our 12U plays in a 14U league and roll teams. I am talking A teams verse A teams

10U to 12U - physical size and strength

12U to 14U - NSA and USSSA 40 to 43 feet, SPEED of game, and strength

14U to 16U - our 16U coach claims this is probably the toughest in his opinion. That the mental side and attention to detail is so huge that 14U girls just do not get it.

I would think 16U and up are similar. But of course I am not there so maybe I am missing something.

I think physically, from 10U through old 12U is amazing. My 10U practices with our old 12s but she is soooo small. I can not imagine her getting run into or getting hit by these girls.

 

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I would have to say 14-16... Only because of the outside factors that effect the girls. i.e.. Driving, work, BOYS and life in general. This seems to be the time when they start to choose whether or not to continue playing softball.

 

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I would have to say 14-16... Only because of the outside factors that effect the girls. i.e.. Driving, work, BOYS and life in general. This seems to be the time when they start to choose whether or not to continue playing softball.

Amen semperfi, your thoughts are exactly what I was thinking when I saw this thread.

 

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10s to 12s.
The size of the ball changes, some girls sprout up, and it begins getting elite.

 

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From 12U to 14U. Primarily due to the difference in physical maturity of the pitching.

 

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From 12U to 14U. Primarily due to the difference in physical maturity of the pitching.

So far our toughest season was at first year 14U competing against second year 14U players. Several second year 14U girls already had a year of HS varsity ball under their belt and were "geared" up and ready to play.

This year we were a second year 14U team and we noticed the difference playing younger teams. We were much more competative with the older 14U teams.

Moving up to 16U next year I may be too optimistic, but I think the challenge will not be as great since the girls will be used to playing older girls at the HS level.

I am not giving advice, more seeking it, am I way off?

 

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I agree it every jump provides its own challenges. We have done every jump and I didnt think there was going to be much of a jump when we went from 14u to 18u because she had played two years of high school but it was more of a jump than I thought.