what to expect when going from 10-u to 12-u?

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Well its time to move up an age group due to age. What differences in 12-u should we expect? I have already had her playing catch with the 12 in ball. What else can I do to help her? I have read that this is one of the most difficult jumps and just want to try and get her best foot forward. Thank for all the help.

 

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More/tougher competition. Teach her to begin putting on her thicker skin as this is the age group where that "stuff" really starts. Kids can be brutal at times starting now especially. Pitching rubber is 40' vs. 35'. Girls are starting to learn the game so just running in circles (around the bases) and throwing the ball around to get runs & outs isnt a given and must be done wisely.

 

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This year I saw my hitters like having the extra 5 feet to see the ball, my pitchers take some time to adjust to the ball and distance. Base running is better and the players and parents who think outfield is a punishment will come to appreciate how important those 3 players in the grass are!

 

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the players and parents who think outfield is a punishment will come to appreciate how important those 3 players in the grass are!

Wow, what a great point. Outfield becomes more and more critical the older they get.

 

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This year I saw my hitters like having the extra 5 feet to see the ball, my pitchers take some time to adjust to the ball and distance. Base running is better and the players and parents who think outfield is a punishment will come to appreciate how important those 3 players in the grass are!

Can I get an Amen!!! That is so true!

 

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I also think young pitchers will realize how inportant it is to hit there spots and have a good change-up. As you get older, everyone can hit the fastball down the middle! LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

 

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Just went through this...expect to learn patience. From fall ball to the end of July you will see so much improvement in your 00 kids.

things I observed:

pitchers who dominated at 35 feet in 10U had the most dificult adjustment as they were not used to those fastballs getting hit, let alone getting hit hard.

I found that the bigger ball and the 5 feet in pitching distance made the game more offensive. My DD actually struck out less this year and we played a ton of 98 teams.

Outfielders become an intrigual part of the game.

Don't 'assume' the stolen base. Catchers arms are stronger and we played some that had deadly accurate pick off moves to first and third.

But the one thing that I couldn't get over and there is no avoiding it is the the sheer physical maturity between girls with 99 birthdates and 98 birthdates...our girls were 11 or 12 and playing 13 year olds and the puberty, strength and size difference was significant. We played teams that had girls that I swear were 16. :lmao:
it is a serious adjustment...just remind your kids that they aren't playing them in football or basketball and to avoid the 'oh, my God, look how big they are' conversations and stick to softball and they move past it quickly.

The biggest piece of advice I would offer is to get your girls in to a fall tournament with as many older teams as you can so they can see it first hand in October, prepare for it all winter and be un-fazed by it come April.

 

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Just went through this...expect to learn patience. From fall ball to the end of July you will see so much improvement in your 00 kids.

things I observed:

pitchers who dominated at 35 feet in 10U had the most dificult adjustment as they were not used to those fastballs getting hit, let alone getting hit hard.

I found that the bigger ball and the 5 feet in pitching distance made the game more offensive. My DD actually struck out less this year and we played a ton of 98 teams.

Outfielders become an intrigual part of the game.

Don't 'assume' the stolen base. Catchers arms are stronger and we played some that had deadly accurate pick off moves to first and third.

But the one thing that I couldn't get over and there is no avoiding it is the the sheer physical maturity between girls with 99 birthdates and 98 birthdates...our girls were 11 or 12 and playing 13 year olds and the puberty, strength and size difference was significant. We played teams that had girls that I swear were 16. :lmao:
it is a serious adjustment...just remind your kids that they aren't playing them in football or basketball and to avoid the 'oh, my God, look how big they are' conversations and stick to softball and they move past it quickly.

The biggest piece of advice I would offer is to get your girls in to a fall tournament with as many older teams as you can so they can see it first hand in October, prepare for it all winter and be un-fazed by it come April.

This is a pretty accurate summary.

I would just say that the larger girls really drive the ball. It makes a huge difference in the game as your OF has to play deeper opening up room between the outfield and infield. I watched about 5 games in a row where I swear I did not see one pass ball at a 12U A tournament. No stolen bases. Scoring is at a premium. And forget about the old 10U offense...walk, steal, steal, pass ball SCORE!. That is pretty much over for the most part. It may happen once a game. But in general do not count on scoring without a hit or bunt. And many teams have very good defense and will get you at first and home.........

 

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What else can I do to help her?

Start off by changing your avatar !

 

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My wife's team has gotten about 10 girls with the fake throw to first and immediately throwing to the SS at 3rd. It works about 70% of the time. If there is no hesitation then you can get almost all the girls. The 3rd or P does not even look they just turn and gun.

The level of D and overall play is awesome. Compared to 10U. Also, most teams have 9 pretty decent players. While at 10U most teams are about 4-5 deep hitting and have a spotty OF. Hard to hide weak players at 12U.

 

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Honor & Glory - nailed it on all aspects. I took a group of very successful 10U girls (42-8) to 12U ball a year ago and we got it *handed* to us more times than not (13-32). We recovered this year and had a very good season.

• In 10U making contact is often "good enough"; 12U you need to drive the ball
• My pitchers in 10U average 2K per inning (or better); now we maybe get 1 per inning.
• Because my pitchers dominated in 10U ball, we could get away with a so-so defense; with more balls in play at 12U it is hard to hide a player in the field.
• Catchers are a lot stronger; I have seen kids nailed at 3B on short passed balls.
• You find some real burners on the base path; we have encountered teams with girls under 3.5 to 1B
• More slappers and bunters even with 2 strikes or 2 outs
• The pitching is alot smarter and more accurate with their pitches

 

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biggest difference is the "speeeeeed" of the game.... the maturity will show in your players that "naturally" get "it" vs those that don't and there is noooo time to think about it when playing top teams. The power of a basic infield hit will blow by a player if they doesn't react muuch quicker than they did at 10u. Mental side of the game is where the focus needs to be upped while the girls figure out how to stop plays that the older 12u's will just do normally. Outfielders must be fast and the good ones have great tracking and ability to nail you at any base vs the games you win off a weaker 10u arm. And a game is neeeeever over till the end at 12u. These kids can play ball and they have more "in" them to not give up and hang up their cleats till the ump says game over.

 

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Summersdad first thing before entering 12u you have to change your avatar to Buckeyes it greatly increases your chances of success.
All above posts are good biggest change is speed of game,pitching,and a good outfield.

 

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Everyone is spot on. We played 12u in fall ball and in a 12u tournament the first week of july. At 10u we are lucky to get 5 innings in pool play due to many big offensive innings. At 12u, every game we played in that tournament went all 7 innings. The speed of the game and dominate catching really limits extended innings. I have a good hitting team, but we seem to make better contact on 12u pitching. The extra distance and a bigger ball seem to add a little confidence. Definitely more slappers, and off speed pitching to get used to. Not a lot of slow change ups like at 10u, more off speed, harder to sit down on and drive, easier to get you on your front foot.

 

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Start off by changing your avatar !

I thought the same thing!!!!!! ;&

Im still laughing at that one!!!

 

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please tell me the jump from 12's to 14's is not as great as 10's to 12's! we moved up to 12s this year and are going right to 14s next year...if it's a similar leap, we're in big trouble. just watchign the 14s though, the pitching doesn't look extremely better. just one small observation...can't speak to anything else.

 

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10u gets your feet wet. 12u It's game-on! There is nowhere to hide on defense. Every team has kids that can drive the ball. The girls arms are much stronger and their bodies are growing at a faster rate at this age. It will definately be an eye-opener. Don't sweat it though. They will "get it" eventually. Every team that moves up from 10u gets that initial shock.