Why are some athletes better @ 10U & 12U?

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This is something that I seem to notice more as I get an opportunity to see girls grow up and move onto different age divisions. Some girls are excepional at the younger age divisions but their skills seem to deminish, or does the learning curve stop when the get into the older age divisions. I don't see this as much with boys. Is it just me, or do others see this as well?

 

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I've found that some girls mature early and will "dominate" until early 13U when everyone else starts to catch up. ?Unfortunately, many of these earlier "superior" athletes at that point have developed a relience upon being physically more mature and lost their work ethic, and therefore tend to fade as the later maturing athlete with a better work ethic catches up and continues to work hard.

 

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I have seen some girls with good work ethics still fall behind as they get older. It almost seems as though their priorities change even when the parents are encouraging them to continue to work hard.

 

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My dd was recently at volley ball conditioning (going into 7th grade) she is 5 foot 8 inches tall and a stocky girl. The highschool basketball coach (that of which was a teacher of mine years ago) stopped to talk to me and saw my daughter and asked about her. I told him that she is a bit clumsy. He told me that the girls that are "clumsy" at her age most of the time turn out to be the best athletes and the ones that set fires with the athletic ability young tend to fizzle out by high school. He offered no reason, he just stated what he had noticed in the 30 years he coached basketball and track.

 

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I have noticed this as well. I have thought that the girls that had all the talent when younger simply coasted until they were passed up. I have also watched as these girls have physically and mentally matured and that leaves me scratching my head.

Girls tend to bulk up, but few truly put it on as muscle, as they transition from 12u to 14u, not to mention the hormones that play heck with them at this time (and beyond). I think that life priorities tend to change as they get older, whereas boys tend to get more serious about their athletics. Just my $.02.

 

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?I think that life priorities tend to change as they get older, whereas boys tend to get more serious about their athletics. Just my $.02.

Girls priorities change to BOYS! ?;D

 

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Girls priorities change to BOYS! ;D

;D Definitely have seen that too!

 

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the boy thing does effect many but a lot of players just peak early. ? i have a 21 year old son and watched the same thing happen as he went through his sports experience. ? so many ?players boys and girls who dominate a young age just disappear by high school age. ? ?a lot has to do with the physical developement ?of the player. ? boys and girls change physically and many times it is not in a way that helps them in athletics. ?

 

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Boys and girls whose sexual maturity index (SMI) is off the charts at 10, 11, 12 most often ignore and are allowed to ignore the development of imperative skills.
They are soo productive (not talented) because of their huge size advantage that the coach allows it and the young athlete is lulled into a false sense of security.
When the light bulb goes on, it's simply too darn late to make up the lost time.
Colleges recruit skill-laden players who have tools, not tool-laden players with minimal skills.
Just returning from the 12U ASA nationals in Indiana, I was stunned by the size of most of the SoCal teams. My eldest daughter played four years in the Big Ten -- the American Athletics were bigger across the board than some of the teams she played against.

 

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I know from personal experience we have had girls at the age of 10 that were the "studs" BUT the girls that have been diggin it out, playing hard have met or overcome them. Part of it is parents and their egos feeding into the kids. The kids become uncoachable and will not listen to ways to improve. In there minds they are still the studs and no one can touch them.

I'll give that kid up any day for a kid who still sees goals to reach not for themselves but for their team.

Nothing better then taking a kid that no one wants to put the time into, then have them recruited the next year by so many to other organizations. What they choose to do is up to them, but a I haven't been told yet it was the right move (from one of my kids). Still love them and support them no matter where they are. The rest are loyal and could not be happier.

Sometimes you have to cut the rope, which I hate to do but I am a coach and the team is my concern. one for ten or more or less is my responsibility.

I'll catch as many up as I can! That is my job!

 

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ram you have a good point many times parents convince their kid that they are the greatest at a young age and in inhibits them from progressing because they become uncoachable. ? you can read this in many threads espousing the the greatness of U8/U10 teams and/or players. ? you just don't know until you reach the U16 age level.

 

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I think also alot of girls become one deminsional and only play one or two positions because their parents want them to be the "studs" on the team. It is much more productive to their learning process to play and learn all of the positions, infield & outfield. I hear alot of girls say "I don't want to play the outfield, it's to boring" (including my daughter) and then when they are asked to do it, they don't put forth the effort to learn the positions and become good, productive outfielders. My daughter at an early age only wanted to be a catcher, but joined some teams where she wasn't the #1 catcher and had to learn other positions. Now getting ready to start high school she is a much more rounded athlete and can play 3 or 4 different positions, including the outfield. The other thing that has helped alot is playing other sports. When they get older they should concentrate on one sport. I see alot of coaches post on here "I need a shortstop or a catcher" instead of "I need an good ahtlete" for next years team. Good coaches will recognize a good athlete and develop them for many positions. It is not good for "Little Sally" just to be the star pitcher or catcher or shortstop. Just my observation..... :