Why Aren't There More 8U teams?

[BHaines]

Thank you for all of your comments.
"Not all kids in rec want to play. Those that are competitive at a younger age get bored quickly. They want to play with similar skilled or like minded players."
This quote speaks to the reason why we wanted to start the 8U team. I have seen rec teams with 15-16 girls on a single team. Not all of those girls want to be there. Some are trying to learn and love the game and some are picking daisies in the outfield. My daughter plays multiple sports as do many of the girls on our 8u team. Since 8u is still coach pitch, we know that girls are going to get good at bats and not get in the batters box to be walked on base. More active hitting, equals more active fielding. Active fielding means we can focus on the part of the game where the girls can learn to get a runner out at multiple bases, not just 1st base. And "coach pitch" doesn't mean "slow" pitch. We pitch the ball in to the girls flat and fast, just like they will see in kid pitch. Also, most of the girls on the team will play rec ball and travel.

I don't think an 8U travel league has to mean high fees; $500 bats; and too high expectations. 8u tourneys are usually less expensive than the other age groups. Our team fees are under $200 per child and that includes uniforms. I think you can learn the game, have fun and be competitive at 8. I am looking forward to seeing what experiences this experiment will bring. I am looking forward to spending time with my daughter and her friends. And i am looking forward to sharing the love of softball with these young ladies and their families. Now let's all hold hands and sing!!

 

[coachjwb]

BHaines ... please don't take the discussion here as negative towards you and what you're doing. I think there are lots of good points on the pros and cons of this, and you've listed out some great pros! I hope your DD, you and the family truly have a great experience this coming year! Please let us know from time to time as to how it's going.

 

[Louuuuu]

Those that are competitive at a younger age get bored quickly. They want to play with similar skilled or like minded players...

"8U Rec Ball Elite"??



(All kidding aside, you make a good point.)

 

[ofcheat02]

8u is a great introduction into travel ball. I have had my 2 oldest daughters play in some tournaments at 8u and they were "hooked" instantly on the competition level and chose to keep playing travel ball. Rec ball is great, but like Kerry pointed out, some higher skilled kids get bored and want to play with players like them. By the way, 99% of the girls playing in these 8u tournaments are not playing in the dirt. They are impressive to watch! As long as it is done in moderation it can be a good thing.

 

[manitoudan]

The reason ? Fall ball hasnt really kicked in .. as soon as pops realizes Lil Suz isnt batting third and is stuck in the OF there will PLENTY OF 8U TEAMS ... LOL !!!!

 

[FastBat]

I agree there is a delicate balance in playing with in their abilities and the young teams don't need to play "A" or PGF level ball. There is a place for everyone. As long as they are having fun and learning...

I agree with this post. I'm not for or against 8u travel ball or rec., to me it's based on the quality of softball in your own community. I feel some rec softball teams, could beat, some travel teams. And what I consider "rec allstar" teams could beat some very good "travel ball" teams. I never get hung up or that term...it's personal interpretation.

As for 8u "travel" my dd played 3 years, while also playing in her regular season spring "rec ball" league. The first year (6 years old) she went to one tourney, second year more practice and maybe 2 tourney's, and her third year she went to 4 tourney's and winter practices. It was the positive experience she made over the years, that kept her wanting more softball...we both did!

 

[The Dude]

Because the coach still pitches. Save the money, play rec until 10u, and get a lot better there.

 

[brownsfan]

A few years ago, we put together an All-Star Ponytail team to face a local 8U team that played in some tourneys. Our Ponytailers were machine pitched while this team was use to the coach pitch. I think it was really benefictial as our girls never saw the ball leaving hand before and we struggled as first. By the second game, we were hitting the ball much better. When they went back to the machine, it actually helped them slug the ball better.

I think a good combination of rec and travel for 8U is extremely important for the development of our young ladies in this sport.

 

[Bigdog]

I was just curious as to why there aren't more 8U teams? My daughter and several of her rec teammates were interested in playing 8U next summer, but we couldn't find a team for them to play on, so we started our own. The turnout at tryouts was better than we expected and we have a nice team. Now i am hearing that we will have trouble finding 8u tournaments to play in. I was just wondering on people's thoughts as to why this is the case with 8U. Thanks!

The thought of 8U travel Gold Elite Premier teams is crazy to me. Not judging those that support it,..... just saying. This is still very much an "activity" for these kids. Not a competitive sport, but simply an activity. Players skills are so raw at that age that any simple rec league is more than enough experience.

 

[Coach Mike]

There are plenty of tournaments in 8 under when spring comes around. People on here are bashing the 8 under travel ball like it's trash. I personally wish our Roadrunners organization still had that for the foundation. In 8 under as the pitcher or coach in travel ball you teach them a little different than in rec ball. Rec ball you lob the ball in there in hoping Mommy, Daddy, grandparents and everyone else can see them hit Hrs and run around the bases, travel ball as the pitcher I pitched a flat pitch and didn't care if they struck out or not just trying to get them ready for 10 under. I still catch myself wanting to watch the younger girls in 8 under. Enjoy it why you can cause your little DD will be Jr high before you know it. Play in all the Lancaster as they usually have a nice 8 under draw.

 

[Louuuuu]

I wouldn't call it "bashing". I, among others, think that it's unnecessary at such an early age.



And, as for this:

... as the pitcher I pitched a flat pitch and didn't care if they struck out or not just trying to get them ready for 10 under.

Couldn't you do the same thing in Rec? If you explained to the parents what you're trying to accomplish, you'd be hailed as a genius!

 

[twogirlsdad]

Food for thought for the nay sayers: some local rec leagues only supply around 8-12 games over the course of a 6 week season. I can see why someone who has a DD that is in love with the game would like more, as well as the other factors involved with playing on a team where others have the basic skill set, playing with teammates that want to play as opposed to the parents' signing them up for $35 and saying lets try this. Some rec programs just aren't geared for those that truly like the sport. I know our city program wasn't, some of the adjoining areas are better, but many restrict players from outside of the city limits. Personally, we joined a better adjoining community league at that age to get more, and even as good as we had it there, some of those parents' and their daughters were shocked to see what the world of "travel" had to offer and wanted that more. Most of the 8u players do also play rec from my observations here locally, as it is fun to play with school mates and friends at that age.

Rec is only as good as the organization/city hosting it, period. Many have the whole, everyone gets a trophy mentality (no comment to that either way), whether you come to practice or just games, doesn't matter. Anyone with a pulse can coach. Practices are once or twice for an hour a week, and as we had locally, you play one of two teams each week. Shoot, we have base running rules where you couldn't get more than one base, play stops as soon as an infielder has control of the ball and raises there hand in the air. Those that like the sport such as my daughters, are at a huge disadvantage when they realize there is more out there wasting away two years getting less than 20 hours of instruction a season. Luckily, we learned of the other rec programs and travel programs quickly and were able to provide something that has been more fruitful to their growth. I can honestly say, had we have stayed rec only, they wouldn't have enjoyed softball, flat out.

 

[alborules]

Let me preface my comments with this: I coached 8u "travel" ball for 4 years, and Rec ball for 2 years with 3 different daughters.
There are multiple reasons that there are few 8u teams. Here are a few:

1 - The number 1 reason, believe it or not, is our weather. In the southern states they get teams traveling through TN, GA, AL, FL, TX to big tournaments all winter long for maybe 1 weekend a month...and still have time for the girls to play basketball the other 3 to 4 weekends a month. In our area, not many want to practice all winter (or have the facility) without being able to play OR don't want to take away time from winter sports.
2 - The number 2 reason is many parents believe 8u is too early to be in a travel sport, so they won't even look into it. They hear travel and think, "$2000 a year fees and 14 weekends of hotel bills".
3 - The number 3 reason is many parents see the 8u teams that have "$2000 fees and the 14 weekends of hotel bills"...or that's the impression they get from the ultra competitive 8u programs.
4 - The number 4 reason is some of the parents don't believe (or even realize) that softball exists outside of April to July, so they miss or ignore the late summer tryout notices.
5 - Sometimes the parents already have 1 or 2 daughters that are in their 2nd to 10th year in travel ball, and they don't have the ability to be in 3 cities per weekend, and understand that if they start at 10u it's not too late.


I might have missed a few really good reasons, but I think I got most. I worked my butt off to get my 8u teams scrimmages, tournaments, and friendlies. I know there are the hardcore 8u's and there are "we are better than the rec" teams; it is a diverse age group.

Allan Abel
Wizards Nemesis

 

[lewam3]

I was going to post something in the order of 8yo kids being 2nd and 3rd graders, and how on earth can their physical development be advanced enough to play a game of softball especially good enough to travel and play in tournaments. second graders? seriously? and then I saw this... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfrDBhCNpX8

 

[stringbat7]

Somewhere in Lancaster, I bet there is a 8u coaching "legend" lol'ing at this thread....in some places, 8u is serious "business", literally! Some people are so out of touch that they are willing to crush a 7 yr olds self esteem and destroy friendships at the cost of a little "hardware"......Unbelievable!