Play Up or Not?

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Play Up or Not?

by Kevin
(Chandler, AZ)

Hi everybody,

My daughter is currently 12u age for upcoming season, playing on a 12u travel team. I have a 14u travel team coach trying to recruit her and says she should move up to 14u. And my daughter is interested.

I must admit, She is very, very good. She led her very good team in batting average, and runs scored this past season. She's a catcher and threw out many runners.

But I'm just not sure if I should let her do this. I kinda feel like it would be throwing her to the wolves, and that she should progress with kids her own age. What if she does not do as well in 14u and loses the awesome confidence she now has? Please help. Need advice.

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Play Up or Not?

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Apr 27, 2010
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Moving on up
by: Anonymous

In the right situation, it can be beneficial. If the coaching is considerably better and could handle maybe some reduced playing time, the only thing left to ponder is her maturity level between the girls ages. My 11 year old played on a decent 13u team that I was able to help coach. She would of been the star on the 11U team, but ended up being the one of the top 5 players on that team and handled it well. I think one has to decide what kind of future in softball they want to have. Maybe college, or just playing for fun. If you want to get better, you have to the attitude to work hard and play with better competition that pushes her limits.

Feb 18, 2008
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moving up
by: Cassie

I am actually in a similar situation with my daughter who is a U10 catcher and a very good player. The U12 team is wanting her to move up. I agree with your feeling about throwing her to the wolves. My daughter's confidence is so high and it makes her a better more competitive player. I see too many kids get moved up and then either don't play as much as they would have, had they stayed down or they surcome to the pressure. The other girls on my daughter's team really use her for inspiration and guidance. I always advise to keep them with their own age group

Jan 21, 2008
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terry t
by: Anonymous

no

Jan 18, 2008
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Play Up
by: bkatona

We currently have a similar situation with our 10 year old who is looking to play up as a 12U....we've heard both sides of what everyone has suggested and are leaning towrd moving her up since she has indictaed to us that is what she prefers to do.

Dec 26, 2007
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Thanks for the input
by: Kevin

I thank you all for your input. It has really made us think. I do agree that should she stay down, she'll be the big kid on the block, although it felt that way last year to her because she did so well at only 11. However, like Crobears said, we can always pull her down if it does not work out.

Ultimately, she has to be happy playing, so I have left the decision up to her, with my guidance, and of course, I'll support her either way. She is leaning heavily toward moving up because she says she would really like the challenge. She knows that the 12u team will welcome her back if she decides 14u is a bit much. Thanks again to all of you for your help.

Dec 26, 2007
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Playing up
by: CroBears

If she feels that she can do it, then let her. All of our local travel teams had filled up, by the time we looked into it. The only team that had openings was an 18u gold. My daughter was 14 and when I inquired about the team I sort of got laughed at. I convinced the coach to let her try out and she beat out three seniors for left field. Her confidence has tripled, it put way above the average on her high school team and I have gotten several positive calls about her for the next level. It's a travel team, so if at anytime you dont feel that she is safe playing with the bigger girls, you can always pull her. Catching is much more prone to physical contact than left field, so you may want to take that into consideration also. That being said, even if your daughter makes the team, if her playing time would be limited, she may be better off playing in her own age bracket.

Dec 25, 2007
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Re: Play Up or Not?
by: Anonymous

I have always been told by those with more experience than I have that playing up is a good thing to do IF the kid is dominating at her current age group.

Dec 25, 2007
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Go for it
by:

If an athlete in any sport is capable of competing at a higher level and has the desire to move up, I feel that they should be given the chance to try. At the same time one should not be forced to move up if they are not comfortable.

Dec 22, 2007
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Keep her down
by: Anonymous

Let her lead the 12U team one more year and gain the experience, confidence and maturity. I have seen several girls make the jump up and not have success. Many no longer play at all after this happened. The biggest issue IMO is the maturity, both physically and mentally. Go into this season knowing she will rip it up and carry two solid years of positive play into 14U next season. Being a catcher, she will benefit from staying down and building her skills. The game is just a bit faster at 14U. I have a 13 y/o who played one season of 12U and had to move up. The game was just enough better that it took her a while to adjust. She is also a catcher and her put outs at 2nd dropped off big time while she got her timing down. That's my opinion! Hope it helps.

Dec 20, 2007
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The big Girl on the block
by: Anonymous

I think you should leav her with her age group.She is now the big kid on the block, who wants to be the little kid on the block.If she plays up she might not get as much playing time as the she would with her own age group. So I say leave her right ware she is at.

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