Girls fastpitch softball anyone else invovled?

[Tig]

Read your league mission statement. If your not comfortable with it, stay away. There are aways alternatives.

In the case of Little League, the mission statement is very clear.

"Little League Baseball, Incorporated is a non-profit organization whose mission is to "promote, develop, supervise, and voluntarily assist in all lawful ways, the interest of those who will participate in Little League Baseball and Softball."

Through proper guidance and exemplary leadership, the Little League program assists*children in developing the qualities of citizenship, discipline, teamwork and physical well-being. By espousing the virtues of character, courage and loyalty, the Little League Baseball and Softball program is designed to develop superior citizens rather than superior athletes."

The Mission of Little League

 

[dmccarty]

Read your league mission statement. If your not comfortable with it, stay away. There are aways alternatives.
...

Exactly. We have leagues where everyone plays and others leagues where only the best players get on the team. This is for the same same age groups.

Later,
Dan

 

[LazySusanFarms]

I am not much a fan of everyone getting a trophy either. I remember when I played little league we actually had cuts! If you weren't good enough you got cut. That would go over like a lead baloon now in little league.

All three of my girls played varsity sports (lacrosse, softball and soccer) and sports have changed since we were kids. If your daughter has the frame of mind to enjoy softball AND train hard then you should, within appropriate bounds, allow her to see if she can compete at her full potential. Your role in all of this is to keep her head level and don't over do it.

By the time middle school rolls around, good softball players, especially pitchers, will be asked to play on better and better teams, including guest playing. This will include a lot of travel but if your daughter enjoys it then your job is to keep her feet planted on the ground. All of my girls had wonderful experiences playing sports in high school and two could have played in college (softball and soccer). Your job is to guide her and give advice. Don't overcommit her to things and allow her to burn herself out. When the time comes to hang up the cleats, be there to help her make the decision.

As to pulling her in the game, it completely depends on her frame of mind. If she continues to play into high school, she will need the experience of always putting forth her best efforts regardless of the score.

Have fun and enjoy it with her. Its a great time to be alive.

 

[MossRoad]

The absolute worst for us was playing a nearby city in 10U girls basketball. We had a weak team to begin with that year, but had a couple better players out for a school event, so went through a game getting pounded. Was sad to see the other coach would only put her weak players in for the minimum allowed time (3 minutes) and kept pounding us with her best 5 players. At the end of the 4th qtr they were up 32-2 on us and with 13 seconds left in the game called a time out instead of letting the clock run so she could get her players refocused.

I talked to her later on and told her I didn't appreciate it one bit. She said I had to call the time out, my girls were getting frustrated because the refs weren't calling anything. I said your girls were getting frustrated? Think about mine. The refs stopped calling so much to let the clock run because this game was over in the 1st quarter. She still didn't get it. Some people never will.

Well, I've been on the other end of that situation a couple times. My daughter was the 11th girl on a very, very good grade school team for 5 years. Scores of 45-4 were not uncommon. Our coach would get a 15-0 point lead (which any coach can tell you can quickly disolve), put in his least skilled players, and then make the girls pass the ball at least 10 times before anyone could take a shot. This gives the other team a chance to work on their defense. However, a game of keep-away with the intention of not running up the score quickly turns into a frustrated defense slapping the heck out of you in frustration. So, your players make many, many trips to the foul line. A 15-0 point game with 35 fouls in a 24 minute (6 minute quarters) game soon turns into a 45-4 beating that takes 2 hours.... a slow, slow, painful beating. And for some reason the other teams' parents are booing your kids every time they step up to the free throw line??? Yikes! You can't tell your kids to miss free throws on purpose. You can tell them to not drive on the oponents, don't press on the inbounds. Keep your hands up and out and don't steal. But do rebound. Do break a press (an act of aggression) and do pass the ball around instead of taking the shots. Don't give it away. But don't rub it in their face.

 

[Tig]

I'm a fan of the mercy rule in baseball. If the game is over, let the kids go home.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm a fan of the mercy rule in baseball. If the game is over, let the kids go home.

Ya! We had a 10 run rule after 4 innings. If a team is ahead by 10 or more after 4 innings the game is over. Many a time when our kids were down by 12-13 going into the 4th and all the parents were secretly praying they wouldn't get a hit just to end the dang game!.... :laughing: Then some determined little girls come up and pound 4 runs and you have to play 3 more innings and you still lose by nine.... ahhhhh! :laughing:

But then again, its good to see them hang in there and make a defensive stand. After games like that, you can tell the girls that we should ignore the first 3-4 innings and concentrate on everything they did right those last 3-4 innings when they held the other team scoreless..... turn that lemon into lemonade any chance you get! :thumbsup: