10-U Nor Cal Teams

[triplecrown]

10's should be about teaching the kids the game, nothing more. Keep the costs down, dont go crazy on travel.Find yourself a coach that truly KNOWS the game and allows the kids to enjoy learning. Other than that wins and losses no one cares about except some of the parents and maybe a few over zealous coaches.

[moose105]

I agree, but it's not that way and if you go into the season with that mentality you with get your butt kicked. I'm sorry to say no matter how much you teach fundamentals and try to have fun getting your butt kicked is no fun for parents or players. I've been on boths end of the spectrum before.

10's are becoming more competetive these days. By 9's a girl better have fundamentals learned or she won't make any team.

[CrushersDad]

By 9's a girl better have fundamentals learned or she won't make any team.

really? Oh Crap, I better pull my kid toot-sweet!

[PitchersDad99]

10's are becoming more competetive these days.

I can guarantee that the 10U players aren't. It is the parents and coaches who are.

By 9's a girl better have fundamentals learned or she won't make any team.

You have not been around that age group for a very long time. There are kids who develop some skills early and everyone is impressed. Then two years later, the kid who could not catch, throw or hit is blowin' doors on the other kids. While the kids who were so impressive are playing club soccer and could care less about softball.

Most kids will know what they are capable of when they get to be around 13 or 14 years old. After that it is time to hone their skills and plan for their future.

The kids in 10U are still learning if they even like softball.

I say let them learn with a smile and not have worry about some other kid taking their spot on the field/team. Give them room to grow.

[triplecrown]

Let me reiterate, IF you are able to find a coach that can teach proper fundamentals at 10's, the wins will be a byproduct, but it should not be about wins/losses, it should be exposing the 8/9yr olds to the game of softball, nothing more nothing less. I see too many people getting caught up in the b.s. of going for the throat at 9yrs old and it gives kids a bad taste, cmon people let the little ones enjoy the game while they are learning, it gets serious enough quick enough, geez

The problem I see is way to much chirping and not enough truly teaching the game, and I understand that at 10's you are going to have quite a few dads coaching that really cant teach the game, well when Suzy boots one or Sally goes down swinging at one over her head, encourage them and dont yell at them or give them bad body language, as they truly are trying what you have been hopefully teaching them. Dont get me wrong there are a lot of good dads that really understand this, but the bad apples really stand out and it is very discouraging.

[Blind Squirrel]

By 9's a girl better have fundamentals learned or she won't make any team.

I sure hope that doesn't apply retroactively.

I'm confused. First it was the blue that said college players don't know the fundamentals and now this.

Nutless in Burbank

[Cheeto]

All the focus should be on the girls and their development. We are talking 8-10 year olds. Parents need to get a grip on it all and quit living "THRU" their daughters. I actually enjoy watching a 10U game occasionally. It reminds me of the "fun" the girls used to have. The smiles, laughter, helmets to big, knee pads going from the ankles to their thigh. I guess its easier now to look back and remember those times. Parents won't allow for their dd to have fun and enjoy it. Its about now, why are you smiling, crap like that blows my mind.

[moose105]

I agree with everyone on this topic, but my point was this; if your daughter at age 10 or even 9 does not know basic fundamentals don't tell me that they will make a team like AASA, Grapettes, Mayhem, or even any other 10's. And if they do, you and the team will go through major growings pains by losing and that's no fun. You learn fundamentals in rec and continue them in travel, but they still have to be advance with those skills. I've been around softball for decades and I've never seen a team having a great time losing by the run rule everytime.

I agree traveling out of state is crazy for ten's but that's the way it is now days. It's kind of like technology, get with it or fall behind. Girls at any age can lose or gain interest.

Yes, parents are the main reason why 10's and 12's are really competetive, but once again those are the times.

For those of you who want their daughters to learn fundamentals in travel great idea and good luck, but they need to have some fundamentals under their belts. If not they will be watching from the sidelines or dugout.

[Tenshun]

i bet a lot of girls with poor fundamentals make the 10u teams of top organizations. and not sure about your rec league, but the league my DD came from was no great haven of fundamental instruction.

at the younger ages, the most fundamental team doesn't always win. often times, it is the girls that have physically matured first or the team that has the naturally better athletes that determines who wins....

[triplecrown]

I agree with everyone on this topic, but my point was this; if your daughter at age 10 or even 9 does not know basic fundamentals don't tell me that they will make a team like AASA, Grapettes, Mayhem, or even any other 10's. And if they do, you and the team will go through major growings pains by losing and that's no fun. You learn fundamentals in rec and continue them in travel, but they still have to be advance with those skills. I've been around softball for decades and I've never seen a team having a great time losing by the run rule everytime.


I think maybe the parents may have some growing pains, 8/9 yr olds are still learning how to properly brush their teeth


I agree traveling out of state is crazy for ten's but that's the way it is now days. It's kind of like technology, get with it or fall behind. Girls at any age can lose or gain interest.

Really it has evolved into this, thats news to me. Most top programs up until recently did not even have 10's



[b]Yes, parents are the main reason why 10's and 12's are really competetive, but once again those are the times.

Dont put 10's with 12's. Shoot I know one top 12's team that really could make some noise, and they are not even going to Nationals this Summer because they have finally realized, does it really matter in the grand scheme

For those of you who want their daughters to learn fundamentals in travel great idea and good luck, but they need to have some fundamentals under their belts. If not they will be watching from the sidelines or dugout.

Damn, so any kid that does not have fundamentals but is a gifted athlete (hard to say at 9yrs old but), stay away from 10U TB, cmon man seriously those are the kids at 9yrs old Im looking for, raw talented little ones!