12u Fall Teams to watch

[neighborsherry]

Ok Tension - I'm going to be in Stockton this weekend to watch some friends play. What other 12u teams have talent worth watching. Any suggestions on 12u who's who to watch?

[lookingIN]

Mizuno- Garcia has a great team. They looked good on Saturday. RR of course, and a surprise team- Crusaders. You have already seen D-mar and Grapettes-Norwood.

[neighborsherry]

I didn't see those teams play. Overall I wasn't impressed with the level of play in the 12's. Seems like most of the talented teams in 12u moved up to 14's and left a void for quality ball in 12's.

[Tenshun]

Were you watching 12s or 14s? I think Mizuno and RR were both playing 14s.

Fall ball is so much less intense than the regular season that I really only use it to get a glimpse into what the teams might look like when spring comes. Other than that it's hard to take it too seriously, with kids taking the season off or doing other sports, teams in transition or just trying to work on a few things.

[catchers_rock]

I agree that a lot of the talent moved up. I have been noticing every team has 1-3 real good player and the rest look like they Just moved up from 10u. But that is what fall is for, to get the younger ones up to speed. It would be nice to get all the good ones together and create a dream team .

[Momo's Dad]

Sorry about the void in 12u fall ball, but if it's true, that actually bodes well for our region's future if a higher percentage of girls are choosing to remain in rec through 10u instead of joining daddyball teams as soon as they turn 9. Sometimes, less is more, even if you don't see it right away.

[neighborsherry]

Sorry about the void in 12u fall ball, but if it's true, that actually bodes well for our region's future if a higher percentage of girls are choosing to remain in rec through 10u instead of joining daddyball teams as soon as they turn 9. Sometimes, less is more, even if you don't see it right away.

I couldn't DISAGREE with you more. Rec ball is the appitamy of daddyball. For girls that are talented and love the game of softball, I don't think they can get out of the rec ball system soon enough and join a competitive program. The sooner they can see better pitching, etc. the better. In the rec system even including 10u and 12u, there is very little semblance of the game even played with the lack of pitching, hitting and defense.
Regarding your implication that the 10u travel teams are all about daddyball, again I couldn't disagree more. Granted that is the case in some circumstances, but from what I have seen, most coaches are more concnered with winning than anything else. Not that that's a good thing either.
From what I saw this weekend at 12's, there wasn't enough of the girls that had any significant travel ball experience. It appeard to me that most teams were filled with girls right out of the rec system.

[Momo's Dad]

Sorry about the void in 12u fall ball, but if it's true, that actually bodes well for our region's future if a higher percentage of girls are choosing to remain in rec through 10u instead of joining daddyball teams as soon as they turn 9. Sometimes, less is more, even if you don't see it right away.

I couldn't DISAGREE with you more. Rec ball is the appitamy of daddyball. For girls that are talented and love the game of softball, I don't think they can get out of the rec ball system soon enough and join a competitive program. The sooner they can see better pitching, etc. the better. In the rec system even including 10u and 12u, there is very little semblance of the game even played with the lack of pitching, hitting and defense.
Regarding your implication that the 10u travel teams are all about daddyball, again I couldn't disagree more. Granted that is the case in some circumstances, but from what I have seen, most coaches are more concnered with winning than anything else. Not that that's a good thing either.
From what I saw this weekend at 12's, there wasn't enough of the girls that had any significant travel ball experience. It appeard to me that most teams were filled with girls right out of the rec system.

The tone of your post epitomizes what is wrong in so much of our society. Assuming you're a parent, attitudes like that are crippling an entire generation by teaching kids to undervalue progression. Too many people want it now, instead of being patient and working through a reasonable progression for it.

Speaking in softball terms, a talented player shines in 8u. Then in 10u, that same player is rewarded by having a chance to play in the competitive All-star season. Winterball is also available for both age groups to give them a competitive softball experience without the full-time commitment of an 'A' TB program. There's far less bang for the dollar - and hour of time invested - in jumping right to TB from 8u. Think about the former 10u studs you knew who are out of the game before 16u. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but allowing the kids to go through the progression from rec, to competitive rec, to All-stars, then into TB serves both them AND future softball players better than 'getting out of rec' ASAP, as you are prescribing.

There are kids who won't get much out of 10u rec. I admit that. But by the same token, too many kids have been pulled out of rec too quickly over the past several years. I hope the tide is changing, because that's going to mean more GOOD players getting into TB at 12u and 14u and hopefully staying in softball longer.

[neighborsherry]

Generally speaking, I agree with some of your points. My girls are older now, with the oldest just finishing college and the youngest just beginning. From my experience, and to make an over generalized statement, the girls that wait too long to get in to TB often end up being too far behind to catch up to the middle to top level players.
As far as your comment about my tone being the problem with society. Wow! That's a bit much. I might argue that overly emotional people that make much to do from nothing contribute to greater social issues than whatever tone you may have perceived.

[AdmittedBias]

Rec ball is the appitamy of daddyball. For girls that are talented and love the game of softball, I don't think they can get out of the rec ball system soon enough and join a competitive program. The sooner they can see better pitching, etc. the better.

Until they get dads out of the dugout in TB, there will be daddy ball going on in TB just like rec ball. Sad but true. Although the pitching is better.