Spazsdad wrote:OSD wrote:There has been lots of discussion about it, now we just need the PGF leaders to make it happen. How about it guys? All the second year 14U pitchers feel like they need to move up to 16U(43ft.) to get ready for High School. Even if ASA has too much red tape to prevent it, at least the PGF leaders should do it! It will keep some of the better 14U eligible pitchers down in the age group where they belong. And while you're at it, metal cleats should be allowed in 14U also. They wear them in High School. It seems both these issues are making the second year 14U players "play down", why not just let the first year players play with "big girl" cleats and distances?
Maybe Uno could make us a poll, so the PGF leaders can see that the majority of us parents/coaches want 14U at 43ft. and part 2 of the poll being a yes or no to metal cleats. Thanks in advance Uno!
Not all the players in 14u are in HS. Why does an 8th grader need to be throwing at 43'? If they "belong" in the 14u age group then play the appropriate rules. If they feel they are somehow being held back by having to wear molded cleats and pitch at 40' then they should move up. Why are people in such a hurry to make thier kids "big girls"?
Pitching at 40' for a tournament is not going to kill the prospects of any young pitcher, just look at all the colleges at 14u PGF and ASA. When ASA went to 43' and HS was still 40' nobody was complaining about how it was detrimental to the pitchers.
Not all the players in 14u are in HS. Why does an 8th grader need to be throwing at 43'? If they "belong" in the 14u age group then play the appropriate rules. If they feel they are somehow being held back by having to wear molded cleats and pitch at 40' then they should move up. Why are people in such a hurry to make thier kids "big girls"?
Pitching at 40' for a tournament is not going to kill the prospects of any young pitcher, just look at all the colleges at 14u PGF and ASA. When ASA went to 43' and HS was still 40' nobody was complaining about how it was detrimental to the pitchers.
AM Softball wrote:This may be a bit off topic but has anyone thought of changing the age divisions instead of changing these types of rules?
I am just throwing it out for discussion but maybe it would be better to divide by grade instead of age. HS (12/11), ?? (10/9), ?? (8/7), ?? (6,5), ?? (4,3). Obviously you could play up but not down. I just think kids starting on Varsity teams really should not be playing 14u so this is one possible solution.
That would avoid the college player issue because they aren't in 12th grade and would truly divide the divisions into a better foundation based on the rules they play with in HS and to prepare for college. You could keep the 7/8 at 40 feet and make the 9-12th pitch from 43 and also allow the HS kids to wear metal cleats.
Just a thought.
Interesting concept, but what happens when you get a 17yr old sophmore that throws 65?
ssarge wrote:Interesting concept, but what happens when you get a 17yr old sophmore that throws 65?
About the same thing that happened in 14U Premier, when we faced a pitcher throwing 63.
From 40 feet.
Regards,
Scott
Where is that pitcher headed?
AM Softball wrote:This may be a bit off topic but has anyone thought of changing the age divisions instead of changing these types of rules?
I am just throwing it out for discussion but maybe it would be better to divide by grade instead of age. HS (12/11), ?? (10/9), ?? (8/7), ?? (6,5), ?? (4,3). Obviously you could play up but not down. I just think kids starting on Varsity teams really should not be playing 14u so this is one possible solution.
That would avoid the college player issue because they aren't in 12th grade and would truly divide the divisions into a better foundation based on the rules they play with in HS and to prepare for college. You could keep the 7/8 at 40 feet and make the 9-12th pitch from 43 and also allow the HS kids to wear metal cleats.
Just a thought.