Is your infield set?

[Alice]

Having watched several top teams this summer (12U) battle it out, I was careful to notice if these highly competitive teams rotated their infield. They did not. It was really cool to see how these players, especially at this young age, worked together to get the job done. A well oiled machine. Very few errors and they seemed to all play with a lot of confidence. It is obvious watching teams that do rotate players in and out of different positions. Errors all over the place.

Do you think you need to have a set infield in order to be competitive? Or are there teams that have been successful rotating players in and out of different positions?

I am talking 12u. I am sure the opinions will be different as the girls get older.

[GO REBS]

I think its best for the players and the team for each girl to have a primary position. I feel the girls should play in this position most of the time including pool games. The only exception would be catchers and pitchers.
I have watched coaches who rotate the girls during pool games and then put them in there primary positions for bracket games. The girls just dont seem to gel with the rest of there infielders and outfielders.

GO REBS

[Alice]

Thanks Go Rebs. I completely agree.

How do you work the girls on bench in to the game?

[anonlooker]

I think its best for the players and the team for each girl to have a primary position. I feel the girls should play in this position most of the time including pool games. The only exception would be catchers and pitchers.
I have watched coaches who rotate the girls during pool games and then put them in there primary positions for bracket games. The girls just dont seem to gel with the rest of there infielders and outfielders.

GO REBS

This may be true in a perfect world where:

the bench players love playing the bench, (and their parents love paying to watch them play there );

and nobody on your starting infield ever gets hurt, or misses a game.

But we don't live in a perfect world, so come nationals, one twisted ankle and you're going sightseeing for next rest of the week, all the while muttering "We coulda been a contendah!!"

[Ace]

IMO: The object is to limit the number of players playing out of position. Example: Center fielder is a good third baseman, utility#1 is ok third baseman, ok center fielder. If I put her in center field, and center at third, I have two players out of position, instead of subbing utility right into third and leaving center do do a good job. Its not just making the play, but anticipating the "next" play that makes teams play like a team, instead of a bunch of good athletes. We do a good job of getting players pt, (if they deserve it) but I wont shoot the team in its collective foot to do so.
I'm just saying....

[GO REBS]

This may be true in a perfect world where:

the bench players love playing the bench, (and their parents love paying to watch them play there );

and nobody on your starting infield ever gets hurt, or misses a game.

But we don't live in a perfect world, so come nationals, one twisted ankle and you're going sightseeing for next rest of the week, all the while muttering "We coulda been a contendah!!"

Ill rotate players but not at every position. Sometimes against WEAKER teams be it pool games or 1st round bracket games. This can help when someone is injured as someone always is.

I do prefer to have set players in there positions against the better teams. Even in pool games the experience against the better teams can give them experience and confidence. I dont mind experimenting sometimes in pool games, but only for an inning or two.

Some coaches feel that rotating and experimenting with players in different positions in pool games is not big deal. They feel that is what pool games are for. I personally feel that even losing pool games can affect the girls confidence and there thought process in a negative manner.

GO REBS

GO REBS

[Tucson]

Sometimes 3rd and SS just don't play another position. I personally think that all infielders should be able to play OF, but again maybe C and 3rd aren't cut out to do that.

My DD pitched but I know that at some point in HS, she played every position but catcher. She was an excellent LF and 1st baseman.

If she had only pitched she would have been done by age 16 because of a shoulder injury.

So, I think it depends on whether your goals are winning games at 12U or developing the girls to be athletes.

Many of the girls recruited at the AZ. universities end up playing a different position than what they were recruited for.

[ocdad]

I think a lot of that will depend on the personnel that you have. Some girls have the capacity to play multi-positions & be successful & others have a hard time remembering all the responsibilities from position to position. If you have 2 girls that can play a good SS then I will rotate, not necessarily in game substitution, but from game to game that way the girl can get settled in for the game. But if you are doing this for the girls then it is best to have them be able to play multi-positions, because if by some miracle that she stays with you for her whole travel carreer she will still have a different high school coach & hopefully college coach. So give her the tools to earn a starting spot at an open position that team has.

There is no one answer to fit all, but I think most common thing for tournaments is getting most of your players playing time during pool play, so long as it will not create a defensive hole. Then just playing your top 9 or 10 (DP/Flex) in their primary positions until you are out.

[dallasfungo]

In the long run you do a disservice to the players if you don't put them in different positions, especially in the younger age groups. They need to understand how to play the game, not just one position. When a college coach asks them where they can play the answer should be "wherever you need me, coach." Don't deprive them of that in a quest to win $5 trophies in October and March. There are only two tournaments that matter IMHO: the national qualifier and nationals. Every other tournament should be about development. And, as was noted in an earlier post, you will have a short stay at nationals if you don't have flexibility to move players and change your line-up.

Go Kruzers!

[artomatic]

In the long run you do a disservice to the players if you don't put them in different positions, especially in the younger age groups. They need to understand how to play the game, not just one position. When a college coach asks them where they can play the answer should be "wherever you need me, coach." Don't deprive them of that in a quest to win $5 trophies in October and March. There are only two tournaments that matter IMHO: the national qualifier and nationals. Every other tournament should be about development. And, as was noted in an earlier post, you will have a short stay at nationals if you don't have flexibility to move players and change your line-up.

^^^yeah, that^^^