Size of players relative to performance

[Scorekeeper]

The underlying theme seems to be "She's not that good, she's just tall". Sigh, hear it all the time.

Its just something people like us talk about because chances are our kids have advanced much further into the “funnel”. But talk about it with a parent who sees his/her child only get minimum PT because their kid is the smallest on the team. Even if it isn’t true and there’s other reasons, the size thing is what’s seen by everyone and why prejudices start.

It’s a very complicated issue and I understand that. But like it or not, biases do exist. A player is tall so its off to play 1st base. A player is short, so its off to play 2nd. A player is fast, so its to the leadoff spot to bat and center field for defense. A player is the coach’s child so it SS and batting in the middle of the lineup.

 

[James Smith]

Pick DD out .... hint player to her left is slumping down so she doesn’t look so short. (By the way that is her MS C, always looking after DD . Really nice kid.)




I was a little worried about her trying out for her MS SB Team, they didn’t care she was a little on the small side.

 

[MNDad]

Its just something people like us talk about because chances are our kids have advanced much further into the “funnel”. But talk about it with a parent who sees his/her child only get minimum PT because their kid is the smallest on the team. Even if it isn’t true and there’s other reasons, the size thing is what’s seen by everyone and why prejudices start.

It’s a very complicated issue and I understand that. But like it or not, biases do exist. A player is tall so its off to play 1st base. A player is short, so its off to play 2nd. A player is fast, so its to the leadoff spot to bat and center field for defense. A player is the coach’s child so it SS and batting in the middle of the lineup.

I understand your point, but tall kids get stereotyped too. We went through it with hearing DD was too tall or not athletic enough etc, etc. Some parents will look for anything they can to shoot down others trying to make their kids look better.

The main bias I saw at the younger ages though were coaches kids are always P, C, SS, or 1B and bat 1-4. DD wasn't even allowed to pitch at 10U and was relegated to B teams all through association ball.

 

[Scorekeeper]

…I was a little worried about her trying out for her MS SB Team, they didn’t care she was a little on the small side.

And that’s the way it should be!

 

[Scorekeeper]

I understand your point, but tall kids get stereotyped too. We went through it with hearing DD was too tall or not athletic enough etc, etc. Some parents will look for anything they can to shoot down others trying to make their kids look better.

Sure they do! But when you get right down to it, the bias isn’t because of being too tall or too short, but for not being “normal”, and that’s what makes it so hurtful to those who experience it.

The main bias I saw at the younger ages though were coaches kids are always P, C, SS, or 1B and bat 1-4. DD wasn't even allowed to pitch at 10U and was relegated to B teams all through association ball.

That’s prolly the bias most people will notice because its so obvious. After all, every team has a coach or two and almost every team until you get to high $$$$$ club teams or school teams has at least one coach’s kid on the team.

 

[Vertigo]

The underlying theme seems to be "She's not that good, she's just tall". Sigh, hear it all the time.

In the case of our 10U player who was the size of a high-schooler and looked like one? Yeah, that absolutely was the case.

My DD is the tallest girl on our team now at 11U - I certainly hope that she continues to grow like she is - she is not even close to being developed physically, yet, so I don't think she'll slow down any time, soon. It has only been to her advantage both as a pitcher and a hitter to be tall, and she gets noticed before she even pitches or hits the ball.

 

[wichita]

The underlying theme seems to be "She's not that good, she's just tall". Sigh, hear it all the time.

And this is exactly the kids that major colleges are looking for .....all i know and I'm positive there are exceptions but I would rather have a smaller kid with range than a kid that is just tall and doesn't have as much range. But IMO it will never change.

 

[MNDad]

And this is exactly the kids that major colleges are looking for .....all i know and I'm positive there are exceptions but I would rather have a smaller kid with range than a kid that is just tall and doesn't have as much range. But IMO it will never change.

I was pointing out one of the asinine comments I hear about my daughter. I wasn't expecting anyone to actually agree with the idea that tall kids aren't any good!

 

[Elk Grove Hurricane]

No doubt, size matters to a lot of coaches. I see teams who have no shorter players all the time, and two friends told me that their daughters were turned down from a travel ball squad because they were too small (No idea if that was an excuse given to them, though). And it's a real perception, the good, taller players do get noticed before good, shorter players. I've never heard a tall kid called scrappy, or described as "all heart," or lauded for being an over-achiever. Shorter kids get those labels, and while they are well-intentioned compliments, it almost seems like they diminish the real talent that shorter kids have. I remind my kids (who inherited dad's height) that Pedroia is my height and still wins MVP awards.

 

[Bugoozi]

My daughter just turned 13 and is just over 6 ft tall. I personally love her height. It has taken what seems like forever for her to grow into her body. Shorter kids seem to have real good agility at an earlier age. My dd looked like a fawn sometimes. Strength and conditioning training has helped tremendously. I think anyone walking through a softball tournament wants to know how fast the "tall girl" pitches. There are mostly average sized girls so when there is a taller girl she stands out. I think at the older ages 16 and up the taller girls do outperform the shorter girls on average. There are some exceptions but the taller girls have longer levers and and more strength just because of their size. All girls need to work hard to become a great athlete.