Need advice regarding my daughters position

[Kirby34]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and was looking for some advice.

A quick history on my kid: She is 9 years old and has played 4 years already and moving up to 10u next season. We had a good allstar team last season and she mainly played SS and was the #2 pitcher but pitched only about 10% of the time in all stars. Now she doesn't want to pitch next season (her confidence is low). She is athletic, hits good (2nd or 3rd batter) in all stars and is fast. She is medium size but built more like a middle infielder.

I guess my question is what position should we focus on? She now wants to try catcher (she has a good arm) and I m not sure if we should continue working on pitching. I know how much work it takes to be an elite pitcher and didn't really want to waste time with pitching if it's not a good fit for her (as the same with catcher). She likes playing SS also.

Is she too young for me to start thinking of this? Just don't want to look back and wish I did something differently regarding her development.

Thanks.

 

[Eric F]

First of all...Welcome to DFP!!

At this age, especially, I think it's most important to build a "ballplayer" - someone who can play every IF and OF spot effectively. This is not only about developing the mechanical skills of hitting, fielding, throwing, and catching, but also about improving the understanding of the game, no matter where they are on the field.

That said, if your DD has an interest in continuing with pitching and/or catching, this is also a good time to start putting in some focused time into improving the specific skills of those positions, each of which require hard work and dedication. This work, though, should be in ADDITION to her development of the rest of her skills on the field.

As a coach, one-dimensional players can be challenging. Last year, there was a 2nd-year 10U pitcher in our league who had great stuff in the circle - enough to be an all-star every year. However, any time she had to field and throw, she became a liability. Those skills just weren't anywhere close to where they should be at that level.

In contrast, the two pitchers on my DD's current 10U are not only awesome in the circle, but are also standouts everywhere else on the field, too. When not pitching, our #1 pitcher (DFP'er SyndreSoftball's DD) usually plays SS. She has a fantastic lateral range and cannon for an arm. Our other #1 pitcher (equally as good in the circle) also plays 3B. She's fast to charge bunts, fields very well, and throws hard. My DD (one of 2 outstanding catchers on the team) splits her time between C and 2B. All of these girls I mentioned are also great in the OF, if the need arises. They are "ballplayers".

 

[JJsqueeze]

In general at this age all good players try their hand at either pitching or catching in addition to IF/OF skills. Some do both at this age. So strap some gear on her and give her a shot behind the plate to see how she likes it. Maybe she will like it naturally maybe she won't it but either way let her give it a shot. At 9 years old you are not making ANY decisions that will actually affect her long term aside from just having her play the game. If she concentrated on catching and stopped pitching for a season it is not like she can never get back in the circle at this age. Both of my daughters tried both at this age, one liked pitching more and gave up catching as she went to 12s, one likes catching more and plays catcher in games but still likes to practice her pitching occasionally. She didn't pitch for about 8 months at all and recently started throwing again and was actually better. So let her try whatever she wants to and just play it by ear.

Once a kid knows how to throw underhand, it is not like they forget the skill if they don't use it, it gets rusty but it really is like riding a bike.

 

[CoogansBluff]

It's fine to have a favorite position and try to work on that position, but I'd aim to make her proficient at all fielding skills, even those that are position-specific, such as the proper way to take a throw and apply a tag, or how to stretch for a throw on a putout, or how to drop-step or take an angle on a fly ball. Aspire to become a good all-around fielder and not a specialist.

I'll also offer this random comment - Kids who are 9-years-old who play the infield will develop their skills more quickly than those that play the outfield. I hate to say that because we all need happy outfielders who take pride in their jobs, but I think it really helped my daughter (currently an outfielder) that she spent her younger days in the infield, even if it was first base.

Another thing that helped her was being on younger teams that treated all the players the same in practice. That is, they all took lots of ground balls and fly balls, and they all threw the ball around the infield and did the same drills. We (coaching staff) didn't try to make specialists out of them, except in games, where they had fairly defined roles. And if I had it to do over, I might move them around more than I did.

 

[ArkFastpitch]

DD started out catching and absolutely loved it. The years she spent behind the plate gave her a very good defensive sense. She later got bit by the pitching bug and has since hung up her shin guards and mask. Now if she's not pitching she plays 1st or occasionally 3rd. I have tried to teach her OF but she just doesn't have the speed to run a long fly ball down.

I totally agree with the other posters. Teach her the entire field. It will make her a much better and more well rounded player.

 

[Coachw01]

Like a few people have said, make her a ball player and teacher her how to play everywhere in the infield and outfield. My DD and I have spent a lot of time working at every infield and outfield position and my thoughts are she needs to be ready to play anywhere the coach asks her to play.

When it comes to pitching and catching I told her to pick one and concentrate on it. My feeling is that a player should be able to play one of those positions effectively should she have to do it in a game. My DD has elected to concentrate on catching in addition to the other 7 positions. She plays 10u and can throw strikes but is slow slow slow and we feel she is best suited as a catcher. The original post mentioned something about the time and effort it takes to be a top notch pitcher and that also played a role in the decision making process. My DD loves basketball as much as softball and playes on an AAU team which takes up a lot of winter. It's a little easier for her and I to go into the gym and have me throw balls at her than it is to travel back and forth to pitching lessons and instruction.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Sounds like you have a fun journey ahead of you.

 

[Josh Greer]

I agree with what has been said. However, (and I am very biased towards catching) I think any kid that expresses an interest in catching should give it a shot. If they still love it after a season of heat, you can develop most other areas of the craft (at the age you mentioned).

 

[JAD]

If your DD has any inclination towards pitching I would do everything you can to nurture that desire. Top level pitchers are always in high demand and if your DD can play other positions and swing a good bat, so much the better. At 10U I would try to get her on a team where she will get enough circle time to develop her skills and build confidence.

 

[YOCOACH]

DD started pitching at the age of 11. By then, we had moved her to Travel Ball. As it turns out, even though she worked her butt off and had a top tier instructor, she was too far behind the curve to be effective. I'm not saying that your DD couldn't do it, just that mine couldn't. At second year 12u, she wanted to try catching. After the first game she absolutely fell in love with the position. By having her learn all the positions on the field at the 8u and 10u levels, she had a really good defensive grasp of the game and became a very good catcher. She works as hard at her craft as the best pitchers in the area and has now become our #1 catcher on the TB team.

What I'm trying to say is what many others have said. Have your DD learn all the positions on the field, work on her throwing mechanics, fielding and hitting. Make her the best all around player she can be first. However, if she wants to continue working at pitching, nurture it since a quality pitcher is always in high demand at the older age groups. That being said, if she wants to try catching, go for it. It takes a special kind of kid that wants to get hit by a hard thrown ball and will wear the bruises as "Badges of Honor." If she decides to go this route, I would highly recommend the New England Catching Camp DVD to get her started. You can find it here.

The New England Catching Camp - Online Store

Quality catchers are also in high demand at the older age groups so good luck on whatever the decision may be.

 

[Eric F]

It takes a special kind of kid that wants to get hit by a hard thrown ball and will wear the bruises as "Badges of Honor." If she decides to go this route, I would highly recommend the New England Catching Camp DVD to get her started. You can find it here.

The New England Catching Camp - Online Store

In addition to the NECC video, if she's ready to really jump in and get headed down a path to be the best catcher she can be, check to see if there is a NECC Road Trip clinic coming to your area.