Hey everyone... looking for some feedback and suggestions.
I coach an 8u "travel" team.. we had tryouts and have practiced throughout the winter. Most kids played with us last year. We will play in 4 summer tournaments. Our 8u rules are: kids pitch from 30' pitching distance. After 4 balls on the hotter, the coach comes in to pitch and finish the at bat. No stealing but can get a lead on the release. Can't advance on passed ball. No dropped third strike. 60' bases. Play is dead when the pitcher has control of the ball in the circle.
It was suggested that we supplement the tournaments by playing in a league. I'm not concerned with burning them out or anything... we did something similar last year and it works out to an extra 10 games or so spread out over 5-6 weeks.
Most of the girls were planning on playing for their separate home town red leagues in addition to our tournaments. So playing in a league on the same team would keep the girls playing together more between tourneys.
The problem is, we'd have move up to a 10u league. That's 35' pitching distance, runners can steal and advance on passed balls. (No dropped third strike)
Part of me wants to push them and keep helping them learn the game and getting them ready for next year when they have to move up to 10u. Ive been told that our girls have the talent to be competitive in this particular league. The other part of me is concerned with switching back and forth between the different rules and confusing the kids.
any suggestions or thoughts?
I coach an 8u "travel" team.. we had tryouts and have practiced throughout the winter. Most kids played with us last year. We will play in 4 summer tournaments. Our 8u rules are: kids pitch from 30' pitching distance. After 4 balls on the hotter, the coach comes in to pitch and finish the at bat. No stealing but can get a lead on the release. Can't advance on passed ball. No dropped third strike. 60' bases. Play is dead when the pitcher has control of the ball in the circle.
It was suggested that we supplement the tournaments by playing in a league. I'm not concerned with burning them out or anything... we did something similar last year and it works out to an extra 10 games or so spread out over 5-6 weeks.
Most of the girls were planning on playing for their separate home town red leagues in addition to our tournaments. So playing in a league on the same team would keep the girls playing together more between tourneys.
The problem is, we'd have move up to a 10u league. That's 35' pitching distance, runners can steal and advance on passed balls. (No dropped third strike)
Part of me wants to push them and keep helping them learn the game and getting them ready for next year when they have to move up to 10u. Ive been told that our girls have the talent to be competitive in this particular league. The other part of me is concerned with switching back and forth between the different rules and confusing the kids.
any suggestions or thoughts?