Speaking from experience - my dd played rec 7-8 against other towns, 14u travel, and 12u club this past year. My daughter is a pitcher and rec allowed her to practice 43 feet but they went undefeated. The rec players got very little action so no one learned. 14u she was not dedicated to and mean while it was unfair to the team. 12u club - that's where she learned the most and was challenged but the coach only called screw or curve balls. She practiced her other pitches on rec or travel. We also noticed she started playing down after playing rec. overall - it was a horrible decision to play everything. This year we are only playing 14u club and 16u fall travel (but club is limiting the 16u travel play - we may make 2 games). Don't play rec!!!
On another note - someone mentioned my daughter playing freshman softball next year. I was like no... That would be the rec players... That would defeat the purpose of club. Again - I can't have her play down... I never even thought of freshman ball. Her goal is varsity... All this time - I believe that's what the town is lining her up for by playing 16u. And there wouldn't be a catcher to catch her on the freshman team. I'm thinking I wouldn't let her play... Does that make me a snob? Although I do love the freshman coach just not the level of play.
Yes, it makes you a snob. However, sometimes that's okay, if it's what's best for your DD's development. Maybe rec wasn't a good fit for your DD at that point in time, but for a LOT of young players, rec ball IS a good choice. There are plenty of girls who were probably excited and proud to have made the freshman team. Maybe they're trying softball for the first time. Maybe they're not as athletically gifted as your DD. Maybe their family didn't have the time or finances to be able to give them a high-level experience from a young age. For some girls, the experience of playing on a team, making new friends, and learning some good life lessons is WAY more important than whether their teammates have a comparable skill level.