I am new to this group and new to softball. My dd played tee ball for 2 season when she was 4 & 5 and from what I'm understanding the softball rules are a lot different. I signed my 9 yo dd up for fast pitch softball this year. They had a practice game (1st practice game) against another school last night with 3 innings. My question is this - how is the batting line up decided? At almost the end of the 3rd inning, I asked the coach if my dd was refusing to bat. She said no, they have to rotate them and she would be coming up soon. I asked after over half the team had batted 3 times and the rest twice, but my dd had not gone at all. She played outfield between 1st & 2nd during the 2nd inning. They have 3 (I think) extra players. I just don't understand how she is supposed to get better because this is the way regular practice goes too. They stick her in the outfield where she never gets even close to a ball and may bat once. I'm thinking of pulling her off the team - what's the point of going if she is just going to sit on a bench? I don't mean to sound like I think she should be the pitcher or anything, but shouldn't other kids get to play too? I really don't understand the rules so if anyone knows a link or something where I can learn, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!!!!
Welcome to Softball Mom's!
Wow that is a hard one cause i don't know. I really don't know the answers that you need but hopefully someone will. Please keep us up on what you do.
Well my husband and I coach 6 & under teeball/softball. My mom also coach's 10 & under Fast pitch softball. We have to let every child bat and rotate them in the field every two ending. Even if they have extra players there is no reason they shouldnt get to bat. With the older girl pitcher & catcher normally stays the same b/c not many can do those positions.
Thanks for your replies. I received an email from one of the coaches (there are 3) about having practice Sat morning as well as the practice game Sat night. I replied that she could be there, and then I asked about the batting order. I was polite and asked that when she had an extra minute could she either explain or refer me to a website.
This was her reply: "as far as the batting order, we are allowed to bat 10 girls as well as play 10 girls in the field so the other 3 have to rotate in we try to give the first 3 in the line up a bat before we change them, unfortunately in this age group some of the girls in the bottom of the line up will only get 1 to 2 bats a game its hard when you have to sub girls in, but in this case we try to start the ones that did not start the game before so that everyone gets to play and everyone gets to bat."
I replied back to her saying that I understood. There will be 3 girls at every game (if everyone shows up) that will not play as much and will be rotated in. Then at the next game there will be 3 different girls and so on and so on.
I am fairly certain that that is not what she meant, but she will have to specifically tell me that now.
I would totally understand about the pitcher & catcher. Oddly though, they changed the catcher at each inning. The original pitcher in the 1st inning & about 1/2 of the 2nd threw a lot of balls and not many strikes then she started hitting people. I felt sorry for her because she fell totally apart on the field. She is the coach's daughter, and the coach was correcting her a lot. You know, like the obnoxious parent that is sometimes in the crowd that yells at his kid while the kid is competing in something. Anyway, after a hitting the 3rd girl they swapped the pitcher with 1st base.
I guess what I am basically trying to say is that I know that my daughter is not the best. But she enjoys it and wants to learn. She is willing to practice and listen to the coaches. That said, while a few girls on the team are more experienced and therefore better overall - they weren't THAT much better. At her turn at bat, she had 2 balls, then she hit it, ended up stealing 3rd, and scored a run. At the pitcher's 3 turns at bat, she struck out twice.
Anyway, if ya'll understand what she is trying to tell me, please explain it to me. Thanks!
Ok...Not sure why the batting order is changing??? We live in California and follow ASA rules for the most part. I have a 12 year old that has been playing ball since 4, she is now at a travel ball level and I have 3 younger girls who play rec ball.
In our experiences playing softball, the batting order DOES NOT change. It is made up before the game based on the girls stats and usally goes like this:
1. A girl that typically gets on base the majority of the time would bat 1st
2. Batting 2nd would be someone that would be able to bunt the ball to move the girl over.
3. Batting 3rd or 4th would be someone who usually hits BIG and is able to score runs.
4. The rest of the batting order would be decided on by their batting averages.
I know in 6U, none of the above come into play, its strickly instructional and even defensively the girls are moved around every inning.
In 8's and 10's its a little bit more competitive with a "logical" batting order and girls are placed in "Key" positions defensively. For instance, you would want girls who are more experienced to play "Third Base" or "Shortstop" because of their capability to throw to "First Base". Or you would want a girl who does well at catching the ball to play "First Base" because that is where the out is made if the ball is hit. Typically the newer players start in the outfield, and once they can "master" their position, they learn how to field a ball w/out getting hurt and move infield. Now at practice all the girls should be worked with in both Infield/outfield, that way they can get a feel for it and know what to practice on their own time to get better.
In Rec Ball, they bat all players on the roster and play 10 on the field, but the ten on the field alternate, so there is always 1 or 2 players who are sitting out an inning. I think your question was for the batting line-up and you're coaches should be batting everyone on the team in the same spot, never should it change. UNLESS, they are subbing and they have girls who are DH'ing (Designated Hitters) which is a WHOLE OTHER STORY. I'm still trying to learn the rules on all that. But, I believe that is only done in "Tournament Play" where there are only 9 girls on the line-up.
If I were you, I would work with your dd at home as much as you can, in addition to taking her to practice. Throw some balls around, let her come up on the ball, field it and throw to a "make shift" 1st base. Becoming a good ball player takes more practice than just at practice with the team. There are also batting cages im sure in your area that you may take your dd too, to help her hand/eye coordination which an essential part of softball. Good luck to you and your dd! In time, she'll get better... they all start rusty and they improve dramatically.
Sounds like you have a "rec team" but a "competitive coaching team".
In my past years of softball parenting and coaching(14 years), rec leagues make it a rule that younger teams bat everyone , but older teams it is up to the coach.
Just try and stick it out, do like the pp said and work with your daughter and if it doesnt get better then explain to your daughter that she is not doing anyhting wrong and find a different coach next year.
A girls coach can make or break a ball player!!!!!
Group owner of "Moms w/ kids w/ ADHD and/or Bi-polar"
I completely agree with you! Sounds like a "rec team" but more on the competitive side. And you're absolutely right, a coach can definetly make or break your dd...
Just make sure your dd is having fun and as long as you see progress in her, than thats all that matters. Just a bit of advise though, try not to express your opinions of the coaching staff in front of your dd, they start to develope the same opinions and not want to play. Good Luck!
Quoting momof3girlz:
Sounds like you have a "rec team" but a "competitive coaching team".
In my past years of softball parenting and coaching(14 years), rec leagues make it a rule that younger teams bat everyone , but older teams it is up to the coach.
Just try and stick it out, do like the pp said and work with your daughter and if it doesnt get better then explain to your daughter that she is not doing anyhting wrong and find a different coach next year.
A girls coach can make or break a ball player!!!!!
It is my understanding that whenever you have extra players that have to rotate, whichever player was on the field the inning before, is in line to bat. If the outs are made before that girl gets to bat and another of the extras goes onto the field, then the first girl will lose her turn at bat as it is handed off to the next girl that went on the field. Does that make sense? I'm sorry if your DD is not getting much playing time! When I coached the younger girls I always tried to make sure everyone got playing time. Hopefully the coach will pay more attention from now on!
Kayce Patton, CNA
Cody's Wife; Mikah and Kade's mommy
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