Torn on which little league to sign up for

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does DH like AA ?

To give him more time to improve his fielding and batting, and provide an opportunity for him to possibly pitch, which he did in a limited capacity in the last season (and likely wouldn't do in AAA). He just feels DC is not ready for AAA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does DH like AA ?

To give him more time to improve his fielding and batting, and provide an opportunity for him to possibly pitch, which he did in a limited capacity in the last season (and likely wouldn't do in AAA). He just feels DC is not ready for AAA.

Your DH is really misguided on this one (sorry) even though he means well.

AA is an absolutely horrible level for working on hitting. He’ll be lucky to see 1 half decent pitch the entire game. Walkfest. AAA is going to be far more balanced- better pitching (more to swing at! and yes more strikeouts) but still some walks. It is light years better.

Fielding? There isn’t anything to field. All the kids walk.

AA coaches are often very inexperienced and are less likely to teach good fundamentals (true at any age, but the older the kids, the better the coaching quality)

Pitching is a skill learned outside of practice and games. Particularly at this age. Mound time is important, but not important enough to stay in AA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does DH like AA ?

To give him more time to improve his fielding and batting, and provide an opportunity for him to possibly pitch, which he did in a limited capacity in the last season (and likely wouldn't do in AAA). He just feels DC is not ready for AAA.

Your DH is really misguided on this one (sorry) even though he means well.

AA is an absolutely horrible level for working on hitting. He’ll be lucky to see 1 half decent pitch the entire game. Walkfest. AAA is going to be far more balanced- better pitching (more to swing at! and yes more strikeouts) but still some walks. It is light years better.

Fielding? There isn’t anything to field. All the kids walk.

AA coaches are often very inexperienced and are less likely to teach good fundamentals (true at any age, but the older the kids, the better the coaching quality)

Pitching is a skill learned outside of practice and games. Particularly at this age. Mound time is important, but not important enough to stay in AA.

Thanks. I guess every league is different. DC was unhappy about the amount of time he spent in the outfield last season, placement largely due to the coaches not knowing his ability level due to us missing the first few weeks of the season which started in summer. I suspect if he were in AAA he would be spending most of his time there; his odds of getting more infield time would be higher in AA. Still not sure which direction we're going, but appreciate all of the input!

[Anonymous]

I think your DH is prioritizing his own ego (“My kid is the team’s top pitcher this year!”) at the expense of your son’s development. As others have said, AA baseball is ugly. No one gets quality pitches, fielding is all over the place, and if you can get to first (frequently on a walk, if not an outright HBP), you can eventually steal your way to third.

AAA is when it begins to look like real baseball: Pitchers are better, which means batters get a chance to develop their craft. And outfielders have to actually start working to limit damage. It’s a great learning experience for everyone.

Let your son try out for AAA. If he doesn’t make the threshold, he can be a leader on a AA team, but he’ll know he has his parents’ vote of confidence. Most of all, stop analyzing the lineup and complaining about where and when he plays. Is he on a team, having fun? THAT’S a win. And that’s what’s going to keep him wanting to play after his 12yo year.

— Driver and uniform maintenance for LL, travel and HS ball

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think your DH is prioritizing his own ego (“My kid is the team’s top pitcher this year!”) at the expense of your son’s development. As others have said, AA baseball is ugly. No one gets quality pitches, fielding is all over the place, and if you can get to first (frequently on a walk, if not an outright HBP), you can eventually steal your way to third.

AAA is when it begins to look like real baseball: Pitchers are better, which means batters get a chance to develop their craft. And outfielders have to actually start working to limit damage. It’s a great learning experience for everyone.

Let your son try out for AAA. If he doesn’t make the threshold, he can be a leader on a AA team, but he’ll know he has his parents’ vote of confidence. Most of all, stop analyzing the lineup and complaining about where and when he plays. Is he on a team, having fun? THAT’S a win. And that’s what’s going to keep him wanting to play after his 12yo year.

— Driver and uniform maintenance for LL, travel and HS ball

Point of clarification needed here - in AA, there are no walks. If you exceed the full count with balls, it turns to coach pitch until the player either hits the ball or strikes out. I would agree that the quality of pitching is wild, and there are a lot of batters that get hit.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you sure your league age 10 child can play AA without there being extenuating circumstances? This is what our league says about 10 year olds in AA:

Permitted in special circumstances (e.g., first time player, developmental limitations, etc.), due to tryout assessment, age waiver decision or as the result of the player draft at the Majors and AAA.

If your child has played since t-ball, he should be good to go for AAA unless there are other issues at play, which it doesn’t sound like. Remember too, you get better by playing with others who are at a higher skill level. Don’t let him regress by playing with 7-9 year olds. As others have said, put him in for AAA tryouts and if his skill level really belongs at the AA level, the draft will sort that out and make that decision for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Point of clarification needed here - in AA, there are no walks. If you exceed the full count with balls, it turns to coach pitch until the player either hits the ball or strikes out. I would agree that the quality of pitching is wild, and there are a lot of batters that get hit.

That depends on the league - Chantilly uses this "rule" in AA, I don't know of any others that do.

To the OP - which LL are you part of?

For a 10yo - he/she should be playing AAA. They'll develop more as a player.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does DH like AA ?

To give him more time to improve his fielding and batting, and provide an opportunity for him to possibly pitch, which he did in a limited capacity in the last season (and likely wouldn't do in AAA). He just feels DC is not ready for AAA.

Your DH is really misguided on this one (sorry) even though he means well.

AA is an absolutely horrible level for working on hitting. He’ll be lucky to see 1 half decent pitch the entire game. Walkfest. AAA is going to be far more balanced- better pitching (more to swing at! and yes more strikeouts) but still some walks. It is light years better.

Fielding? There isn’t anything to field. All the kids walk.

AA coaches are often very inexperienced and are less likely to teach good fundamentals (true at any age, but the older the kids, the better the coaching quality)

Pitching is a skill learned outside of practice and games. Particularly at this age. Mound time is important, but not important enough to stay in AA.

Thanks. I guess every league is different. DC was unhappy about the amount of time he spent in the outfield last season, placement largely due to the coaches not knowing his ability level due to us missing the first few weeks of the season which started in summer. I suspect if he were in AAA he would be spending most of his time there; his odds of getting more infield time would be higher in AA. Still not sure which direction we're going, but appreciate all of the input!

Well- 1/3 of the positions on the field are in the outfield. And 10yo is where outfield becomes more important and valuable (and sees more action). There will come a time- very soon- where players are in the infield because they aren’t GOOD enough to play outfield! (Really- you’ll see) Outfield is not a punishment. If he likes baseball, he needs to learn to play there. If he wants more infield time, keep working with him. Does he have an interest in catching? I find many teams are short on catchers. If he can do a serviceable job, he will see a lot of action and playing time (buy him his own gear though- used is fine).

It’s good to learn multiple positions (every kid should) ) & outfield is not a punishment. Often kids pick up a bad attitude about playing OF from parents who don’t understand baseball.

Veteran baseball mom, DH who has coached little league for many seasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you sure your league age 10 child can play AA without there being extenuating circumstances? This is what our league says about 10 year olds in AA:

Permitted in special circumstances (e.g., first time player, developmental limitations, etc.), due to tryout assessment, age waiver decision or as the result of the player draft at the Majors and AAA.

If your child has played since t-ball, he should be good to go for AAA unless there are other issues at play, which it doesn’t sound like. Remember too, you get better by playing with others who are at a higher skill level. Don’t let him regress by playing with 7-9 year olds. As others have said, put him in for AAA tryouts and if his skill level really belongs at the AA level, the draft will sort that out and make that decision for you.

Our league's guidelines very vaguely state 10 year olds who aren't ready for AAA. That could mean a million things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think your DH is prioritizing his own ego (“My kid is the team’s top pitcher this year!”) at the expense of your son’s development. As others have said, AA baseball is ugly. No one gets quality pitches, fielding is all over the place, and if you can get to first (frequently on a walk, if not an outright HBP), you can eventually steal your way to third.

AAA is when it begins to look like real baseball: Pitchers are better, which means batters get a chance to develop their craft. And outfielders have to actually start working to limit damage. It’s a great learning experience for everyone.

Let your son try out for AAA. If he doesn’t make the threshold, he can be a leader on a AA team, but he’ll know he has his parents’ vote of confidence. Most of all, stop analyzing the lineup and complaining about where and when he plays. Is he on a team, having fun? THAT’S a win. And that’s what’s going to keep him wanting to play after his 12yo year.

— Driver and uniform maintenance for LL, travel and HS ball

+1 to all of this