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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DD 9 is playing 10U softball. She played 2 seasons in a different league in 8U. The first season was excellent, with good instruction. Second season, not so much--didn't learn anything, didn't improve. This fall we tried a new league. While we think the league overall is more organized and more robust, the coach is completely inexperienced although a really nice guy/dad. For example, he does not come with a plan for practice.  We have also tried going to the free pitching clinics by the league but that also seems to be limited in actual instruction and consists of just hurling the ball into the fence 200 times, not at the actual pitching distance.  My daughter has improved with her fielding and pitching purely by us going in the backyard and working at home, not at practice. Which leads me to my actual question: does doing "travel" usually get you better, more experienced instruction? I don't have a clue what a 10U travel softball skill level looks like and if my daughter would fit in with that. I suspect she is slightly below that, but I almost feel like it will be hard to improve much staying in rec ball, and it seems that it is a conundrum. Am I missing something here? [/quote]

The short answer is yes, you'll get better instruction at the travel level. But even there if you really want to improve at a specific skill like pitching, you need to supplement with private lessons. This isn't like soccer, which isn't as skill-oriented as softball. Most girls who do well in competitive softball get private lessons for hitting or pitching (if they want to be a pitcher).

That said, most softball in this area is "daddy ball" as well -- it's not like soccer where there are paid professional coaches. The key difference is the dads (and it's usually dads, although there are some mom-run teams) generally know how to coach the sport, having gotten training.

At the 10U level there aren't that many teams. But if you tell me where you are located -- NOVA or MD -- I'll tell you which programs are strongest/most active.

There are more teams at the 12U level

Softball is played at A, B, and C levels, although as a practical matter there are very few A teams. Mostly B teams. 10UC kind of sucks because they have modified rules (no stealing home allowed, drop dropped third strike rule or infield fly, and 5 run limits per inning). B teams play three games on Tournament Saturdays, while C teams play 2.[/quote]

We are in Fairfax. The leagues I am aware of are VGSL, CYA, SYA, and BRYC.
Thanks.[/quote]

OK, there are a lot of programs and they're not all affiliated with rec leagues.

Vienna has: Vienna Stars, which is a pretty elite program that draws regionally. Long-distance travel. College scholarship track. A-ball. Also, Vienna Velocity, which is a step down (although still a decent program). There's also a summer Vienna Raiders program, which is a good taste of the travel lifestyle without the full-year commitment.

Fairfax has NVGSA Firebirds, which is a good travel program that draws regionally. They also do the Dimensions, which is like the Raiders -- a summer or "travel lite" program.

CYA has the Chantilly Lace, but I don't think they field a 10U team. They may not start until 12U or 14U.

BRYC has the Stingrays, which is a good program like the Firebirds.

In Arlington, there's the AGSA. Arlington has the Sage program, which is same caliber as Velocity, Firebirds, Stingrays, etc. These are all rival teams.

There are also teams in Manassas and Leesburg (Revolution).

If you want to see a good list of them, click here: http://www.usssa.com/fastpitch/Rank2/#/?gdSport=16&stateID=54&classID=1095&seasonID=21&ranking=2

or here: http://www.usssa.com/fastpitch/Rank2/#/?gdSport=16&stateID=54&classID=1096&seasonID=21&ranking=2

[/quote]

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