Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).

You are at the shakeout time. Seven in 10 kids quit their sports by age 13, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

7 out of 10 kids or girls? Because if it is kids, generally, I would guess the number is higher for girls.

My kids play rec softball, but after this season at least 4 of DD's 13 year old teammates say they are quitting. These are good-for-rec players. They are playing with friends they enjoy. The coaches on the team are solid. Games are exciting and competitive. It's not my place to question their choices, but it's very sad to me that under the best of all possible circumstances they've fallen out-of-love with the sport.

I can only imagine how it would be on a team that didn't have good coaching, where the girls weren't friends with each other, or where game play wasn't fun.

Sometimes it's not that though. Some girls leave for other activities (music/theater/dance). By high school, there are so many other options for activities that compete with softball, or whatever sport. Plus the academic workload gets higher.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).

Never did softball because knew right away it's a joke sport for girls now--they are too good at it--and does baseball instead.

What a strange thing to post...

Either really bad trolling attempt or someone whose daughter does legitimately play baseball and the family has absolutely no familiarity with the state of women's softball today.

Right. Softball opportunities. Softball instruction. Softball tournament organization. All of it is light years ahead of baseball.

I say that as a parent of a 15yo DS baseball player and 13yo DD softball player

How so? Not arguing. Just genuinely interested in learning more.

DP but I’d say the pitching, particularly at a high level. The size of the ball does not make any aspect easier which I think is a common misconception. Base running is also harder (different rules).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).

Never did softball because knew right away it's a joke sport for girls now--they are too good at it--and does baseball instead.

What a strange thing to post...

Either really bad trolling attempt or someone whose daughter does legitimately play baseball and the family has absolutely no familiarity with the state of women's softball today.

Right. Softball opportunities. Softball instruction. Softball tournament organization. All of it is light years ahead of baseball.

I say that as a parent of a 15yo DS baseball player and 13yo DD softball player

How so? Not arguing. Just genuinely interested in learning more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).

Never did softball because knew right away it's a joke sport for girls now--they are too good at it--and does baseball instead.

That doesn't make sense. Softball is a harder sport than baseball.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).

Never did softball because knew right away it's a joke sport for girls now--they are too good at it--and does baseball instead.

What a strange thing to post...

Either really bad trolling attempt or someone whose daughter does legitimately play baseball and the family has absolutely no familiarity with the state of women's softball today.

Right. Softball opportunities. Softball instruction. Softball tournament organization. All of it is light years ahead of baseball.

I say that as a parent of a 15yo DS baseball player and 13yo DD softball player

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).

Never did softball because knew right away it's a joke sport for girls now--they are too good at it--and does baseball instead.

What a strange thing to post...

Either really bad trolling attempt or someone whose daughter does legitimately play baseball and the family has absolutely no familiarity with the state of women's softball today.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).

Never did softball because knew right away it's a joke sport for girls now--they are too good at it--and does baseball instead.

What a strange thing to post...

Anonymous wrote:DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).

Never did softball because knew right away it's a joke sport for girls now--they are too good at it--and does baseball instead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).

You are at the shakeout time. Seven in 10 kids quit their sports by age 13, according to the American Academy of Pediarics.

Especially for baseball and softball.

This is when the commitment goes up, the number of teams goes down, and kids are exposed to new sports and hobbies.

And I get it. As you go into HS, you don't want to have to commit to just one activity; you want the freedom to try as many new things as possible

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).

You are at the shakeout time. Seven in 10 kids quit their sports by age 13, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

7 out of 10 kids or girls? Because if it is kids, generally, I would guess the number is higher for girls.

My kids play rec softball, but after this season at least 4 of DD's 13 year old teammates say they are quitting. These are good-for-rec players. They are playing with friends they enjoy. The coaches on the team are solid. Games are exciting and competitive. It's not my place to question their choices, but it's very sad to me that under the best of all possible circumstances they've fallen out-of-love with the sport.

I can only imagine how it would be on a team that didn't have good coaching, where the girls weren't friends with each other, or where game play wasn't fun.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).

You are at the shakeout time. Seven in 10 kids quit their sports by age 13, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

7 out of 10 kids or girls? Because if it is kids, generally, I would guess the number is higher for girls.

Anonymous wrote:DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).

You are at the shakeout time. Seven in 10 kids quit their sports by age 13, according to the American Academy of Pediarics.

My DD gave up her other sport in 8th grade to do travel softball, which she did year round all the way through high school. Also played varsity all 4 years in school. She changed teams a couple of times because they disbanded or she went up a level. She didn't want to play in college, so was happy staying at the B level. Although several of her teammates ended up playing D3.

Depends on your high school. Lots of girls don't make our high school's varsity team even if they play B-level travel. And your daughter's current age is when many start quitting. If you have a team that has mostly been together since 9u, many will probably stick with it all the way through high school if they don't quit in the next year.

DD loves her 13U team - she’s already thinking ahead to next year because she has an option to switch, but wants to stay with her team as long as it stays together. I actually thought some of the girls would have pursued other sports more seriously by now but so far most of the girls have been together since 9U. Is there a shakeout time time where they tend to leave?
And related, is there a time when pursuing a “better” team ever makes more sense if this is always going to be for fun (playing in high school vs for college).