Skip to main content

14 replies

16u or 17u?

A asmith35110+ posts
i'm going to be a junior. i'm a pitcher currently on a 16u team with kids who've already turned 17...im still 15 till the end of august. fortunately, i'm talented enough as a lefty to where i'm 2-1 with a 2.33 this summer. however, i'm considering holding out a year--i skipped second grade, so i've always been a year behind--to catch up in terms of growth and strength. if i would be playing 15u right now i'd be overpowering those kids and getting more attention...so should i play 16u next year?
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Q Quincy1,000+ posts
If you are playing above your age group especially at 15, you are cheating yourself. If you can qualify for the Junior Olympics Tournamemnt and find a team to play on especialy in your area, do so.

Play grade level in school where your options are more limited.

There is nothing wrong with being a JV or Varsity star and playing 16 and under baseball away from school. There is actually more opportunity.

International play age limits for this year

•born on or after Jan. 1, 1993, for the 2011 18U NT
•born on or after Jan. 1, 1995, for the 2011 16U NT
•born on or after Jan. 1, 1997, for the 2011 14U NT

Playing up is fine, but don't cheat yourself out of opportunities that you have available to you.
Last edited by Quincy
S Strike 3100+ posts
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Quincy:
If you are playing above your age group especially at 15, you are cheating yourself. QUOTE]

I always thought to get better, you have to play better competition? If you are successful playing up against older opponents, why not keep after it?

My son's 16U team only plays in 18U tournaments. Their record this summer is 25-4 and three of those losses have come against the same team in the championship game at three different tournaments. Each of those games they've come closer to winning and almost had them last game. I think they're getting better because of the better competition.
S Strike 3100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Strike 3:
quote:
Originally posted by Quincy:
quote:

Their record this summer is 25-4 and three of those losses have come against the same team in the championship game at three different tournaments.


That's three tournaments they cheated themselves out of.

If they were playing an 18 and under season but playing in 16 and under tournaments, it would make sense.


They cheated themselves out of? What did they get cheated out of, a bigger trophy? Playing on high school aged teams in these showcase tournaments isn't about winning, it's about showcasing all of the player's talents in front of the coaches in attendance. The feedback from the college coaches according to our team's coach has been very positive and they are very surprised to learn we are a 16U team regularly defeating 18U teams. We don't play for hardware but if it's important to you, play at your age level and win your games 15-0 in three innings if that's what makes you feel good. We play up to get better.

I don't know what an 18u season is. That must be a regional thing or something. Our players play high school ball and then play on their summer team in college showcase tournaments.

The only tournament we are playing 16U at is the WWBA in East Cobb next week. I'm sure there will be very good competition there at our age level.
Last edited by Strike 3
C cball500+ posts
quote:
They cheated themselves out of? What did they get cheated out of, a bigger trophy? Playing on high school aged teams in these showcase tournaments isn't about winning, it's about showcasing all of the player's talents in front of the coaches in attendance. The feedback from the college coaches according to our team's coach has been very positive and they are very surprised to learn we are a 16U team regularly defeating 18U teams. We don't play for hardware but if it's important to you, play at your age level and win your games 15-0 in three innings if that's what makes you feel good. We play up to get better.

A asmith35110+ posts
@bothsportsdad

i had been talking to a few schools that had reiterated that point. had i been a freshman this past year--according to my pitching coach, whose credentials speak for themselves--my stuff was good enough to make me one of, if not the, best pitcher in our grade in the state. now i'm stuck with 17-year-olds with beards.
C cball500+ posts
you have to look closely at the rosters of those 17U and 18U teams. I bet a lot of the players are younger guys like you playing up, so you are playing against your peers in many cases. don't assume that just because it's a 17U team all of the players are that age.
my son is like you. youngest in his grade group so he's the youngest on the field any any given event but holds his own. (14U eligible playing 16U and 18U teams)but we have no interest in playing 14U ball.

Add Reply

Post
.

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Link copied to your clipboard.
×