Daughter getting interested in playing baseball. Advice wanted

This will get me in trouble but GIRLS PLAY SOFTBALL not baseball

By the time they get to HS they cannot compete physically with the boys

I have daughters and a son--so I know both sides. One daughter is quite gifted in Softball. She started in baseball until the age of 11 when she made the switch. I believe the reason she stands out as a player (now age 16) is the fact that she started playing with the boys. Most of the young girls were afraid of the ball, etc. I see no problem with girls playing with the boys, BUT ONLY UNTIL THE AGE OF 10 or 11, beyond that, IMO, they don't belong in baseball. Physically and mentally--12 year old boys and girls are two VERY different animals.

I would assume all city/county funded programs are open to both male and female players. Private teams are not funded by tax dollars and can select their roster as they see fit. I would go with a community based program. It is not uncommon to see the younger girls playing on baseball teams in our area. My son has played on teams with girls and against teams with girls in the past. HSBBW used to have an article about Crystal Vargas that played high school baseball but that link no longer works. I think Crystal went on to play college softball.
Fungo

I'm with you, TRhit...

I have to agree with TR, though I am a firm believer any sport a boy can play so can a girl.
One of the best players in my son's Khoury League when he was younger was a girl. She could hit and pitch with the best of them. The boys loved her.
The day they announced she would no longer play the boys were devastated. She was about 12-13, starting to develop quickly(you know they do that before boys). Also at that time the boys were beginning to put some velocity on the fastballs. Her parents felt it was time to seperate her from the boys and were also concerned that she could get injured (hit with a pitch). It's a lot different for a girl to live with scars from injuries than a boys. They don't make cups for breasts, do they?

You all are so against the use of metal bats because they are dangerous, why would you want to put your daughters in harms way? JMO.

micdsguy,

Try this link. As the ladies t-shirts say ... "Girls play baseball too!"

http://www.nawbl.com/

I have seen quite a few girls go on to get D1 softball scholarships who played baseball up until high school.These were usually sought after because they had much better hitting and overhand throw abilities than their peers who came up playing fastpitch the whole time.

If social issues are not a problem,playing baseball until high school,then switching is an excellent option in many communities.

A few months ago I posted about girls playing baseball. In short, at that age it can be an invaluable experience for everyone involved. Let her play.

Thanks for all the input. This group is wonderful as usual.

micdsguy -
Women are now playing baseball all over the world! Not competing with men, but in women-only baseball leagues. Even USA Baseball has a Women's National Team (link). During their first season, our 2004 USA Baseball Women's National Team defeated Japan to claim the Gold medal!