Skip to main content

20 replies

Playing up a few years... good or bad?

Johnnie_LeMasterJohnnie_LeMaster10+ posts
Do you recommend a player 14u playing up with a 16U team if he is physically capable to do so? What are the advantages or disadvantages of doing this? My son will be in H.S next year and I want to get him ready for a higher level of competition. Is this a good approach or should I just let him play with his age group? I have talked to him about it and he said he would like to but since I dont have any experience with this myself I thought I would ask some of you Coaches/ Parents that may have prior experience... Thanks J
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

C crawdad100+ posts
Actually no one ever talks about it, but playing DOWN can also help. My 8 year old should be in machine pitch but I have him playing in 5-6 year old T Ball. He is dominating at that level and it makes him feel good about himself.

After all, kids nowadays need to feel good about themselves don't they? (I just started my sensitivity training).
DC Diablo con Huevos500+ posts
If 14 year old is playing with a 16U team that is good, and playing a quality summer schedule (like the Tigers, DBAT, Cats, Mustangs [top 16U team not the other seven], Hou Heat, Col. Angels, etc..) then I feel it will only hurt him especially mentally... there are only a couple of 14 yr. olds who could play and do well at the 16U level with top teams...

if he is just playing with some run of the mill 16U club.. then go for it if he can...
cheapseatscheapseats1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Diablo con Huevos:
If 14 year old is playing with a 16U team that is good, and playing a quality summer schedule (like the Tigers, DBAT, Cats, Mustangs [top 16U team not the other seven]..


Diablo (devil with eggs?) - give me a break! The Mustangs don't have 8 16U teams, they have 2.

They have to have two teams in each age group in case DBAT takes one at the end of the season. Wink (PD - that was a joke just for you)
Last edited by cheapseats
T Texan1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by cheapseats:
Diablo (devil with eggs?) - give me a break! The Mustangs don't have 8 16U teams, they have 2.

They have to have two teams in each age group in case DBAT takes one at the end of the season. Wink (PD - that was a joke just for you)


Maybe that is "deviled eggs"?

Better watch out, PD may turn into PDelete. Big Grin
Last edited by Panther Dad
T Texan1,000+ posts
Playing up on an older team was very beneficial for Texan Son. But not just because he was playing against tougher competition (though this was definitely a big plus). But also because he had to step up his game to earn playing time on a team with older, bigger, stronger players. That is the advantage you can miss by staying on a same age team but the team plays older teams.

As for fun, he loved playing up on the older teams.

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.
×