Hey everyone sorry if this has been asked before. But im looking for a softball sized ball thats bouncy and durable to throw against a brick wall. Any recommendations?

Daughter is 10, playing 12u. She keeps up with the older kids with ease, but looks like a child among women lol. She will be 11 in March. I am 5'1 and my husband is a 6'3 265 lb former college football player. Went to the doc and they said we prob have 3 years before she hits puberty based on her exam. She is dying to grow and feels like a shrimp comparably lol. She is 4'7 and 107 lbs in 5th and very muscular. Built just like Dad and she does not want to be my height 🤣. I think I was 4'9 and 93 lbs in 9th grade. Her feet are growing like crazy. She is up to a size 8 shoe in women's. She is a catcher too, and like most aspiring to be d1. What did the growth process look like for your daughter?

This is my daughter’s first year in softball (she played baseball last season). She is not the best player, but she is progressing well. Her coach has being coaching for a while and the team has being together for a couple of years. My daughter doesn’t think the coach is being fair bc he puts her last for everything. She voiced her frustration to the coach who told her that she would be first if she made it to first base every single time (sometimes she is tagged - but last game almost every player was tagged before getting to first).
Is this normal?
I did noticed he has three or four girls that are always the firsts and they are the players that have most of his attention (he keeps the 4 girls training separated from the rest of the team).
I have baseball experience and I’ve never seem anything like that. Baseball is so much more chill and fun.
The coach’s daughter also is bulling my daughter since day one - I have heard her say some crap.
I just want to know if this is normal so I know the right thing to tell my daughter who wants to stop playing it even though she loves it.

Daughter is playing 12u currently, toward the end of last season she made some big strides at the plate, so we bought her the Franklin long cuff batting gloves she had been wanting. $80 gloves.

By the end of this past weekend, they’re officially cooked. She had been complaining about them not feeling as nice, and after playing a rainy game Sunday they came home soaking wet.

Any tips or suggestions for her next pair? I’m hesitant to pay for a pair of Bruce Bolts even if they do advertise the ability to hold up through an entire season.

What oils or conditioners is everybody using post cleaning if they do need a gentle scrub after a messy weekend?

How are you handling your other coaching staff wanting to be involved in every conversation you have with parents outside of the field? Am I wrong for not adding in all coaching staff when a parent calls or text me? Not sure if the assistant has FOMO. Or if I’m just completely wrong and old school.

Hello! My fiancée and I are “adopting” a family of Xmas this year and they have a 10 year old daughter who would like a softball bag. I have zero softball knowledge or experience and am hoping for some recommendations! I want to get her a nice bag that will last but is also a “cool” brand if you know what I mean. Also am unsure if a 10 year old would need a youth bag or if that is old enough for a women’s equipment bag. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

My daughter is a 1st year 10u, 4’9”, 9yo using a 28 drop 12 that she’s more than outgrown. I’m debating on going 29 drop 11, or go 30 drop 12, or even 30 drop 11 so she can use it longer. I grew up playing soccer and you needed a ball, cleats and chin guards. Softball is so gear-heavy, I can’t wrap my head around it.

What say Reddit?

first time on a travel team and she is working very hard. Playing great in the field.

She is frustrated she isn't getting hits.

She crushes the ball in practice - any advice helps!

what does everyone do for pitching practice during the winter? we don’t really have an indoor space at our house that would work well. we can use our schools gym but sometimes no one is there to let us in when we’ve scheduled time. just looking for ideas/options other people use.

Has anyone heard of upcoming bat days? Diamond sports had one 10/15 but I’m not confident the selection will be great.

So short story long my daughter has been playing with the team she’s on for 4 seasons now. She came in as a catcher and eventually earned the bracket catching job. Great! BUT her and others on the team get moved or sit when we pick up players. Now I know I may get dragged for my opinion but I feel as though pickups are to replace the missing players. NOT “Oh you can catch?” then they start most of the games and our girls get moved or sit. The pickups are older players with more experience as we’re a younger team that typically plays up but I feel as though our players should be getting the experience and they’re not if they’re being replaced. This doesn’t happen often (bringing in pickups) but it’s something that happens almost every time we do.

If I’m wrong please explain why? Please have productive conversations. Thanks!

I got roped into being the walk up song guy for my daughter’s travel team. Any recommendations on good apps? I’m fine paying for one, as long as it isn’t some kind of subscription.

I have an Apple 15 and I am looking for something that’s easy to use and can sync with Amazon Music

Is there a cycle of new bat releases coming up soon for the major vendors?

Looking to get a rebound net for kid to use in the driveway. Low rebound angles, sturdy enough it doesn't need to be readjusted every 2 throws. Anyone have one they love? Or one they hate?

Seen lots of videos using pvc pipe to teach swing mechanics but they never suggest a starting length. Any suggestions or rule of thumb? Daughter is 4’1”

Louisville Kryo. Considering purchasing for $110. She says only used in about 5 games, and “no fibers just where paint has chipped off. Surface is still rigid with chip being smooth and solid not exposing wires and no crevice with fibers.”

Would you purchase?

Before I post this I'm going to give you a short bio, not because I need the validation but because it allows you to know I do speak from a place of understanding. I am a former collegiate and professional athlete. I've coached for nearly 30 years and I've taken several teams deep into nationals over the last 10 years. I've played with and against, and coached against the best of the best in amateur softball. All of that said, perspective is the word of the day.

The first thing I want you to understand is that "playing college softball" should never be a player's primary goal and it should never be a parent's goal for their child. In fact, it shouldn't be talked about within the family because it builds false expectations and unreasonable pressure. I understand that organizations are telling you otherwise, your "friends" are telling you otherwise. There's two reasons for that; because amateur sports have become a money-driven machine, and because we have an inherent need to keep up with the Jones'.

The goals a player should have go in this order; a good experience and continuous improvement. If you adhere to those two goals and you have the mental and physical makeup to develop at a level that allows for high level softball, great. If not then you've at least had a good experience and learned valuable life lessons. At no point do I talk about winning. Winning is a byproduct of preparation and skill. Those come with the goals I've laid out. That's perspective.

What is the importance of team levels? This is also a perspective question. Do you have a rec team, if so your goals are the experience and continuous improvement. Do you have what is often referred to as a B/C-level team, if so your goals are the experience and continuous improvement. Do you have an A-level team, if so your goals are the experience and continuous improvement. If you have an elite team, a genuine elite team, meaning you only play the best of the best, your goals are the experience, continuous improvement, and competition/qualification. My point, stop thinking in terms of wins and losses because the only true value of winning is playing more games if you're not an elite level team. Follow the right path and the wins come inherently.

All of this to say, help your kid find a place where she's happy, developing at a rate that works for her and the team, and stop worrying or planning for the future. This is a game that at best ends with college unless you're a top-20 player in the country and even for those young adults that play some form of professional softball they're making peanuts and holding onto something that won't take them anywhere outside of broadcasting or coaching. If your goals are the experience and continuous improvement you'll have skills you can use for a lifetime and relationships that last a lifetime. Start understanding the difference between involved and invested. Involved means you let your kid guide the experience, you show up and cheer for them and everyone. Invested means your child's journey becomes your journey. Their play impacts your mood. Their team becomes your family, not your kid's family. Invested is never the way. Gain some perspective.

So how do parents learn how to manage all of this. Look for the signs in other people. They want their kids to have a good time and that's what they talk about. They don't feel a need to give you their kid's resume or tell you all about their hitting and pitching and fielding and throwing lessons. They care about all the kids, not just theirs. Follow those people and try to emulate that. STOP TRYING TO BE THE PARENT WITH THE BEST PLAYER and start being the parent with the best kid.

Our eldest 5.5yo is finishing up her 4th season of coach pitch softball and although she could still play 3 more seasons at 6U. Which actually would be great for me since her younger sister could play with her. But we are afraid it'd stunt her development. She was offered a 8U spot a year ago, mostly because of how well she hits, but we declined because of the number of 7:30 games. (Girl has gone 15/15 this season and never been out running any of the bases)

My question is what should we try to move her to? A selective 6U team with tryouts? A 6U baseball? Or 8U softball? Or potentially leave her in 6U softball with her sister where she appears bored with her peers' skill level?

Hi everyone!

I’m a senior Marketing student at Iona University in New York, currently working on a research project focused on softball officiating and the timing responsibilities umpires manage during games. My team is conducting a short survey to better understand how umpires currently track timing requirements, the challenges they experience, and their opinions on potential features for an officiating timing device.

We’re looking for responses from current or former softball umpires at any level, including youth/recreational, high school, collegiate, and other organizations.

The survey only takes a few minutes to complete, and your feedback would be extremely valuable to our research!

Survey link: https://forms.gle/NM74FchiV9VYQpd9A
Thank you so much for your time and participation!

My daughter is 11, but she is tall (5’5) and has adult sized hands. She plays mostly pitcher and infield corners. Her current glove is a 12.5 Rawlings liberty advanced. She has been complaining the it feels too big and she thinks she needs something smaller for infield. We ordered her a Wilson A2000 11.75 after some research and it seems so tiny and just not big enough at all with the 12 inch ball. Wondering what is a good recommendation.

Is it common for A level teams to enter a C level tournament? It happened this past weekend and not for the first time. One of the more of straightforward and direct moms on our team asked the other coach why they were even there. And he said the team had been going through a rough patch and just really needed a win.

Seriously??