Little League Conundrum. Need advice.
 

I have 3 daughters playing little league softball. There are divisions ranked by age and skill. T-ball, mini-minors, minors, majors, juniors from youngest to oldest.

The oldest is placed in the minor division, by age and by skill. This is appropriate.

The youngest is in t-ball, also appropriate.

The middle, by age (6 weeks past cut-off), should be in the mini-minors. By skill, she should be in the minors. Ideally, we'd like to have her on the same team with her older sister.

When asked if we could move her up from the mini-minors to the minors, they said no, but that she should try-out and see how she ranks. Basically, the board of the league wouldn't stick their necks out to recommend that a girl move up based upon her Dad's opinions of her skill level. No problem. She does the try out and scores very high. She's ranked in the top 18 players, many of whom are 2 years older than she is. All of the people that witnessed the try out (coaches, board members, player agents [don't ask] and others) agree she should move up to the next level.

The president of the league says no.

I have several board members that are going to bring a motion to allow an exception to move my daughter up. We'll see how it goes.

Truth be told, Little League is a huge commitment. Having my girls on the same team is a huge benefit to my family and me. But my daughter is also good enough to be in the minors and she'll languish in the lower level league.

What strategies or tactics can I employ to help the president move in our favor? Anyone else been through this?

Sorry for the long story. Thanks for your help in advance.

If she is clearly good enough to move up, and has demonstrated that apparently beyond any doubt, why do you think the league won't let her?

I think the answer to that (or at least a best guess) will help in devising the best strategy.

If you're sure the other league members and coaches are supportive, and that's IF then obviously the league president has a personal beef. What is your relationship with said president and does the president have a daughter competing for the same spot?

I don't know the fellow. As far as I know, his kids are in the older leagues and/or out of the league.

From what I can piece together, the mini-minor league didn't exist four years ago. They set it up to draw in more girls at a younger age to help develop the league. Evidently, the league president wants to try to stick to hard rules on ages, although they have made exceptions in the past (which we know about).

So I am not sure what the underlying issues are. If I knew, that would certainly be helpful. All i can surmise at this time, is that the league president likes the rules and wants to be a stickler.

Hmm,

I can see advantages and disadvantages to cut offs based on age.

Personally don't agree with them.

But let me ask you a question. Pure Devils advocate here.

How would you feel if your oldest daughter was performing at a lower level and coaches and teammates parents petitioned to get her moved into mini-minors? Would you insist on upholding the rules?

I can see the President standing pat since an exception could potentially open a whole can of worms with other parents insisting their kids be tested and moved up a notch.

I think the larger issue is addressing the guidelines league wide and lobbying for a different system.

City parks rec league? County? Go over his head, set up an appointment, and talk (calmly) with the parks commissioner. Get other parents' comments and signatures to take with you if you can... and/or take several of these parents with you.

My continued experience with both youth SB and BB is that leagues are sticklers when it comes to enforcing the age rules ensuring that older kids are not placed on younger teams - but not playing up. Locally several girls on SB teams play up as do boys in BB. The local travel SB team has at least one 10 yr girl playing on their 12U team.

Offer to coach or at least help with the team. Around here that will get you an exception to the age requirement.

Already hyper involved. Been coaching for years. I am not the manager, but a coach.

Thankfully not an issue, but there are girls that didn't do well on the evaluations and may be asked to stay down. That's always tough. If that were the case, I think I'd accept it. My oldest is eligible to move up to the majors if she wanted, but she's not ready. She has friends up there too. We understand where she is skill-wise and she needs more seasoning.

Man three girls playing, I have a hard time keeping up with one. My daughter is the Only girl in the 10u machine pitch leauge. Our association is tough on the age rules as well.

Three girls playing for our family as well.

We don't have the same issues here (no problems playing up, accepted based on parents request), but another option might be a travel team. Around here any girls with talent are already on a travel team by age 9 (starting as young as 8 for 10U travel teams). The rec leagues are empty of good players by 12U.

offer them money? (jk)

Not looking forward to my first little league meeting tonight now....

Small update.

Nothing is set in stone yet. We won't know for sure until next week. She may have a spot in the minors.