Switch from Baseball to Softball?

Originally Posted September, 2019

While teaching pitching in both the city of Chicago and the suburbs, I’ve come to understand the culture of each. Because most of the parks on the North Side of Chicago began their softball programs less than eight years ago, many girls still play baseball. Parents struggle with the decision of switching their daughters from baseball to softball. If she does switch, when is the best time?

Here are a few of my observations about the baseball/softball switch, specifically regarding the City of Chicago. I’m not evaluating whether anything is good or bad or if parents should or shouldn’t switch. These are simply things I’ve noticed that might be good to consider. It’s always wise to be well-informed before making a decision.

I’ve noticed that the main reason parents feel pressured to move their daughters from baseball to softball is because, compared to boys, girls physically will only be able to do a percentage of what the boys can as they age. These parents would either like to: 1) save their daughter from heartache when she inevitably falls behind both physically and socially, and 2) start getting her used to softball and excelling at it as early as possible. After all, softball and baseball are games of repetition, and the earlier you begin, the better.

Girls in the city often start with baseball instead of softball because most available baseball programs begin at an earlier age. Those who have the choice often begin with baseball because they feel that the skill level is higher.

Chicago is in a unique situation. With a thriving baseball culture and only budding softball programs, the athleticism and experience of 7- to 12-year-old city softball players are usually, at this point, at a lower level than the boys relative to their age. For the most part, if a 7- to 12-year-old girl wants to play softball at the same athletic level as the boys her age, she’d probably have to play in a developed suburban league.

When it comes to the transition from baseball to softball, I’ve noticed that the longer a girl stays in baseball, the more of a culture shock it is for her to play softball. The cheering, the ribbons, the giant ball—the athleticism of the girls is different. The underhand pitches come from a different angle, and coaches communicate differently. Essentially, a player is entering an entirely different sport.

Some girls come into the new sport with a somewhat skeptical and negative attitude because they’ve heard comments about baseball being better, talent-wise, than softball. I think a young girl gathers from parents or friends, maybe baseball teammates, that she started with baseball because it was better, so she wants to continue with what’s better.

As far as coaching differences go, most baseball coaches are dads who played the sport when they were younger. Boys’ hitting skills are often better because dads can “parent-pitch” to the players much more accurately than they can pitch underhand. As a result, baseball players learn to hit at a much younger age than softball players. Baseball dads are motivated to teach the sport they knew and loved as young athletes. Softball is a bit foreign to them, so they either avoid it or teach it like baseball, only to discover as the girls age that softball has significant differences they may have missed.

The biggest difference between the two sports is the pitching. In softball, pitching dominates the game. Without trained pitchers, success at the higher levels for any team is nearly impossible. At the younger levels, skilled pitchers make the game fun because it allows hitters to hit and fielders to field.

The short game in softball is another differentiating factor. Due to the 60-foot base paths, the offensive schemes are managed quite differently. Coaches need to teach defensive shifts to counteract this. Though there are shifts in baseball, they are never due to a lefty slapper with speed at the plate.

When parents ask me if I would recommend switching their daughter to softball from baseball, I tell them that I am not the appropriate person to decide if this would be best. But I do suggest two things to help them figure out when the right time will be: 1) Let her decide, and 2) continuously expose her to softball.

Allowing her to decide is important because, call me crazy, what if she is the one who plays baseball in high school, college, or beyond? What if she becomes a trailblazer for more young girls in the future?

If you make the decision for her, when she experiences some failure, as everyone does, you want it to be because of the situation, not because of you. Which do you want in her head as she grows up? “I really wanted to play baseball and was good at it, but my dad made me quit because he didn’t think I could do it.” Or, do you want this in her head: “I played baseball in high school, couldn’t hit as far as everyone else, so I switched to softball. I had a hard time hitting a softball for a while, but I eventually got the hang of it because my dad helped me.” Teach her resiliency and to never be afraid of discomfort or failure. If she decides to stay, consider girls' baseball leagues. They are gaining popularity, even if only on the recreational level.

Secondly, continuously expose her to softball. This way, fear won’t be a factor in her being hesitant to try something new. Go to college softball games, play catch with a softball, or fill in at a softball game as a favor.

I believe that this issue will become less significant in Chicago as time progresses because the skill level of youth softball leagues will improve and match those of baseball. Parents are now doing a great job of organizing and developing softball leagues within the City of Chicago, and these leagues will only continue to improve. Baseball leagues for girls will become more widespread for those who just love the sport. Again, even as a former softball player and current coach, I am not supporting one decision over another. Hopefully, this simply informs you and makes your choice a little easier.