An Amazing Turnabout
Today, when I felt the most frustrated, to the point that my friend and other coach asked “what is wrong w/ you, you seem more frustrated than normal”, our team decides they know what they are doing and started showing off how great they can be.
Not because we won the game, who cares about that, but because they went to positions they were supposed to on the field, ran under balls and actually caught a few, and threw strikes. Mind you, these are 8-10 YO boys, so any expectations are high, but they came through.
The best of all was one kid who didn’t have a hit all year. It has been frustrating because he has a fantastic swing, has been working hard w/ his dad, and there is no doubt if he begins connecting he will be a star hitter.
Today, he connected w/ a shot in the gap! A two RBI double! Sweetttt!! You should have seen the smile on his face! I am positive he is still smiling in his sleep to this moment! That’s not all though, he also caught a fly ball AND got a strike out.
All this from a kid who had never touched the field before this year, really had no baseball skills at all, but had a genuine desire to learn, had his head in every pitch all year long, and constantly searched for how he could do better, to the point of asking too much!!!…lol.
Just when I was ready to give up on this team and get frustrated, they pull something like this. The nightcap came on the last play of the game. The other team has the best player in the league on it, a larger boy who will definitely move up to majors in the spring. He was barreling home as a play was being made on him, my son, who had not had the greatest game of his life, was the catcher.
This boy had at least 25lbs, if not more, on my son, but he held his ground blocking the plate perfectly as the throw came in. The kid from the other team slide (properly) hard into the plate and the catcher. There was a very loud “thud” sound, as the two ran into each other. The sound was that of a large ball being slammed against a wall, the place went quiet and everyone was still.
Suddenly the runner realized he hadn’t made it to the base yet and the throw was slightly off-line so my son didn’t make the catch. The runner crawled around him and just touch the plate before my son could gather the ball and tag him. I didn’t care if there was an out recorded or not, the point is, the kid slide hard and perfect, the plate was blocked perfectly, and, believe it or not, apparently my son does listen to what I tell him.
In fact, it appears the whole team does! Do you have a story that makes you feel like it is all worth it? Please share it.
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I’m sooo frustrated with DADDY ball. I have been involved in little league , Pony league, and a travel baseball team, for eight years. Every year I think it will be better and it just gets worse. My son has never had his dad coach. He has earned every bit of playing time he’s had. From hard work and being a great athlete. Thank god his talet shined through. But so many players get the shaft. I’m so tired of coaches sons, or daughters playing whatever position they want, when they want. Just because DADDY is the coach. CHOACHES your not helping your child in anyway. When he or she gets to the high school, where daddy isn’t there, they will realize they wern’t the allstar they thought they were. Hopefully, if the coach at the high school level doesn’t have a son on the team. Now I have a 7 year old coming up in little league. He played teeball when he was 5 years old. He Quit half way through the season. The coach and managers kids played pither and first base every game.(where all the balls go) He didn’t want to play the following year. I finally got him back into little league AA division. Same thing is happening. The coach and managers ALLSTAR kids play all the prime position. I thought at this level they are learnig. Their is plenty of time for competative play. But 7 years old COME ON. Coaches need to realize they can impact whether the child will move forward or quit. Not only are you hurting the other children on the team, your hurting your own child.
Wow Carrie, please tell us how you really feel! (Sorry, couldn’t resist). This is a constant problem at every level of sport. It is important for the board to understand and recognize the potential for this to happen.
In our league, at the developmental levels, we have rules that players are not permitted to play outfield more than 3 consecutive outs and no player shall play the same position more than 3 consecutive outs. At the minors level we require that kids not sit out more than 3 consecutive outs since free defensive substitution is allowed.
I have to disagree w/ you on one minor point. I don’t believe there are any “prime positions” as you refer to them. There are only 18 outs in a Little League game. If you miss 1 fly ball you have cost your team 5% of the total outs they will have for the game.
It has been my experience that most outs are lost in the outfield and if a player recognizes the importance of that position, they can thrive. There are a ton of famous outfielders, but infielders are a dime a dozen.
My right fielder on our softball team has been playing that position now for 2 years and 3 seasons. NOT because she is bad, but because she can run down a fly ball AND has a cannon of an arm should a runner choose to try 1st to 3rd on her. Most of the fly balls go to right because we have fairly fast pitchers.
Very good comment, how about anyone else? Have a similar experience to report?
Yes, your right every position is important. Only at teeball level outfield never gets balls. Can make or break a player from ever returning. I believe you earn your position. Not have it handed to you. Thanks for your input. I,m going to write a letter to the board.
Carrie,
We agree on that, at t-ball, coach pitch, and in the fall instructional seasons, no player should play the outfield more than 3 consecutive outs. But at minors up, you earn your position. The younger kids learn and next year they get their chance.