Rec League Cancels All-Star Game
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Ohio Rec League Cancels All-Star Game
I would be remiss if I didn’t comment on this story that is being wildly commented on by the national news media about a youth rec league in Ohio canceling it’s annual July 4th all-star games. You can read the details about this at 96.5 KISS FM . Canceling this game is ludicrous.
Not Little League
First, this is NOT the officially sanctioned All-Stars as everyone on TV is making it sound like. This is simply a game where the teams each pick a couple players and they go play in a game on July 4th against each other. That needs to be understood from the beginning, and it is not.
Little League all-stars is an entirely separate season where the elite of the league compete against one another. The game being canceled is simply a feel good get together game from a feel good fun recreation league. There is a huge difference.
No Reason to Cancel
That said, there is absolutely no reason to cancel an all-star game. Why wouldn’t you want to honor those that worked harder, played better, and excelled? This is the reward for their hard work! They are likely the ones who spend extra time at batting practice, on the field practicing, pitching extra. The all-star game is the reward for their efforts!
It teaches them that hard work pays off. It also teaches those that don’t make it that they need to work a little harder. If they don’t have as much natural ability, they must work harder than someone that does. It gives them something to strive for! If there is no goal to strive for, why try to make yourself better?
The article states:
"[Fred] Engh [from the National Alliance of Youth Sports] says that kind of competitiveness belongs in older kids, not players at this level. He says 9 to 12 year olds need to build their self confidence, and many sign up to play baseball at this age just to have fun".
Children are Sponges
I have to strongly disagree with this quote. Every day I am amazed at how much a young child can learn and retain. They are like giant sponges that absorb everything around them. They comprehend much more than we give them credit for and my advice to any coach is NEVER underestimate a child, especially one in this age category.
I always have parents and new assistant coaches that laugh or chuckle as I shout out 10 instructions in about 5 seconds my kids. "That’s a lot of information for a nine year old to process", is one quote that sticks out in my mind. But always, once the season is over, they come to me and say, "my kid learned more this season on your team than he learned all of his prior years combined". This is because I have a message, I stay on message, and I teach the same thing over and over. Eventually, a light-bulb turns on and they get it.
Kids Know
The fact is, some players are better than others. Most Little Leagues have their kids vote for who should be on the all-star team. Guess what, that list almost ALWAYS has the best players on it!!!! You think the kids don’t know who the best players are?
A Harmful Lesson
I say just the opposite is true. The kids that wouldn’t make the team know if you cancel the all-star game, it is to cover up the fact that they are not as good, and that, my friends, is a much more harmful lesson to teach any child.
Should the game be canceled or not? Let me know what you think.
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game show catchphrases posted on July 3, 2008:
game show catchphrases…
Great site – this info is great! Looking forward to reading the rest….
Thanks!
Nice website!!
Thank you very much!
What is amazing is that it is o.k. to have the kids learn at different paces and placed in more advanced math or english. They still have events during school to earn blue ribbons, or get singled out as achieving at a high level. Anyone ever hear of the National Spelling Bee? I cannot believe we as a society have gotten so wimpy as to make sure no one ever achieves more than someone else. Sad day…
Great point! Actually, parents go nuts if their kids aren’t in the advanced classes! I never thought of this analogy, it is very appropriate. Thanks for the great input.