Last Thursday, I accompanied my girlfriend to her little brother's t-ball game. It was charming. I bunch of kids with their minds half in outer space, playing baseball. In any case, each inning took the same course. A kid would hit the ball off the tee, the other team would make a hilarious attempt at fielding, and the batter would end up on first base regardless of what happened. Every at bat, the process is repeated, and the children move up one base. After every child has batted in that inning, they all round the bases.

 

Meg told me the idea was that the children learn how to play the game, rather than try to win, or worry about all that stuff. I told her that was fine, and the only question is why they bothered to form teams? I know that youth sports should not be ultracompetitive, or even really competitive at all. But at some point, shouldn't we keep track of something?

The problem Al is that many parents complain when their kid is "discriminated" against because they aren't as good a hitter or fielder or pitcher as another player who gets more time.

 

I mean it was like fourteen years ago when I played t-ball and even I remember us actually being competitive and stuff and learning about the game.

 

However, its also that the coaches these days don't take the time to actually take a youngster who's playing on the team aside and help them focus on becoming a better player as well. The coaches these days just show up and that's about it.

 

Both the parents and the coaching itself aren't helping these children progress and learn. They stagnate them by cuddling them away from the harsh realities of not being good enough and striving to become better.

However, its also that the coaches these days don't take the time to actually take a youngster who's playing on the team aside and help them focus on becoming a better player as well. The coaches these days just show up and that's about it.

In fairness, just getting the player to focus at all is an accomplishment. Megan's brother had trouble running the bases in a straight line.

I've had this same peeve for a while too. The local LL has come up with a few twists that I thought were pretty good.

 

Every player bats every inning. Let's say the team is made up of 13 kids. There's gonna be 13 batters. No problem, it gets all the kids involved at least. Now, only 9 take the field, but every kid gets to bat, and to be honest, that's all we cared about as kids anyways.

 

Every kid has to play at least 1 inning in the field. Once again, a mandated participation rule, and I have no problem with that.

 

Other than that, it's rock on. They keep track of the score, they can run as long as they want, and it's all fine and dandy.

When I was a kid who played in a year of LL, I remembered being benched for a couple of games because I was on a cold streak. I was specifically told by the coach that I was benched because I was becoming concious of trying to hit instead of going out and just hit. During that time off, I went out practicing my swing and when I was given a chance to hit again, I made the most of it. Needless to say, sometimes kids get it in their heads that they need to go out and be the hero who carries the team.

 

That's not what the sports are about. Its about being able to help your team, something which is totally lost on kids because you do up these rules that let these kids think they should get to play regardless if they actually put the time and effort into it. Kids should be able to learn a role, understand why they are given the role, and if it isn't what they want to be doing, work hard to make sure that they get better at it. Its a better way of progressing their talents.

That's not what the sports are about. Its about being able to help your team, something which is totally lost on kids because you do up these rules that let these kids think they should get to play regardless if they actually put the time and effort into it. Kids should be able to learn a role, understand why they are given the role, and if it isn't what they want to be doing, work hard to make sure that they get better at it. Its a better way of progressing their talents.

I disagree with that. A role is something that you are assigned given a thorough evaluation of your skills. Little league is not about winning. It is about development and enjoyment. Kids should have fun, and learn the basics of playing the game. The Little League World Series actually annoys me. Just as my t-ball experience was non-competitiveness run amuck, the LLWS is competitiveness run amuck.

 

Although I should consider making a pilgrammage to Williamsport this year, given that it is just a two hour drive.

I should add that at the little league level, roles are not defined because there is a simpler pecking order at work. In the majors, the best hitters are usually the first basemen and outfielders. As you go up the defensive spectrum, the hitting becomes weaker. There is more specialization. At lower levels, particularly little league and high school, the best hitters are the shortstops and pitchers. The best athletes excel at everything, and talent simply trends downward, regardless of roles. The only sensible way to define a player's proper role is to give him less playing time. And without playing, I doubt that player will improve.