Boys baseball

My son is in 12u fast pitch. The team is 7 and 0 undefeated so far. My kid plays 1st base full time besides pitching for 3 innings per game. Last night the other teams in the league decided they want to drop the tournament bracket and do a round Robin because there is no chance they would win. They also requested my son and another player can’t pitch during the round Robin games due to there skill level. Round Robin leaves every kid to get a trophy and no 1st 2nd and 3rd place stand.
Since when are we teaching kids that competition and hard work isn’t a part of life. If some one or another team are better then we just quit. Like honestly what the hell. We had to show birthdays and grades of my son and 2 others on our team because of there size. My 12 year old is 5 10 179 pounds. And the other 2 are shorter by a couple inches but thicker. Now it’s unfair because they are big kids? Hopefully every one else’s kids sports are not going this way. What a gross way to teach kids.
Sorry my rant is over.

Bearcat89 wrote:

We had to show birthdays and grades of my son and 2 others on our team because of there size. My 12 year old is 5 10 179 pounds. And the other 2 are shorter by a couple inches but thicker. Now it’s unfair because they are big kids?

I believe that years ago a team in the little league world series was caught using players that were over the age limit. I think it was a team from Japan? I can’t remember. Turns out they were turning in fraudulent age verification for some of their players, and one of them was a stud pitcher.

Its unfortunate that the other teams have forced a round robin instead of a standard bracket style. If you’ve proven that your kid and the others on the team are within the age limits, you’ve done your duty, case closed. I can see why the other teams might think they are too old given their combination of size and age. Requesting that the best players can’t use their best qualities is pure BS if you ask me. My response would be to play better.

How many other teams are in tourney?

Lesson of life as well to teach is its okay to be outmatched. There are only so many teams, and with that talent on those teams, to go around and actually enter into tourneys. If it’s going to be a crapshow it would be better off imo for all involved to hop out of tourney rules and into a Robin style games. Kids will get more play time instead of 10 or 15 run rules in place by the X inning. (Softball dad, not baseball so rules may differ)

Everyone coaches and parents differently, I don’t want my kids always shooting for trophies, long list of reasons…

gimruis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
We had to show birthdays and grades of my son and 2 others on our team because of there size. My 12 year old is 5 10 179 pounds. And the other 2 are shorter by a couple inches but thicker. Now it’s unfair because they are big kids?

I believe that years ago a team in the little league world series was caught using players that were over the age limit. I think it was a team from Japan? I can’t remember. Turns out they were turning in fraudulent age verification for some of their players, and one of them was a stud pitcher.

Its unfortunate that the other teams have forced a round robin instead of a standard bracket style. If you’ve proven that your kid and the others on the team are within the age limits, you’ve done your duty, case closed. I can see why the other teams might think they are too old given their combination of size and age. Requesting that the best players can’t use their best qualities is pure BS if you ask me. My response would be to play better.

Ages and grades have been turned in. Now it’s a pout fest on how to train a kid to be a soar looser instead of pushing them selves to be better. We have pitching practices in my back yard and my kid and a few others gather around daily and practice, now that’s being looked at as a negative. This is the last year my son will play on this league next year is the next league up. He will probably come in on the lower level, should I teach him to quit then ?

And while I’m ranting, 2 kids left out team a couple weeks back because they were messing around and had to do burpees and laps half the night. They were warned 10 times. The moms said the coach is to mean and it’s unfair. Wtf tell your kid to have respect and not waste the coaches and other kids time

Deuces wrote:

How many other teams are in tourney?

Lesson of life as well to teach is its okay to be outmatched. There are only so many teams, and with that talent on those teams, to go around and actually enter into tourneys. If it’s going to be a crapshow it would be better off imo for all involved to hop out of tourney rules and into a Robin style games. Kids will get more play time instead of 10 or 15 run rules in place by the X inning. (Softball dad, not baseball so rules may differ)

Everyone coaches and parents differently, I don’t want my kids always shooting for trophies, long list of reasons…

So join the league knowing about the end tournament, but when things are not going your way mid season then back out of it? Seems like a pretty crappy way to teach kids via coach or parent. Not directed at you nick. None of this is about the trophy at all. It’s about pushing these boys to be a solid team well rounded and have respect for the coach and the other players. Which they do a great job at.

Bearcat89 wrote:

They were warned 10 times.

10 times?! Good god that’s about 8 too many warnings already.

gimruis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
They were warned 10 times.

10 times?! Good god that’s about 8 too many warnings already.

When I was in baseball I wouldn’t even be able to play if I did those things. I get kids will be kids but at the end of the day if you don’t respect your teammates enough to try and not to sit and yell and scream then punishment should be extensive exercises

I’m one of the coach’s on my sons 10 and under team. I would tell them you are not changing anything with the tournament. We have kids on our team that need constant babysitting And discipline also. Half the parents don’t even show up to watch their kids on game nights and there is even less on practice nights

I played sports in my younger years and were on teams that got the crap beat out of them, and were also on teams which we beat the crap out of our competition. Each result teaches you something in life. I’m all for the best team wins. If your son/daughter’s team is not the best team it’s just the way it is. Parent’s seem to have the hardest part grasping this and tell there child they should play more, coach is not a good, etc to the point the child believes it. Good luck in the tourney may the best team wim.

Welcome to the new ” Everyone is a Winner ” world that we are living in these days. I remember a coach of mine when I was young really well. I remember once after a tough loss in a wresting match I was really down and upset. He came over and said ” Do you like feeling this way? If so fine, just get use to it, if not you need to work harder than everyone else so you don’t need to feel this way again ” Many years later I ask him if he remembers saying that to me. He said he said that same thing to LOTS of kids over his years. He said some just quit the sport after he told them that, and others worked twice as hard at getting better after it. He says most of those who worked Harder to improve ended up way better in life than most of them who quit. Recently before his death he was inducted into a hall of fame. At his induction speech I remember him says he was glad he retired before all this ” Everyone is a winner ” BS. He said that is not a good lesson for life and he could not have been a part of it.

Coletrain27 wrote:

I’m one of the coach’s on my sons 10 and under team. I would tell them you are not changing anything with the tournament. We have kids on our team that need constant babysitting And discipline also. Half the parents don’t even show up to watch their kids on game nights and there is even less on practice nights

Same here. On practice nights it’s me and one other parent which is actually grandma. Game night is a handful of parents. I am not a full time coach but I step in and help almost every practice and as a base coach on game nights when needed.

Playing for the Osseo/Maple Grove rec basketball teams, we always got absolutely destroyed when we played a Brooklyn park/center team.

This is why I am glad bass teams and trap teams are getting popular. Way less parent drama/politics

The whole sport situation is sad and 99% is on the parents. The kids just want to have fun. That is why I instilled in by sons to go to the neighbors, get all their friends and play ball in the hay field or basketball in the barn. Always came home happy and telling stories while not feeling left out or good enough.

My kid was on a loosing team last year. We actually played against the coach who is now his coach. We got our butts handed to us. It’s part of the game. The head coach now runs a tight ship and I really respect it. My kid started 1st game as 1st base, he missed 2 plays that were bad misses. After that he was sent to out field. And had to earn back 1st base which he has since done.

jimmysiewert wrote:

The whole sport situation is sad and 99% is on the parents. The kids just want to have fun. That is why I instilled in by sons to go to the neighbors, get all their friends and play ball in the hay field or basketball in the barn. Always came home happy and telling stories while not feeling left out or good enough.

They all have fun, competition is fun. They enjoy being pushed. It’s the fundamentals of life. It’s not the marine Corp, and it isn’t run that way. Discipline because not listening is life. At home or on the field. Nothing better then seeing a kid push him self and be successful, the glow on the faces alone prove it.

My stepsons 10 year old team is run by 3 snot nose little pricks. One is the coaches son and 2 of his friends. I wanted him to quit but he wants to play. Had a fill in coach for 2 weeks was much better. Speaking of parents watching his team gets about 20 fans. Me and his mom, our 2 daughters, MY parents, his dad and stepmom, her parents and his grandma. Thats 11 or 12 there for him and maybe 8 for the rest of the team.

The kids need to learn both sides. How to win respectfully and how to lose with dignity. It’s all about sportsmanship and you need to experience both to really become a good sport.
I was lucky as a young kid in that I got to experience both sides to the extreme.
I was very small for my age so for wrestling tournaments I either got stuck with young kids who were my size or kids my age who were bigger than me.
Sometimes I won every match, sometimes I lost every match. After a while i actually started making them put me in my age class regardless of weight differences. I didn’t enjoy winning when I wrestled less experienced kids. I took some whoopings but also got to stand proud a few times after beating kids who had 20-30lbs on me.
Sports aren’t necessarily about winning, it’s about fun. That being said it’s not a sport or competition without a winner.

grubson wrote:

Sports aren’t necessarily about winning, it’s about fun. That being said it’s not a sport or competition without a winner.

Agree. It’s about having fun, pushing them selves to become better and pushing each other to become better. And learning to work and rely on a team and teammates while also being relied on themselves by others. There is lots of great teachings in kids sports, and learning to be a quitter isn’t one of them, nor is quitting because it gets to hard.

If its year end tourney yes that would be different.

I’ve seen my fair share of mid season tourneys w like 3 or 4 teams which my scenario fits.

You’re doing it right BC. And my hat’s off to you for giving your son what he needs to succeed. Baseball is just the beginning. And your own work ethis will rub off on him.

I have a buddy who’s son wasn’t allowed to play high school football because he was too big, like 6’3″ or a hair taller and a very solid 350. The kid just let it roll off and got on the trap team and made all the others look sort of unpracticed.

Deuces wrote:

If its year end tourney yes that would be different.

I’ve seen my fair share of mid season tourneys w like 3 or 4 teams which my scenario fits.

I guess I didn’t specify. It is the year end tourney. Which is still 6 regular season games away

Jimmy Jones wrote:

You’re doing it right BC. And my hat’s off to you for giving your son what he needs to succeed. Baseball is just the beginning. And your own work ethis will rub off on him.

I have a buddy who’s son wasn’t allowed to play high school football because he was too big, like 6’3″ or a hair taller and a very solid 350. The kid just let it roll off and got on the trap team and made all the others look sort of unpracticed.

Thank you and I appreciate the compliment

Sounds like you’re doing a heck of a job BC. Props to you. It is a shame how some people try to baby the heck out of kids these days. They learn just as much, if not more from losing as they do winning. It’s sad the helicopter parents try to shield their kids from life lessons.

Must have a team full of Danny Almonte’s

Gitchi Gummi wrote:

Sounds like you’re doing a heck of a job BC. Props to you. It is a shame how some people try to baby the heck out of kids these days. They learn just as much, if not more from losing as they do winning. It’s sad the helicopter parents try to shield their kids from life lessons.

Thank you sir. Always appreciated. As for helicopter parents, I think it’s becoming more and more common, along with the tablet is your baby sitter type of deal. I have always just taught my son to show respect and earn respect. Life isn’t fare but as long as you give it your all most of the time positive things will happen. That’s for sports, relationships, school, work and many other aspects of life. Where I half ass things, I get half ass results

tswoboda wrote:

Must have a team full of Danny Almonte’s

I had to Google who he was. All kids on the team are 5th and 6th grade. We’ll within legal age

Bearcat89 wrote:

Thank you sir. Always appreciated. As for helicopter parents, I think it’s becoming more and more common, along with the tablet is your baby sitter type of deal. I have always just taught my son to show respect and earn respect. Life isn’t fare but as long as you give it your all most of the time positive things will happen. That’s for sports, relationships, school, work and many other aspects of life. Where I half ass things, I get half ass results

ironic enough, the kids who get babied and spoon-fed for the first 18 years of their life by their helicopter parents are often the ones that go off the deep end when they get to college/post high school days once they get their first sniff of some freedom. Speaking from first hand experience from 2 really good buds of mine.

keep up the good work BC. its refreshing to see guys on this forum like you and B-man raising kids the right way. I know others here are too but you guys are the first example that comes to mind.

The real problem is parents getting too caught up in the competition and ruining leagues, formats, trying to get coaches fired and knocking out refs because they “missed” a call. Adults are ruining everything in this country and it’s hurting our kids.

its really bad out there in the “fair” world.

BC ….. this sounds like the local “rec” league? if so then all the “we’re playing for fun” crowd will always be the voice the association listens to.

local association travel ball is your way around it because it is suppose to be teaching the competitive side better…. meaning coaches put kids where they are strongest and where it makes the team stronger… you play to win the game.. of course you run into parents who still think it should be the “fun” rec style.

for example

in travel you need to prove you can pitch strikes in practice before you step on the mound in the game….. in ‘rec’ everyone gets to pitch regardless of proven play.

parents should all know this before they decide where they want their kid to play each season.