Baseball/softball schedule for a K and 1st grader- too much? (can parents of older kids chime in?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never understood - the coach insists all the kids get there WAY before the game starts. They practice before the game. Kids get tired out. When they arrived, they ran from the car very enthusiastic. By game time, it's almost a yawn fest.

Many coaches of these youth leagues do not know how to get the best performance from their kids. And they've forgotten what's reasonable.

You try to get the kids there early to they can get warmed up...stretch the muscles, etc. And remember how to catch the ball.

If you watch any sports, you will see some teams have the kids show up 2 minutes before the game, some 20-30 minutes. Guess which kids play better?

My pregame approach was to stretch for 5-8 minutes, throwing back and forth for 5 minutes, then infield practice. last five min to go over the positions....total warmup of 25 minutes.

[Anonymous]

oh, and you want to build good habits.

[Anonymous]

^ Don't exhaust the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never understood - the coach insists all the kids get there WAY before the game starts. They practice before the game. Kids get tired out. When they arrived, they ran from the car very enthusiastic. By game time, it's almost a yawn fest.

Many coaches of these youth leagues do not know how to get the best performance from their kids. And they've forgotten what's reasonable.

You try to get the kids there early to they can get warmed up...stretch the muscles, etc. And remember how to catch the ball.

If you watch any sports, you will see some teams have the kids show up 2 minutes before the game, some 20-30 minutes. Guess which kids play better?

My pregame approach was to stretch for 5-8 minutes, throwing back and forth for 5 minutes, then infield practice. last five min to go over the positions....total warmup of 25 minutes.

We're talking about 5 and 6 year olds here.

To me, the relevant question is not "Guess which kids play better." It's "Guess which kids have more fun?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:23:22 here - if you're referring to VLL, the uniforms are not expensive we are in Vienna, too. Parents provide pants, socks, and cleats (soccer cleats are fine if you already have those) and the league will give you the shirt and hat.

Yes, it's intense. If it seems like too much, then don't do it. Your daughter can play in VLL and you can have them play on the same team. There are a few girls in each of the younger age groups each year.

seriously, for some it is ok. If it is not for you, don't play

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never understood - the coach insists all the kids get there WAY before the game starts. They practice before the game. Kids get tired out. When they arrived, they ran from the car very enthusiastic. By game time, it's almost a yawn fest.

Many coaches of these youth leagues do not know how to get the best performance from their kids. And they've forgotten what's reasonable.

You try to get the kids there early to they can get warmed up...stretch the muscles, etc. And remember how to catch the ball.

If you watch any sports, you will see some teams have the kids show up 2 minutes before the game, some 20-30 minutes. Guess which kids play better?

My pregame approach was to stretch for 5-8 minutes, throwing back and forth for 5 minutes, then infield practice. last five min to go over the positions....total warmup of 25 minutes.

We're talking about 5 and 6 year olds here.

To me, the relevant question is not "Guess which kids play better." It's "Guess which kids have more fun?"

I know we are talking about 5 and 6 yo....guess what? They want to hit the ball hard....they want to make plays. And, the other reason to tell people to be early (for t-ball, it was 15 minutes), is so everyone is there 5-10 minutes before game time. I have to have a lineup, and positioned planned out...and we only have the field for a limited amount of time.

My experience is the kids did not have as much fun on the poorly coached disorganized teams. Oh, and my job as coach was to clear enthusiastically for the girls - on both teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are interested in doing each (boy and a girl)- I saw that there are two games, one weekday and one weekend and a practice. I am all for having the kids be active but this is crazy- my kids also like to do other things (including non team sports) and with this schedule- it's not going to happen. Is it worth it to start these house teams so early? I don't think we started until later grades- and by then, I knew more what I wanted to do and why. There are so many kids at our ES that are enrolled in all of these house teams - I can see why people think they are behind if little Johny didn't start baseball until 3rd or 4th grade since preschoolers are doing T-ball.

I am a fast-pitch softball coach (House league) and have been since that age (I now coach 3rd and 5th).

Let me tell you how I personally approached things:

In the beginning, we practiced a LOT. Before the first game, I held two practices a week: One during the week (say, Wednesday) and another on Saturday. This lasted for about six weeks. Each practice was 90 minutes.

I do this for two reasons:

1) We have a lot beginners. There's a lot to teach. We had one game early in my career where when the first time we had "play ball" my team stood around unsure of what to do. So, I literally had to teach them which base to run to when they hit the ball, what is fair/foul, how do you make an out... 101 stuff. It really takes 5 or 6 practices for a completely inexperienced team to get the basics down.

2) Get the families used to the schedule. Once games began on Saturday, that replaced our practice.

By then we reverted to one practice a week and one game. Rarely was there a game during the week unless it was a makeup for a rainout on a Saturday.

So what you're describing is a bit much. Even the TRAVEL teams in our area practice only once a week, although they may play tournaments or double-headers on weekends.

Your approach is completely reasonable- what I described is how Vienna sports approaches games and practices. I did read the other PP's comments on how it's the coaches time- but it's also the team players time and their families. Logistically having two kids in sports that demand at such an age two weeknight commitments (one game- one practice) and one weekend practice really fosters is in no way "introducing the kids" to the game. Actually- amend my comment- even with just one kid- you have to be rather dedicated and still forgo a lot. How can any family or kid know at that age to be that dedicated and also need to forgo any other interest due to lack of time. In addition, it is not cheap- those items mentioned last one season- that is it. I also read the snippy replied to say just don't do it- and we won't. I agree with the other PP that stated the kids sit around waiting for such a long time to play (and that's two games a week- 1.5 hours each)- that it will just suck the enthusiasm out of the sport (basically self-propagate baseball families). I do get the family / team spirit- my kids are on other sports teams and it's been great (they are still on the same teams and enjoy it) but the three nights per week at this age for "beginning" tball or softball for girls is too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are interested in doing each (boy and a girl)- I saw that there are two games, one weekday and one weekend and a practice. I am all for having the kids be active but this is crazy- my kids also like to do other things (including non team sports) and with this schedule- it's not going to happen. Is it worth it to start these house teams so early? I don't think we started until later grades- and by then, I knew more what I wanted to do and why. There are so many kids at our ES that are enrolled in all of these house teams - I can see why people think they are behind if little Johny didn't start baseball until 3rd or 4th grade since preschoolers are doing T-ball.

I am a fast-pitch softball coach (House league) and have been since that age (I now coach 3rd and 5th).

Let me tell you how I personally approached things:

In the beginning, we practiced a LOT. Before the first game, I held two practices a week: One during the week (say, Wednesday) and another on Saturday. This lasted for about six weeks. Each practice was 90 minutes.

I do this for two reasons:

1) We have a lot beginners. There's a lot to teach. We had one game early in my career where when the first time we had "play ball" my team stood around unsure of what to do. So, I literally had to teach them which base to run to when they hit the ball, what is fair/foul, how do you make an out... 101 stuff. It really takes 5 or 6 practices for a completely inexperienced team to get the basics down.

2) Get the families used to the schedule. Once games began on Saturday, that replaced our practice.

By then we reverted to one practice a week and one game. Rarely was there a game during the week unless it was a makeup for a rainout on a Saturday.

So what you're describing is a bit much. Even the TRAVEL teams in our area practice only once a week, although they may play tournaments or double-headers on weekends.

Your approach is completely reasonable- what I described is how Vienna sports approaches games and practices. I did read the other PP's comments on how it's the coaches time- but it's also the team players time and their families. Logistically having two kids in sports that demand at such an age two weeknight commitments (one game- one practice) and one weekend practice really fosters is in no way "introducing the kids" to the game. Actually- amend my comment- even with just one kid- you have to be rather dedicated and still forgo a lot. How can any family or kid know at that age to be that dedicated and also need to forgo any other interest due to lack of time. In addition, it is not cheap- those items mentioned last one season- that is it. I also read the snippy replied to say just don't do it- and we won't. I agree with the other PP that stated the kids sit around waiting for such a long time to play (and that's two games a week- 1.5 hours each)- that it will just suck the enthusiasm out of the sport (basically self-propagate baseball families). I do get the family / team spirit- my kids are on other sports teams and it's been great (they are still on the same teams and enjoy it) but the three nights per week at this age for "beginning" tball or softball for girls is too much.

I meant weekend game- also- as for the PP I quoted- I absolutely agree that practices are imperative and would embrace a longer practice schedule.

[Anonymous]

That's the same baseball schedule in our area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's the same baseball schedule in our area.

For 5 year olds?

[Anonymous]

To the poster worried about the kids getting tired: have you ever watched one of these games? It is not like soccer. The action only occurs from the time the ball his hit until it returns to the pitchers mound. Other than that, the kids are standing around.

Unless it is really hot, the kids do not get tired during the game...well, in the field, standing for a long period can be tiring. I see a bigger problem of losing focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are interested in doing each (boy and a girl)- I saw that there are two games, one weekday and one weekend and a practice. I am all for having the kids be active but this is crazy- my kids also like to do other things (including non team sports) and with this schedule- it's not going to happen. Is it worth it to start these house teams so early? I don't think we started until later grades- and by then, I knew more what I wanted to do and why. There are so many kids at our ES that are enrolled in all of these house teams - I can see why people think they are behind if little Johny didn't start baseball until 3rd or 4th grade since preschoolers are doing T-ball.

I am a fast-pitch softball coach (House league) and have been since that age (I now coach 3rd and 5th).

Let me tell you how I personally approached things:

In the beginning, we practiced a LOT. Before the first game, I held two practices a week: One during the week (say, Wednesday) and another on Saturday. This lasted for about six weeks. Each practice was 90 minutes.

I do this for two reasons:

1) We have a lot beginners. There's a lot to teach. We had one game early in my career where when the first time we had "play ball" my team stood around unsure of what to do. So, I literally had to teach them which base to run to when they hit the ball, what is fair/foul, how do you make an out... 101 stuff. It really takes 5 or 6 practices for a completely inexperienced team to get the basics down.

2) Get the families used to the schedule. Once games began on Saturday, that replaced our practice.

By then we reverted to one practice a week and one game. Rarely was there a game during the week unless it was a makeup for a rainout on a Saturday.

So what you're describing is a bit much. Even the TRAVEL teams in our area practice only once a week, although they may play tournaments or double-headers on weekends.

Your approach is completely reasonable- what I described is how Vienna sports approaches games and practices. I did read the other PP's comments on how it's the coaches time- but it's also the team players time and their families. Logistically having two kids in sports that demand at such an age two weeknight commitments (one game- one practice) and one weekend practice really fosters is in no way "introducing the kids" to the game. Actually- amend my comment- even with just one kid- you have to be rather dedicated and still forgo a lot. How can any family or kid know at that age to be that dedicated and also need to forgo any other interest due to lack of time. In addition, it is not cheap- those items mentioned last one season- that is it. I also read the snippy replied to say just don't do it- and we won't. I agree with the other PP that stated the kids sit around waiting for such a long time to play (and that's two games a week- 1.5 hours each)- that it will just suck the enthusiasm out of the sport (basically self-propagate baseball families). I do get the family / team spirit- my kids are on other sports teams and it's been great (they are still on the same teams and enjoy it) but the three nights per week at this age for "beginning" tball or softball for girls is too much.

We do baseball and swimming - three different kids. It IS a lot. (Try sitting in an overheated indoor, crowded pool an hour away for 3 hours all weekend long). We are all doing our best, and if it doesn't work for you, move on?

[Anonymous]

VLL coaches tend to stop practices about halfway through and just have games. There just isn't field space to hold practices is the reason I've heard. So it ends up being just a two day commitment each week. My main beef with VLL is that they practices and games are so haphazard. We get an email on Sunday saying practice will be tomorrow at 5:00 and then the next Sunday we get an email saying practice this week will be at 6:00 on Thursday. Then the games are all over the place with one week Wednesday night and Saturday morning and the next week on Tuesday night and Saturday evening. I don't mind the practices and games but think it's a little ridiculous to have parents have to deal with such a crazy schedule for t-ball and rookie leagues. Those levels do not need children playing every t-ball and rookie league team in the town. They can have a practice and play the same team over and over on the same days and not learn any differently.

[Anonymous]

Yep, for five year olds. I agree that it's a bit much. I have a handful of boys, and our lives revolve around sports practices, games, off-season clinics. And my kids don't play on the elite travel teams or all stars...just the house league. If you can't handle local baseball practices and games, then steer clear of lacrosse, football and hockey which require schlepping to other parts of the state...even for five year olds. Find a house/club league for baseball, basketball and soccer and stick with those.

Signed,
Ridiculously tired mom of four boys whose sports schedules are sucking the life out of her

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep, for five year olds. I agree that it's a bit much. I have a handful of boys, and our lives revolve around sports practices, games, off-season clinics. And my kids don't play on the elite travel teams or all stars...just the house league. If you can't handle local baseball practices and games, then steer clear of lacrosse, football and hockey which require schlepping to other parts of the state...even for five year olds. Find a house/club league for baseball, basketball and soccer and stick with those.

Signed,
Ridiculously tired mom of four boys whose sports schedules are sucking the life out of her

I'm OP- this IS house- and the first time "trying" baseball/softball..