I am beginning to hate alexandria little league

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I coach a Majors team, and played against a new team this season. The other team's manager made a point of each kid playing an equal amount, pitching three different kids during the game, and making sure that each kid got to play at least once in the infield.

It was an absolute mess. We waxed them, but after the game my benchwarmer parents were muttering about why our team couldn't play like THAT team.

You mean THAT team that we beat 16-1? That team that made five errors? That team that swung at the first pitch 18 times, something that our team NEVER does because I screamed at them until they drilled it into their heads?

Majors is where baseball stops being about "each kid having fun", and starts being about performance. It's about making sure our high school programs are seeing their future players get the reps they need. It's NOT about the kid who pays some pittance to play in a Majors house league, when we have kids whose parents play THOUSANDS to go out and bring home some hardware.

Think about that the next time Snowflake plays two innings in right field and bats once. Think about the reps you're taking away from the real talents when you demand "equality".

Exhibit A folks. This is why youth sports is now practically intolerable for anyone sane.

I think this is the same yahoo who acts like a coach-pitch league in Arlington is on part with travel and prattles on about future high school players needing reps and how House players shouldn't use the cages. He's a complete loser who has no business coaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I coach a Majors team, and played against a new team this season. The other team's manager made a point of each kid playing an equal amount, pitching three different kids during the game, and making sure that each kid got to play at least once in the infield.

It was an absolute mess. We waxed them, but after the game my benchwarmer parents were muttering about why our team couldn't play like THAT team.

You mean THAT team that we beat 16-1? That team that made five errors? That team that swung at the first pitch 18 times, something that our team NEVER does because I screamed at them until they drilled it into their heads?

Majors is where baseball stops being about "each kid having fun", and starts being about performance. It's about making sure our high school programs are seeing their future players get the reps they need. It's NOT about the kid who pays some pittance to play in a Majors house league, when we have kids whose parents play THOUSANDS to go out and bring home some hardware.

Think about that the next time Snowflake plays two innings in right field and bats once. Think about the reps you're taking away from the real talents when you demand "equality".

My 3 sons have played a combo of LL and travel ball and this coach is a horrible example. Yes, coaches care about winning - at all levels. But "yelling" at kids about something that is truly a judgement call (after all, with some of these crappy pitchers, the first pitch is often the best one you will see during your at-bat). Our kids are seen as talented but we specifically choose teams where the coach has an all-around approach to the game. Winning isn't everything. Plus, at it's heart, baseball is a game of failure. Kids have to know that you'll be up some games and you'll be down some games. The coach is an integral part of developing the players' mental toughness to persevere and learn from their mistakes.

This asshole is just out there to win.

Oh, and 2 of my 3 play on their high school team. We anticipate their younger brother will to. It doesn't require this to make the high school team -- a talented player is going to be chosen, regardless of the daddy ball that was played when they were younger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I coach a Majors team, and played against a new team this season. The other team's manager made a point of each kid playing an equal amount, pitching three different kids during the game, and making sure that each kid got to play at least once in the infield.

It was an absolute mess. We waxed them, but after the game my benchwarmer parents were muttering about why our team couldn't play like THAT team.

You mean THAT team that we beat 16-1? That team that made five errors? That team that swung at the first pitch 18 times, something that our team NEVER does because I screamed at them until they drilled it into their heads?

Majors is where baseball stops being about "each kid having fun", and starts being about performance. It's about making sure our high school programs are seeing their future players get the reps they need. It's NOT about the kid who pays some pittance to play in a Majors house league, when we have kids whose parents play THOUSANDS to go out and bring home some hardware.

Think about that the next time Snowflake plays two innings in right field and bats once. Think about the reps you're taking away from the real talents when you demand "equality".

wow. You have no awareness of how ridiculous you sound.

[Anonymous]

Not to mention any coach that tells kids not to swing at the first pitch is an idiot. You should be thinking "strike."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I coach a Majors team, and played against a new team this season. The other team's manager made a point of each kid playing an equal amount, pitching three different kids during the game, and making sure that each kid got to play at least once in the infield.

It was an absolute mess. We waxed them, but after the game my benchwarmer parents were muttering about why our team couldn't play like THAT team.

You mean THAT team that we beat 16-1? That team that made five errors? That team that swung at the first pitch 18 times, something that our team NEVER does because I screamed at them until they drilled it into their heads?

Majors is where baseball stops being about "each kid having fun", and starts being about performance. It's about making sure our high school programs are seeing their future players get the reps they need. It's NOT about the kid who pays some pittance to play in a Majors house league, when we have kids whose parents play THOUSANDS to go out and bring home some hardware.

Think about that the next time Snowflake plays two innings in right field and bats once. Think about the reps you're taking away from the real talents when you demand "equality".

My 3 sons have played a combo of LL and travel ball and this coach is a horrible example. Yes, coaches care about winning - at all levels. But "yelling" at kids about something that is truly a judgement call (after all, with some of these crappy pitchers, the first pitch is often the best one you will see during your at-bat). Our kids are seen as talented but we specifically choose teams where the coach has an all-around approach to the game. Winning isn't everything. Plus, at it's heart, baseball is a game of failure. Kids have to know that you'll be up some games and you'll be down some games. The coach is an integral part of developing the players' mental toughness to persevere and learn from their mistakes.

This asshole is just out there to win.

Oh, and 2 of my 3 play on their high school team. We anticipate their younger brother will to. It doesn't require this to make the high school team -- a talented player is going to be chosen, regardless of the daddy ball that was played when they were younger.

Hey punk, my first two boys both made the high school team. The reps I gave them at shortstop in house and on travel got them the experience they needed to make it to that level.

Then after their mother went insane, I remarried and had a couple more kids. The girl is projecting to be a terrific soccer player, while my boy had a great year kicking a**. For those interested in family, it's pretty cool to have my oldest serving as my assistant coach. If I can give him a leg up and experience he can turn into a gig as freshman coach at a high school program, I'm doing my job as a Dad.

[Anonymous]

Back to the original question, 10 is definitely not too young to be playing the better players more in baseball--and it is not only jerk coaches who go that route, it is the norm.

[Anonymous]

But why can't the rec league be an "everyone plays" league, given that there are so many options for those who want a more competitive experience?
There are tons of local tournaments and travel teams.
For the kids who work hard but still aren't very good, we are effectively shutting them out at a very young age.
My son has never missed a practice or game and we even got some private batting lessons.
He still mostly just strikes out.
And he's not great in the infield. But it's not for lack of trying.
And yea, we have tried other sports.
I just wish there was room for kids like him, because he's too young to give up on it, and he enjoys the camaraderie and exercise from being part of a team

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But why can't the rec league be an "everyone plays" league, given that there are so many options for those who want a more competitive experience?
There are tons of local tournaments and travel teams.
For the kids who work hard but still aren't very good, we are effectively shutting them out at a very young age.
My son has never missed a practice or game and we even got some private batting lessons.
He still mostly just strikes out.
And he's not great in the infield. But it's not for lack of trying.
And yea, we have tried other sports.
I just wish there was room for kids like him, because he's too young to give up on it, and he enjoys the camaraderie and exercise from being part of a team

He should play down a level. If most boys his age are AAA he should play AA. DS has friends who are not good and this is what they do. Play AAA as an 11. At 12, if he doesn't pitch he can still play AAA. If he still isn't competitive as a 12 playing AAA, it may be time to find another sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But why can't the rec league be an "everyone plays" league, given that there are so many options for those who want a more competitive experience?
There are tons of local tournaments and travel teams.
For the kids who work hard but still aren't very good, we are effectively shutting them out at a very young age.
My son has never missed a practice or game and we even got some private batting lessons.
He still mostly just strikes out.
And he's not great in the infield. But it's not for lack of trying.
And yea, we have tried other sports.
I just wish there was room for kids like him, because he's too young to give up on it, and he enjoys the camaraderie and exercise from being part of a team

He should play down a level. If most boys his age are AAA he should play AA. DS has friends who are not good and this is what they do. Play AAA as an 11. At 12, if he doesn't pitch he can still play AAA. If he still isn't competitive as a 12 playing AAA, it may be time to find another sport.

+1 We have seen kids do this throughout the years and it seems to be a good compromise.

I also disagree with PP that a kid should have to play travel at age 9 or 10 in order to get a decent amount of competition. Rec leagues should be allowed to be competitive--in terms of trying to win games, not in terms of cutting kids from the team. It's extremely frustrating that with sports in this area, 9 and 10 year olds are expected to join travel teams if they are good athletes, rather than just have the rec league get more competitive each year (again not in terms of cutting players), as is warranted by the kids' ages. Travel teams are extremely pricey and a huge time commitment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But why can't the rec league be an "everyone plays" league, given that there are so many options for those who want a more competitive experience?
There are tons of local tournaments and travel teams.
For the kids who work hard but still aren't very good, we are effectively shutting them out at a very young age.
My son has never missed a practice or game and we even got some private batting lessons.
He still mostly just strikes out.
And he's not great in the infield. But it's not for lack of trying.
And yea, we have tried other sports.
I just wish there was room for kids like him, because he's too young to give up on it, and he enjoys the camaraderie and exercise from being part of a team

He should play down a level. If most boys his age are AAA he should play AA. DS has friends who are not good and this is what they do. Play AAA as an 11. At 12, if he doesn't pitch he can still play AAA. If he still isn't competitive as a 12 playing AAA, it may be time to find another sport.

+1 We have seen kids do this throughout the years and it seems to be a good compromise.

I also disagree with PP that a kid should have to play travel at age 9 or 10 in order to get a decent amount of competition. Rec leagues should be allowed to be competitive--in terms of trying to win games, not in terms of cutting kids from the team. It's extremely frustrating that with sports in this area, 9 and 10 year olds are expected to join travel teams if they are good athletes, rather than just have the rec league get more competitive each year (again not in terms of cutting players), as is warranted by the kids' ages. Travel teams are extremely pricey and a huge time commitment.

i think this only applies to soccer. just one sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I coach a Majors team, and played against a new team this season. The other team's manager made a point of each kid playing an equal amount, pitching three different kids during the game, and making sure that each kid got to play at least once in the infield.

It was an absolute mess. We waxed them, but after the game my benchwarmer parents were muttering about why our team couldn't play like THAT team.

You mean THAT team that we beat 16-1? That team that made five errors? That team that swung at the first pitch 18 times, something that our team NEVER does because I screamed at them until they drilled it into their heads?

Majors is where baseball stops being about "each kid having fun", and starts being about performance. It's about making sure our high school programs are seeing their future players get the reps they need. It's NOT about the kid who pays some pittance to play in a Majors house league, when we have kids whose parents play THOUSANDS to go out and bring home some hardware.

Think about that the next time Snowflake plays two innings in right field and bats once. Think about the reps you're taking away from the real talents when you demand "equality".

You can be selective and competitive but you don't need to scream or belittle others. You can be a great and efficient coach without being the disgusting asshole you are.

Blaurgh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I coach a Majors team, and played against a new team this season. The other team's manager made a point of each kid playing an equal amount, pitching three different kids during the game, and making sure that each kid got to play at least once in the infield.

It was an absolute mess. We waxed them, but after the game my benchwarmer parents were muttering about why our team couldn't play like THAT team.

You mean THAT team that we beat 16-1? That team that made five errors? That team that swung at the first pitch 18 times, something that our team NEVER does because I screamed at them until they drilled it into their heads?

Majors is where baseball stops being about "each kid having fun", and starts being about performance. It's about making sure our high school programs are seeing their future players get the reps they need. It's NOT about the kid who pays some pittance to play in a Majors house league, when we have kids whose parents play THOUSANDS to go out and bring home some hardware.

Think about that the next time Snowflake plays two innings in right field and bats once. Think about the reps you're taking away from the real talents when you demand "equality".

My 3 sons have played a combo of LL and travel ball and this coach is a horrible example. Yes, coaches care about winning - at all levels. But "yelling" at kids about something that is truly a judgement call (after all, with some of these crappy pitchers, the first pitch is often the best one you will see during your at-bat). Our kids are seen as talented but we specifically choose teams where the coach has an all-around approach to the game. Winning isn't everything. Plus, at it's heart, baseball is a game of failure. Kids have to know that you'll be up some games and you'll be down some games. The coach is an integral part of developing the players' mental toughness to persevere and learn from their mistakes.

This asshole is just out there to win.

Oh, and 2 of my 3 play on their high school team. We anticipate their younger brother will to. It doesn't require this to make the high school team -- a talented player is going to be chosen, regardless of the daddy ball that was played when they were younger.

Hey punk, my first two boys both made the high school team. The reps I gave them at shortstop in house and on travel got them the experience they needed to make it to that level.

Then after their mother went insane, I remarried and had a couple more kids. The girl is projecting to be a terrific soccer player, while my boy had a great year kicking a**. For those interested in family, it's pretty cool to have my oldest serving as my assistant coach. If I can give him a leg up and experience he can turn into a gig as freshman coach at a high school program, I'm doing my job as a Dad.

Highlighting for you the language that makes you stand out as a vulgar boorish person.
If you're the coach who yells at kids and doesn't want to give a chance to weaker players, you are NOT doing your job as a coach of 10 year olds.

[Anonymous]

I coached my kid's basketball team this past season with mixed results. It was a 7/8 year old team and I went the route of letting everybody get to experience playing every position. They all want to play point guard, so I set up a rotation where every kid got to play half of a game at point guard. In the end I think this was the best result. We may have won another game or two had we not done this, but I think their was value in rotating each player through all the positions. Thankfully the league said playing time had to be equal. One the playing time stops having to be equal I'm done coaching. Way too much drama for me to deal with. I love teaching the fundamentals of the game, instilling teamwork, seeing friendships/bonds form, but want no part in the drama that comes with sports as the kids get older.

As for the OP I think at ten years old it's still development time. Yes, winning is great and should be strived for, but I think at this age it's still about development. Sticking the lesser skilled kid in right field every time wouldn't be my strategy. They're all going to make mistakes. In baseball it's hard to learn all of the positions, so maybe it would be best to have all the players platoon between two positions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But why can't the rec league be an "everyone plays" league, given that there are so many options for those who want a more competitive experience?
There are tons of local tournaments and travel teams.
For the kids who work hard but still aren't very good, we are effectively shutting them out at a very young age.
My son has never missed a practice or game and we even got some private batting lessons.
He still mostly just strikes out.
And he's not great in the infield. But it's not for lack of trying.
And yea, we have tried other sports.
I just wish there was room for kids like him, because he's too young to give up on it, and he enjoys the camaraderie and exercise from being part of a team

He should play down a level. If most boys his age are AAA he should play AA. DS has friends who are not good and this is what they do. Play AAA as an 11. At 12, if he doesn't pitch he can still play AAA. If he still isn't competitive as a 12 playing AAA, it may be time to find another sport.

+1 We have seen kids do this throughout the years and it seems to be a good compromise.

I also disagree with PP that a kid should have to play travel at age 9 or 10 in order to get a decent amount of competition. Rec leagues should be allowed to be competitive--in terms of trying to win games, not in terms of cutting kids from the team. It's extremely frustrating that with sports in this area, 9 and 10 year olds are expected to join travel teams if they are good athletes, rather than just have the rec league get more competitive each year (again not in terms of cutting players), as is warranted by the kids' ages. Travel teams are extremely pricey and a huge time commitment.

i think this only applies to soccer. just one sport.

Why do you think it only applies to soccer? It absolutely has been our experience in baseball and my boys play both, and I think it is worse in baseball. My kids tried a couple of different BCC rec teams where kids were cycled through all positions rather than fielding the best players in the infield. It is tough for a competitive kid to have major losses all the time. The answer for these athletic kids is always, move to select or travel, if you have the time and money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But why can't the rec league be an "everyone plays" league, given that there are so many options for those who want a more competitive experience?
There are tons of local tournaments and travel teams.
For the kids who work hard but still aren't very good, we are effectively shutting them out at a very young age.
My son has never missed a practice or game and we even got some private batting lessons.
He still mostly just strikes out.
And he's not great in the infield. But it's not for lack of trying.
And yea, we have tried other sports.
I just wish there was room for kids like him, because he's too young to give up on it, and he enjoys the camaraderie and exercise from being part of a team

He should play down a level. If most boys his age are AAA he should play AA. DS has friends who are not good and this is what they do. Play AAA as an 11. At 12, if he doesn't pitch he can still play AAA. If he still isn't competitive as a 12 playing AAA, it may be time to find another sport.

+1 We have seen kids do this throughout the years and it seems to be a good compromise.

I also disagree with PP that a kid should have to play travel at age 9 or 10 in order to get a decent amount of competition. Rec leagues should be allowed to be competitive--in terms of trying to win games, not in terms of cutting kids from the team. It's extremely frustrating that with sports in this area, 9 and 10 year olds are expected to join travel teams if they are good athletes, rather than just have the rec league get more competitive each year (again not in terms of cutting players), as is warranted by the kids' ages. Travel teams are extremely pricey and a huge time commitment.

i think this only applies to soccer. just one sport.

Why do you think it only applies to soccer? It absolutely has been our experience in baseball and my boys play both, and I think it is worse in baseball. My kids tried a couple of different BCC rec teams where kids were cycled through all positions rather than fielding the best players in the infield. It is tough for a competitive kid to have major losses all the time. The answer for these athletic kids is always, move to select or travel, if you have the time and money.

This is what team sports is about. Even the best professional players are often on losing teams. If your awesomely-athletic kids don't like losing, then maybe they should play an individual sport where they weaker kids aren't "bringing them down."

That said, I have a question for the OP and other parents complaining about their kids not getting more playing time. I wonder how your kids feel about this. My DS (11) is a competitive swimmer. He does still play rec soccer and basketball, however, because he likes hanging out w/ his friends. He doesn't get as much playing time as some of the other kids, but I'm fine w/ that and so is he. He understands that "Bobby" should play more (and should play the "better" positions) because Bobby is better than he is, and has a better chance of helping the team win. So, I wonder, is it the kids who are complaining about playing right field or riding the bench or is it the parents?