Little League - do the coaches’ kids always get the best positions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at a game this past week and i was painful the coaches kids were either sick and or injured and couldn’t play their positions. There are 4 kids that rotate pitcher, catcher, 1st base and short stop.

It was painful there was no one else who’d either pitched in practice or a game so they had to put up kid after kid who couldn’t touch the strike zone. Over heads, on the left side of a right handed hitter, on and on.

The score was 30 zip. There are drawbacks to dad ball.

Was there no mercy rule?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents who claim that there kids aren't getting time or playing in the infield are the same parents who never found the time to throw the ball in the backyard.

You want your kid to improve? It happens at home just as much as it happens at practice.

It’s also people who work shifts or inflexible hours, or are volunteer coaching another sport. Not everyone who doesn’t coach baseball is a crap parent.

Coaches certainly deal with a lot, but acting like youth baseball isn’t full of egregious dadball favoritism is naive.

Meh, those are the anomolies.

The Dad that complained to me that this 12U daughter hasn't played 1st base yet very clearly has not found the time to play catch with her.

It makes me laugh to read that people want to play 1B. I always thought they put the slow kids with no arms there. Or at least that’s why I think my son is there…

I think it depends - at younger ages you need a kid who truly can catch the ball. Later it is usually the big slow guy. My son is a pitcher and 1st baseman on his varsity team and isn’t a great hitter, but he loves pitching and 1b for the same reasons - you are always in the game, practically every play. Keeps his attention (he’s got mild ADHD, so the adrenaline is part of the fun for him).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents who claim that there kids aren't getting time or playing in the infield are the same parents who never found the time to throw the ball in the backyard.

You want your kid to improve? It happens at home just as much as it happens at practice.

It’s also people who work shifts or inflexible hours, or are volunteer coaching another sport. Not everyone who doesn’t coach baseball is a crap parent.

Coaches certainly deal with a lot, but acting like youth baseball isn’t full of egregious dadball favoritism is naive.

Meh, those are the anomolies.

The Dad that complained to me that this 12U daughter hasn't played 1st base yet very clearly has not found the time to play catch with her.

I’m sure that girl is blessed to have a coach so invested, caring, and nonjudgmental as you.
🙄

It's the opposite.

First, I care about her safety and enjoyment of the game. If I put her at first, she's either going to get hurt, or allow baserunners and feel bad about her performance; I need to set her up for success.

Second, I owe the other girls on the team a line-up that balances player development and an opportunity to win.

So I put her in RF and give her one assignment "Don't let the ball get behind you, and when you get the ball, get it back into the infield as quickly as possible."

That is a job she can complete successfully in the game and feel good about her performance.

If her dad wants her to play first base, the Dad needs to use non-practice time to help her get more comfortable in fielding the ground balls and catching the ball.

We have 90 minutes of practice a week, and 2 games a week. 90 minutes is not enough time to get her to point that she will be ready

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents who claim that there kids aren't getting time or playing in the infield are the same parents who never found the time to throw the ball in the backyard.

You want your kid to improve? It happens at home just as much as it happens at practice.

It’s also people who work shifts or inflexible hours, or are volunteer coaching another sport. Not everyone who doesn’t coach baseball is a crap parent.

Coaches certainly deal with a lot, but acting like youth baseball isn’t full of egregious dadball favoritism is naive.

Meh, those are the anomolies.

The Dad that complained to me that this 12U daughter hasn't played 1st base yet very clearly has not found the time to play catch with her.

I’m sure that girl is blessed to have a coach so invested, caring, and nonjudgmental as you.
🙄

NP. Baseball/Softball is about reps. Kids can’t get enough reps at practice to be good at the sport. So they have to practice at home. Even if it's just throwing the ball in the air and catching it. Or bouncing the ball off the side of the house. Or just playing catch. You can’t complain about your kids playing time at 12 when it’s clear they aren’t working outside of practice.

This. Thank you. Me not playing her at first base is actually caring about her, and caring for her teammates as well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents who claim that there kids aren't getting time or playing in the infield are the same parents who never found the time to throw the ball in the backyard.

You want your kid to improve? It happens at home just as much as it happens at practice.

It’s also people who work shifts or inflexible hours, or are volunteer coaching another sport. Not everyone who doesn’t coach baseball is a crap parent.

Coaches certainly deal with a lot, but acting like youth baseball isn’t full of egregious dadball favoritism is naive.

Meh, those are the anomolies.

The Dad that complained to me that this 12U daughter hasn't played 1st base yet very clearly has not found the time to play catch with her.

I’m sure that girl is blessed to have a coach so invested, caring, and nonjudgmental as you.
🙄

It's the opposite.

First, I care about her safety and enjoyment of the game. If I put her at first, she's either going to get hurt, or allow baserunners and feel bad about her performance; I need to set her up for success.

Second, I owe the other girls on the team a line-up that balances player development and an opportunity to win.

So I put her in RF and give her one assignment "Don't let the ball get behind you, and when you get the ball, get it back into the infield as quickly as possible."

That is a job she can complete successfully in the game and feel good about her performance.

If her dad wants her to play first base, the Dad needs to use non-practice time to help her get more comfortable in fielding the ground balls and catching the ball.

We have 90 minutes of practice a week, and 2 games a week. 90 minutes is not enough time to get her to point that she will be ready

+1000

It does a kid no good to play them at positions they truly are not ready for- can be embarrassing/diminish confidence and potentially cause resentment from teammates. For example, I have a DD who just started playing rec softball at 12 (quite late)- she is doing very well actually (lots of practice with us on the side, and her 2 baseball playing brothers) but she only plays OF right now and that is as it should be. She actually catches/throws quite well but does not always know where to go with the ball on plays. She is learning but really is not really to play IF in games. She does get IF reps at practice.

I will also note that the better the defense is, the more plays are made, the easier it is on the pitchers and the more at bats the teams gets, and keeps the game flowing. Anyone who has sat through a youth game with walk walk walk error error error, passed balls over and over again, can’t get out of innings etc knows what I mean.

Good coaches will look for opportunities to work kids in to the infield, teach multiple positions etc but it doesn’t benefit anyone (on either team) to have games getting completely out of hand either.

I’ve been on all sides of this issue - my kids have been the best on their teams, worst on their teams etc at various times. Even in rec ball like little league, there has to be a mix of player development and either playing to win (older ages) or just keeping the game flowing well so kids can learn (younger ages). That will usually mean stronger players play key defensive positions more.

[Anonymous]

To 11:38

At 12 - and really until she is 3-4 years older - her throws in from the outfield will always - and I do mean always go to the cutoff player. This will be the 2nd baseman if she is playing RF and it will be the SS if she is playing LF or CF. This makes her decision easy and she can focus without worry on cleanly fielding a ground ball or catching a ball in the air.

An outfielder who can catch a fly ball is “gold” in youth softball. Have her brothers throw her 25 pop ups a day in the yard. Don’t over do it. 30 mins is great. The first 15 being basically straight up so she gets a feel for it, then the last 10 can make her move. Side to side and coming “in”.

As she gets older you can add long ball throwing to her practice. But - and I can’t emphasize this enough - not until 15/16. She has to grow and she has to build up muscle.

You should ask her coach their view - once she is more confident in her catching ability - should she aggressively go for a catch to try and make an out, or should she play more conservative and always keep on her feet and the ball in front of her? Outs are indeed gold. And a decent player who thinks they can make a catch, in my view always go for it at that age. But, lots of coaches could prefer the safer route of getting in front and getting the ball into the infield.

As she progresses she can be thinking about the context of the game on her own. That helps fielders a great deal. Example: how good of pitcher is on the mound for her team right now? Are they throwing “hard”? How good is the batter? Where in the lineup is the batter hitting? 1-6 will be better than bottom of the order. Better hitters hit the ball harder and can get around faster so more likely to pull the ball. But, with a slower pitcher, batters further down in the order may also get around on the ball.

Finally - play 5 yards deeper. But be ready to move instantly. Be moving every pitch a step any way. A ball that gets behind an outfielder is a triple or home run. Thus the emphasis by lots of coaches to keep the ball in front. She needs to get comfortable on moving in on a ball, fielding it with some momentum moving towards the infield, and making an accurate throw. One hop is fine by the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah that’s BS

I coached 20 plus years of kid baseball at a variety of ages and levels. With 12 year olds and under - for sure - and at this time of year (early in a season) a couple of basics are going on.

1. The coaches don’t want anyone be getting hurt. But - if anyone is getting hurt, they want it to be my kid. So, if there is a position on the field where a kid is more likely to get hurt from a lack of skill/experience your kid is not playing it until I know your kid can play it. Catcher, and 1st base in particular.

2. Being the coaches’ kid sucks in large part. You are first to the field and get to spend time racking up any puddles, putting in the bases, and getting the equipment ready. You are also last to leave. You get to spend time putting equipment up and getting it to the car. Helping pick up the trash parents and kids left around because you can’t leave until the field looks good, and you often have to wait until some parent gets back to the field to pick up their kid because they didn’t know it was the last inning and ran out to get coffee and ran into a friend at Starbucks and didn’t hear their phone ring and only realized it had been 45 minutes - oops. I’m sorry doesn’t begin to cut it.

3. I need to know if your kid can play the position without getting hurt. I can’t put your kid at shortstop if your kid can’t get in front of a ground ball and make the throw to first base. Safely. Meaning without substantial risk that your kid will get hurt or that your kid will put the 1st baseman or the runner in danger from a wild throw. If your kid can’t catch the ball consistently I can’t play them at 1st or catcher.

4. What are your leagues playing time rules? Little League is the harshest on limiting the time. My area played “Pony” rules which are more lenient. Basically in a 6 inning game every kid plays a minimum of 3 innings - 1 in the infield. Pitch counts are kept now - game and weekly - so you have to deal with those too.

So - let’s take an example - You are the coach and you have 14 kids on your team. Print out a couple blank youth lineup cards for this example. Make out your lineup with the positions everyone will play each inning this game. Keep in mind you must follow the minimum play rules for each kid. For this example assume 3 of your kids cannot safely catch a ball. And 6 of your kids cannot safely make the throw from the left side of the infield. Coaches know this already but parents often do not - most outs will be made by your 1st and 2nd basemen with 12 and unders. So if you want to avoid too many mercy rule innings you likely want to put your best fielders there.

Now make up your card. Everyone sits a couple innings. Got it done. Now - take a pencil and cross out whoever is batting 8th because it’s 5 minutes to game time and they are not at the field and their parents aren’t answering their phones. You need to give your lineup to the opposing scorekeeper so rewrite it and let them know a kid may or may not show up but you will put them in batting last if they do show up. (It won’t be a big deal to the other coach because parents will have pulled the same crap with her.)

You also now need to redo your fielding assignments because you had that kid playing 4 innings and you need to get those positions covered. Hopefully the no show is not a kid you use in a more responsible position because your replacement options are limited. So - let’s make your no show a kid who you have pitching 2 innings because your pitch count tracking means you need someone to cover about 4-6 innings a week over and above your “regular” pitchers. (Meaning kids you hope can basically throw strikes to get through an inning without walking in some runs.)

So - start thinking about who has a pitch count that would allow them to pitch the 3rd (and oh to dream the 4th) inning since that player is a no call no show. Make sure they are sitting out the 2nd inning so they can warm up. So you need to shift the position assignments around to get that covered. But the kid willing to pitch is excited about the chance which is fun.

Got your new position assignments done yet? Good. Because now it is the top of the second inning and the kid just arrived. Grandma got the time wrong but they are sorry for the late arrival and really excited about him pitching. And you need to tell the umpire and opposing coach the player arrived and will bat last - and you need to rework your position assignments to get the newly arrived player in for 3-4 innings. Yes - the easiest thing to do is cut your own kid’s playing time to the required minimum so you do that and figure you will make it up along the way later.

I totally respect this.

I will say, though, that I think it works better when the coaches' kids are at least on par peers. It is awkward when they are very weak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents who claim that there kids aren't getting time or playing in the infield are the same parents who never found the time to throw the ball in the backyard.

You want your kid to improve? It happens at home just as much as it happens at practice.

It’s also people who work shifts or inflexible hours, or are volunteer coaching another sport. Not everyone who doesn’t coach baseball is a crap parent.

Coaches certainly deal with a lot, but acting like youth baseball isn’t full of egregious dadball favoritism is naive.

Meh, those are the anomolies.

The Dad that complained to me that this 12U daughter hasn't played 1st base yet very clearly has not found the time to play catch with her.

I’m sure that girl is blessed to have a coach so invested, caring, and nonjudgmental as you.
🙄

It's the opposite.

First, I care about her safety and enjoyment of the game. If I put her at first, she's either going to get hurt, or allow baserunners and feel bad about her performance; I need to set her up for success.

Second, I owe the other girls on the team a line-up that balances player development and an opportunity to win.

So I put her in RF and give her one assignment "Don't let the ball get behind you, and when you get the ball, get it back into the infield as quickly as possible."

That is a job she can complete successfully in the game and feel good about her performance.

If her dad wants her to play first base, the Dad needs to use non-practice time to help her get more comfortable in fielding the ground balls and catching the ball.

We have 90 minutes of practice a week, and 2 games a week. 90 minutes is not enough time to get her to point that she will be ready

I’m not saying you should put her at a position she can’t play.
I’m saying your attitude sucks. And you’re digging in about being right. You’ve cherry picked a single example of why it is ok to consistently give playing time, all star team spots, starting positions, and accolades to the coaches’ kids while flat out ignoring kids who are better. It happens all the time, and people notice the pattern when compared to other dad coaches sports. Which is why people hate dadball, and why this thread was started. Maybe it isn’t you, but if you seriously haven’t noted this in other coaches in your league, I’m guessing it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was at a game this past week and i was painful the coaches kids were either sick and or injured and couldn’t play their positions. There are 4 kids that rotate pitcher, catcher, 1st base and short stop.

It was painful there was no one else who’d either pitched in practice or a game so they had to put up kid after kid who couldn’t touch the strike zone. Over heads, on the left side of a right handed hitter, on and on.

The score was 30 zip. There are drawbacks to dad ball.

Was there no mercy rule?

The game ended 4th inning when the 2-hour rule kicked in?

[Anonymous]

Wai until you get to HS- those LL kids will be placed on JV and V first. Not becaue they are good or deserving, but because their dads groomed this for 6 years.

[Anonymous]

I actually don’t mind little league/dad ball. And I think a lot of parents who whine about this don’t have their kids in travel ball. Or don’t volunteer to be umps or organize snacks or organize coach parties. Or actually do anything to support the team.

If you are sitting on the sidelines and think you know better- step up and volunteer. The coaches notice!

And if you are a parent- volunteer and be an ump. Take the training and do it. We need more and it will help the team.

Don’t just sit here and whine about Darla not getting first base. Darla doesn’t care about how persuasive you are on an anonymous message board. Darla just sees other parents volunteering and their kids playing cooler positions. And you on your phone.

Darla knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents who claim that there kids aren't getting time or playing in the infield are the same parents who never found the time to throw the ball in the backyard.

You want your kid to improve? It happens at home just as much as it happens at practice.

It’s also people who work shifts or inflexible hours, or are volunteer coaching another sport. Not everyone who doesn’t coach baseball is a crap parent.

Coaches certainly deal with a lot, but acting like youth baseball isn’t full of egregious dadball favoritism is naive.

Meh, those are the anomolies.

The Dad that complained to me that this 12U daughter hasn't played 1st base yet very clearly has not found the time to play catch with her.

I’m sure that girl is blessed to have a coach so invested, caring, and nonjudgmental as you.
🙄

It's the opposite.

First, I care about her safety and enjoyment of the game. If I put her at first, she's either going to get hurt, or allow baserunners and feel bad about her performance; I need to set her up for success.

Second, I owe the other girls on the team a line-up that balances player development and an opportunity to win.

So I put her in RF and give her one assignment "Don't let the ball get behind you, and when you get the ball, get it back into the infield as quickly as possible."

That is a job she can complete successfully in the game and feel good about her performance.

If her dad wants her to play first base, the Dad needs to use non-practice time to help her get more comfortable in fielding the ground balls and catching the ball.

We have 90 minutes of practice a week, and 2 games a week. 90 minutes is not enough time to get her to point that she will be ready

I’m not saying you should put her at a position she can’t play.
I’m saying your attitude sucks. And you’re digging in about being right. You’ve cherry picked a single example of why it is ok to consistently give playing time, all star team spots, starting positions, and accolades to the coaches’ kids while flat out ignoring kids who are better. It happens all the time, and people notice the pattern when compared to other dad coaches sports. Which is why people hate dadball, and why this thread was started. Maybe it isn’t you, but if you seriously haven’t noted this in other coaches in your league, I’m guessing it is.

Sure. of course there is daddyball. and of course I've seen it.

But for every kid that gets to be the starting pitcher bc their dad is the coach, there are 4 times as many kids whose parents think they're kids hare getting hosed because of the 'coach's kid', when in reality, their kid just isn't good enough.

Daddyball is a convenient excuse for when you refuse to admit your kid just isnt good enough

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents who claim that there kids aren't getting time or playing in the infield are the same parents who never found the time to throw the ball in the backyard.

You want your kid to improve? It happens at home just as much as it happens at practice.

It’s also people who work shifts or inflexible hours, or are volunteer coaching another sport. Not everyone who doesn’t coach baseball is a crap parent.

Coaches certainly deal with a lot, but acting like youth baseball isn’t full of egregious dadball favoritism is naive.

Meh, those are the anomolies.

The Dad that complained to me that this 12U daughter hasn't played 1st base yet very clearly has not found the time to play catch with her.

I’m sure that girl is blessed to have a coach so invested, caring, and nonjudgmental as you.
🙄

It's the opposite.

First, I care about her safety and enjoyment of the game. If I put her at first, she's either going to get hurt, or allow baserunners and feel bad about her performance; I need to set her up for success.

Second, I owe the other girls on the team a line-up that balances player development and an opportunity to win.

So I put her in RF and give her one assignment "Don't let the ball get behind you, and when you get the ball, get it back into the infield as quickly as possible."

That is a job she can complete successfully in the game and feel good about her performance.

If her dad wants her to play first base, the Dad needs to use non-practice time to help her get more comfortable in fielding the ground balls and catching the ball.

We have 90 minutes of practice a week, and 2 games a week. 90 minutes is not enough time to get her to point that she will be ready

I’m not saying you should put her at a position she can’t play.
I’m saying your attitude sucks. And you’re digging in about being right. You’ve cherry picked a single example of why it is ok to consistently give playing time, all star team spots, starting positions, and accolades to the coaches’ kids while flat out ignoring kids who are better. It happens all the time, and people notice the pattern when compared to other dad coaches sports. Which is why people hate dadball, and why this thread was started. Maybe it isn’t you, but if you seriously haven’t noted this in other coaches in your league, I’m guessing it is.

Sure. of course there is daddyball. and of course I've seen it.

But for every kid that gets to be the starting pitcher bc their dad is the coach, there are 4 times as many kids whose parents think they're kids hare getting hosed because of the 'coach's kid', when in reality, their kid just isn't good enough.

Daddyball is a convenient excuse for when you refuse to admit your kid just isnt good enough

Oh please, people are complaining because daddy’s kid is walking in 10 runs or unable to catch the ball, but still put at first, or batting third but striking out every time. It’s pathetic.

It’s part of the reason baseball is increasing unpopular at the youth level.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't have to be this way. Try to get your kid on a team with someone who is coaching for the right reasons. DH has coached our boys' teams for many years. Our kids are strong players but they sit one inning on the bench and play 2 innings in the outfield every game like every other kid on the team. It's a different story with their travel teams, but little league is about learning love for the game and building good baseball citizens, not about wins and losses. There are coaches out there that have that philosophy, and if you as a parent have that philosophy (and won't get angry with the coach for letting a kid who can't pitch have a few innings because he's dying for the opportunity, even if it means you risk losing the game, and won't get angry when YOUR kid sits on the bench and plays outfield for 2 innings every game) try to find one and get your kid on his/her team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents who claim that there kids aren't getting time or playing in the infield are the same parents who never found the time to throw the ball in the backyard.

You want your kid to improve? It happens at home just as much as it happens at practice.

It’s also people who work shifts or inflexible hours, or are volunteer coaching another sport. Not everyone who doesn’t coach baseball is a crap parent.

Coaches certainly deal with a lot, but acting like youth baseball isn’t full of egregious dadball favoritism is naive.

Meh, those are the anomolies.

The Dad that complained to me that this 12U daughter hasn't played 1st base yet very clearly has not found the time to play catch with her.

I’m sure that girl is blessed to have a coach so invested, caring, and nonjudgmental as you.
🙄

It's the opposite.

First, I care about her safety and enjoyment of the game. If I put her at first, she's either going to get hurt, or allow baserunners and feel bad about her performance; I need to set her up for success.

Second, I owe the other girls on the team a line-up that balances player development and an opportunity to win.

So I put her in RF and give her one assignment "Don't let the ball get behind you, and when you get the ball, get it back into the infield as quickly as possible."

That is a job she can complete successfully in the game and feel good about her performance.

If her dad wants her to play first base, the Dad needs to use non-practice time to help her get more comfortable in fielding the ground balls and catching the ball.

We have 90 minutes of practice a week, and 2 games a week. 90 minutes is not enough time to get her to point that she will be ready

I’m not saying you should put her at a position she can’t play.
I’m saying your attitude sucks. And you’re digging in about being right. You’ve cherry picked a single example of why it is ok to consistently give playing time, all star team spots, starting positions, and accolades to the coaches’ kids while flat out ignoring kids who are better. It happens all the time, and people notice the pattern when compared to other dad coaches sports. Which is why people hate dadball, and why this thread was started. Maybe it isn’t you, but if you seriously haven’t noted this in other coaches in your league, I’m guessing it is.

Sure. of course there is daddyball. and of course I've seen it.

But for every kid that gets to be the starting pitcher bc their dad is the coach, there are 4 times as many kids whose parents think they're kids hare getting hosed because of the 'coach's kid', when in reality, their kid just isn't good enough.

Daddyball is a convenient excuse for when you refuse to admit your kid just isnt good enough

Oh please, people are complaining because daddy’s kid is walking in 10 runs or unable to catch the ball, but still put at first, or batting third but striking out every time. It’s pathetic.

It’s part of the reason baseball is increasing unpopular at the youth level.

Increasingly unpopular?

Got any evidence behind that? Because I see dozens of kids trying out for 1-2 spots on teams. I see fields scheduled out months in advance. I see tournaments making money hand over fist.

In my area alone, there's at least 3-4 indoor facilities available for rent.

Seems like youth baseball is doing just fine.