I am beginning to hate alexandria little league

[Anonymous]

The parents are crazy and our coach is mean. He doesn't play the weaker kids in the infield, except for his own son, who is the weakest player or close to it.
Isn't it a little early to be getting so competitive? Shouldn't everyone get to play equally?
My son is not fantastic but he has never missed a single game or practice and he tries.
It's so demoralizing for him.

[Anonymous]

How old / what level?

[Anonymous]

OP, I hate to tell you this, but welcome to the sports world in this area.

I don't doubt you for a minute in anything you're saying BUT if you're going to survive you need to tell your son to suck it up. This is not the last unfair or bad coach he will have. If he is getting demoralized over this, then he is picking up on your whining.

You also need to get your DH involved in talking to him about this. In my experience -- both myself and all female friends -- we moms are way too soft on this issue. All we see is our babies being treated unfairly. But as I'm learning, that's not how it works.

[Anonymous]

He's 10.
I think they are still too young to not all get equal playing time. There are travel leagues for those who want a more competitive experience. Regular little league should be for all.

[Anonymous]

I have watched the games - my son's friend plays - and I think they are very serious at a young age BUT I think all the local leagues are similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's 10.
I think they are still too young to not all get equal playing time. There are travel leagues for those who want a more competitive experience. Regular little league should be for all.

No they are not. 10 is the age that starts to separate the better player from the lesser ones. Do you want him to think that winning is not important?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's 10.
I think they are still too young to not all get equal playing time. There are travel leagues for those who want a more competitive experience. Regular little league should be for all.

No they are not. 10 is the age that starts to separate the better player from the lesser ones. Do you want him to think that winning is not important?

In our league, 9/10 is when they really start to do this also, and I think it is appropriate. At that point, you often have kids who have been playing for years, and are quite skilled, and it's appropriate for them to get slightly different treatment than the kids who either have just started the game (several years late) and don't know what they are doing or who are just not good despite having played for years. This is really the age in baseball where it starts to get more serious/competitive and the kids are really ready for it.

[Anonymous]

Most of the kids understand that the better players will play the more important positions. Everyone plays all the positions in practice, and works to develop their skills there. The coach fields his most competitive team for the game. That means better players will be in the infield or center field. Developing players are corner outfield or bench. Best way for your son to play more is to develop his skills by practicing more. They will get beat in games by the other teams if they put lower skill players in the infield. Baseball is a competitive sport played to win.

[Anonymous]

In little league the better players do and should get the better positions in games.
Life is not "fair" and the earlier kids realize this, the better. If your kid wants more playing time in the infield, have him practice more!! The good kids have been playing for years in their back yards. It's not fair to bench them or stick them in the outfield just because your child hasn't spent the time practicing.

[Anonymous]

I'm assuming at age 10 he is either AA or AAA, so at least most leagues in the area have rules where everyone has to bat and everyone has to play so many innings before someone sits out more than two innings (I can' remember the exact rules and they might be different based on the district). I think we even have a rule that you have to play infield one inning at the lower levels.

But beware, once he is in Majors (if he gets drafted or automatically chosen as a 12 year old), he's only guaranteed one at bat during a game and only has to be played 6 outs during a game. Don't let him move up unless he is ready and/or he is prepared to sit on the bench a lot. Little league around here is very competitive.

[Anonymous]

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".

[Anonymous]

OP, I hear you. I feel the same way.

[Anonymous]

I recently walked by a travel baseball team game where the kids couldn't have been older than 10. Probably 8-9 year olds.

It was just awful. The way the coach was talking to the kids, the yelling from the parents, all of it. I don't know how anyone puts their kid in that type of environment.

I played competitive sports growing up and I think it has real value. I just think it's WAY too much too soon for this generation. These are little kids. Get a grip, people. I just can't even believe most of these kids are having a good time.

[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".

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

[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 screamed at children? You shouldn't be a coach. What team were you coaching? I'd like to report you and get you removed from coaching. Damn, you don't get it it at all. Loser.