Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A glorified babysitter for a baseball or softball little kid team is NOT going to teach your kid how to hit, or throw the ball, or catch the ball. You need to do that. Yep - you. Don’t know how? Figure it out. Plenty of instruction on YouTube. Or, hire someone to do it for you.

Figure it takes 100 hours of practice on each of those skills to get decently competent for a kid who has average athletic ability and pays attention. A coach with say 12 kids on a team and 4-5 preseason practices is NOT going to do anything to make an individual kid “better”.


The practices are for is to figure out the skill level of the kids. Knowing that, I can make up a lineup and get kids into positions where they are less likely to get hurt. No - if your kid sucks - he/she is not going to pitch, or play first base. Depending on who is pitching, I can put a kid who sucks at 2nd or SS or 3rd. Most teams will have 1 “good” pitcher. If kids hit the ball it is more likely to be on a late swing so I need a decent fielder at 2nd base. That means kids who are not very good can play SS. 3rd is pretty much always for weak players. I could put the best fielder with a decent arm at 3rd and they still will be unlikely to get an out on a ground ball.

When a weaker pitcher is in - batters at the top 1/3 of the order will be less likely to swing late so now I need a better fielder at SS. Outfield I always need a decent center fielder to chase down balls the right fielder and left fielder miss. Faster pitcher - right fielder has to be better. Slower pitcher - left fielder. But, still dependent on batting order.


It’s fine if your kid sucks. As long as he/she tries and is reasonably happy to be playing it’s cool. The only thing parents did that really ticked me off when coaching is be late, or a no show, and not tell me. I cured that after a couple years. Email - if you’re late and don’t let me know, or if your kid is a no show without letting me know. You are making the lineup for that game or next game if no show.

Try it. 12 kids - get them in positions they can play. Outfield/infield. Now pull out one kid. Re-adjust everything in 15 minutes.

Yes the coaches kid gets some benefits. But, they also get the fun of racking up puddles on the field 3 hours before the game. And, picking up trash before and after the game, and laying the bases, and getting the equipment ready. Always fun going under the stands to grab the dirty diaper and candy wrappers. Want your kid to have those benefits? Volunteer.

FIFY

So pathetic for a grown adult to blame little kids because he thinks coaching a little kid’s team is basically picking players in a fantasy league and moving them around the field to show off how well he strategizes.

I’m so thankful my son has only had two coaches like you in all his years of rec and travel sports.

The “glorified babysitter” part came on a bit strong, but did you read the rest of his post? He’s not saying that he doesn’t try to teach the kids things at practice, but that it takes more time than is available during a little league season. He’s also explaining how he moves kids around the infield and outfield to let kids play different positions while also being strategic about it. Many of the things he described a parent wouldn’t pick up on unless they know the game. They just see that Larlo’s getting a chance in the infield. I’ve seen it done well sometimes during my son’s LL years. After the game, the “worst” kid is excited that he played LF and 3rd even though he didn’t touch the ball.

I’m the PP of the softball player who’s not getting much of a chance to pitch because the coach is putting everyone in even if they’re not interested or ready. I’d much rather have this guy coach my kid. The games would be more fun for everyone and she’d learn something.

I think maybe YOU didn’t read his post. He explicitly said that practices were for him to *assess* the skill level of the kids, but that the kids on his team will only *learn* skills through parents and youtube…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A glorified babysitter for a baseball or softball little kid team is NOT going to teach your kid how to hit, or throw the ball, or catch the ball. You need to do that. Yep - you. Don’t know how? Figure it out. Plenty of instruction on YouTube. Or, hire someone to do it for you.

Figure it takes 100 hours of practice on each of those skills to get decently competent for a kid who has average athletic ability and pays attention. A coach with say 12 kids on a team and 4-5 preseason practices is NOT going to do anything to make an individual kid “better”.


The practices are for is to figure out the skill level of the kids. Knowing that, I can make up a lineup and get kids into positions where they are less likely to get hurt. No - if your kid sucks - he/she is not going to pitch, or play first base. Depending on who is pitching, I can put a kid who sucks at 2nd or SS or 3rd. Most teams will have 1 “good” pitcher. If kids hit the ball it is more likely to be on a late swing so I need a decent fielder at 2nd base. That means kids who are not very good can play SS. 3rd is pretty much always for weak players. I could put the best fielder with a decent arm at 3rd and they still will be unlikely to get an out on a ground ball.

When a weaker pitcher is in - batters at the top 1/3 of the order will be less likely to swing late so now I need a better fielder at SS. Outfield I always need a decent center fielder to chase down balls the right fielder and left fielder miss. Faster pitcher - right fielder has to be better. Slower pitcher - left fielder. But, still dependent on batting order.


It’s fine if your kid sucks. As long as he/she tries and is reasonably happy to be playing it’s cool. The only thing parents did that really ticked me off when coaching is be late, or a no show, and not tell me. I cured that after a couple years. Email - if you’re late and don’t let me know, or if your kid is a no show without letting me know. You are making the lineup for that game or next game if no show.

Try it. 12 kids - get them in positions they can play. Outfield/infield. Now pull out one kid. Re-adjust everything in 15 minutes.

Yes the coaches kid gets some benefits. But, they also get the fun of racking up puddles on the field 3 hours before the game. And, picking up trash before and after the game, and laying the bases, and getting the equipment ready. Always fun going under the stands to grab the dirty diaper and candy wrappers. Want your kid to have those benefits? Volunteer.

FIFY

So pathetic for a grown adult to blame little kids because he thinks coaching a little kid’s team is basically picking players in a fantasy league and moving them around the field to show off how well he strategizes.

I’m so thankful my son has only had two coaches like you in all his years of rec and travel sports.

The “glorified babysitter” part came on a bit strong, but did you read the rest of his post? He’s not saying that he doesn’t try to teach the kids things at practice, but that it takes more time than is available during a little league season. He’s also explaining how he moves kids around the infield and outfield to let kids play different positions while also being strategic about it. Many of the things he described a parent wouldn’t pick up on unless they know the game. They just see that Larlo’s getting a chance in the infield. I’ve seen it done well sometimes during my son’s LL years. After the game, the “worst” kid is excited that he played LF and 3rd even though he didn’t touch the ball.

I’m the PP of the softball player who’s not getting much of a chance to pitch because the coach is putting everyone in even if they’re not interested or ready. I’d much rather have this guy coach my kid. The games would be more fun for everyone and she’d learn something.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you should have volunteered to coach.

One is not required to coach to have an opinion on the coaching their kids receive, esp. if it is blatantly unfair. I know some of you feel that way but you are incorrect.

Ok, so have an opinion.

Don't expect things to change unless you coach.

I will have opinions, thanks for allowing me to have one. But, yes, things can change? Do you not know how things work? I know entire clubs that collapsed b/c people complained and then voted with their feet and left.

Anonymous wrote:IMO one of the biggest problems in youth ball (and is the root of most of the complaints about playing time, positions etc on this thread and IRL) is the lack of outfield instruction & lack of emphasizing the importance of outfield play.

In 10U or under ball (especially rec), I get it. Not a lot happening in the outfield. But in travel by 11U and in LL “majors” level, outfield play is hugely important. My youngest DS (13U) moved up to big field recently- and most kids aren’t good enough or fast enough to play outfield. The weakest fielders play corner IF or are on the bench, depending on their hitting. Lots of “best overall fielders” on the teams at this age are in CF- if they aren’t at SS.

I don’t know how one “fixes” this issue but the “OF is a punishment” viewpoint seems to be the root cause of nearly all complaints about playing time at the youth level. Frankly, if your kid is a bit of a newer player but has good speed and the attention span to back up plays and make a fairly accurate throw to the cutoff - the outfield is an excellent spot for him or her to start (as opposed to being a punishment).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you should have volunteered to coach.

One is not required to coach to have an opinion on the coaching their kids receive, esp. if it is blatantly unfair. I know some of you feel that way but you are incorrect.

Ok, so have an opinion.

Don't expect things to change unless you coach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you should have volunteered to coach.

One is not required to coach to have an opinion on the coaching their kids receive, esp. if it is blatantly unfair. I know some of you feel that way but you are incorrect.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A glorified babysitter for a baseball or softball little kid team is NOT going to teach your kid how to hit, or throw the ball, or catch the ball. You need to do that. Yep - you. Don’t know how? Figure it out. Plenty of instruction on YouTube. Or, hire someone to do it for you.

Figure it takes 100 hours of practice on each of those skills to get decently competent for a kid who has average athletic ability and pays attention. A coach with say 12 kids on a team and 4-5 preseason practices is NOT going to do anything to make an individual kid “better”.


The practices are for is to figure out the skill level of the kids. Knowing that, I can make up a lineup and get kids into positions where they are less likely to get hurt. No - if your kid sucks - he/she is not going to pitch, or play first base. Depending on who is pitching, I can put a kid who sucks at 2nd or SS or 3rd. Most teams will have 1 “good” pitcher. If kids hit the ball it is more likely to be on a late swing so I need a decent fielder at 2nd base. That means kids who are not very good can play SS. 3rd is pretty much always for weak players. I could put the best fielder with a decent arm at 3rd and they still will be unlikely to get an out on a ground ball.

When a weaker pitcher is in - batters at the top 1/3 of the order will be less likely to swing late so now I need a better fielder at SS. Outfield I always need a decent center fielder to chase down balls the right fielder and left fielder miss. Faster pitcher - right fielder has to be better. Slower pitcher - left fielder. But, still dependent on batting order.


It’s fine if your kid sucks. As long as he/she tries and is reasonably happy to be playing it’s cool. The only thing parents did that really ticked me off when coaching is be late, or a no show, and not tell me. I cured that after a couple years. Email - if you’re late and don’t let me know, or if your kid is a no show without letting me know. You are making the lineup for that game or next game if no show.

Try it. 12 kids - get them in positions they can play. Outfield/infield. Now pull out one kid. Re-adjust everything in 15 minutes.

Yes the coaches kid gets some benefits. But, they also get the fun of racking up puddles on the field 3 hours before the game. And, picking up trash before and after the game, and laying the bases, and getting the equipment ready. Always fun going under the stands to grab the dirty diaper and candy wrappers. Want your kid to have those benefits? Volunteer.

FIFY

So pathetic for a grown adult to blame little kids because he thinks coaching a little kid’s team is basically picking players in a fantasy league and moving them around the field to show off how well he strategizes.

I’m so thankful my son has only had two coaches like you in all his years of rec and travel sports.

The “glorified babysitter” part came on a bit strong, but did you read the rest of his post? He’s not saying that he doesn’t try to teach the kids things at practice, but that it takes more time than is available during a little league season. He’s also explaining how he moves kids around the infield and outfield to let kids play different positions while also being strategic about it. Many of the things he described a parent wouldn’t pick up on unless they know the game. They just see that Larlo’s getting a chance in the infield. I’ve seen it done well sometimes during my son’s LL years. After the game, the “worst” kid is excited that he played LF and 3rd even though he didn’t touch the ball.

I’m the PP of the softball player who’s not getting much of a chance to pitch because the coach is putting everyone in even if they’re not interested or ready. I’d much rather have this guy coach my kid. The games would be more fun for everyone and she’d learn something.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A glorified babysitter for a baseball or softball little kid team is NOT going to teach your kid how to hit, or throw the ball, or catch the ball. You need to do that. Yep - you. Don’t know how? Figure it out. Plenty of instruction on YouTube. Or, hire someone to do it for you.

Figure it takes 100 hours of practice on each of those skills to get decently competent for a kid who has average athletic ability and pays attention. A coach with say 12 kids on a team and 4-5 preseason practices is NOT going to do anything to make an individual kid “better”.


The practices are for is to figure out the skill level of the kids. Knowing that, I can make up a lineup and get kids into positions where they are less likely to get hurt. No - if your kid sucks - he/she is not going to pitch, or play first base. Depending on who is pitching, I can put a kid who sucks at 2nd or SS or 3rd. Most teams will have 1 “good” pitcher. If kids hit the ball it is more likely to be on a late swing so I need a decent fielder at 2nd base. That means kids who are not very good can play SS. 3rd is pretty much always for weak players. I could put the best fielder with a decent arm at 3rd and they still will be unlikely to get an out on a ground ball.

When a weaker pitcher is in - batters at the top 1/3 of the order will be less likely to swing late so now I need a better fielder at SS. Outfield I always need a decent center fielder to chase down balls the right fielder and left fielder miss. Faster pitcher - right fielder has to be better. Slower pitcher - left fielder. But, still dependent on batting order.


It’s fine if your kid sucks. As long as he/she tries and is reasonably happy to be playing it’s cool. The only thing parents did that really ticked me off when coaching is be late, or a no show, and not tell me. I cured that after a couple years. Email - if you’re late and don’t let me know, or if your kid is a no show without letting me know. You are making the lineup for that game or next game if no show.

Try it. 12 kids - get them in positions they can play. Outfield/infield. Now pull out one kid. Re-adjust everything in 15 minutes.

Yes the coaches kid gets some benefits. But, they also get the fun of racking up puddles on the field 3 hours before the game. And, picking up trash before and after the game, and laying the bases, and getting the equipment ready. Always fun going under the stands to grab the dirty diaper and candy wrappers. Want your kid to have those benefits? Volunteer.

FIFY

So pathetic for a grown adult to blame little kids because he thinks coaching a little kid’s team is basically picking players in a fantasy league and moving them around the field to show off how well he strategizes.

I’m so thankful my son has only had two coaches like you in all his years of rec and travel sports.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you should have volunteered to coach.

Anonymous wrote:A glorified babysitter for a baseball or softball little kid team is NOT going to teach your kid how to hit, or throw the ball, or catch the ball. You need to do that. Yep - you. Don’t know how? Figure it out. Plenty of instruction on YouTube. Or, hire someone to do it for you.

Figure it takes 100 hours of practice on each of those skills to get decently competent for a kid who has average athletic ability and pays attention. A coach with say 12 kids on a team and 4-5 preseason practices is NOT going to do anything to make an individual kid “better”.


The practices are for is to figure out the skill level of the kids. Knowing that, I can make up a lineup and get kids into positions where they are less likely to get hurt. No - if your kid sucks - he/she is not going to pitch, or play first base. Depending on who is pitching, I can put a kid who sucks at 2nd or SS or 3rd. Most teams will have 1 “good” pitcher. If kids hit the ball it is more likely to be on a late swing so I need a decent fielder at 2nd base. That means kids who are not very good can play SS. 3rd is pretty much always for weak players. I could put the best fielder with a decent arm at 3rd and they still will be unlikely to get an out on a ground ball.

When a weaker pitcher is in - batters at the top 1/3 of the order will be less likely to swing late so now I need a better fielder at SS. Outfield I always need a decent center fielder to chase down balls the right fielder and left fielder miss. Faster pitcher - right fielder has to be better. Slower pitcher - left fielder. But, still dependent on batting order.


It’s fine if your kid sucks. As long as he/she tries and is reasonably happy to be playing it’s cool. The only thing parents did that really ticked me off when coaching is be late, or a no show, and not tell me. I cured that after a couple years. Email - if you’re late and don’t let me know, or if your kid is a no show without letting me know. You are making the lineup for that game or next game if no show.

Try it. 12 kids - get them in positions they can play. Outfield/infield. Now pull out one kid. Re-adjust everything in 15 minutes.

Yes the coaches kid gets some benefits. But, they also get the fun of racking up puddles on the field 3 hours before the game. And, picking up trash before and after the game, and laying the bases, and getting the equipment ready. Always fun going under the stands to grab the dirty diaper and candy wrappers. Want your kid to have those benefits? Volunteer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many of the problems outlined in this thread could be easily solved if the league itself established ground rules that all teams must follow.

Every kid gets 50% infield and outfield positions, batting orders must give each kid 1/3 in the top 4, 1/3 in middle 4 and 1/3 in bottom 4, etc.

Yeah, maybe it shouldn’t have to be this way…but it solves a lot of problems if every team has to compete on the same basis.

The coach of my daughter’s kid pitch little league softball team (minors) told them at the beginning of the season that everyone was going to play every position including pitcher and catcher. It sounded nice in theory, but there are some girls that have no interest in pitching and, more importantly, he has provided 0 instruction on how to pitch.

His daughter pitched 2 innings last game. She had an illegal pitch almost every time - a double wind up, or swinging her arm back and forth a couple of times or pulling the ball in and out of her glove. He said nothing and the umpire and other team’s coach let it go while she walked in the max runs (5) each inning and recorded no outs in 2 innings. Everyone else (batter included) stood around.

How is that good for anyone? Especially the girls on the team who really want to pitch! My daughter’s worked at pitching since last summer. Her coach last year (same level) primarily pitched the experienced girls and she wasn’t there yet. She worked in the off season on it, did evals as a pitcher and was placed on this team as one of the pitchers. She was the starting pitcher in the first game, but doesn’t think she’ll have another chance until everyone else has their “turn.” It’s a short season, so she may get 1 more chance.

It’s incredibly frustrating especially when hers is the only team like this.

In short, make sure your players have a clue before putting them in certain positions.