Tiki Bar wrote:
Maybe she really was not as good as the coach's daughter though? It used to be common back in the day when I played fast pitch, that the best pitcher pitched almost all of the time, and it sounds like it might still be the case. Is the coach's daughter good enough that the team usually wins? If so, why should she be penalized just because she's the coach's daughter, and it's not fair to the other girls who want a chance?
If that's the case, why have a team? Just have a pitcher, if that's who's winning all the games. How would anyone know if they are better than the coach's kid (or Jericho) if they never get a chance to prove themselves? These are supposed to be developmental leagues. How on earth are kids going to ever have a chance at equal footing if they never get a chance to play, or learn the skills...or learn how to win AND lose?
Traveling teams aren't usually developmental... they're competitive, and usually require making the team via try-outs.
And they do get a chance to prove themselves in practice... sometimes the coach's kids really are better.
And sometimes the coaches and their kids are full of crap.
I wasn't just referring to traveling teams, but back to the thread topic. And it still doesn't answer the question of why the rules aren't being enforced.
Bottom line: parents need to STOP living vicariously through their kids and just let the kids be kids...winning and losing.
I agree with you on your bottom line. Some of these parents are totally goofy. Because they did not make it, they want their children to make it for them.
I have to tell you, as someone who did pretty well as an athlete in my day. I shake my head at some of these parents and laugh. I heard one mom say to my wife, "Well, they are in the 8th grade-time to start thinking about scholarships". I spit my beer out when I heard that one.
I thank the Lord for the people I have found
-Elton John
Tiki Bar wrote:
Maybe she really was not as good as the coach's daughter though? It used to be common back in the day when I played fast pitch, that the best pitcher pitched almost all of the time, and it sounds like it might still be the case. Is the coach's daughter good enough that the team usually wins? If so, why should she be penalized just because she's the coach's daughter, and it's not fair to the other girls who want a chance?
If that's the case, why have a team? Just have a pitcher, if that's who's winning all the games. How would anyone know if they are better than the coach's kid (or Jericho) if they never get a chance to prove themselves? These are supposed to be developmental leagues. How on earth are kids going to ever have a chance at equal footing if they never get a chance to play, or learn the skills...or learn how to win AND lose?
Traveling teams aren't usually developmental... they're competitive, and usually require making the team via try-outs.
And they do get a chance to prove themselves in practice... sometimes the coach's kids really are better.
And sometimes the coaches and their kids are full of crap.
I wasn't just referring to traveling teams, but back to the thread topic. And it still doesn't answer the question of why the rules aren't being enforced.
Bottom line: parents need to STOP living vicariously through their kids and just let the kids be kids...winning and losing.
Reminds me of an old Mad Magazine feature.
1st Panel: Kids playing baseball in a vacant lot and having a great time.
2nd Panel: Adult seeing them has an idea!
3rd Panel: Adults building a baseball field "For the kids"
4th Panel: Kids on the field and Parents arguing with each other.
5th Panel: Parents in near riot mode meanwhile kids have moved across the street to a vacant lot and are having a great time.
SAVE THE EARTH
It's the only Planet that has chocolate.
Frank4 wrote:[ "Well, they are in the 8th grade-time to start thinking about scholarships". I spit my beer out when I heard that one.
There's actually a bit of truth in that. I don't really even have a problem with that as long as the parent and child are both in check about why they are pushing for a particular goal.
For example, picks for pre-Olympic soccer teams are being done at the 13/14 year old level. They wouldn't even be in the Olympics for probably another ten years, but the Olympic training teams are picked that far in advance. Imagine Olympic gymnasts who have to decide when they are 9-10 years of old if they want to train to that level.
Tiki Bar wrote:
Maybe she really was not as good as the coach's daughter though? It used to be common back in the day when I played fast pitch, that the best pitcher pitched almost all of the time, and it sounds like it might still be the case. Is the coach's daughter good enough that the team usually wins? If so, why should she be penalized just because she's the coach's daughter, and it's not fair to the other girls who want a chance?
If that's the case, why have a team? Just have a pitcher, if that's who's winning all the games. How would anyone know if they are better than the coach's kid (or Jericho) if they never get a chance to prove themselves? These are supposed to be developmental leagues. How on earth are kids going to ever have a chance at equal footing if they never get a chance to play, or learn the skills...or learn how to win AND lose?
Traveling teams aren't usually developmental... they're competitive, and usually require making the team via try-outs.
And they do get a chance to prove themselves in practice... sometimes the coach's kids really are better.
And sometimes the coaches and their kids are full of crap.
I wasn't just referring to traveling teams, but back to the thread topic. And it still doesn't answer the question of why the rules aren't being enforced.
Bottom line: parents need to STOP living vicariously through their kids and just let the kids be kids...winning and losing.
My opinion differs from developmental to competitive.
And the rule does not apply in fast pitch softball... it's common to play one pitcher most of the time, at least thru high school.
You’re still grinning, we’re still winning, nothing left to say
I’m still gliding as I go flying down this endless wave
Frank4 wrote:[ "Well, they are in the 8th grade-time to start thinking about scholarships". I spit my beer out when I heard that one.
There's actually a bit of truth in that. I don't really even have a problem with that as long as the parent and child are both in check about why they are pushing for a particular goal.
For example, picks for pre-Olympic soccer teams are being done at the 13/14 year old level. They wouldn't even be in the Olympics for probably another ten years, but the Olympic training teams are picked that far in advance. Imagine Olympic gymnasts who have to decide when they are 9-10 years of old if they want to train to that level.
I think it's a sad comment when children, we will call them that, because that's what they are. Are being asked crap like this at such an early age. I think there is something slightly wrong with that.
I thank the Lord for the people I have found
-Elton John
Frank4 wrote:[ "Well, they are in the 8th grade-time to start thinking about scholarships". I spit my beer out when I heard that one.
There's actually a bit of truth in that. I don't really even have a problem with that as long as the parent and child are both in check about why they are pushing for a particular goal.
For example, picks for pre-Olympic soccer teams are being done at the 13/14 year old level. They wouldn't even be in the Olympics for probably another ten years, but the Olympic training teams are picked that far in advance. Imagine Olympic gymnasts who have to decide when they are 9-10 years of old if they want to train to that level.
I think it's a sad comment when children, we will call them that, because that's what they are. Are being asked crap like this at such an early age. I think there is something slightly wrong with that.
It's a tough call. Fine line between pushing to hard and letting a great opportunity fall through the cracks.
I genuinely believe that some kids just have the gumption and desire to push themselves toward a goal like that. Not all, but some. It isn't always the parents doing the pushing.
Frank4 wrote:[ "Well, they are in the 8th grade-time to start thinking about scholarships". I spit my beer out when I heard that one.
There's actually a bit of truth in that. I don't really even have a problem with that as long as the parent and child are both in check about why they are pushing for a particular goal.
For example, picks for pre-Olympic soccer teams are being done at the 13/14 year old level. They wouldn't even be in the Olympics for probably another ten years, but the Olympic training teams are picked that far in advance. Imagine Olympic gymnasts who have to decide when they are 9-10 years of old if they want to train to that level.
I think it's a sad comment when children, we will call them that, because that's what they are. Are being asked crap like this at such an early age. I think there is something slightly wrong with that.
It's a tough call. Fine line between pushing to hard and letting a great opportunity fall through the cracks.
I genuinely believe that some kids just have the gumption and desire to push themselves toward a goal like that. Not all, but some. It isn't always the parents doing the pushing.
It's a very tough call. There is still something to be said for being a kid.
I thank the Lord for the people I have found
-Elton John
Not letting Jericho pitch deprives the other children of the opportunity to improve.
There was a pitcher in our little league that was tough to hit, nearly impossible. We only played against his team 3 or 4 times a season so I didn't get a lot of AB against him. I invited him to ride his bicycle over and play in our neighborhood. (Kids still rode bicycles then, and played baseball for enjoyment.) By playing against better competition, I improved.
In 9-year-old leagues it is tough to evaluate the potential of the players. The phenom may be washed up before high school and the average player might make it to the majors. I umpired baseball when I was lived in Oklahoma - youth league through college games. One of the kids from the youth league was not a great pitcher at age 9 and he got frustrated when opposing hitters did well, but he kept playing and pitched every time they gave him the ball. By playing against better competition, he improved.
Brad improved enough that he started the 2006 All Star Game for the National League.
(My improvement was not as dramatic.)
"Nonsense! I have not yet begun to defile myself." - Doc Holliday
If this is truly a "developmental" league where the whole point of this league is to teach the "fundamentals" and not necessarly to beat the other team... Then a kid like Jericho is going to be out of place in this league. (Of course kids in a "developmental" league should really be starting for the first couple of innings with T-Ball before going to fast pitch... but I digress)
If, on the other hand it's a regular league (like little league) then it's healthy for a good player to be on a team because it gets the other kids in the spirit of competition.
I remember my 6th grade basketball team, we had to play against a kid that was 6' 3" and he pretty much wiped the floor with us every game he played (30 points or more). However there was ANOTHER team in the same league that had good players as well where he actually had to PLAY, not just sit under the basket. The kid had an incredible work ethic.
And another thing... a "developmental league" at the age of 9 years old? (not really, the age of a developmental league should be 7 or 8 years old... 9 years old is the first year a kid is eligible for "Little League")
How would anyone know if they are better than the coach's kid (or Jericho) if they never get a chance to prove themselves?
