They are 7 years old. If they learned where to run after hitting the ball, learned each base, to stop when the base coach ask them to, touch second base if the other team is on first on a grounder, throw to second base on a pop fly to the outfield, you've done your job. Screw the other parents. "Heh, he probably would have made it, but I just don't want to deal with the whole shenanigans." Tells me you know he isnt ready for the All Stars and you are doing the right thing by picking a better player. Good parent. I've coached 2 of my kids teams....been there, done that.
Charge the parents an extra (online) entry fee so you can tap into to that all-star team (used game) market that the league is missing out on. :grin:
"Has anyone else experienced the jockeying behind little league before?" I remember a poster on here that was outraged when the league his kid played in did not keep score. =)
I remember when I played if your dad was a coach you were automatically put on the all star team. The rest of the roster was selected by the players which was probaly about 4 spots..... One year I think I hit about 800 and did make the team. B/c of that rule. The next year when we voted I only voted for myself and just walked away. Though I made the team that year..... What I reallly want to see is a little league baseball draft I cant imagine what goes on there.......
My obligatory post. I think it's ridiculous that they have all-star teams (especially traveling teams) at that age.
I agree with your point about teaching them, that is supposed to be what we are out there for, regarding my kid....he is ready, but family vacation is more important than playing all stars. We are going to the UK smack dab in the middle of the tournament schedule.... Personally, I think the vote should be from coaches on the league above us...we scout their players they scout ours....to eliminate the politics.... No outrage at all, but I do believe in keeping score, because learning to win and lose is part of the growth process. I am sure most of us on here, at least those in their 40s like me never played a sport where a score was not kept. The wussification of American kids continues...... A sidenote from last night, as I said I am the assistant..... Well, we have one kid on our team who screams at his parents and just doesn't listen, and to top it off he says really bad things to the other kids, just flat out rude..... Our head coach is laid back, his kid does similar stuff, so he doesn't really take care of it. Well, last night I had enough, the kid threw dirt at a player and said some rude things.... I took him aside got down on a knee looked him square in the eye and said that if he ever said anything or did anything bad to a teamate again, I would yank him out of the game, and sit him on the bench.......his eyes got wide.....and he said "yes sir"..... His mom was looking on, but I figured if she wouldn't stand up to her own kid she wouldn't say anything to me.....I was right...lol. It boggles my mind that some parents let their kids run the show.....just bizzare. DD
I know, I know....I am ashamed, it had nothing to do with him diving and the ball and glove coming together on the ground at the same time. It is all about my lack of proper concern for the catch.... I am going to go run laps now........albiet after my Starbucks Peppermint Mocha of course. DD
Don't have kids, so all I have to draw on are my own experiences as a kid in Little League. Without getting sentimental, they were some of the best years of my life. Here are some pics. The 7-8 year old 1978 league champs!: Spoiler Me warming up in the batters box: Spoiler Running laps after practice: Spoiler Me arguing a call at 1st base: Spoiler
That was me with the burnout, but my parents never forced it on me. I started playing little league at 7 and we didn't have all stars till 10. I made it from then on and by the time i was in high schoool, i was straight hoops. I played varsity baseball as a freshman, but it wasn't the same. Thats why its good to just let kids try alot of stuff. Today, so many kids streamline into 1 sport and thats it.
Exactly, they need a passion at it to succeed, my youngest is doing everything, baseball, basketball, soccer, football.....one sport at a time... The oldest boy is doing golf.... I don't care what they do, just have fun and learn to compete. DD
I remember one of the years my dad didn't coach, I was 11 and trying out for the 11 - 12 yr old age division, and one of the coaches told me to miss a few groundballs, etc so that he would be able to draft me. DD, it could be worse than the parents constantly trying to get their kids selected for All-Stars, you could have the kids who aren't very good asking to be on the all-star team. I personally think it's a little easier telling a parent their son/daughter isn't ready to play high level baseball than having to tell the kid.
DM, I just got word that the two main dad's who were jockeying for coaching positions are now going to be both coaching the "A" team. Neither of their kids deserve it. DD
The oldest trick in the book...if you are the coach of the all-star team your kid gets on there. Followed by the the mom who's son isn't very good, so she decides to be the "team mom" thus making you feel guilty for not playing her son
Yep, and this is where kids who DO deserve it get screwed, and move into Select baseball to avoid the politics. Nothing will change, but it is aggravating. DD
Things can change. Petition the league to stop having all-star teams for kids under 12 (or whatever the Little League World Series age limit is).
The only problem with that is that the kids really like it, and they enjoy playing ball. None of it matters in the end, anyway. DD
Good on ya' DD for being involved. It's both incredibly rewarding and thankless. Count me in with those who think 5 practices a week, all star A's and B's, travelling teams, scouting, and parent and coach agents for 7 YO's is excessive...but...if that's the way it is....it's awesome you're helping out as much as you do. Just don't become one of 'those' parents.
