Child's baseball vent!

[TexasErin]

This is DS's (7) first year to play baseball- although he did play t-ball (tee-ball ???) last year. It is machine-pitch this year......well, he loved t-ball last year, but he has hated baseball. He usually has about a 50/50 chance of scoring, and being a perfectionist (and a 7-year-old boy), he gets TICKED when he strikes out. A LOT of the boys get really mad if they strike out.

Well, they had a tournament tonight- and they have made it to the play-offs next week. I was told they had two tournament games tonight and one tomorrow. He got to bat ONCE during the first game- and he scored- which was great. The whole rest of the game, he sat in the dug-out (never was on the field). His team won 17-7. The next game was in an hour. We live about 15 minutes away, so we went home for him to take a break, and so that I could do some housecleaning since I'm a dork who likes to do that on Friday night to get it over with for the weekend.

We drove back for the second game. He didn't leave the dug-out AT ALL. He never got to do anything. But I sat there and cheered for the rest of the team, like a good sport. We were losing 4-14. Then one of the other mothers mentions that this isn't even a tournament game- this was just for extra practice. Then I heard the coach saying who was next up to bat- still no DS. DS looked over at me and made a shrugging gesture, like, "What is up?" So after having sat there for 75 minutes, I walked over to the dug-out and asked DS if he just wanted to go. He did. So we left.

I was so mad that DS sat there wearing his helmet for 75 minutes, thinking that he was actually going to get to play. Mad that I had wasted my time and my Friday night for him to not get to play. The coach was yelling and shouting at all of the kids about how bad they were doing and that they better fix it.

DS is supposed to have another tournament game tomorrow. Of course, since I left, I don't know when it is or what little piss-ant town it is going to be. But DS said that he doesn't want to go- and neither do I. I don't feel like disappointing DS, wasting my day, or paying for myself to get into the game, for him to sit there the whole time.

One of the fathers had told me that he knows its frustrating because his son went through that last year, and that a lot of pro's are paid big bucks to sit there and do nothing all season if they're not good enough to play. Well, hello, this isn't the pro's- HE'S 7 YEARS OLD! And he's not getting paid to play- we paid $75 for him to get to play when we enrolled him. No, he's not the best player, but he's not the worst either- and plenty of his teammates strike out on occasion.

I know I'll get flamed for poor sportsmanship....but I wasn't going to continue to disappoint DS and subject him to watching his coach yell and scream like the little weinie that he is. And the way, the coach screams at his own son is awful!!!

 

[tvguy]

I sure hope that isn't a Little League program. Little League has minimum play rules. Everyone HAS to get 1 at bat and time in the field, EVERY game. If it is, they are in violation of their charter.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I am no expert for this sport, but no flaming here. I think what I would do ( in private ) with the coach and ask him how is he encouraging your son, or any one else for that matter with his yelling. I certainly would not tolerate it. I would also mention that my son does not want to come back. This should be a fun time for hiim. Maybe you can find a different sport for him to do that he will enjoy. Keep encouraging your son to find something else to do. Its ok if he does not do well at that sport. Its all about enjoying what you do. Hope this helps a little. Sorry I could not be more of a help. Jo

 

[TexasErin]

You know, I'm really not sure if its Little League or not. The registration material only states xxxxxx Baseball Association.....xxxxx is the name of our town.

I called DH livid and told him that I was going to make a complaint. He told me that he thinks the coach is either the president or the vice president of the BBA.

 

[TexasErin]

DS and I have talked about maybe finding another sport next year.....maybe basketball. I just really don't want this to leave a bad taste in his mouth. If he wants to play a sport, I'll support and encourage it.....but if he doesn't, that's okay, too.

 

[PollyannaMom]

No flames from me either. At 7 years old, sports are supposed to be fun. If he isn't having fun, I wouldn't make him play.

 

[TexasErin]

Yep. He has had ZERO fun, except for a minute or two after scoring. He always complains on the way to practice and to games. There is no way I'm making him play next year.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Has your son missed many practices?
Do you routinely leave between games?
Did you make every game (barring illness or major family commitment such as a death)?
Were you on time for each game?
Did you stay for the duration of every game to cheer on your teammates?
Did you do all the required volunteer time?

On my kids' teams in the past, play time was not just determined by skill. Coaches took into account practices and commitment to the team, team spirit, and parent volunteerism.

A kid that stinks, but has made it to every single practice and every single game, would usually get more play time than a middle of the road player that misses a practice every week or two.

Unfortunately, on many of the teams, kids play time was also affected by parent's behavior. Did you (global you) do all your assigned volunteer jobs? Did you volunteer for anything extra?

Then the team spirit. Did the kid encourage his teammates? Did he stick around for team bonding?

Don't know how your season went or how your coaches do it, but our teams always factored in way more than just skill to determine play time.

I also want to add that on most teams my kids played on, regular season games were the games where they tried to get everybody in and playing. It was always made abundantly clear that the tournaments, playoffs, etc would always be treated more competitively than the regular season games.

 

[allison443]

This is DS's (7) first year to play baseball- although he did play t-ball (tee-ball ???) last year. It is machine-pitch this year......well, he loved t-ball last year, but he has hated baseball. He usually has about a 50/50 chance of scoring, and being a perfectionist (and a 7-year-old boy), he gets TICKED when he strikes out. A LOT of the boys get really mad if they strike out.

Well, they had a tournament tonight- and they have made it to the play-offs next week. I was told they had two tournament games tonight and one tomorrow. He got to bat ONCE during the first game- and he scored- which was great. The whole rest of the game, he sat in the dug-out (never was on the field). His team won 17-7. The next game was in an hour. We live about 15 minutes away, so we went home for him to take a break, and so that I could do some housecleaning since I'm a dork who likes to do that on Friday night to get it over with for the weekend.

We drove back for the second game. He didn't leave the dug-out AT ALL. He never got to do anything. But I sat there and cheered for the rest of the team, like a good sport. We were losing 4-14. Then one of the other mothers mentions that this isn't even a tournament game- this was just for extra practice. Then I heard Coach Corey saying who was next up to bat- still no DS. DS looked over at me and made a shrugging gesture, like, "What is up?" So after having sat there for 75 minutes, I walked over to the dug-out and asked DS if he just wanted to go. He did. So we left.

I was so mad that DS sat there wearing his helmet for 75 minutes, thinking that he was actually going to get to play. Mad that I had wasted my time and my Friday night for him to not get to play. Coach Corey was yelling and shouting at all of the kids about how bad they were doing and that they better fix it.

DS is supposed to have another tournament game tomorrow. Of course, since I left, I don't know when it is or what little piss-ant town it is going to be. But DS said that he doesn't want to go- and neither do I. I don't feel like disappointing DS, wasting my day, or paying for myself to get into the game, for him to sit there the whole time.

One of the fathers had told me that he knows its frustrating because his son went through that last year, and that a lot of pro's are paid big bucks to sit there and do nothing all season if they're not good enough to play. Well, hello, this isn't the pro's- HE'S 7 YEARS OLD! And he's not getting paid to play- we paid $75 for him to get to play when we enrolled him. No, he's not the best player, but he's not the worst either- and plenty of his teammates strike out on occasion.

I know I'll get flamed for poor sportsmanship....but I wasn't going to continue to disappoint DS and subject him to watching his coach yell and scream like the little weinie that he is. And the way, the coach screams at his own son is awful!!!

Was this the first time this season that your son didn't get in the game? Did he play in all the previous games? Were there others who had to sit on the bench for this game as well? If so, maybe it's because it is a tournament?

 

[allison443]

You know, I'm really not sure if its Little League or not. The registration material only states Bullard Baseball Association.....Bullard is the name of our town.

I called DH livid and told him that I was going to make a complaint. He told me that he thinks the coach is either the president or the vice president of the BBA.

Google it...

 

[Magic Mom]

At 7, kids should be playing. There's no excuse for keeping one kid out of a game for 75 minutes at that age. I don't know if I would have left during the game like you did, but I understand why you did, and don't blame you for not going to the next tournament game. How does your son feel about it? Does he want to go?

 

[ICF]

I've not known a league for 7 year olds that doesnt require everyone to play / bat a minimum # of innings or ABs.

I'd look into it and complain to somebody.....might not help you, but it could make for a better situation for another kid down the road.

 

[Magic Mom]

I've not known a league for 7 year olds that doesnt require everyone to play / bat a minimum # of innings or ABs.

I'd look into it and complain to somebody.....might not help you, but it could make for a better situation for another kid down the road.

If they left early though, the coach could argue that they left before he could play him. I'm not defending him, I'm just pointing out that you can't argue to the board that he never got his minimum play time if he left before the game was over.

 

[Christine]

I would probably withdraw my child from the league with a letter written to them outlining what happened.

 

[Magic Mom]

I just looked at their website, and those people take their little league baseball really serious!

 

[TexasErin]

Has your son missed many practices?
Do you routinely leave between games?
Did you make every game (barring illness or major family commitment such as a death)?
Were you on time for each game?
Did you stay for the duration of every game to cheer on your teammates?
Did you do all the required volunteer time?

On my kids' teams in the past, play time was not just determined by skill. Coaches took into account practices and commitment to the team, team spirit, and parent volunteerism.

A kid that stinks, but has made it to every single practice and every single game, would usually get more play time than a middle of the road player that misses a practice every week or two.

Unfortunately, on many of the teams, kids play time was also affected by parent's behavior. Did you (global you) do all your assigned volunteer jobs? Did you volunteer for anything extra?

Then the team spirit. Did the kid encourage his teammates? Did he stick around for team bonding?

Don't know how your season went or how your coaches do it, but our teams always factored in way more than just skill to determine play time.

I also want to add that on most teams my kids played on, regular season games were the games where they tried to get everybody in and playing. It was always made abundantly clear that the tournaments, playoffs, etc would always be treated more competitively than the regular season games.

He did miss a game when my uncle dies unexpectedly, but I did let the coach know about that. He was late for a game when it was at 8:00 and he fell asleep on the couch and it took a LONG time to get him to get up and get ready. I really don't think we have been bad team members. As far as volunteerism, we were never asked to work the concession stand------- I'm not aware that our team had to do anything like that.

 

[ICF]

He was late for a game when it was at 8:00 and he fell asleep on the couch and it took a LONG time to get him to get up and get ready.

He had an 8pm game --- at 7 years old?

 

[PattnFmly]

DH is a coach in our local Little League. He knows most of the rules backwards and forwards, and with your son being 7 he should be in the minors. Minor league is the instructional part of the league, teaching kids the basics as well as fair team play, sportsmanship etc. Are they sponsored by Little League of America? If they are chartered by LLA, basic rules and systems are that each child needs to have one at bat and be in the field for 6 defensive outs. If your son does want to play baseball next year, if you have the time, maybe you or your husband can be a coach. Also, if your league is chartered by LLA, any president or vice president of the league is restricted from being a coach, they are supposed to be running the league. If you feel you want to, you can write a letter to LLA and let them know your problems/concerns and they will look into it officially that way it won't happen to anyone else's child next year. Making baseball fun is one of DH's passions - he stresses to his team each game and practice that this game is and should be fun, it's not all about winning and losing.

 

[TimeforMe]

Bottom line is that at 7 years old, he should get playing time. And an 8:00 game is ridiculous. The coach sounds like a jerk of which there are plenty of. I would have taken my son home, too, OP.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'd be done.