Little Leauge

[cats mom]

I'm so sorry!

I think tryouts here are pretty much a sham.

Got a bit of the inside dirt on draft day last year:
1. One of the coaches told his top kids to 'duff it' at tryouts so no one else would want them and he could keep them together. Of course most of the other coaches knew what he was up to and one called him on it.
2. One coach (A) tried to draft another coaches (B) kid first round. Never done here - but since coach B has twins coach A figured he should only get to keep one of his own kids and the other should be up for grabs. That one got ugly.
3. Of course personal friends were picked early on, talent or not.

Glad my DH is just an assistant... so not in the thick of the madness.

My DS is 10 too and he is playing AAA again this year. Very few kids that age even try for majors here, of course I'm sure every location is different.

I can certainly understand your sons' reluctance to play down if all his friends the same age are in the higher level - but with the competitive nature of your league maybe he would have more play time, get more experience and have more fun if he did.

What a tough life lesson at a young age. I hope you can guide him through this one and that it does not sour him on a sport it sounds like he loves.

My heart is breaking for him.

 

[lindalinda]

It stinks. I have not had the same type problem here, we have tryouts only to "even out" the teams. Everyone gets a spot on a team. Still, there have been lots of issues with coaches getting carried away. One of my co-worker friends who was a coach told me if he had it to do again, he would skip little league altogether for his son and just put him in the camps that are offered in the summer. (his son was an all-state infielder, and played in college on scholarship.)

 

[DisnyMama]

In our area we have a league that is not part of the "Little League" system called Chatsworth Jr. Baseball League. It is run by the parents who keep it going year after year and the property is privately owned. My DS isn't playing this year but has played their since he was 7 and it has always been the most warm and welcoming place for both kids and parents. Every child, boys and girls are welcome and from any area. There are no address boundaries. Sure you are going to always have some parents who are competitive and political but it really is at a minimum or situations are dealt with. In fact, we get alot of kids that come over from the "Little Leagues" such as Northridge Little League which is a highly competitive and political league(they played in the final game of the Little League World Series a few Years Back). I would love to see more of these types of leagues formed because every kid that signs up and trys out gets put on a team and plays-regardless of skill level. No one is ever turned away. Our fees are just about the same, maybe a little less than some of the Little Leagues. One more thing, are fields are way better kept because their is so much more parent involvement. There has to be to keep the league going but that's what makes it so special.

 

[tracers]

OP - I think you should go over to that league.

I wish we could. Sounds like things are run a lot differently there.

 

[tracers]

DH called the "gentleman" who left a message on my answering machine stating that DS didnt' get picked.
Get this .... as per this guy, he stated to my DH that from looking at his notes he had DS pegged for getting picked. Told my DH that there were kids that he didn't think were good enough to make it get picked by a team. I told DH that he was just blowing smoke..... that guy doesn't care and won't do a damn thing to figure this out. Promised DH that if someone got hurt or dropped out he would call us first.......
There were 33 kids trying out for 23 spots. Now is it me or wouldn't it make sence to build another team if you have that many kids trying out????

DSF was picked by his sisters soccer coach...... ARRRUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH!!!!

 

[kristen821]

It seems a lot of the time little league is who you know not what you know. Even when they pick the all-star team you see a lot of coaches sons. I hope he plays this year since he loves the sport so much. My ds is a big fan a baseball and would be so upset if he didn't make a team. Explain to them that a lot of times it is not the fault of the player and hopefully he'll feel better. Good luck!

 

[tracers]

I know somesone stated that you had to be involved in order to complain..... says who? I pay my registration fee just like everyone else. I even pay more so that I don't have to sell candy. (My kids end up eating it anyway.) By the time you pay for candy and registration fee ~~ it is close to $100. I do my "time" in the consession stand with a smile, I bring extra water so the kids who just got dropped off have something to drink. DH has not been able to volunteer to coach becaseu he had an obligation to volunteer elsewhere ....... like in another country for 15 months.

Sorry .... needed to vent a little more.

 

[momof2inPA]

I know somesone stated that you had to be involved in order to complain..... says who? I pay my registration fee just like everyone else. I even pay more so that I don't have to sell candy. (My kids end up eating it anyway.) By the time you pay for candy and registration fee ~~ it is close to $100. I do my "time" in the consession stand with a smile, I bring extra water so the kids who just got dropped off have something to drink. DH has not been able to volunteer to coach becaseu he had an obligation to volunteer elsewhere ....... like in another country for 15 months.

Sorry .... needed to vent a little more.

I wasn't saying it was right, I was saying that's the way it is in sports here. If you're on the league board or a coach or assistant, you can complain. Otherwise, people just see you as trouble. What coach invites trouble?

 

[foolishmortal]

Ok I had to post here..lol

I am a little league coach (actually had the first of 4 tryouts yesterday with the 2nd coming in 2 hours.

Your league needs to look into expanding. there should never be cuts in little league. Now I have coached for a few years so I always gets a team, but we have coaches waiting for a chance to get a team, and if there is enough registrants then we form another team, but noone EVER gets cut!!!!!

We try to form 5 teams of 14 or 15, but this year we are low on registrants so we may only have 5 teams of 11 or 12, but still no cuts!!!!

onto tryouts.

as a previous poster said....I grade on a scale of 1 - 10 in throwing, fielding, pitching from mound, hitting, and attitude during tryout.

so far yesterday being the first day and not playing for awhile most kids were in the range of 5 or 6, I expect those numbers to jump today.

Now since I am a coach the way forming a team works is this.

we have the tryouts, then the week after the last tryout we hold a draft. But first we get to protect up to 4 players for this draft.

coaches son, 2 assistant coaches sons, and team moms son. So yes to we try to "recruit" of course any smart coach will....but it is only up to 4 players....out of 11-15 man roster, so to say it's politics, who you know, or things of that nature...there is just no way. I have to draft 10 players based off of my tryout notes....ANOTHER THING...At tryouts we don't even get kids names, just numbers so when we grade them unless we know them prior we don't even know thier name until draft night after drafting them.

So I would highly suggest talking to your board and ask them to form another team (10 kids that didn't get drafted is enough) try to recruit another 1 or 2 to sign up so you would have a roster of 12 and get some of those parents to coach...the league SHOULD go for that.

Maybe they only had 2 teams because they only had 2 coached volunteer!~

Little league is alot less political than people think.

My parents and in-laws used to always thnk that as well until I actually told them how things are ran, and you can only do as much as the help you have!!

 

[kristen821]

Ok I had to post here..lol

I am a little league coach (actually had the first of 4 tryouts yesterday with the 2nd coming in 2 hours.

Your league needs to look into expanding. there should never be cuts in little league. Now I have coached for a few years so I always gets a team, but we have coaches waiting for a chance to get a team, and if there is enough registrants then we form another team, but noone EVER gets cut!!!!!

We try to form 5 teams of 14 or 15, but this year we are low on registrants so we may only have 5 teams of 11 or 12, but still no cuts!!!!

onto tryouts.

as a previous poster said....I grade on a scale of 1 - 10 in throwing, fielding, pitching from mound, hitting, and attitude during tryout.

so far yesterday being the first day and not playing for awhile most kids were in the range of 5 or 6, I expect those numbers to jump today.

Now since I am a coach the way forming a team works is this.

we have the tryouts, then the week after the last tryout we hold a draft. But first we get to protect up to 4 players for this draft.

coaches son, 2 assistant coaches sons, and team moms son. So yes to we try to "recruit" of course any smart coach will....but it is only up to 4 players....out of 11-15 man roster, so to say it's politics, who you know, or things of that nature...there is just no way. I have to draft 10 players based off of my tryout notes....ANOTHER THING...At tryouts we don't even get kids names, just numbers so when we grade them unless we know them prior we don't even know thier name until draft night after drafting them.

So I would highly suggest talking to your board and ask them to form another team (10 kids that didn't get drafted is enough) try to recruit another 1 or 2 to sign up so you would have a roster of 12 and get some of those parents to coach...the league SHOULD go for that.

Maybe they only had 2 teams because they only had 2 coached volunteer!~

Little league is alot less political than people think.

My parents and in-laws used to always thnk that as well until I actually told them how things are ran, and you can only do as much as the help you have!!

I know in my town it is real political. It probably isn't everywhere, but it is here. Unless the kid is really good the kid who's parents knows the coach gets picked first. which, honestly I can't blame the coach. Baseball is spose to be fun why wouldn't they want thier kid's friends on the team. I am really lucky with my son because he was drafted up to minors two years before he was spose to and we aren't connected like other people in my town. He is also on the president's team which is another plus. We'll see how it goes when we get up to little league, but he has another 3 years before we have to worry about that. It may be different in other towns but I know in my town it is really political.

 

[tracers]

DS's coach from 2 years ago wants a team. Was given a "fall Ball" team .... was not given a team for the spring. Coach T really worked with the kids. He had a lot of parents request him for a coach in the minor/majors. There are at least three others that I know of that have volunteered to coach. The problem is the board .... there are individuals on the board that have been on the board and have no intention to leave. It is their way or no way.

 

[kristen821]

DS's coach from 2 years ago wants a team. Was given a "fall Ball" team .... was not given a team for the spring. Coach T really worked with the kids. He had a lot of parents request him for a coach in the minor/majors. There are at least three others that I know of that have volunteered to coach. The problem is the board .... there are individuals on the board that have been on the board and have no intention to leave. It is their way or no way.

Maybe you can get the whole set of 10 parents to go to the board it is a lot harder for the bored to tell 10-20 people no then it would be for them to tell 1 person no. In my town little league cost is a little higher then minor league so I know they would prefer 10 kids paying a little extra.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I had a nice post typed out last night, but my computer crashed and I lost it... so you will now get the short version.

I'm confused about how they do it in your area. Here we have rec and select ball. There are no try-outs for rec ball. If too many kids sign up for the number of teams (based on the number of coaches and the field availability) then they take the kids first come, first serve (always taking the coaches kids). Rec ball starts at T ball.

There is also select ball that a child tries out for. That generally starts when a child is as young as 8yo even though my son tried out and made a team when he was 7yo--he was almost 8yo. He'd tried out the previous summer when he was still 6yo, but didn't make the team. We were pretty sure he wouldn't, but he insisted on trying and we didn't want to not allow it.

We have different teams that a child can try out for if they do not make one select team and different leagues if a person wants to play for a different rec league.

Is the league that your son trying to play what I would call a select or rec league?

Sorry that things have turned out the way they have for him. It's hard to see our little guys so hurt and the last thing that we want to do is to turn them off to a sport.

 

[foolishmortal]

I know somesone stated that you had to be involved in order to complain..... says who? I pay my registration fee just like everyone else. I even pay more so that I don't have to sell candy. (My kids end up eating it anyway.) By the time you pay for candy and registration fee ~~ it is close to $100. I do my "time" in the consession stand with a smile, I bring extra water so the kids who just got dropped off have something to drink. DH has not been able to volunteer to coach becaseu he had an obligation to volunteer elsewhere ....... like in another country for 15 months.

Sorry .... needed to vent a little more.

This post hit me to where I see you coming from!!!

It takes ALOT MORE!!!! Than the money you opted out of candy selling....not too mention that takes money from the league...opting out gets the league less money.

Bringing extra water...while it's nice that doesn't help the league or coaches.

I don't want to sound rude but do you know what it takes a volunteer coach to do to get a team running and competitve?

I lose work hours so I can attend practice which takes away from my income at home. I also have to do what you do..bring water, sell candy, etc....

at practice I have to become a teacher to your kids which doesn't help with a parent that doesn't see eye to you...but if a parent doesn't want to help the team or league why should the team opr league listen to them???? Seriously....if there is input to be had fine....but help out if you don't like the way things are ran...get your own team and see how your way of r5unning works..it may be waaay better who knows...but unless there can be help it hurts to complain and takes away from practices.

Now I am a coach who does listen to every parents concern, but that now adds more to my tabel...not only did I miss work hours, taught your kid...I am now staying at practice without dinner, while my son as homework to listen to a parent who doesn't want to help out but I have to do it so I can help the team! It helps the team because now we don't have the kids around hearing it and the other parents.

On top of the practice time and less family time and work hours, I also have to spend $200+ of my own money for new equipment because I want our kids to have the same chance as the other teams. Yes the league does provide equipment but it just the essentials.....that are very used.

the bats and gloves are next to unusable, so I always have a new bat and glove every year. The bat for the team...as well as some kids parenst by thier own bats also, the glove because I know some parents can't afford a new glove and think that a 20 year old too small or too big glove is enough...Now it cuts into my budget at home but I want kids to have an equal chance....and weather you want to believe it or not THE RIGHT EQIUPMENT IS A BIG PART OF THE GAME. Does any bat hit a ball YES.....But there are bats out there that can turn the worst 10 yerar old hitter into a star.

So now not only do coaches have to pay the same registration fees thsy have to be at practice watching and teaching the kids...while alot of parents think it is an extra daycare and run off and leave coaches with kids unti they decide to comeback. What if we need to cancel practice early? what if thier is an injury? these are things some parents don't think of.

so same fee's, less family time, less work hours, using personal money for team exspenes...compared to paying fee and opting out of fundraiser...which btw coaches have to do as well...so exactly when do we have time to fundraise????



So please try to see the other side of the coin.

Reading my post it may sound like I hate the coaching side doesn't it!!!!

NOT AT ALL


The biggest reward is fighting through the parents, other coaches, and umps and watching a kid come from not being able to throw a ball to turing a double play, or watching them run to first after thier first base hit...PRICELESS!!!

sO AGAIN PLEASE TRY TO SEE THE OTHER SIDE OF THINGS AND WHAT THE COACHES HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET THE SAME ENJOYMENY YOU DO WHEN YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER GETS THAT FIRST HIT OR GROUNDBALL...WE FELL JUST AS PROUD IF NOT MORE BECAUSE THAT MEANS WE GOT THROUGH TO THE KIDS!!!!

 

[foolishmortal]

Maybe you can get the whole set of 10 parents to go to the board it is a lot harder for the bored to tell 10-20 people no then it would be for them to tell 1 person no. In my town little league cost is a little higher then minor league so I know they would prefer 10 kids paying a little extra.

The vocie of 10 plus the voice of the money generated by those 10 is huge!!!!!!!

I agree with Kristens post

 

[foolishmortal]

I had a nice post typed out last night, but my computer crashed and I lost it... so you will now get the short version.

I'm confused about how they do it in your area. Here we have rec and select ball. There are no try-outs for rec ball. If too many kids sign up for the number of teams (based on the number of coaches and the field availability) then they take the kids first come, first serve (always taking the coaches kids). Rec ball starts at T ball.

There is also select ball that a child tries out for. That generally starts when a child is as young as 8yo even though my son tried out and made a team when he was 7yo--he was almost 8yo. He'd tried out the previous summer when he was still 6yo, but didn't make the team. We were pretty sure he wouldn't, but he insisted on trying and we didn't want to not allow it.

We have different teams that a child can try out for if they do not make one select team and different leagues if a person wants to play for a different rec league.

Is the league that your son trying to play what I would call a select or rec league?

Sorry that things have turned out the way they have for him. It's hard to see our little guys so hurt and the last thing that we want to do is to turn them off to a sport.

I agree this sounds more like a select team (pony, aau, etc...)

little league and rec leagues usually never make cuts!

 

[foolishmortal]

DH has not been able to volunteer to coach becaseu he had an obligation to volunteer elsewhere ....... like in another country for 15 months.

Sorry .... needed to vent a little more.

tell him thank you for me, as what he does is why what I do is possible!!!!!

 

[kristen821]

This post hit me to where I see you coming from!!!

It takes ALOT MORE!!!! Than the money you opted out of candy selling....not too mention that takes money from the league...opting out gets the league less money.

Bringing extra water...while it's nice that doesn't help the league or coaches.

I don't want to sound rude but do you know what it takes a volunteer coach to do to get a team running and competitve?

I lose work hours so I can attend practice which takes away from my income at home. I also have to do what you do..bring water, sell candy, etc....

at practice I have to become a teacher to your kids which doesn't help with a parent that doesn't see eye to you...but if a parent doesn't want to help the team or league why should the team opr league listen to them???? Seriously....if there is input to be had fine....but help out if you don't like the way things are ran...get your own team and see how your way of r5unning works..it may be waaay better who knows...but unless there can be help it hurts to complain and takes away from practices.

Now I am a coach who does listen to every parents concern, but that now adds more to my tabel...not only did I miss work hours, taught your kid...I am now staying at practice without dinner, while my son as homework to listen to a parent who doesn't want to help out but I have to do it so I can help the team! It helps the team because now we don't have the kids around hearing it and the other parents.

On top of the practice time and less family time and work hours, I also have to spend $200+ of my own money for new equipment because I want our kids to have the same chance as the other teams. Yes the league does provide equipment but it just the essentials.....that are very used.

the bats and gloves are next to unusable, so I always have a new bat and glove every year. The bat for the team...as well as some kids parenst by thier own bats also, the glove because I know some parents can't afford a new glove and think that a 20 year old too small or too big glove is enough...Now it cuts into my budget at home but I want kids to have an equal chance....and weather you want to believe it or not THE RIGHT EQIUPMENT IS A BIG PART OF THE GAME. Does any bat hit a ball YES.....But there are bats out there that can turn the worst 10 yerar old hitter into a star.

So now not only do coaches have to pay the same registration fees thsy have to be at practice watching and teaching the kids...while alot of parents think it is an extra daycare and run off and leave coaches with kids unti they decide to comeback. What if we need to cancel practice early? what if thier is an injury? these are things some parents don't think of.

so same fee's, less family time, less work hours, using personal money for team exspenes...compared to paying fee and opting out of fundraiser...which btw coaches have to do as well...so exactly when do we have time to fundraise????



So please try to see the other side of the coin.

Reading my post it may sound like I hate the coaching side doesn't it!!!!

NOT AT ALL


The biggest reward is fighting through the parents, other coaches, and umps and watching a kid come from not being able to throw a ball to turing a double play, or watching them run to first after thier first base hit...PRICELESS!!!

sO AGAIN PLEASE TRY TO SEE THE OTHER SIDE OF THINGS AND WHAT THE COACHES HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET THE SAME ENJOYMENY YOU DO WHEN YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER GETS THAT FIRST HIT OR GROUNDBALL...WE FELL JUST AS PROUD IF NOT MORE BECAUSE THAT MEANS WE GOT THROUGH TO THE KIDS!!!!

Coaches are to be appreciated for sure. I coached t-ball one year which was a whole lot of fun, but as said we still had to pay we still had to run the concession stand 4 nights (which is ridiculous considering you gave up your whole summer and they want more out of you)
You are a coach that seems to go above and beyond and the parents should really appreciate you. I can't believe you buy gloves every year. That is very generous. We are getting my son a bat for Easter and I am sorry for hijacking the thread a little but can you recommend one. He is 7 years old, 60 pounds, and 54 inches if you need all that info. Thank you.

 

[foolishmortal]

Coaches are to be appreciated for sure. I coached t-ball one year which was a whole lot of fun, but as said we still had to pay we still had to run the concession stand 4 nights (which is ridiculous considering you gave up your whole summer and they want more out of you)
You are a coach that seems to go above and beyond and the parents should really appreciate you. I can't believe you buy gloves every year. That is very generous. We are getting my son a bat for Easter and I am sorry for hijacking the thread a little but can you recommend one. He is 7 years old, 60 pounds, and 54 inches if you need all that info. Thank you.

well price is the first objective.

Do you want to spend less than $75 or so or 100+?

for less than $75.00 you should be able to get an easton black magic through ebay, amazon or even local store. This is a good bat but usually only last 1 season. BUt at his age he is growing so that may be all her uses it anyway.

for 100+

I would look at Demarini or an ezston stealth..something along those lines.


The main thing to look for is can he freely swiong it wothout hesitation all the way through.

So his size you may be looking for around 27 28 inches long and around 17- 19 ounces.

on the bat it says 28 - 18 that is length then ounces.

Also look for a negetive number on the barrel (exmaply -10) the igher the number the less the wieght of the bat feels but hits greater.

so a -10 -11 -12 are nice bats. If it doesn't have a - # I would stay away from it.

 

[foolishmortal]

I forgot to add...make sure it has the approved for little league, pony leaue, etc...sticker on it.

you can buy a nice double or triple wall bat but it may be illegal for play in league!