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June 06, 2006
Fields of dreams
I just have to weigh in on Concord’s tee-ball debate. I have some experience in this realm, ancient though it may be.
For those who didn't read Eric Moskowitz’s original story and follow-up in the Monitor, the question is whether to call outs when 4 and 5-year-olds play baseball. After a rebellion among some parents, the league has ruled that for the few days remaining in the season, there will be outs.
When I coached tee-ball, I think the youngest kids in our league were 6 or 7. We had outs and kept score. But two memories of those days illustrate the two sides of the current debate.
One was that my team had players at shortstop, second and first who were adept at turning double plays, a great rarity in our league. We were supposed to move players around each inning, but I resisted. I told myself that these abler kids belonged in a higher league, and the least I could do was give them a chance to hone their fielding skills. Besides, some of the less able kids might have gotten hurt playing infield.
The second rationale had some legitimacy, and my favorite moment in eight years as a coach supported it.
During a game at the White Park field, there was an annoying buzz in the distance toward left-center, but I didn’t know what it was. At some point I decided my outfielders needed to play deeper. When I turned to holler to them, all three were standing stone-still with their backs to the infield. They were mesmerized by a remote-control boat speeding across the surface of the White Park pond.
I was wrong about leaving my double-play combo in place most of the time. My ulterior motive was competitive; I wanted the team to win. By trying to push my team to the best result on the field, I’m sure I deprived some kids of opportunities to learn and enjoy the game. I knew all along that it was the adults, not the kids, who caused most of the problems in youth sports. I just didn’t realize until later that in some ways I was one of those adults.
I have loved baseball my whole life, and it is important that it be played right. But most adult coaches are much too serious about both lessons and outcomes. The most important thing an adult can give a tee-baller – or any really young player – is the chance to have fun. At that level, and even some higher levels, whatever rules maximize the pleasure of baseball are the rules to employ.
I know – easy to say from an armchair far from the fields of dreams. But I’m pretty sure about this.
Posted by Mike Pride at June 6, 2006 12:36 PM
Comments
I spent a number of years coaching in Little League baseball, and the main difficulties I encountered were, first, other adults who lacked understanding of the youngsters involved and, second, parents. Your description of your little league activity suggests you probably shouldn't have been allowed to direct a youth activity, but your blog recitiation also indicates you came to that realization.
During my participation, there were two levels of teams that we referred to, for obvious reasons, as "major" and "minor" leagues. The major leagues were for yougsters ages 10 to 12, and the minors were for those 9 and younger.
There was great discussion about the 9-year-old youngster who was, some insisted, an outstanding athlete who should be allowed to play with the older boys. Of all the incredible reasons given, the one that really stands out was the thought that this youngster with the superior talent might one day become a player in major league baseball.
The arithmetic was telling. At that time, there were 26 major league baseball franchises, each with a roster of 25 players. No matter how it was computed, that was a total of 650 major league players; that year, there were 7,500,000 particpants in in little league baseball.
Unfortunately, the activity was and is adult oriented because of the lack of organizational and individual understanding of child growth and development.
Another argument, the notion that children must experience failure, is a thought beyond belief. Give children an activity in which they can develop individual character strength, and the response to failure will take care of itself.
Organized youth sport activity is, unfortunately, adult organized for adult gratification. Most unfortunately, that same characterization is often far too descriptive of our public education system.
Posted by: John Stohrer at June 7, 2006 07:46 PM
IF KIDS DON'T WANT TO START IT DON'T MAKE THEM
I am a young Phys. Ed. Teacher who Loves his job behind loving his Family and God first. With that aside I have experienced Tee ball for the first time as an assistant coach behind another coach who also was a Phys. Ed teacher. My son (5 yrs. with mild/moderate Cerebral Palsy) also played on the team. I believe that with my professional/fatherly/friendly/& observational experience that Tee ball as cute as it is, should not be played unless it is a pick up game for the kids in the neighborhood that they organize themselves, which they probably would not, which leads me to my statement that is the heading of my post;
IF KIDS DON'T WANT TO START IT DON'T MAKE THEM
I feel that there were so many times that children got hurt and many more times when they had near misses. I also found that I was doing more attention control rather than coaching/teaching. I would be all for Tee ball clinics where all Tee ball teams would practice in a similar area so they can share philosophies of bettering the young athletes at the sport because that is what I do in my class with SEVERAL swings/ground balls/throws etc. to keep their attention. This should only last about one month at the most and there should be lots of small game like activity to eventually lead to full play but NOT GAMES. I Love children with a passion but I found myself more frustrated with the whole Tee ball thing and a coaches who don't care or lack the skills of keeping the children busy etc.
That's it for now tell me what you think.
Jimbo Milan Michigan (Leaving to Teach in TN next year)
P.S. I believe there was a good reason that we did NOT have Tee ball when I grew up, and that is because we were for the most part not capable. Most of us could do some of the activities but would play with older kids in the neighborhood for the organization of "The Game".
Posted by: Jim Cowell at June 14, 2006 08:56 AM
The point that sports should allow kids the chance to have fun can not be underscored enough! Did you know that by age 13 nearly 70% of kids drop out of organized sports? The top reason they give is because it "stopped being fun". We need to be sure that all kids can have a positive participation experience in sports so that they keep sports in their lives through the teen years and beyond. I work for a company with a great program to match kids with the sports they are physically and cognitively ready to play called SMART. You can check it out at www.sportspotential.com There are programs scheduled in Massachusetts in Stow, Sudbury and Canton through the park and recreation depts. It is a great resource for parents.
Posted by: bgood at July 6, 2006 04:50 PM