Little league baseball.

[Brer Rabbit]

Im lookin for suggestions to put together a proposal in hopes to change how my local lil league park picks the teams for each year. Currently at all levels we do a draft with the same rules. Our draft is pretty complicated and really doesnt work well because there is usually one team that is stacked with really good hitters and fielders. There is an undefeated team this year that will stay that way. Now thats great for that team but what does that do to the kids that are trying to learn the game when theyre always get beat by 15-20 runs? This age group is 7 and 8 years old (called rookie ball around here). need help, we are about to lose a handful of kids for next year, because theyre parents are unhappy with the teams.

 

[Pablo]

for a little league like that I think they should just put all the players in a big raffle thingie and just draw at random

I played baseball for 9 years and looking back on it, I dont have fondness for it. There was so much BS and it didnt matter if you were good or not it just mattered if you were in the "in" crowd of parents (your parents) or were a mouthy kid.

Ugh, honestly it makes me sick. I remember being an outrageously good outfielder in the 8th grade trying out for the school team and not getting picked, instead the team was basically winners of a popularity contest.

I guess thats why I have little to no interest in bat and ball sports anymore. I prefer sports where you cant fake the funk so to speak.

 

[TexasT]

Unfortunately, much like when I was a kid, the same things are happening today. I have found that if you want your kid to play you had better be buddies with the coach or be the coach. Sadly for me my parents were not and I rarely played more than one inning and one at bat per game.

Fast forward to recent, I coached and was the commissoner( I have some stories you wouldn't believe) for a league a few years ago. Now I just attend practice very regularly and make it clear to the coach I am here to help when ever needed. My daughter gets to play the whole game and gets several at bats. The best thing was that her coach from last year moved up a division and one of their players got injured so my daughter was invited "to play up". Needless to say my wife and I were very proud. The proudest moment was her in left field robbing one of the best hitters in the league of a hit(Sorry to get off subject, but I am very proud of her).

Bottom line is you need to get involved. They should have some kind of board of directors. Attend the meetings. Don't be beligerent or they will ask you to leave(Trust me, we had the Sheriff out more than once for unruly parents).

Get out in the back yard and work with your children if you expect him/her to be good. I have good memmories of a loosing team that I played for and actually got to play. Remember this is for the children and their enjoyment. They really don't care if they win or lose, and won't care in ten years either way.

Get Involved. You will get out what you put in.

 

[Brer Rabbit]

Texas T

Its funny u mentioned about the coaching issue, because I do coach and my boy is on the team. (Thats also the main reason why my car isnt done yet. I am at the park almost every day). I do play him alot because he is the 2nd best player on the team, and is an 8 year old. But I have always been tougher on him then any of the other boys. Last year he didnt play as much because he was 7 and other kids were better. When it came time for me to make all star selections from my team, he was not one last year. I think I am very fair in that way, but I have been voicing my opinion about the draft to the league officials and at least two of the board members have listened. I was just wanting to hear draft details from other parts of the country before I shoot my idea past them.

 

[Quiky One]

Ugh, honestly it makes me sick. I remember being an outrageously good outfielder in the 8th grade trying out for the school team and not getting picked, instead the team was basically winners of a popularity contestQUOTE]
I agree....this coming from someone who is still playing HS baseball. Around here it is who can kiss up to the coaches the most. And no my parents dont do that. Any playing time I get is playing time I earn. I feel if you arent good enough to play, why have your parents do it with money....For little league, a big raffle would be awesome. that way it is as fair as possible and the kids will meet new friends if they dont play with the same kids for 10 yrs.

IMHO
Jason

 

[Quiky One]

Unfortunately, much like when I was a kid, the same things are happening today. I have found that if you want your kid to play you had better be buddies with the coach or be the coach. Sadly for me my parents were not and I rarely played more than one inning and one at bat per game.

Fast forward to recent, I coached and was the commissoner( I have some stories you wouldn't believe) for a league a few years ago. Now I just attend practice very regularly and make it clear to the coach I am here to help when ever needed. My daughter gets to play the whole game and gets several at bats. The best thing was that her coach from last year moved up a division and one of their players got injured so my daughter was invited "to play up". Needless to say my wife and I were very proud. The proudest moment was her in left field robbing one of the best hitters in the league of a hit(Sorry to get off subject, but I am very proud of her).

Bottom line is you need to get involved. They should have some kind of board of directors. Attend the meetings. Don't be beligerent or they will ask you to leave(Trust me, we had the Sheriff out more than once for unruly parents).

Get out in the back yard and work with your children if you expect him/her to be good. I have good memmories of a loosing team that I played for and actually got to play. Remember this is for the children and their enjoyment. They really don't care if they win or lose, and won't care in ten years either way.

Get Involved. You will get out what you put in.

Couldnt have said it better!

Jason

 

[TexasT]

Very Biased but I don't have a solution

I'm glad to hear you are coaching, and it sounds as if you are doing it like it should be done. Unfortunately, I think you are in the minority. As Quicky One said even at the HS level there is a bias.

My middle daughter played on a team that the head coach's daughter was the pitcher. The assistant coaches daughters played first and third every inning that I watched. My daughter got to split time at second and outfield. I felt she was a better fielder than the infeilders but the pitcher was better. I would think so as she never played any where else. Crazy how it works. At least they have rules that gets everyone to the plate to hit. Much better than when I played.

Rich