ball four... take your base
"i've seen you puts around for seven innings! now lets get out there and play baseball!"
this sentance resounds off of the coaches mouth as the 9-12 year olds think about the hotdog they will have after the game and wave to their videotaping grandparents in the stands and on their coleman foldable lawnchairs, complete with cupholders and foot rests.
i think of days of old when softball consumed my summer and life; when family vacations turned from weeks at the cottage in michigan to 10 game turnaments every weekend and a farmer's tan though i was far from growing crops (what's the difference between a tractor and a ride mower anyway?) ode to fresh starchy foul lines, change-up strike outs and 2 outs, bases loaded rbi's. but with all of those good times to reminisce no one can forget those overly serious coaches (and parents) that live vicariously through their players whether they be 18 or 7.
i always found it amusing, umpiring for 7-9 year olds with catchers not understanding the meaning of their position as i repeatedly retrieved the ball back to the pitcher and hit-able (forehead to ankles) being the strikezone unless the game were to last 4 and 1/2 hours. the kids were fine with that... they usually are... but coaches and parents... they place themselves in their child's shoes ending up defending a "bad call" as if this were the major leagues in the bottom of the ninth innning during the world series. its not that serous everyone. enjoy the game, have a beer, wave to your kids instead of using your hands to flick off the umpire. aunque that sets an excellent example...
i always wonder why it is that people think it is encouraging to reem 10 year olds for not sliding quick enough or swinging and missing that third strike. for some reason i don't know if that is the most helpful thing to do. maybe most helpful in making their child hate baseball and anything else that they may have been interested in at some point; instead forcing them into less productive things. not always though. sometimes they become the best of the best out of fear... fear of letting others down, fear of disappointing. anything is better that being reemed again. have fun with dealing with the effects of that.
but then you can't forget the compulsive affirmers-- "that was a nice swing johny" (maybe while golfing) or "good eye, that wasn't your pitch" (even though the umpire called a strike). how about "nice dive" (yeah, the wrong way). that is probably more helpful for the child self-esteem but just until he or she starts recieving possitive criticism... that will be fun.
can't coaches and parents make a conscious decision to be encouraging yet truthful, challenging yet realistic... i hope i can when i'm there. i must say... i caught myself living through those tykes today, remember the days of softball complexes and the first night game i ever played and regretfully backwards K's... i miss it... hopefully i'm done missing it and ready to hit it one day. many didn't make it to that base.
this sentance resounds off of the coaches mouth as the 9-12 year olds think about the hotdog they will have after the game and wave to their videotaping grandparents in the stands and on their coleman foldable lawnchairs, complete with cupholders and foot rests.
i think of days of old when softball consumed my summer and life; when family vacations turned from weeks at the cottage in michigan to 10 game turnaments every weekend and a farmer's tan though i was far from growing crops (what's the difference between a tractor and a ride mower anyway?) ode to fresh starchy foul lines, change-up strike outs and 2 outs, bases loaded rbi's. but with all of those good times to reminisce no one can forget those overly serious coaches (and parents) that live vicariously through their players whether they be 18 or 7.
i always found it amusing, umpiring for 7-9 year olds with catchers not understanding the meaning of their position as i repeatedly retrieved the ball back to the pitcher and hit-able (forehead to ankles) being the strikezone unless the game were to last 4 and 1/2 hours. the kids were fine with that... they usually are... but coaches and parents... they place themselves in their child's shoes ending up defending a "bad call" as if this were the major leagues in the bottom of the ninth innning during the world series. its not that serous everyone. enjoy the game, have a beer, wave to your kids instead of using your hands to flick off the umpire. aunque that sets an excellent example...
i always wonder why it is that people think it is encouraging to reem 10 year olds for not sliding quick enough or swinging and missing that third strike. for some reason i don't know if that is the most helpful thing to do. maybe most helpful in making their child hate baseball and anything else that they may have been interested in at some point; instead forcing them into less productive things. not always though. sometimes they become the best of the best out of fear... fear of letting others down, fear of disappointing. anything is better that being reemed again. have fun with dealing with the effects of that.
but then you can't forget the compulsive affirmers-- "that was a nice swing johny" (maybe while golfing) or "good eye, that wasn't your pitch" (even though the umpire called a strike). how about "nice dive" (yeah, the wrong way). that is probably more helpful for the child self-esteem but just until he or she starts recieving possitive criticism... that will be fun.
can't coaches and parents make a conscious decision to be encouraging yet truthful, challenging yet realistic... i hope i can when i'm there. i must say... i caught myself living through those tykes today, remember the days of softball complexes and the first night game i ever played and regretfully backwards K's... i miss it... hopefully i'm done missing it and ready to hit it one day. many didn't make it to that base.
posted by ek at 8:06 PM
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