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Intentional walks are part of the game at all levels. Unfortunately, the rules in the lower levels are not the same as those in the majors. I have seen games where a batter never gets to see a pitch. Walked 4 times straight. How is that a learning experience for the players on either team? The coach is obviously more interested in his ego than in developing baseball players.
Here is what I would like to see. First of all, throw the ball. The batter should have the right to the pitch. Just because the ump has other things to do and wants to speed up the game isn't an excuse for depriving a player of his opportunity at bat. Alot can happen in four pitches at the ll year old level. A wild pitch may advance the runners. The catcher may make a poor throw back to the pitcher. That's the way the game is. Directing the run to first with no pitches thrown is a huge advantage for the defense. That's not the way it is played in the pros.
Another option that is used in some leagues (and has even been considered in the pros) is to include a penalty for walking a batter more than once. The first intentional walk results in the batter getting first base. The second intentional walk of the same batter results in the batter being awarded second base. Walk him a third time (intentionally) and he gets third. I would prefer to see a limit of one intentional walk per batter in a game. This would encourage coaches to coach, pitchers to pitch, fielders to field and batters to bat.
Most youth baseball leagues claim to encourage sportsmanship and the development of baseball skills. Preventing an eleven year-old kid from getting an opportunity to bat doesn't support either.
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