[whitecane12]

It defeats the whole purpose of "All-Stars" if you don't have a process that allows for selection of the best players in the league no matter what their relationship is to the coach or officials in the league. To suggest that no matter what you would put your kids on the team clearly says your priorities are not the good of the league but rather are self-serving and very irresponsible as a parent. I say this because if your kids haven't earned a spot on the team and dad gets them on it, they haven't learned anything of value about life. So, dad, are you going to make sure they get hired at whatever job they want? What about upper education? If you are a loving parent you sometimes have to teach your kids with "tough love" and let them learn that respect among their peers isn't achieved by anything daddy does for them...it's done based on what they have earned. So let them "fail" or "succeed" on their own sometimes. Guide them, encourage them but teach them that they must earn their position in sports and life.

With that said, our league uses a point system and all kids who attended try-outs prior to the start of the season are eligible for All-Stars. The All-Star manager, his two coaches and another league official (usually the vice-president of lower division baseball or upper division depending on what level the All-Star team is we are talking about) conduct a week-long clinic consisting of a couple hours a night of basic baseball drills and practice game situations. They are scored on fielding skills, batting skills, running speed, attitude, sportsmanship, etc.

When the week is over the evaluators compare notes and the top 14 scores are chosen. In one such Clinic this year, the coach's son didn't make it and neither did my son. Even though I umpired over 80 games in all divisions I couldn't influence the selection of my son, who didn't deserve to be on the team this year. When selection was over my son, who was a little disappointed not to be selected, came home and started practicing harder so he could make the team next year.

Through seeing that dad won't help him get what he hasn't earned and having dad call him out on strikes a few times or out on close plays, he's learned that he must earn his achievements rather than think or expect Dad to get him something he hasn't earned.

Much of this attitude has to do with parents. We, as parents, must try not to live vicariously through our children and let them know that we love and support them and are proud of them regardless of the degree of success they show in sports.