before we start (an equal opportunity post...)

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Little League-type games are supposed to be for the kids' enjoyment, and not so much about the money, coaches, parents, etc. Different baseball leagues have different goals, but I don't think one type of baseball should be considered inferior to any others.

It's a great concept, but the reality is that the parents, coaches and fans make it more about them than about the kids anyway. The antics of some of the parents are appalling. I've actually had kids turn around and ask if I could please throw their mother out of the stands because she was embarrassing them. The coaches and parents apparently care more about wins and losses than if the kid's are having fun. Sometimes you would think the world was about to come to an end when their little Johnny's team loses.

If it's really all about the kids, then the adults around them wouldn't act so much like little kids themselves, and make it all about the kids' enjoyment.

That's why high school ball is different. At that level and up, nobody is pretending that it's "all about the kids." Everyone knows that it's serious business and that winning is the key thing. To quote the late, great Vince Lombardi, winning isn't everything...it's the only thing.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

It's a great concept, but the reality is that the parents, coaches and fans make it more about them than about the kids anyway. The antics of some of the parents are appalling. I've actually had kids turn around and ask if I could please throw their mother out of the stands because she was embarrassing them. The coaches and parents apparently care more about wins and losses than if the kid's are having fun. Sometimes you would think the world was about to come to an end when their little Johnny's team loses.

If it's really all about the kids, then the adults around them wouldn't act so much like little kids themselves, and make it all about the kids' enjoyment.

That's why high school ball is different. At that level and up, nobody is pretending that it's "all about the kids." Everyone knows that it's serious business and that winning is the key thing. To quote the late, great Vince Lombardi, winning isn't everything...it's the only thing.

This is exactly why when my son played LL, I and my wife retreated to the outfield fence. We did not want to be part of all that BS! I could not believe how some of the parents acted in the stands. It was as if their kid had a multi-million dollar contract riding on the line!

As my son got into HS ball, I found that I still had to watch from the outfield as these nut case parents were now watching their kids compete in HS ball! My only salvation was that a lot of my old "outfield acquaintances" still were with me at this level.

[MajorDave]

and there is a particularly obnoxious parent, usually a mother, in the stands and a kid reacts or looks and I can tell the batter or catcher (if I am working the plate) or fielder (if I am in the field) is related. I will casually ask if there is a relation ("Is that your mom/dad?") and if they reply affirmatively, I respond with; "Do you want me to throw them out?" This is more fun with the 13/14 year olds (the parents are usually more obnoxious and vocal at those ages) and the players more gullible. They usually ask me "Will you? or Can you?".

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by MajorDave

and there is a particularly obnoxious parent, usually a mother, in the stands and a kid reacts or looks and I can tell the batter or catcher (if I am working the plate) or fielder (if I am in the field) is related. I will casually ask if there is a relation ("Is that your mom/dad?") and if they reply affirmatively, I respond with; "Do you want me to throw them out?" This is more fun with the 13/14 year olds (the parents are usually more obnoxious and vocal at those ages) and the players more gullible. They usually ask me "Will you? or Can you?".

I was working a youth football game last year where something similar happened. The visiting team was getting beaten pretty badly and the home team just scored another touchdown. As we're lining up for the extra point, I hear a tirade of foul language coming from a coach on the visiting team's sideline. The wing official on that side throws his flag and ejects the coach. While the white hat and wing are taking care of the ejection and ensuring the coach leaves, I am over with the two teams.

A player from the visiting team asks me "Did that coach get ejected?" I told the player that the coach had been ejected and we'll get going again in just a second. The player then looks at the ground and says in a quiet voice "That's my dad. He's done this before." I'll never forget the look on that kid's face and the embarassment in his voice.

[griff901c]

If you really want the kids to have fun, tell the parents to pick up the kids after the game.

Oh if I were King.....

griff

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by griff901c

If you really want the kids to have fun, tell the parents to pick up the kids after the game.

Oh if I were King.....

griff

Like both Tom Petty and Mel Brooks once said, "it's good to be (the) King!"

[canadaump6]

So back to oyaissee's signature, it's not the sentiment he expressed that is the problem, it's the hypocrisy so many parents show.