6U Coach gone wild

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

6U & 8U should not be competitive ball. Of course, you have places in the softball world where people are still falling for the "scholarship" scam and go looking for a hitting/pitching coach right after their DD gets accepted to the local up-scale day care center.

I'm waiting for the day people start demanding 2U leagues.

But seriously, I agree with you on the instruction nature of U6/U8 ball. My grade school started a 2nd & 3rd grade instructional intramural league and I officiated for 2 seasons (only because my rules knowedge was regarded as better than anyone elses). I was told to pretty much ignore the occasional travel, double dribble, etc, but to make sure nothing major happened. In season two, I was also told that the kids were being taught not to reach in, so I should call any reach-in foul so to reinforce what they were learning.

To expect kids at that level to play as well as higher levels is just not goin to happen.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

I'm waiting for the day people start demanding 2U leagues.

But seriously, I agree with you on the instruction nature of U6/U8 ball. My grade school started a 2nd & 3rd grade instructional intramural league and I officiated for 2 seasons (only because my rules knowedge was regarded as better than anyone elses). I was told to pretty much ignore the occasional travel, double dribble, etc, but to make sure nothing major happened. In season two, I was also told that the kids were being taught not to reach in, so I should call any reach-in foul so to reinforce what they were learning.

To expect kids at that level to play as well as higher levels is just not goin to happen.

This is one of the myths of basketball. There is no such foul in basketball as a reach-in, no matter what you hear from fans or commentators. They can reach in all day long. If they make contact with the ball or the hand on the ball, don't blow your whistle. If they hit the arm from the wrist up or have to push through the player to get to the ball, then we have a foul. But it is not a reach in foul. It is either illegal use of the hands or a push.