I coach my son’s challenger league baseball team. I told my wife last night it’s quickly becoming my favorite ninety minutes of the week.
Girls and boys play together. Everybody bats every inning. We don’t keep score.
We have three strict rules on the D. Rowe’s Cardinals:
- Have fun.
- Be safe.
- Have fun.
And yet, I can’t help but notice – in the massive Daniel Boone Little League Complex – other players and their families on typical teams occasionally walk past field four and point and snicker.
No doubt there’s a bit of, “Look … the speds …,” or “Ha … the short bus kids are playing baseball.”
I don’t get upset or sad … much … anymore. My kids are having a blast, and we’ve really seen an improvement in their performance since we got HGH testing banned in the most recent collective bargaining agreement.
No, what makes me sad is what I saw last night – a father berating his typical child as they left a different field:
“That was terrible. You’ve got to try harder. You think this is just a game?”
Dude. Really? Your kid’s ten.
Then, I get home and see this on facebook from my friend Dulsey:
“So tonight at Danny’s soccer game (He is 3-btw) some jackass father told the crowd that he informed his son to “punch the kid in the nose if he keeps pushing you down.” I almost lost it. They are 3 years old.”
Dear Parents trying to re-live your lost childhood:
Stop being poopheads.
I won’t say either father was acting retarded – a word I heard last week from a passerby. That would be an insult to Camryn, a wonderful young lady on my team with Down syndrome.
She way outclasses you two, and she clearly has a better head on her shoulders.
My wife nailed it last night when I was talking to her about parents and seriousness and absurdity.
“It reminds me of Toddlers and Tiaras. That’s it!” she said, “It’s like beauty pageants for boys.”
All kids are special. All kids have the right to play games and be happy.
All kids have a right to be applauded.
You know the best moment of our game last night?
Gregory.
Last week, our first week, Gregory brought two new batting gloves that he couldn’t wait to show me. He adored these things. He got into a pushing argument in week one with another boy on our team who thought they were really cool and wanted to touch them.
Last night, our second week, I watch Andrew – the second boy – coming up to bat wearing one of those gloves. I looked at Gregory, and he smiled the proudest smile you’ll ever see.
Winning. Duh.
You think this is a game?
It is, and it’s a good game. The whole dadgum thing.
Parents: Try harder.
Don’t be a poophead.
heard Dr. Phil put down some knowledge: “every kid has a passion. it’s our job to find it, not to assign it.”
Even this Cardinal fan is moved to quote Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, “We’ve got the setting – sunshine, fresh air; we’ve got the team behind us so . . . ‘Let’s play two!”
WOW. It really is unbelievable. Kids are kids no matter what. They are each very different and God has a plan for each & everyone of them. He made them exactly how he wanted them and they have a purpose.
Great post Tim.
I was honored to take my kids to the first game of the season and I’m disappointed by the reaction of other children. The league should recommend teams watch a game and celebrate the awesomeness of each kid playing on the Challenger League. My son was inspired to volunteer and helped me cheer as loud as possible. I wish more parents would take the time to breathe, enjoy watching our kids explore good sportsmanship and help our kids find their skills instead of force them into it.
Not gonna lie…I got a little misty-eyed when I read your post, Tim. I’m so glad you’re teaching your team the right values–what an inspiring team! I’ve been thinking I want to bring Andrew to a game at the complex for some cheap entertainment and I’d love to bring him to one of your team’s games.
As a parent of a competitive ball player I am also amazed at the coaches. I dearly love every single one of our 4 coaches. They know when to raise their voices and they know when to keep calm. They have never “screamed and yelled” at any of our players, just the more stern voice. However, I am AMAZED at some of the other coaches. There is one who stood there and screamed at a player until he was crying. The other parents said “That’s his kid” I don’t give a flip if it’s his or not. They are in 3rd grade. I don’t see how the parents can sit there and let the coaches do that. We all get frustrated and we all want the best from our kids and at times we might say things we later regret, but there is a HUGE difference in encouraging words and belittling. Last time I checked this is a game and it should be one they look forward to spending a good part of their summer playing!!
First, a friend of mine FROM TEXAS, made me aware of this via FaceBook. My heart is broken… It hits too close to home–MO to be EXACT. I coach a 10U Competitive team and a 12U REC league team and recently agreed to “help out” with a Challenger League with my kids from the 10U Competitive league. Why? For EXACTLY this reason. Fighting tears and my emotions at this point, I write disgusted at those parents trying to re-live their childhood through their children, first of all. Baseball (or any sport, in my opinion) is more than JUST A GAME! It’s an opportunity to succeed, learn, feel important, grow, educate, feel part of something big, etc… no matter what skill level you’re child is at. I want, no need, to know that my competitive players “get” that as well as their parents before we go much farther in this great sport of baseball. Too many parent and players don’t understand the importance of sports and the need for sportsmanship as well as the need of being a part of something to be proud of. I want my 10U kids and families to understand that. What a shame this story is… My 12U REC team “gets” the fact that competition is fine, but what really matters is sportsmanship and enjoying the game along with appreciation of the other team’s efforts. It IS a game, but it’s a WHOLE lot more and for those parents that don’t “get” what my 12U REC kids already understand and hopefully my 10U Competitive team will understand (come 5/23/11)… should be ashamed of themselves, for ANY player with the courage to step up to the plate with the knowledge, skill level and aspirations of the “short bus” kids or better that doesn’t “get it,” should be ashamed of themselves. The challenger league kids AND parents are #1 on my list in life when it comes to an understanding of what life and parenting is ALL about! KUDOS TO D.B.C.L! Can’t WAIT for OUR chance to cheer our BUDDIES on!