Just Let Them Play

"He can't do that Ump!" Oh no I think, Here we go again. As the Coach heads towards home plate I see the kids, on both teams, hang their heads. This argument is about whether or not the pitcher balked. The pitcher, who's 11, stands on the mound with a quizzical look on his face. His coach is yelling that he didn't balk, our coach is yelling that he did. The kids, bored, sit down on the bases and on the grass. They just want to play ball. They really should just let them play.

What I've just described is actually a common scene at our little league ball parks. In reality, I gave a much more mild view of what actually happens. Add into this parents who scream and swear at the other coaches and umps. Sometimes they even scream and swear at their own teams coach. General ribbing of the Umpires I don't have a problem with. I even wear them out myself at times, but never to the point of screaming and swearing. But these parents are upset, actually, they are angry. So much anger at a guy who gets paid a small dollar amount, or nothing at all, to watch kids play baseball. I would do it for free if it weren't for the parents and coaches. With them involved? There isn't enough money --

Then there are the parents who scream and yell at their own kids. These kids are the ones who are misfortunate enough to have parents who take the game much more seriously than the kids do. Some of these parents played in high school and now think their child should "follow in their footsteps" and be the ball player they were. So much pressure! Pressure to perform in leagues that are designed to teach them the game. I'm yet to meet a middle schooler who has mastered the game -- if so call the Majors and let's get him out of here. What you'll often find is many of these parents were terrible in sports themselves, or, they simply are trying to live vicariously through their children. I'm not trying to be mean, and don't laugh, as I promise you it isn't funny. I've seen children reduced to tears by the berating of their parents from the side lines. Parents angry at their child because he struck out. Angry because he dropped a fly ball. Angry over a game.

Dictionary.com defines a game as "a competitive activity involving skill, chance, or endurance on the part of two or more persons who play according to a set of rules, usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators." I like where it says "for their own amusement" but I don't find it amusing when a parent is berating a coach, an ump or their own child. My son, who has only been playing a few years, puts pressure on himself, regardless of how many times we've just told him to have fun. We never demand that he perform a certain way nor do we get upset with him if he strikes out. We tell him the most important thing is to relax and enjoy the game. Yes he strikes out and we console him. He drops fly balls, we laugh with him later. I remember when he hit his first home run. He was the only kid on his team, at that time, to hit one all year. His team mobbed him and ten of us stood on the fence to high five him as he went back into the dugout. His next time up he struck out. His teammates encouraged him and we high fived him on the way into the dugout. That's the way it should be.

For me, win/loss records don't define a season. What makes a season bad is when the kids are not having any fun. What makes it worse is when it's mostly because of the parents and coaches. I have seen it so bad I awoke one morning with a baseball diamond design in my head. The backstop would be covered in poison ivy, top to bottom. This would keep the parents from yelling at the kids while they were batting. The 1^st base line and 3^rd base line would be planted in 12' thorn bushes all the way to the outfield wall. This would keep the parents from yelling at the kids when they are in the dugouts. Parents would be on bleachers in the outfield, and the outfielders would have ear plugs. Oh! And the coaches would have electrical shock collars on their necks. If they act up -- .well -- .you get the idea.

Baseball is a great game and the kids really love to play. Parents should enjoy their children having fun, not push them to perform. Coaches, parents and umps should remember they are the examples on the field and they should set a high precedent for these children. Above all else these children should be taught that baseball is a game, designed to be played for their amusement and the amusement of the spectators. I'm not amused by screaming parents, coaches and umps. I'm amused by the sound of the bat on the ball. I'm amused by the umps animated 3^rd strike calls. I'm amused by the surprised look on the outfielder when he throws his glove above his head in a prayer and magically catches the ball. I'm amused by smiles on the faces of kids playing a game that they love and I'm amused, and very pleased, by the way the kids from both teams laugh and joke with each other after a game regardless of who won or lost.

Parents, coaches and Umpires -- please -- just let them play.