I have two girls. Two ballet dancing, nail polish wearing, skirt sportin little girls. These are not tough girls. These are normal, nice and fairly mannerly little girls. This summer they decided they wanted to sign up for baseball? Okay, I signed them up. Visions of hot summer nights, baseball cheers and team camaraderie in my head. The youngest is on the “Mites”, the oldest on the “Squirts” team. Sounds sweet and innocent right?
I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
My girls had their first tournament this weekend.
Let the shocking behaviour begin. I heard parents from another team yelling “Run with your elbows out.”, “Get that kid!”, “Knock her down.” Are you kidding me? These girls are 9-12 and you want to bruise them up? Wait, was I in the wrong place? Was this hockey?
Then I saw a brazen act that truly blew my mind. A 12 year old girl was encouraged, no, told to, run an opposing player over at home plate. Run. Her. Over. Might I add there was not even a play going on at home plate! (for those of you who don’t speak baseball, the baseball was way out in the outfield, the back catcher was two feet away from home plate, the runner had to swerve to knock her down, this my friends was very bad form) The opposing coach had that little ball player plough our catcher down, on purpose. Oh, and did I mention we were being beaten 14- 0 at the time? WTH? Needless to say this “play” did not go over very well with anyone, but especially the Daddy’s of our team.
Snarky words were exchanged. There was some yelling. Then Opposing Coach challenged Random Dad to a fist fight? Huh? Drama. Too tense for me! All the while the little girls pay the price. At first crying from pain or shock, then perhaps tears of fear. I didn’t sign my girls up for this!
I have heard about and seen crazy “hockey parents”, I had no idea there were “obsessed baseball parents”. Go ahead and tell me. Is this normal? Should there ever be crying in baseball?
Sigh. It’s going to be a long summer.
That just doesn’t sound right to me. Sounds like they are out for blood. Good luck!
I’m 54 years old and I’ve been around the game of baseball all my life. As a youth player, adult player, coach, manager and umpire. And I HAVE SEEN IT ALL.
Trust me, nothing has changed with parents over the years. They are the same now as they were back in my early days. They take the game more seriously than the players, and yes, they will even fight each other over it. From arguing with the umpires, to physically challenging the umps, to getting into fights with the opposing manager, to even telling the kids to do something unethical. The sad thing is that the kids are the losers because of the example set by their parents.
Over the years, criminal laws were actually enacted that specifically address sporting assaults, because so many umpires were being physically attacked during and after games. Sadly, several sports officials have even been shot over disputed calls. Can you imagine that? Taking your gun to a little league game in case you don’t like an umps call!!! It just blows my mind how grown men and women think.
If I were one of coaches of your team, or even a parent, I would address that situation. You don’t instruct your players to intentionally run an opposing player over when the play is somewhere else. Perhaps someone should contact the league president about it.
Best of luck to your daughters and their team. Baseball is a great game.
Matty
My Word! What are y’all doing up there??/ PTA drama, baseball drama!!! In all seriousness and unfortunately, it’s not just you… I think society is getting more competitive as a whole and it’s the kids that bear the brunt. Hope it gets better from here!
Yes, unfortunately, the crazy fools are in every sport! My son plays football, hockey, and baseball. While the hockey freaks still rank at the top of the list in regards to unsportman like behavior, I’ve seen some pretty bad stuff in his other sports as well. Too bad these parents have to make it about themselves instead of their children. It’s really kind of sad.
Kids should just be allowed to be kids and have fun when playing sports – period.
Oh Modern Mom…I hear yah…this could be terrifying for the kids..seriously! it’s just a game!
My son also have baseball games every tues and fri. their teams is composed of 1st-3rd graders. But it’s just a friendly coached pitched games..No scoring, no outs, everybody could play. One time, I found myself cheering one of the kids on the other team because he needed some cheering (he can’t hit the ball).
I’ll see though this saturday because the tournament with other town’s teams would be on then.
Just tell your kids to have a fun time…and yes, other parents could be amusing.:-)
Its amazing how some people can ruin it for everyone! THat stinks!
UPDATE:
Te opposing Coach apoogised to our coach for his behaviour. Letters have also been written to the head of the league about this coach (he is known to have anger issues) to ask if he should be allowed to coach at all)
Oh it is going to be quite a summer!
I will continue to cheer for both teams from the sideline:)
That is just so crazy.. Just let them play and have fun.. Leave the yelling and fist bumps at home..
Oh man. My sister and I played softball all throughout our school years, starting when we were 5 or 6…and let me tell you, no one gets as intense a Baseball/Softball Mama. Seriously. Some of the moms we played against growing up were INSANE. Looking back now, I never realized how intense it can get. Now that I’m a parent, it all seems a little bit childish to me. But, I can say that if someone had run over my child (be it a son or a daughter of mine), I would have been irate. Especially if there was no logical reason and they had to swerve to purposefully knock them down. THEN the gloves would come off.
Hi there,
I have a question about your site, would you mind emailing me back @ kthomas@primroseschools.com?
Thanks,
Kathleen
I read all these comments of “it’s normal”…but I’m sorry. It shouldn’t be accepted as normal. That is how it keeps being repeated… because people are getting away with it.
Can you speak with the league to see if this is “acceptable” or “normal” for this to be happening?
EEK thats awful, although I must admit Ive seen some down right dirty behaviour in the ballet world too. Adults should know better.
Big girls don’t cry? Just tell them to run over to the opposing teams dads and kick them in the knee.
We do just about every sport and unfortunately there are always some bad eggs (parents and coaches) in every league.
I agree though if someone is way out of line and the athletes are being put in jeopardy then it is time to go to the league president.