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beachgirl
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 7967 total posts
Name:
sara
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Little League
Disclaimer - I really do not understand the game of baseball so please excuse my ignorance.
My 8 year old has been playing baseball since T Ball and loves it.
This year its been a bit of a blah year - mostly because the coach has not rotated the kids at all.
Each game my son is in the outfield when he is not up to bat.
The same kids are in the outfield, the same kids on the bases, he swaps out two kids as catchers and two as pitchers.
They have had practices as well as games but he has not taught them how to pitch or catch.
The coaches son who just joined LL this year is one of the pitchers and has spent the season on 3rd base.
Is this normal that the coach gives the better positions to his kid even though this is his first year playing and that he does not rotate the kids through the difference positions.
I thought LL was supposed to teach them all the basics of LL.
I know this is just an after school sport but I hate to see the faces of my son and the other kids after they have ran up to the coach to ask where they are playing next and he says " you know where you are - outfield"...
I am not saying this because he is my child but he is a good player and this year all the fun has been sucked out for him.
To be honest we are all looking forward to this season being over and hoping we don't have this coach next year.
Any feedback or experience on this and I am open to being educated on why he would do this.
TIA
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Posted 5/29/18 7:10 PM  |
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2BadSoSad
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6791 total posts
Name:
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Re: Little League
I would say its normal.....kids play positions, it is what it is. My son plays In House and Travel BB and he basically rotates through the same two positions and has for a few years at this point. Same on his football team....a kid plays a position. Obviously not at the younger level, but 8u/9u/10u are the ages where the kids start to play real ball and therefore, they treat the kids like a "real team" where kids get assigned positions. It keeps consistency for the team so everyone knows there role and knows it well to benefit the team when playing.
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| Posted 5/29/18 7:37 PM |
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mommy2B3
2 boys 2 girls!!!!
Member since 7/08 3324 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: Little League
My DH coaches my DS and he’s currently 9, but has been coaching since tball. My DH rotates positions during practice and games, unless there is a safety issue ((ie the kid doesn’t pay attention and he’s afraid he’ll get hurt)). I will say my DH laughs at other coaches who as he calls it plays “daddy baseball” where they think there kid is the star of the show. My DH doesn’t think our DS is the best, but depending on the team he is usually top 3, unless he’s playing travel and then he’s the bottom of the pack. So he does play my DS in the infield but a few years ago when my DS was basically awful, he was certainly in the outfield and my DH always told him he had to earn his spot.
My DH usually finds the best arms on the team and works with a few of them for pitchers, and usually picks a few for catchers. But he can’t teach them all this position, many of them couldn’t do it or no offense to some kids but would be a waste of time.
I’m honestly not surprised to hear your coach picks a position and leaves the kid there the entire season, we see it so very often on other teams, mainly bc it’s a lot easier on the coach. My DH truly loves the game and loves seeing the kids progress so he would love a kid who wants to be there and do more. We live in PA, and the REC ball is seriously awful, so he has many kids who shouldn’t be playing and gets very nervous when they are on the field ((they are throwing there hat in the air and picking at the grass etc)), but it truly makes me sad that your DS loves the game and sounds like he has a lazy coach. And no offense to the coach, it’s a lot of hard work, and it honestly sucks being a coach bc parents complain about everything, but they do sign up to encourage growth and advancement otherwise they shouldn’t volunteer.
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| Posted 5/29/18 7:55 PM |
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beachgirl
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 7967 total posts
Name:
sara
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Re: Little League
Thank you both for your input - I love getting a perspective from others. I always try to find the "why" in things so i am trying to figure out why the coach is coaching like this.
I feel like he is not doing his child a great service by giving him the starring role each game and the other kids know that this is his first season playing and they feel slighted that they are being pushed in the background if that makes sense.
I know coaching is hard and time consuming but I think if you sign on for it then know you are in it for the teaching and that these kids look up to you and want to be given a chance to shine. I think the coach should be thrilled that they are asking to try other positions - even in practice but they get rejected.
The coach and his child are very competitive and I think they are in it to win it and thats all that matters.
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| Posted 5/29/18 9:01 PM |
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Kate
*****
Member since 5/05 7557 total posts
Name:
Kate
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Little League
8 year olds in Little League should be switching positions, even if they play the same position one game, and a new one in the next game. If this coach thinks his kid is so good, and winning matters, then he should coach him on a travel team. Little League is for learning, especially at 8 years old.
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| Posted 5/29/18 9:43 PM |
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Adri
Joy!
Member since 5/05 3116 total posts
Name:
A
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Re: Little League
DS started playing LL when he was 8, and since then he has been in 3 different teams (he is 12 now). In 2 of those 3 teams, I have seen the main coach favoring their DS. In the first team I 'kind' of understood, because the kid is really good. This is his last year in LL and DS doesn't like his coach because he always puts his son to pitch, although DS could be a potential good one. Not because he is my DS lol, but although he has a strong arm, the ball tends to go low. He practices, but he doesn't get opportunities in the games, and his coach mainly makes his son to pitch and frustrates my DS a lot. The same was last year and I wished I had said something so he was in a different team this year.
Not knowing about baseball, I think all LL, and specially at 8, they should be rotating and experiencing. Many coaches think their kids will be professional baseball players  and they only coach their kids and they want to win games without thinking what about the kids experience and learning. For us, baseball is to have fun, to enjoy, and learn about discipline and team work (DH is one of 3 coach assistant, but doesn't have any saying).
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| Posted 5/29/18 11:00 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Little League
My son is 9 and has been playing baseball since he was 5. Every team he has been on rotates the positions every inning. There are limits on how many batters or pitches that each pitcher can face in a game. He and a few of the other stronger pitchers tend to pitch at least 1 inning per game and then some of the other kids get a chance to pitch. Everyone gets at least a few chances during the season to pitch even if it’s only to a few batters per game. Rotating positions and giving them chances to pitch is how they learn. I’d be frustrated with a coach who did what your son’s coach is doing.
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| Posted 5/30/18 4:33 AM |
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Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it
Member since 5/05 30683 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Little League
Posted by Kate
8 year olds in Little League should be switching positions, even if they play the same position one game, and a new one in the next game. If this coach thinks his kid is so good, and winning matters, then he should coach him on a travel team. Little League is for learning, especially at 8 years old.
I agree at this age they should be switching. My son is 11, and they keep switching, which I HATE. Now is the time to keep them in their positions like like to play and are good at, and teach them all the rules and responsibility of that position.
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| Posted 5/30/18 6:53 AM |
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Eireann
Two ladies and a gentleman!
Member since 5/05 12165 total posts
Name:
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Re: Little League
I know it can be really frustrating. My two younger kids both play soccer; my 7 year old never plays any other position other than defense. He is very good in his position, but every other kid on his team has played forward at one point or another. Every other kid has scored at least one goal, but because of his position, my son never has. His team is a powerhouse and has won every match two years running usually shutouts, so he doesn’t even get much of a chance to do anything. He’s getting bored and I see him practicing his baseball swing out there...lol. That said, I’m pretty sure I’m sadder about it than he is.
On the flip-side, on his baseball team, he is one of the better players and ALWAYS plays first.
My middle DD (5th grade) plays on two soccer teams, but her travel team is SO frustrating because the trainers NEVER switch positions and it’s simply not working...and the girls are all good athletes. Parents are getting frustrated and people are unhappy. It sucks because we’re spending a lot of money to watch them lose more than half their games.
If every kid got a turn to play all the positions and the coach felt he or she is better at a particular one, then fine. But give them a chance!
Have you tried talking to the coach? Is there another local team you could check out?
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| Posted 5/30/18 11:35 AM |
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lorich
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Member since 6/05 9987 total posts
Name:
Grammie says "Lora Gina"
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Re: Little League
Posted by Kate
8 year olds in Little League should be switching positions, even if they play the same position one game, and a new one in the next game. If this coach thinks his kid is so good, and winning matters, then he should coach him on a travel team. Little League is for learning, especially at 8 years old.
I agree with this.
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| Posted 5/30/18 11:45 AM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17795 total posts
Name:
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Re: Little League
Posted by Kate
8 year olds in Little League should be switching positions, even if they play the same position one game, and a new one in the next game. If this coach thinks his kid is so good, and winning matters, then he should coach him on a travel team. Little League is for learning, especially at 8 years old.
ITA.
My son is 8 and they rotate so even the kids who aren’t strong players get a chance in the infield. Our division is basically a step above tball so it’s still a learning league (but we do have an all star game for some reason).
The only position he really tries to stick the same kids in is catcher because if you don’t stand correctly you could get hurt.
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| Posted 5/30/18 4:35 PM |
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ChilisWife
God Bless America
Member since 5/05 3572 total posts
Name:
A.K.
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Re: Little League
DH has been a coach for many years and yes at 8 years old they should switch positions to learn each one - unless as stated above there is a safety issue (if a kid is afraid of the ball you don't put him at first base). However it does get competitive pretty quickly and by 10/11 years old you will see that the "better" kids tend to pitch or play shortstop and the kids who can't really throw or catch will be in right field. This does not necessarily mean the coach's son however from what I have seen, many coach's kids (not all) happen to be decent players which is why the dad is volunteering his time to coach.
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| Posted 5/30/18 5:51 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Little League
Posted by Eireann
I know it can be really frustrating. My two younger kids both play soccer; my 7 year old never plays any other position other than defense. He is very good in his position, but every other kid on his team has played forward at one point or another. Every other kid has scored at least one goal, but because of his position, my son never has. His team is a powerhouse and has won every match two years running usually shutouts, so he doesn’t even get much of a chance to do anything. He’s getting bored and I see him practicing his baseball swing out there...lol. That said, I’m pretty sure I’m sadder about it than he is.
On the flip-side, on his baseball team, he is one of the better players and ALWAYS plays first.
My middle DD (5th grade) plays on two soccer teams, but her travel team is SO frustrating because the trainers NEVER switch positions and it’s simply not working...and the girls are all good athletes. Parents are getting frustrated and people are unhappy. It sucks because we’re spending a lot of money to watch them lose more than half their games.
If every kid got a turn to play all the positions and the coach felt he or she is better at a particular one, then fine. But give them a chance!
Have you tried talking to the coach? Is there another local team you could check out?
Our travel program is the complete opposite. Everyone switches positions until I think U12. I understand that it’s to make the kids more well rounded players, but it’s frustrating when kids have to play positions that they don’t like and/or don’t seem to understand. DS is really strong at offense, pretty good at defense, but weak at goalie. He doesn’t enjoy playing goalie, but has to play at least two halfs in both the fall and spring. Meanwhile, we have a few strong goalies who want to play the position more than they do. There are other games where he and some of the other top scorers are at defense for the whole game while the offense has kids who rarely take shots. It’s our program’s philosophy to rotate though so we’re stuck with it. The team has definitely had some growing pains because of it, but we are slowly starting to see it pay off.
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| Posted 5/31/18 4:58 AM |
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mommy2B3
2 boys 2 girls!!!!
Member since 7/08 3324 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: Little League
Posted by MrsS2005
Posted by Eireann
I know it can be really frustrating. My two younger kids both play soccer; my 7 year old never plays any other position other than defense. He is very good in his position, but every other kid on his team has played forward at one point or another. Every other kid has scored at least one goal, but because of his position, my son never has. His team is a powerhouse and has won every match two years running usually shutouts, so he doesn’t even get much of a chance to do anything. He’s getting bored and I see him practicing his baseball swing out there...lol. That said, I’m pretty sure I’m sadder about it than he is.
On the flip-side, on his baseball team, he is one of the better players and ALWAYS plays first.
My middle DD (5th grade) plays on two soccer teams, but her travel team is SO frustrating because the trainers NEVER switch positions and it’s simply not working...and the girls are all good athletes. Parents are getting frustrated and people are unhappy. It sucks because we’re spending a lot of money to watch them lose more than half their games.
If every kid got a turn to play all the positions and the coach felt he or she is better at a particular one, then fine. But give them a chance!
Have you tried talking to the coach? Is there another local team you could check out?
Our travel program is the complete opposite. Everyone switches positions until I think U12. I understand that it’s to make the kids more well rounded players, but it’s frustrating when kids have to play positions that they don’t like and/or don’t seem to understand. DS is really strong at offense, pretty good at defense, but weak at goalie. He doesn’t enjoy playing goalie, but has to play at least two halfs in both the fall and spring. Meanwhile, we have a few strong goalies who want to play the position more than they do. There are other games where he and some of the other top scorers are at defense for the whole game while the offense has kids who rarely take shots. It’s our program’s philosophy to rotate though so we’re stuck with it. The team has definitely had some growing pains because of it, but we are slowly starting to see it pay off.
As a soccer coach, and our director has the highest training you can get in the states, and used to be a professional player in Europe, so my info comes from him. Its best for the kids to continuously move positions, you want them to understand all positions because a lot of the times we don’t have backups for all positions. So if someone gets hurt during a tournament, we don’t need to forfeit or lose horribly because our sub didn’t understand his/her new position. We are also told to explain to parents that it’s best for the kids too as they age. While every kid has a natural position, as they get older and try out for school teams, you don’t want them to get cut because Susie is better than Jenny as a forward, but Jenny is still a great forward, but refuses/doesnt understand being a mid fielder etc. But I totally understand the frustration bc my DD is great as a forward and left back, but struggles as a goalie and center back, so I cringe when she’s put in those spots, but she’s come so far in those spots this season, since she was forced to lol.
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| Posted 5/31/18 12:51 PM |
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VickiC
Rocking the party
Member since 5/05 4937 total posts
Name:
Vicki
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Little League
This is not normal and, quite frankly, the coach may be violating league rules. My son has played since he was 4 and my DH is coaching this year so I know more of the rules than I did. My DS is 7.5. In his league, players are only allowed to play the infield for 2 innings and must play outfield at least one inning (they play up to 6 innings or 75 minutes, whichever comes first.) They also cannot play the same position in the game (I believe) and rotate so that everyone knows the responsibility at each position. They can only bat in top 4 position one game, bottom 4 next game.....if I were you, I'd ask the coach on another team about the rules, or to see the Coach's handbook. That's another thing; each Coach must have their handbook with them at all times and they MUST keep score for the game. Any Coach found in violation is suspended, and I know it's true because it's happened a few times already this season. know it's
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| Posted 5/31/18 9:17 PM |
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