Posted by Not news to me on May 15, 2007 at 11:05:46 (EST):
In Reply to: Is this the way to teach our kids? posted by very disappointed on May 15, 2007 at 10:30:39 (EST):
: As you know we are deep into the littleague season now. As a spectator I must admit that the little league coaches on some times are not teaching their kids good sportsmanship. The games I spectate at are 11 & 12 year olds. While watching one game the Ford City coaches on one team were screaming at the kids in the dugout and actually fighting amongst themselves. At one game a child was a emotional sobbing wreck while pitching and his coaches left him out there to further compound his problems. Not all games are like thins but it seems on a few Kittanning teams and a few Ford City teams the coaches have forgotten to let the kids have fun. Yeah it's nice to win but they are still learning and having fun. Let them have fun. I have not named team names, but I will make 1 exception. Several folks including myself were informed of a situation where the Ford City Reds beat the Kittanning Apaches in the bottom of the 6th inning. Several players and coaches on the Apaches would not offer the congratulatory handshakes that all teams do. Is this the way to teach our kids to lose???? I realize these coaches volunteer their time. But if they are gonna teach the kids sportsmanship, they should teach it.
I agree entirely with you. I've been seeing this get worse for the past several years. It certainly seems that the competition is between coaches and not the players. Maybe this is one reason you won't find kids playing ball in empty lots, streets, alleys, playground, etc.
Of course, the other reason is that the kids would rather play MLB '07 on Playstation.