If your Kid plays baseball local....

[Keith]

Keep in mind....
That there coach and commisioner don't get paid- they volunteer.
The umpires in little league are volunteers not pro's-don't take there heads off.
If your dog runs on the local playground, clean the shit up-you want it on your clothes or shoes?
Your kid in a slump?I have 15 including my own on my team- spend some time with your kid and see the results-my daughter makes boys look bad.
Bottom line-don't like the job your kids coach does, step up next year.It's actually alot of fun.
Now you wonder why I just wrote this?I did step up because I didn't like somethings. I took the job as Baseball Commisioner for a local program with 450 kids. Lot's of phone calls, lot's of complaint's. All the main one's are listed above.I hear them every night but will do it again if elected for another term. It's called caring about kids and thats what your kids coach and league director are all about. If there not, then don't run to another neighborhood-change it.It's a great experience. But don't bitch in my ear that one of my coaches didn't do something right because my answer remains,do you want to do it next year? Majority say no thanks.
For those of you that already are involved, I salute you. Your teams parents expect alot but success is measured by your kids reaching a new level and seeing him/her smiling from ear to ear.It's the best thing out there.
Last, if you are coaching, make sure your local playground is aware that Major League Baseball has a program out there that I stumbled across this year.All teams must spend $250,000 on local baseball programs. My local program will be getting approx. $8000.00 of equipment and shirts from the Phillies. Contact your local MLB team and ask about the Rookie/Rbi Leagues of MLB.Here the direcor of fan development handles it.Its a nice shot in the arm for local programs.
Sorry to vent but actually I am not. Like I said, I have no regrets for running my local program. Get involved and get your kids into playing sports too. I remember seeing my friend MadJack being the proud owner of his son Ian's game ball. That's what it's all about!

 

[bigjoe]

i know yor feelings. i was the president in lantana fla for 9 yrs with alittle over1100 kids in my program and was an ada in our dstrict for 6 yrs also hosted the jr & sr league regionals for 5 yrs and i would do anything for the kids but the parents on the other hand? ive taken 4 different teams to stste finals umpired in 23 state championship games 3 on the dish and have poured more kitty litter on the fields than most pet stores sell in 100 yrs. but the funny part is that was the greatest time of my life and wouldnt trade for anything well anything except one thing i quite 2 yrs ago to have my first child a son but a cant wait till i get down there again and take him to the greatest place in the world williamsport pa. i ve been going their since 87 only missing 99 for his birth man one of those great but sad feelings i just love that place a pray to god for the day i can take my son their!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[teemu12]

I could not agree with you guys more. I am not as old as you too but have been involved with little league for 20 years. I am now 26 and played until I was 18 and then have umpired and coached since then. It really disturbs me when the parents verbally attack 16 year old kids umpiring games. If the parents are great umpires I am sure the president of your league can get you in touch with the umpire coordinator to schedule some games for you. I agree Williamsport is the greatest place on earth myself. Ive been there 6 times and was lucky enough to play there in 1986. If your looking for a great family vacation I cant think of many other places I would rather be.

 

[bigjoe]

was that shippensburg? do you trade pins?

 

[teemu12]

I lived in Illinois at the time and played for Norridge Little League. We lost our first game to Arizona who went on to lose to Chinese Tapaei 21-0. We won our next two games and finished 5th in the world. Not bad for a league with 60 kids in it. Yes i do trade pins and have a couple hats full. I even have an uncle pin cause i played if your familiar with those. I have a bunch of extra Illinois district and sectional pins if you would like. I might even have some state and regionals as well. I coached the last 4 years and was lucky enough to go to 4 straight state championships. email me if you would like me to send you some. I know for a fact i have extra district and sectionals. teemu1274@hotmail.com

 

[bigjoe]

i just cant have you send them to me you would have to trade them thats the only fair way. plus i already have 14,381 little league pins so i would feel cheezy if i didnt trade you. do you have a favorite pin?

 

[teemu12]

No i dont have a favorite but I will make you a deal i will send you a few and you just do the same. I dont have as many as yo but i have about 600. I literally have 20 or 30 extra pins. each year when we would win when i was managing we would get 25 or so and i would always keep the extras.

 

[bigjoe]

sounds like a deal to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MadJack]

gotta give you credit, keith, and all the other parents that volunteer for that. that's a full time 'tough' job to take on and a lot of headaches. whew! some parents act like it's the major leagues out there, don't they? i've even seen parents ready for a fist fight over a peewee little league game. can you imagine?

i'm sure it's well worth the time you put in when it's all said and done. kudos keith!

me and the wife 'did' volunteer for some concession stand duty

 

[djv]

Credit to you all. I did my Coaching in the 12 and under league. Many years back 1962 to 1970. Yes I should have did more. But I was alittle hot under the collar some times when I was younger. The Parents chased me away with there constant bashing. Not so much me but there own kids. Im going to retire next year form 39 years of hard work. And My plan is to go back and help those kids. Here in La Crosse we have the stars of tomorrow touney each year. We have 12 & and under 14 & under. There are open and closed divisions. This tourney held two differant weeks. Has as many as 200 teams play in all divisions each year. I mean it is fun to watch these kids grow. And they just keep getting better. We do another thing for the girls. There is a fast pitch softball touney eachyear for them. Wow since girls fast pitch started 18 years ago. Can they play. I have seen some gals pitch the ball as hard as many guys. Well enough said. Best of Luck to all of you that are coaching. I will rejoin the battle next summer.

 

[BahamaMama]

SO well put, Keith...... someone just doesn't have the right to bitch about something they don't try and make better.

 

[Gatorbait]

Very cool thread Keith. I have had some friends who have started coaching their kids and have gone to check them out on occassions and can't wait for the day. Where I grew up and still live to this day, Southern Regional Championships are played every year. Winner goes to Williamsport PA. From the time I can remember(tee-ball), my mom would take me to watch many of the games. Always dreamed of going to PA. The LL I played for won districts 10 years in a row. My 12 year old we won districts, beat a very good Dunedin American squad in the Regional, and then made it to the State finals after beating a team from Ft Lauderdale. In the finals we paired off against Belmont Heights. For those of you who don't know, this is the team that yielded Dwight Gooden, 1 or 2 years before my time. The team I faced had a hell of a line-up. Gary Sheffield, Derek Bell, Ty Griffen(drafted by Cubs and played for USA in olympics) Maurice Crum a guy who played linebacker for the Miami Hurricanes and a few other names I forget . Too make an already long story short, Game tied 2-2 in the 5th, Sheffield smacks a 3-run dinger to win 5-2. they go on to win the Southern Regional by 10-running every team until the final and then lost to Tawaian 4-3 in the Championship game in Williamsport after giving up 4 unearned runs in the 1st inning. Just like most males, I'd love to direct my son's team(if I ever have one, only 1 daughter) to Williamsport. Talking about this made my day. Oh and had to look, under in Min/Det looks good and go Braves and my day will be complete....oh, forgot Budlight

and a couple of BINGERS