You Are Out

I just returned home after watching an incredible minor ball game. The game started at eight in the morning and the weather was perfect. The ball diamond was prepared for the playoffs and was absolutely ready for the test. This game was between 13 year old boys. The large boys were nearly six feet tall and close to 200lbs and the wee ones were four foot seven and 85 lbs. The size difference caused some in the bleachers to call out rude remarks about the fairness as they thought that teams may have cribbed on the age of some.

The game was played in a fine manner with both teams scoring runs off of nice hits, and errors made by embarrassed players. Everyone seemed to be having fun and the coaches were friendly and cheerful in their remarks to their players. High fives and pats greeted the players from both teams as they reached their benches between innings.

These players play seven inning games in the tournament format playoffs. In three days the kids would be required to play up to six games if they went all the way to the championship game. By the sixth inning the tone of the game changed. With the score tied the coaches began to become more assertive and shouts from the respective benches began to harbour fears that the game would be lost if more effort was not forthcoming from their players.

Stomping of feet and mumblings between the coaches about changing some players because they were not playing as well as they expected, caused anxiety among the payers. Shouted advice from all on the bench as a 13 year-old got up to bat with two out and the game in the balance. What pressure.

The seventh inning only raised the tone some more and the coaches were no longer the happy care free adults helping kids enjoy baseball, but were in fact projecting their expectations into the game. The players no longer came to the bench to place their bat in the rack, but came to the bench a threw the bat after striking out. Gloves were thrown to the ground in disgust after missing a routine fly ball. The intensity was high. With two out at the top of the seventh the home team had players on first and third and the batter hit a good ball to the short left field.

The player on third rushed home and the catcher guarded the plate although he had not yet received the ball. The fielder threw a good strike from his position in the field and there was going to be a crash at home plate. However the ball was way late and the runner plowed into the catcher who still was waiting for the ball. The umpire called the runner out on a little league rule that states that a runner must not hit the catcher if he is without the ball.

The coach ran out on the field and began shouting at the umpire in an uncontrolled manner. The umpire took this treatment for a bit and the stated the rule and promptly threw the coach out of the game. The young player who was called stood up and threw his helmet on to the ground and shouted something like *&^%&^. The umpire had him removed as well. How quickly the young players emulate their coaches. Sad.

The team now without its head coach was able to regroup, and the assistant coaches managed for three overtime innings without incident - and won the game. The players, with the example of the assistant coaches, ended the game in a manner that brought back dignity to the game designed for just that -- playing the game by the rules and having fun. Some adults cannot get that through their heads. The game belongs to the kids and not the coaches.