To throw a ball, or roll it?

[Shappy]

I would like your opinion on something. My daughter recently began playing Softball. She is 5 and playing in a division for 4-6 year old girls. So far we have played 8 games and lost all but one. One of the biggest things going against us, in my opinion, is the fact that we have the only team that encourages the girls to actually THROW the ball. The other teams ROLL it. When our girls are throwing the ball, they often make bad throws and they often miss catching good throws to them. But at this stage, isn't that what it is all about, learning the mechanics of the game?

Usual game scenario for us:

We are fielding the ball. Girl hits the ball, our fielders snatch it up, makes a bad throw to first and first base player has to chase it down, allowing the runner to safely reach base. This continues until the batting team scores the maximum number of runs allowed per inning.

We are batting. Our girl hits the ball, the fielders on the other team grab the ball and perfectly and quickly ROLL it to first base making the out.

In the end, we usually lose with a score of something like 24-6.

Now, the other coaches make the usual excuse "these little girls can't catch and throw, we HAVE to let them roll it to each other."

My opinion is that these girls are here playing the game at this stage so that they can LEARN to catch, throw, hit and all the other aspects of the game so that they are ready when they enter the next level. How are they supposed to learn to do it the right way if we allow them to do it the convenient, easier way? Why are these coaches teaching these girls to play like this, knowing that their next coach in the next age group will have their hands full breaking this bad habit they have encouraged the girls to develop? Is winning really that important to a coach of 4-6 year old girls, that they'd rather teach them to roll than throw and catch?

Should we be teaching our girls to roll? We obviously don't stand a chance at winning many games if we don't, but I and many of my players parents don't want to give the girls the easy win. We want them to learn the right way to play the game.

I know that I don't want my girls rolling the ball, but should I go against my better judgement and let them so that they have a chance against the other teams? Is this a choice I should give the girls? Several of them have told me that they don't want to roll the ball "they're not babies!" they said. Others don't really care, but they would like to win some games, so aren't afraid of rolling it if they have to.

2 questions:

1> Do you think that I am in the wrong for wanting to teach them the proper way to play right from the beginning?

2> What would you do in my situation?

At this sage of the game, IMO, it isn't about winning. It is about building character, skills, sportsmanship, etc. But you still want to win some games, the kids work so hard, you know? What to do?

Any opinions are appreciated, as I just don't know what to do. I know what I think is right, but is that being fair to my girls? Is it too much to expect these girls to learn to throw and catch at this age? They are actually pretty good players and more than willing to learn. They have already come a long way, and I don't think that they or their parents believe I am pushing them.

**Don't let the age fool you, most of these girls are atheletic and competitive. Only one of my girls (a 4 year old) is more interested in playing in the dirt, LOL!**

[TG Coach]

Why are these coaches teaching these girls to play like this ...

1) Their egos require them to do what is necessary to win the game. It's about them, not the kids.

2) They didn't go far in sports and don't understand the need to teach players properly regardless of the short term results.

3) The don't know how to teach the girls to throw.

While little kids can overcome bad coaching at a later date if they develop a passion for the game, they are more likely to continue the game down the line if they learned how to play properly from the beginning. There aren't any shortcuts to future success. If you're going to lose the games teaching the girls how to play properly, make up your own scoring system where you can reward the players, such as overhand throws that are accurate even if they are short. The other team will score 0.

What the other coaches are doing is rediculous.

Note: My son and daughter didn't start playing organized baseball and softball until they were seven. It's hard for the girls to drip the ball. Hopefully you're using the smallest size softball.

Don't let the age fool you, most of these girls are atheletic and competitive.

Print this statement and place in somewhere safe in an envelope. Pull it out in ten years and have a good laugh at your own expense. Please don't feel insulted. You'll understand later.

[Shappy]

...

1) Their egos require them to do what is necessary to win the game. It's about them, not the kids.

2) They didn't go far in sports and don't understand the need to teach players properly regardless of the short term results.

3) The don't know how to teach the girls to throw.

My thoughts exactly.

If you're going to lose the games teaching the girls how to play properly, make up your own scoring system where you can reward the players, such as overhand throws that are accurate even if they are short. The other team will score 0.

Excellent idea, I will certainly try this. Thanks!





Don't let the age fool you, most of these girls are atheletic and competitive.

Print this statement and place in somewhere safe in an envelope. Pull it out in ten years and have a good laugh at your own expense. Please don't feel insulted. You'll understand later.

I just may have to do that, LOL!
Thanks so much for your reply!

[dolphindan1]

our by-laws in t-ball and coach pitch have a no roll rule....Also we do not allow score in that age group either...it should be about having fun #1, and learning the game....I actually coach a 7-8 CP team...The other coaches wanna run on a overthrow to 1st, they wanna keep score...blah, blah...i tell them no we are not keeping score they can in there dugout if they wanna but I dont wanna know...I also tell them if its the only way they can win the game we will run on pass balls...I tell them but I prefer to reward kids with hits...Just my opinion...they have plenty of time to worry about score and records in the future but at 7 & 8 its still about fun...plus my team has 11 7 year olds and 1 8 year old...we are the youngest tteam in the league...today we played a team with 6 7 year olds...we lost by 1 I was told....We are 6-4 and doing well in my opinion...and most importantly my kids play everywhere and every kid plays in field every game....other teams we play do not...

[Shappy]

Thanks for your reply dolphindan1. I have noticed that many leagues have a no roll rule, I just wish ours was one of them. I absolutely love baseball and yes, even softball, and it breaks my heart to see so many coaches who are either too lazy to teach their players the proper way to play, or will do anything it takes to win so long as it isn't specifically stated as against the rules.

I think TG Coach hit the nail on the head, for the other coaches in my league anyway, when he said "Their egos require them to do what is necessary to win the game. It's about them, not the kids."
I think it's awful, but all I can do is teach my kids the right way to play and hope that our league comes to it's senses in the near future and demands that the other coaches do the same. Right now though, it is a debate between the sides and I am in the minority, almost exclusively.

[TG Coach]

Our youth basketball program has clinics rather than league play for six year olds. The idea is the kids will play better in following year if they learn the basics in the beginning. When the kids get to middle school you can see a huge difference between the kids who were in our program versus the program in the next down. Sometimes I wonder if clinics with competitive drills would be better than tee ball at age six.

[DerekD]

Our youth basketball program has clinics rather than league play for six year olds. The idea is the kids will play better in following year if they learn the basics in the beginning. When the kids get to middle school you can see a huge difference between the kids who were in our program versus the program in the next down. Sometimes I wonder if clinics with competitive drills would be better than tee ball at age six.

Interesting. Our league has tee ball for kids 3-5 years. The games are usually two innings with half the lineup of each team in each inning. The kids get 3 pitches, then the tee if they don't hit the pitched ball. Every player is in the field and they just try to get it to the kid in the circle. The runners usually run one base at a time no matter what unless it's the last batter of the inning, who runs all the way around. No scores, no books. I coach one of these teams in addition to my son's LL major team and just love it. You never know what they're going to do but they're getting to do the basics of the game.

[bigtime39]

Another item in the "learning the game right" column: teach your catchers and right fielders to back up those throws to first automatically (unless the catcher has the potential to be involved in a play at the plate). Right fielders often are left standing out there with nothing to do, and this should help keep them involved in the game.

[TG Coach]

Interesting. Our league has tee ball for kids 3-5 years. The games are usually two innings with half the lineup of each team in each inning. The kids get 3 pitches, then the tee if they don't hit the pitched ball. Every player is in the field and they just try to get it to the kid in the circle. The runners usually run one base at a time no matter what unless it's the last batter of the inning, who runs all the way around. No scores, no books. I coach one of these teams in addition to my son's LL major team and just love it. You never know what they're going to do but they're getting to do the basics of the game.

Players don't learn how to play in games, especially tee ballers. There's too much going on and no reps. A situation has to happen to even experience it. Clinics would provide reps on a given play to drive it into memory/understanding.

[DerekD]

I agree. For us, in 45 minutes, each kid will only get a few pitches and maybe a couple of balls to them in the field. I like your idea of competitions with some kind of treat for each kid when they are finished.

[chokes14]

has anyone ever stopped and actually thought about how stupid of a game baseball or softball is. we spend all this time stressing about who's coaching right or wrong, what kids are good or not, adn whether a kid is going to play on varsity or in college. for what? its a bunch of people hitting a ball with a stick and chasing it around.

[jacksimpk]

Volunteer for a board seat. Push for changes you think are necessary. At the very least write your board and outline what you would like to see change. Its also very important that you don't keep score in your head either. One of my little 6 year old looked at me after a game and asked if we won. I honestly told him I had no idea what the score was. Try to get a 2:1 ratio practices to games.

Time enough for competition when they are in the 9-11 league.