What are your thoughts on cheating to win in youth sports?

 

As a current example (actually happening right now), let's talk Little League baseball...10 and 11 year olds.

 

Thoughts on pitching your "star" pitcher in every game of the season? What about using an illegal player to make sure you get a tournament win?

 

To me, cheating in youth sports is bush league and really shows the true colors of the coaches. I think some of the blame falls on the league, as well. I mean, how are certain things allowed to happen? I'm just curious to know how other BGPers feel about such things?

 

I know many of us coach or are around youth sports so I figured we could have a good discussion on the topic.

Total crap. I coach a youth baseball and go by the pitch count set up by the league. It's different for different age kids and I could get by sometimes going around I think but I do dont.

Edited June 22, 20179 yr by True blue (and gold)
Rule 8

Total crap. I coach a youth baseball and go by the pitch count set up by the league. It's different for different age kids and I could get by sometimes going around I think but I do dont.

 

I have watched closely since I am one of the coaches for my son's team. One team (best team in the league of course) pitches their star pitcher in every game. I've actually never seen anyone else pitching for them. The same kid also pitches on a weekend team. I think our league's pitch count for his age is 75.

 

On the other hand, our team has 4 pitchers and a 5th that we work into games that don't matter just because he wants to pitch in future. We are very strict on pitch counts and never allow our starter to pitch two games in a row. We don't believe in it and even if we could skirt the rules, we simply don't do it.

 

I'm bothered by the abuse to the other kid.

I have watched closely since I am one of the coaches for my son's team. One team (best team in the league of course) pitches their star pitcher in every game. I've actually never seen anyone else pitching for them. The same kid also pitches on a weekend team. I think our league's pitch count for his age is 75.

 

On the other hand, our team has 4 pitchers and a 5th that we work into games that don't matter just because he wants to pitch in future. We are very strict on pitch counts and never allow our starter to pitch two games in a row. We don't believe in it and even if we could skirt the rules, we simply don't do it.

 

I'm bothered by the abuse to the other kid.

 

I've used 8 pitchers. We have 4 good ones, 2 average, and 2 that didn't like it and was not very good. I told all of them to work on it and they could try next year as well

You prove nothing by cheating.

Cheating to win, particularly in youth sports, is a window into the soul. Show me a youth coach who will cheat to win, and 90% of the time I will show you an adult who is unhappy with their lot in life and thinks a title will prop them up a little.

 

It is gross.

Cheating to win, particularly in youth sports, is a window into the soul. Show me a youth coach who will cheat to win, and 90% of the time I will show you an adult who is unhappy with their lot in life and thinks a title will prop them up a little.

 

It is gross.

 

Bingo!!!

 

All of the coaches that do this almost seem like the same guy. Unfortunately nearly every league and city has someone like this. In my opinion it's even worse if it spills over to middle school sports.

I have watched closely since I am one of the coaches for my son's team. One team (best team in the league of course) pitches their star pitcher in every game. I've actually never seen anyone else pitching for them. The same kid also pitches on a weekend team. I think our league's pitch count for his age is 75.

 

On the other hand, our team has 4 pitchers and a 5th that we work into games that don't matter just because he wants to pitch in future. We are very strict on pitch counts and never allow our starter to pitch two games in a row. We don't believe in it and even if we could skirt the rules, we simply don't do it.

 

I'm bothered by the abuse to the other kid.

 

I don't see where the other team is cheating. Is he throwing more than 75 pitches in a game?

I don't see where the other team is cheating. Is he throwing more than 75 pitches in a game?

 

Have Little League rules changed? You used to have to have so many days off after pitching? I can't imagine having the required days off if he's pitching every game. I'd have to ask where the league President is during all of this.

By the way, cheating in any level of sports is bush league. It doesn't have to be limited to youth sports.

Have Little League rules changed? You used to have to have so many days off after pitching? I can't imagine having the required days off if he's pitching every game. I'd have to ask where the league President is during all of this.

 

I'm sure they have a limit on number of pitches per week. All I read was the kid pitched a lot. A lot can still be legal.

 

Call me skeptical that a coach would pitch a kid illegally in a league where he has to report the number of pitches. Too many eyeballs to turn him in.

The ones that cheat should be flogged. The ones that push the rules to the limits need to reassess and think about the kids.

 

Any coach that doesn't put the well being of his players above winning is a sorry human being.

 

Even though it may be within the rules. Throwing a kid the maximum number of pitches, the maximum amount of times, is not good for him.

 

Add to that, the fact that a lot of these kids play for multiple teams (often times with some of the same coaches) and end up pitching waaaaaay over the counts they should be pitching.

 

Unfortunately, most parents are too afraid to say anything. They're worried the coach will take playing time away from their kid.

 

I've seen numorous kids who pitched themselves out by the time they got to high school.

I don't see where the other team is cheating. Is he throwing more than 75 pitches in a game?

 

He pitches EVERY game and I know he has gone over the pitch limit. There are limits and rest periods that are supposed to be followed.

Unfortunately, every league has that coach or two that crosses the line, and it's pathetic. As a league administrator, it's impossible to monitor every team and every game. However, if complaints are made, then the league should follow up. I know I've kicked out multiple coaches for cheating over the years.

He pitches EVERY game and I know he has gone over the pitch limit. There are limits and rest periods that are supposed to be followed.

 

Just pitching in every game isn't illegal...if you only play a couple games a week and they are spread out enough it can be done, although you wouldn't be able to throw more than a few innings each game. That being said, I've always felt part of youth sports is developing your players. Pitching one kid every game doesn't do that. And if the coach is pitching this kid beyond what the rules specify, that coach needs to find a different activity to do instead of coaching youth baseball.

 

Too many times in youth sports, adults seem to want to make it about them....it should never about the coaches and how many games or championships they win.