I think most people don't want to be "that guy". That's one reason I wanted to get some fellow BGPer thoughts and opinions. What would you do?

 

If I knew they were violating the pitch count rule and could prove it then I'd report it. Not only are they cheating but they are putting that kid's health in jeopardy.

My son played baseball for 4 years (4 spring & 2 fall leagues). And I can safely say that the vast majority of coaches that I saw are nothing but a bunch of glory hounds...either for themselves or for their sons. You name it, I have probably seen it.

 

If I had to point a finger at two of the main culprits, I'd point to the increase in "travel/select" teams, and the fact that a coach (parent or not) will "follow" a team as it ages. Coaches are more concerned with hitching themselves to the fastest horse they can find, and riding it for as long as they can. It's really depressing to see what youth sports has become.

I guess without watching every game and actually keeping their pitch count, there's no way to prove anything. But, everyone in the league knows they used an illegal player earlier this week. That was reported by another coach and he was told it was approved even though our league rules state that it should be a forfeit.

 

So you don't know they're cheating.

Does the opposing team not keep a pitch count in this league of the other the other teams pitcher as well as their own?

 

This is a great question. I know of some rec league coaches who had someone keeping the pitch count for both teams.

Not to be argumentative but just because you call it the "right way" doesn't make someone else's way the "wrong way". You can develop players by playing them multiple positions and working on different pitchers in practice. Some coaches have the mindset that you earn the position in practice. Part of developing kids in youth sports can also be seen as proving yourself worthy to claim that position as yours when the game starts and traditionally that is earned in practice.

 

Most recreation leagues have a rule that says everyone must participate a minimum amount of time in every game or the team forfeits for that game. More often than not even the teams that spend the most time playing kids at every position will make sure that everyone plays pretty early in the game so they can put their best players on the field at the end of the game in case it is a close game. Also in baseball everyone knows that the kid who can't catch the ball or struggles with defense is usually put out in right field or whatever the position the ball wont be hit at the most to avoid interaction with the ball. That kid is never put at shortstop in the bottom of the 6th with a 1 run lead and the top of the order coming up. I'm sure that hasn't changed either.

 

I didn't mean to imply that others do it the wrong way although that's how it sounded. What I meant is we play our kids who haven't had a hit the entire season just like we play everyone else. They are all part of our team and we work hard to help them improve just like the others.

 

At this level, we keep score and have a tournament that is based on seeding so wins/losses are important. Unfortunately, that's also what leads to pitching kids to death and other issues.

This is a great question. I know of some rec league coaches who had someone keeping the pitch count for both teams.

 

If there is a pitch count rule I'd be shocked if it weren't kept up with somewhere. If it's not, why have the rule?

So you don't know they're cheating.

 

Playing an illegal player is cheating. So yes, I know for a fact that they cheated.

Playing an illegal player is cheating. So yes, I know for a fact that they cheated.

Then report it and report the illegal pitch counts. Seems simple enough.

When my boys were younger we played a team and the coach's son threw about 100 pitches in a game. They were in about the 5th -6th grade. We had an additional 2 innings to play in a make up game and I declined to finish it up that day and I told the coach the reason for it was that I feared he would continue to pitch his son and ruin him. The kid never played high school ball.

 

Sounds very similar to my Little League experience. We dominated our league but it was all on the arm of one kid. His dad was the coach and this was before pitch counts so he literally pitched him every game because he was the only good pitcher we had. It got worse once I improved enough to play shortstop to shore up our infield behind him. No one in the league could hit him in Little League or Babe Ruth. Once we all got to high school he quit playing baseball. I imagine that didn't go over well in his house.

 

At the same time, I LOVED his dad as a coach. He was an old school, no nonsense, suck it up, we are going to win type of coach. I played my best baseball for that man and he loved us all. He was only my coach for 3 years of baseball but he will always be my favorite coach that I played for. Looking back now I do think his status as a Little League coach helped validate his existence but Little League baseball in Bowling Green was always hardcore. I'd say he ruined his son's baseball experience and probably threw his son's arm out at an early age as a result. I truly expected his son to be one of the best high school pitchers in the area.

Playing an illegal player is cheating. So yes, I know for a fact that they cheated.

 

Yeah, if they played an illegal player that needs to be reported immediately.

Then report it and report the illegal pitch counts. Seems simple enough.

 

Like I said earlier, another coach reported it and nothing was done.

 

I have seen other stuff this season too. One team pitched a kid just under 100 pitches earlier this season. That same team also tried to skip their last batter intentionally to get back to the top of their lineup when the game was on the line.

 

I guess as long as there are wins and losses...there will be people skirting rules to get the W.

 

I meant this thread just to get some opinions from other youth sports coaches and fans. I guess I was curious if these things happen all over the place. I'm a big advocate of youth sports as a I have essentially dedicated 10 years to coaching soccer, baseball and basketball. It bothers me when things are done that are dangerous or cheap to kids.

Like I said earlier, another coach reported it and nothing was done.

 

I have seen other stuff this season too. One team pitched a kid just under 100 pitches earlier this season. That same team also tried to skip their last batter intentionally to get back to the top of their lineup when the game was on the line.

 

I guess as long as there are wins and losses...there will be people skirting rules to get the W.

 

I meant this thread just to get some opinions from other youth sports coaches and fans. I guess I was curious if these things happen all over the place. I'm a big advocate of youth sports as a I have essentially dedicated 10 years to coaching soccer, baseball and basketball. It bothers me when things are done that are dangerous or cheap to kids.

 

I've seen some crazy stuff in youth league sports.

I've seen some crazy stuff in youth league sports.

 

We apparently almost had a fight at a t-ball game recently too. I'm not even sure how that happens but I saw a posting about it on the Facebook page. Imagine that...they don't even record outs and everyone bats.

I mean, my team's goal is to win also, BUT we do it in what I would call the "right" way. We play kids in different positions, have multiple pitchers, etc. We develop all of our kids and focus on their improvement throughout the season. Then when the tournament rolls around, we focus on winning the games.

 

THIS is what I do as well. Each kid plays multiple positions and 8 kids pitched. ONce the tournament started I played them were I thought it was best for the team.

We apparently almost had a fight at a t-ball game recently too. I'm not even sure how that happens but I saw a posting about it on the Facebook page. Imagine that...they don't even record outs and everyone bats.

 

Yeah, the T Ball rules have changed throughout the season. Baby J is an umpire for T Ball and I have heard about the craziness going on over there too. They've gone back to calling kids out, they don't have to get 3 outs though because everyone still bats and they don't keep score either. 95% of the kids playing T Ball can't even hit the ball past the pitcher anyways.

 

 

I hate T Ball. It disgusts me. :lol2: