Cut Throat T-ball. Is it worth it?
Our Y t-ball league for 4 year olds tries to break the kids into
competitive sports very gently. They go through the batting order once
and then go to the field. They play for only 1 hour. No one keeps score
and the kids are supposed to rotate to a different position every time
they're in the field. The emphasis is supposed to be on teaching our small ones the basics of the game and, of course, how to be good sports and work as a team.
Our t-ball coach's 2 sons (who've obviously done this maaaaany times before) are at pitcher and first base for every single inning. That's right. Every. single. inning. Between the two of them, they manage to field 90% of the balls that are hit.
Now, kudos to their dad for getting them to such an advanced level of play before kindergarten. That's great. I'm in awe. But.
Hollis would like to learn how to play too.
You know how the very first time kids are up at bat and they surprise themselves by hitting the ball and then everyone has to yell, "Run to first base! Run to first base!" before they figure it out and move? And you know how the next time, they know what to do? That's how our 4 year olds are learning how to play baseball.
Sure, if you rotate the kids through the positions you're going to have someone who doesn't throw the ball to first base the first time, or even the 2nd, 3rd and 4th times. Maybe the newly minted third baseman doesn't tag that fast little girl rounding third base. Maybe the "pitcher" lets four or five balls go right between her legs. But that's how they learn. If you stick ringers in the middle of the infield and at first base to ensure the kids rarely even see the ball, let alone touch it, our 4 year olds are never going to learn what to do when the ball comes their way. That's pretty much how it works for all of life.
Coach, I'm sure your kids are getting some great field lessons from these t-ball games. But the rest of the kids? You're cheating them of a valuable learning experience. But more than that, you're teaching them something else about winning at all costs. And this in a game where no one is supposed to keep track of the score.
I have no idea who won my son's first two t-ball games and neither does Hollis. In fact, it's not about "winning" at all for him. It's just about learning to play the game, hitting that ball, doing the best he can and having fun. So what is it about for you, coach? And is it worth it?
