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Pet Peeve: Youth Sports Edition
Posted on 3/23/15 at 1:51 pm
Posted on 3/23/15 at 1:51 pm
So, my son is 6 years old, and playing in his first Coach Pitch baseball league. One month ago, we get a schedule showing all of the games for the season. Season starts March 30th. No problem.
Then, last week, we get a notice of a Pres Season Round Robin Double Elimination Tournament, that starts this Friday. Basically, games start at 5 on Friday and go to as late as 10pm. Then, they start again at 8:30 Sat morning and go all day Saturday. They then pick back up after lunch on Sunday and go until 5 pm (assuming you team is winning).
Worst part is, this is double elimination. So you could be out as early as Friday night or you could play all the way through Sunday evening. No way to make plans for the weekend. It's like the coaches who came up with this think that our entire lives revolve around our 6 year old's baseball schedule.
If we lose early, we have to change all of our plans again. If we keep winning, our kid plays like 7 baseball games over three days. Either way, it's a disaster.
Is the OTB with me on being royally pissed off about this? Or should I just grin and bear it? Not sure what to think.
Then, last week, we get a notice of a Pres Season Round Robin Double Elimination Tournament, that starts this Friday. Basically, games start at 5 on Friday and go to as late as 10pm. Then, they start again at 8:30 Sat morning and go all day Saturday. They then pick back up after lunch on Sunday and go until 5 pm (assuming you team is winning).
Worst part is, this is double elimination. So you could be out as early as Friday night or you could play all the way through Sunday evening. No way to make plans for the weekend. It's like the coaches who came up with this think that our entire lives revolve around our 6 year old's baseball schedule.
If we lose early, we have to change all of our plans again. If we keep winning, our kid plays like 7 baseball games over three days. Either way, it's a disaster.
Is the OTB with me on being royally pissed off about this? Or should I just grin and bear it? Not sure what to think.
8
Posted on 3/23/15 at 1:56 pm to No Colors
Tell them it should've been on the schedule and your sorry but have already made plans to go camping and fishing that weekend.
Posted on 3/23/15 at 1:56 pm to No Colors
quote:
It's like the coaches who came up with this think that our entire lives revolve around our 6 year old's baseball schedule.
You answered your own question.
I don't have children, but I see my friends' lives and free time completely eaten up with children's sports, and I do not envy them. When I was growing up, we weren't allowed to play sports during the late spring and summer so we could spend time with the family on weekends. I think that was a good policy.
Posted on 3/23/15 at 1:57 pm to No Colors
Tournaments scheduled like that are pretty much SOP. It sucks they squish the schedule like that, but it still should be fun that he gets to play baseball all day.
Posted on 3/23/15 at 1:57 pm to No Colors
Sadly this is the new status quo when it comes to youth sports. I know what you're saying but you're probably just going to have to grin and bear it.
Posted on 3/23/15 at 1:58 pm to No Colors
that's how it was done back when i played as a kid.
Posted on 3/23/15 at 2:08 pm to piggilicious
quote:
that's how it was done back when i played as a kid.
Sure. But that doesn't make it right.
For whatever reason, my family schedules weekends far in advance. I can tell you what we are doing just about every weekend through May. It's never a sitation where we have an "open" weekend with no conflicts two weeks out. That just doesn't happen. I have two other kids with other things scheduled (plays, dance, cheerleading, etc).
I think it is really self absorbed for these guys to drop this on us and expect everyone to jump.
I will add to this another Pet Peeve about kids sports: We play in a youth soccer league that starts in February. The fields are in a creek bottom and they are often too wet to be playable. Maybe 1/3 of the games get cancelled or rescheduled. But if it rains on Thursday and Friday, the coaches will not cancel a game until Saturday morning. I don't care if the fields are under water on Friday, they will not make the call until 9 am on Saturday. Then they send out a group text just as you are loading the kids in the car to head to the game.
I really think these youth sports leagues are run by people who have absolutely nothing better to do. It's like 8-year old sports is their life or something.
Posted on 3/23/15 at 2:57 pm to No Colors
i guess i'm just thinking of most teams these days who do nothing but travel around the countryside wasting money on hotels, food etc weekend after weekend having the matchy matchy bags and other accessories.
that was not the case in my childhood, that's one thing that makes me think that the 80s-90s were better. we played in a local league- teams drafted by coaches so you got to play with kids you probably would have never known if not for ball. we played during the week and had maybe 3 tourney's throughout the season. the tourneys were the most fun part- playing 5 games on a saturday was perfection to me.
that was not the case in my childhood, that's one thing that makes me think that the 80s-90s were better. we played in a local league- teams drafted by coaches so you got to play with kids you probably would have never known if not for ball. we played during the week and had maybe 3 tourney's throughout the season. the tourneys were the most fun part- playing 5 games on a saturday was perfection to me.
This post was edited on 3/23/15 at 3:00 pm
Posted on 3/23/15 at 3:09 pm to No Colors
Welcome to fatherhood. I can't stand it when these leagues act as if they are the ONLY thing we have to do. Our soccer game was not called until we reached the field Saturday, in the middle of a rain storm.
You'll get used to it - it's a waste of time to use the "we used to" argument. Wife and kids DGAF.
You'll get used to it - it's a waste of time to use the "we used to" argument. Wife and kids DGAF.
Posted on 3/23/15 at 3:14 pm to No Colors
quote:
I can tell you what we are doing just about every weekend through May.
I can tell you what your doing through May too. Sitting at the ballpark. I feel your pain. Actually you need to enjoy coach pitch. My son moved up to Minors(kid pitch) this year and it is excruciating to watch.
Posted on 3/23/15 at 3:28 pm to fishcityrube
Coach pitch is a lot more fun than 9 year old kid pitch.
As a father of a senior baseball player enjoy watching your son play. You will get your life back in a 12 years so enjoy fatherhood
As a father of a senior baseball player enjoy watching your son play. You will get your life back in a 12 years so enjoy fatherhood
Posted on 3/23/15 at 3:29 pm to No Colors
Sorry. Little league sucks.
Posted on 3/23/15 at 3:35 pm to No Colors
No, you're not alone. That is ridiculous, especially for 6 year old. Luckily we have options for youth league for our kids and we don't sign them up for leagues that pull that stuff.
Posted on 3/23/15 at 3:36 pm to The Spleen
quote:
No, you're not alone. That is ridiculous, especially for 6 year old. Luckily we have options for youth league for our kids and we don't sign them up for leagues that pull that stuff.
I will say that at least with Soccer, you can sign your kid up for rec league vs academy levels for the parents and kids that want that higher level of involvement etc.
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