I have two girls. Two ballet dancing, nail polish wearing, skirt sportin little girls. These are not tough girls. These are normal, nice and fairly mannerly little girls. This summer they decided they wanted to sign up for baseball? Okay, I signed them up. Visions of hot summer nights, baseball cheers and team camaraderie in my head. The youngest is on the “Mites”, the oldest on the “Squirts” team. Sounds sweet and innocent right?
I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
My girls had their first tournament this weekend.
Let the shocking behaviour begin. I heard parents from another team yelling “Run with your elbows out.”, “Get that kid!”, “Knock her down.” Are you kidding me? These girls are 9-12 and you want to bruise them up? Wait, was I in the wrong place? Was this hockey?
Then I saw a brazen act that truly blew my mind. A 12 year old girl was encouraged, no, told to, run an opposing player over at home plate. Run. Her. Over. Might I add there was not even a play going on at home plate! (for those of you who don’t speak baseball, the baseball was way out in the outfield, the back catcher was two feet away from home plate, the runner had to swerve to knock her down, this my friends was very bad form) The opposing coach had that little ball player plough our catcher down, on purpose. Oh, and did I mention we were being beaten 14- 0 at the time? WTH? Needless to say this “play” did not go over very well with anyone, but especially the Daddy’s of our team.
Snarky words were exchanged. There was some yelling. Then Opposing Coach challenged Random Dad to a fist fight? Huh? Drama. Too tense for me! All the while the little girls pay the price. At first crying from pain or shock, then perhaps tears of fear. I didn’t sign my girls up for this!
I have heard about and seen crazy “hockey parents”, I had no idea there were “obsessed baseball parents”. Go ahead and tell me. Is this normal? Should there ever be crying in baseball?
Sigh. It’s going to be a long summer.
It’s so sad that kids can’t just be kids anymore. I hate the competetive spirit so many parents have.
Wow- and I thought toddler playdates were rough! Did your girls say anything about the…show…?
Oh, I could write a book after 8 years of travel ball….some people lose their minds. My husband as the coach has banned several parents from viewing games/practices because of behavior like that. Oy. what is wrong with people?
I don’t discourage my kids from anything they want to try. We’ve had some good and not-so-good experiences. My son played several sports but I am secretly happy he’s not currently on a team.
No, no no no no
This is why I cannot handle organized sports for children!
Sadly it is normal. Should be fun days when my son starts sports. I have no tolerance for the crap from parents and am not afraid to tell them so.
Parents are lunatics when their kids and sports are involved. My very athletic son has played everything under the sun and we’ve seen it all. Just last month a parent was kicked out of a lacrosse game after threatening another parent. I much prefer my daughter’s dance classes:)
Sadly, that’s just about every sport lately, from cheerleading to AYSO soccer. There’s always a parent or two in the crowd you wish would leave. Or shut up. Or both. And then maybe take some lessons in good manners and sportsmanship.
Gosh…that’s so sad. Emily plays soccer and it usually is pretty clean playing. I can’t imagine hearing what you heard. Wow!
That is totally bad form. Unfortunately there are lots of bad baseball/soccer/hockey/etc. parents out there. The league should really enforce good manners. Talk to the league director. That should not be tolerated.
we jsut finished baseball season on saturday with my youngest…so this i know…there are some crazies out there…lol
Haha. Ok, I probably shouldn’t be laughing. But damn this sounds cut throat!
I have never seen it. I have heard about it.
My husband coach’s all kinds of baseball and continually tries to teach the parents to HUSH!! Also he teaches them you don’t run over the catcher unless the play is at the plate. Duh.
I hope your girls emerge unscathed!!
It’s beginning to happen with all sports, I think. Two of my daughters played lacrosse and we saw a little of it. The “coach” of the opposing team gave one of those “kill” commands and our coach was appalled. And like your situation, my daughter’s team was seriously losing.
Also, one of the moms on our team had to be told to shut up by our coach because she was hollering out so many plays to the girls that they were probably getting confused.
Your story is funny, but not so funny either. What are we to do?
OMG, LOL. I’m sorry, I know it’s not funny but yes there are plenty of baseball obsessed parents! It’s been 12 years since my son played baseball like that but I still laugh at some of the parents actions.