Coach Pitch softball sportsmanship

[missouriump]

I am coaching my first grade daughter's coach pitch (rural league w/ no pitching machines) softball team. Seven teams in our league. The three teams we have played so far, along with my team, have been "courteous" when running the bases on overthrows. Rules say that the umpires call time when the pitcher has control of the ball within an 8' circle drawn around the mound OR when play has obviously ended. Now, by "courtous" running it means we will send the batter/runner to second base and hold her there when the ball is overthrown to first base. My girls can hit and I want them to learn proper baserunning. Not "run until the ump calls time". In last night's game we won 7-6 against our first tough opponent. Both teams could have scored several more runs with "rude" running. But that is not how they learn the game. However, while visiting with our opponent's first base coach, Aaron, and is a friend of mine as well as their other coaches, we found out that their last opponent continued running on EVERYTHING until the pitcher had the ball in the circle. Needless to say, Aaron, as well as the parents were upset at the example of poor sportsmanship "just to win". These girls are 7 and 8 years old and are just learning to play the game. Don't get me wrong, if my team gets a legitimate double triple or homerun, we are sending the runners. We have a couple of girls that can take your head off with line drives if you don't pay attention. Your opinions?

[Richard_Siegel]

You sound a bit too competitive for an league of such young players. You can't mask your need to win by saying they are not learning to play the game right. They have many years ahead to play learn "rude" running. It is not that hard to learn to take the extra base. Let them play the game now in manner the league wishes it to be. In a few years when they get to the level where they pitch for themselves and play by all the normal rules you will look back and realize how silly this present complaint of your is.

[missouriump]

Richard,
I believe you have it backwards. I, along with our team's other coaches, do NOT send the runners until the ump calls time or the pitcher has control of the ball. My town's league rep along with our parents find the unrestrained running of the other team offensive and in poor sportsmanship. But, you are right in that this level of ball is less than what I am accustomed. I coached my son for 6 years in competitive AA/AAA ball until he entered high school. Plus, I have umpired for 20 years or so. The posts on this site regarding poor sportsmanship have mirrored many I have witnessed, either as an umpire, coach, parent, or uncle/fan. Regardless, you didn't answer the post. Do you find the fact this other team continues to advance their runners, even when the progression of a play has stopped naturally but the opposing pitcher does not control the ball in the circle, an example of poor sportmanship?

[KenGibes]

Missouriump,

Because misery loves company, I thought you'd like to know that I've heard the same complaint coming from T-Ball and Pre-Minor coaches every year that I've been associated with the local Little League. They always request (and often insist) that we craft a local rule that prevents teams from running wild.

From experience, I can tell you that only coaching restraint can prevent the condition.

I'll bet that the players who "run 'till the umpire says stop" aren't actually running on their own volition, but rather running because they're being yelled at and spurred to "Run! Run!! Run!!!!"

In a perfect world, all coaches would be trying to instill proper baserunning techniques in the young players, including good decision making on the basepath. In reality, some coaches don't see anything wrong with teaching the kids to win using T-Ball strategies.

Again, from experience, you'll just have to learn to live with it.

[kylejt]

Richard,
Do you find the fact this other team continues to advance their runners, even when the progression of a play has stopped naturally but the opposing pitcher does not control the ball in the circle, an example of poor sportmanship?

Nope.

You're allowed to run until a certain thing happens. At this level, if you want to win the game (which is one of the goals of being there) you take every legal advantage given to you. Heck, I'd run until told by the umpires to stop.

A suggestion: If they run, throw them out. That'll stop it.

[KenGibes]

A suggestion: If they run, throw them out. That'll stop it.

I agree with you 100%, Kyle... except that throwing and catching skills aren't developed yet to the point where this can happen. In T-Ball and Pre-Minors the players' ability to run far exceeds their ability to throw accurately or to catch.

If one team employs the "run until the umpire stops you" tactic, there is only one way to counter it... and it's not to try to throw them out. Trying to throw them out will only insure that every runner on base will score.

Instead, when a player fields a batted ball, they're told to make whatever play they can make on any runner WITHOUT THROWING THE BALL. If there are no plays available, run (don't throw) the ball to the pitcher and give it to him in the circle as fast as you can to stop the runners. The game becomes a battle of attrition.

All of these is legal, of course, and if winning the game is the most important thing, then this is the way to do it.

[DerekD]

Our pee wee league has a rule in which the runners are allowed only the next base after a play attempt on them. So if a runner is going to 2nd, kid throws wildly, the kid must stop at 3rd. This rule encourages kids to try to make plays but prevents those "home runs".

I've seen a rule before in kid pitch where the kid at 3rd can't go home on a wild pitch. He must be forced home by a walk or advance because of a hit by a following batter. The problem I've seen with this is that the catchers don't learn to play the position. They'll take their time getting up and going after the ball.

[MSPChris]

Posts like the OP's, and threads like these, drive me nuts.

Ok - so the kids are still learning to catch and throw. Everyone gets that. How long do you think it takes to teach a child to throw a ball correctly? Catching is more difficult than throwing, but still...

TEACH THEM TO THROW, TEACH THEM TO CATCH!

If you're the coach it's your responsibility to teach them to play ball, not be good sports or feel good. If you take your responsibilities seriously, the skills and the sportsmanship follow naturally.

If you act like a baby-sitter, and treat them like little kids that can't do anything for themselves, you get what you deserve.

/soapbox

[KenGibes]

Posts like the OP's, and threads like these, drive me nuts.

Ok - so the kids are still learning to catch and throw. Everyone gets that. How long do you think it takes to teach a child to throw a ball correctly? Catching is more difficult than throwing, but still...

TEACH THEM TO THROW, TEACH THEM TO CATCH!

If you're the coach it's your responsibility to teach them to play ball, not be good sports or feel good. If you take your responsibilities seriously, the skills and the sportsmanship follow naturally.

If you act like a baby-sitter, and treat them like little kids that can't do anything for themselves, you get what you deserve.

/soapbox

{sigh...}

If it was that simple, it wouldn't be a problem.

Seven year olds who have had no previous experience with baseball may be able to learn to throw with semi-proficiency in one season, but most cannot learn to catch that quickly. And throwing out a runner, a play that requires a good throw, a good catch, and a good tag, is a feat that you will see maybe once per game.

They can, however, run proficiently.

What's been described in this thread is a fact. It happens at most, if not all, places where 6-8 year olds play ball.

But thanks for reminding all the coaches out there about their responsibilities... now that they know them, 7 year-olds should start fielding like Ozzie Smith.

[MSPChris]

But thanks for reminding all the coaches out there about their responsibilities... now that they know them, 7 year-olds should start fielding like Ozzie Smith.
Re-read my post, Ken. I never said anything like that.

If coaches spent their time teaching baseball to their charges, our games would go more smoothly, the kids would have *more* fun, and kids would keep playing baseball longer.

[KenGibes]

If you're the coach it's your responsibility to teach them to play ball, not be good sports or feel good.

I was referring to this comment. I probably got a little too sarcastic (which isn't my usual style)..

Anyway, my point was that even the best of coaches can't teach an inexperienced team of 7 year-olds to throw and catch better than the other team can run in one season of T-Ball.

But your solution eventualy does work, because in a season or two the ability to throw and catch surpass the ability to run and the problem goes away.