Fairness

Oh woe is me!

Thankfully, this is the 2nd year my son has been ineligible for all star play because he's below the legal age limit. Before anyone goes crazy, district has approved him playing because there was no team within a reasonable distance for him to play on in his age group. The only concession we had to make was that he is not eligible for any tournament or post season play. Luckily, our district is more interested in seeing kids playing than following the letter of the law to the point of ridiculousness.

Back to, oh owe is me!

I've been privileged to have a son who was always on the all star team even though I was never a coach, never on the board and quite honestly never lobbied for him either. I'm gonna guess that if we took an accurate poll, that would be the case for something better than 50% of players eventually chosen as all stars.

I know that will vary, depending on the league, but one thing never seems to change. Not every parent wants to, or even can coach their own children, and I'm sure that not every "star" is a coach's kid. But, you can be sure that every league wants to go to Williamsport or where ever! Unless they are totally crazy, the good players will be there in the end.

Unfortunately, as has been noted several times, those aren't the players who's parents have the problems. Its always that group of kids who aren't great, but are better than the vast majority. There's usually about 4 in every league, every year that are "on the bubble". The problem comes when there aren't 4 spots on the team that are left and one or more get left out in the cold.

That's when people start noticing how many coach's kids are on the team, especially if a coach's kid is on the bubble! As was also said, judging baseball talent is very subjective, and between the situation and the subjectivity, there is a problem. Although making the league all star team is an honor, it really doesn't do much for the long term careers of youth players. I'm not saying that's true in every instance, but in general, I think it is.

I know its easier said than done, but in the long run, its a lot better for everyone if not so much value was placed on being an all star or so much of a stigma attached to someone who isn't! If it was just the kids who had bragging rights who used them and were affected by them, a week after the games were over, it would be a dead issue.

But, its us adults who have to go around bragging about our kids and taking pictures and forcing them on anyone who will look. Its us who insist on the one-ups-man-ship games for not just a week, but sometimes for years! we're the one's who hold grudges and threaten to punch people in the face. We're the ones who bitch about the umpires and the rules and everything else.

If everyone would just revel a bit more in seeing all of the kids play rather than in just their own, it would be a more pleasant experience for everyone.

Here I am spouting off and I'm probably one of the most vicious of parents when it comes to my kid. But, I honestly do love to watch little ones play ball, and do it whenever I can. Its just too bad I can't have that same feeling when my kid is involved. I wish I did, because maybe then I'd have a better answer. Until then, I'm afraid we'll have to endure this angst every year.