Little League

By Bob Decker

It’s that time of the year again – stuck in that hard place between winter and Little League Baseball.

What better time than to address the many responsibilities of being a youth league baseball parent. For those parents new to the Little League scene, please accept the words that follow as sincere “welcome aboard.”

For you Little League managers or coaches, feel free to reproduce this in any form you wish and distribute it to your team’s parents. Just make sure you let me know how you make out.

The rest of this essay consists of observations from an ex-Little League player, manager, coach, scorekeeper, umpire, parent-in-the-stands, grandparent-in-the-stands, and observer for more years than I care to admit.

First off – and this will merely certify what you new parents have been thinking ever since you dropped off Johnny or Janie for his or her first Little League practice – you know more baseball than your son’s or daughter’s coach.

You are a better strategist, lineup maker, game coach, practice coach, signal giver, base coach … the whole nine yards.

You’re probably smarter, too. After all, this guy who is coaching your son or daughter will probably spend most of this summer cutting out of work early, giving up his evenings, dinners with his family, weekends and some vacation time to be with your kids.

But, hey … you’d be out there, too, if you had the time, right? But you work in the city … and there’s tennis on Tuesdays and golf on Thursdays … or maybe you fish, or garden, or whatever.

Good thing these Little League coaches aren’t interested in any of this stuff, right?

When you go to the games, don’t be afraid to tell the coach what you think he is doing wrong. Especially when it comes to your kid because, goodness knows, you know more about your kid’s playing ability than he does.

Explain to the coach that your kid should be at short instead of right field … or batting leadoff or cleanup instead of ninth … and tell him he’d be a better player if he was in the starting lineup.

Share these thoughts with the coach. He will welcome them.

The coach could probably use your help with game strategy, too. Like, why didn’t the batter in front of your kid bunt to move the runner into scoring position so your kid could get a shot at an RBI?

Or maybe he took your budding Roger Clemens out of the game too soon the other night … just when his control was coming around because he actually got a strike on that last batter he walked after walking the bases loaded on 12 pitches.

Talk to the coach about this. He is more than interested in your take on things.

Usually the best time for these meaningful conversations is right after practice. Give him a chance to get home and then call him. He’d love to talk baseball with you instead of sitting down to another late dinner. Call him.

And when you take your kid to practices or games? Just drop him off and split … don’t bother asking the coach if he needs any help with carting the equipment, or fixing the field, or maybe even working with the kids.

And after practice? No need to be on time to pick up your kid because practices usually run late. Besides, the coach won’t mind hanging out with your kid until you show up.

Better yet, maybe the coach can drop off your kid on his way home? Save you a trip, right?

Actually, practices aren’t all that important. Besides, the coach wouldn’t give more playing time to the kids who showed up for practices all the time, would he? The games are the thing.

And while you’re at the game, save your cheers for your kid. Let the other parents take care of their own. No sense applauding a nice play by the opposition, either. Gotta let junior know you’re behind his team.

Another good question for the coach is why he always keeps checking his scorebook instead of keeping his eyes on the game. After all, how hard can it be to make sure each kid on the roster – including the two who came after he got his batting order set for the game – gets his required at-bats and innings in the field.

And how long did it take you to notice that the manager and coaches’ kids are always in the starting lineup, huh? Of course, your kid is better.

While you’re at the game, it’s always good to let the umps know when they are wrong. After all, you know the rules better than they do. You know the strike zone better, too, especially since you have a better vantage point from your seat on top of the bleachers than they do out on the field.

Now that we’ve had our fun, let’s take the tongue out of the cheek for a moment to mention something that is true. Trust me on this – it’s true.

You know the draft that most towns run at the beginning of the season to select players for the teams? Well, most of the hashing over these picks is done at the kitchen table over coffee at the home of the manager or one of the coaches.

And it’s not only talent that comes into play when filling out a roster. Believe me, the parents are well-scouted, too. After the blue-chip players are selected, there have been times when kids with lesser talents have been picked ahead of kids who have more ability.

Why? Parents.

Johnny may run faster and hit better than Joey, but the coaches might not want to have to deal with Johnny’s old man … or his mom.

As I said earlier … been there.

So, armed with all this knowledge, the wish for all you new Little League parents is that you will enjoy your son’s or daughter’s involvement in the game of baseball … a wonderful game at any level.

Please take advantage of the experience to create friendships and lock in those memories because they are fun to share 5, 10, 15 and even 25 years later with your son or daughter.

Above all, help your child learn and love the game. And play catch with your kid – often.

One more thing … make sure the “Little” in Little League always refers to the players.

(Bob Decker can be reached at deckbob145@optimum.net)