This isn't T-Ball!

mac- you are right. I hate coaches who do the holier than thou "this is the way we've played. . ." I always wanted to say the way you played doesn't matter if you don't play by the real rules but I bit my tongue. My lease favorite 8U thing was coaches who always asked if their player could still hit even after getting a HBP. Putting the opposing coach on the spot in front of 24 parents isn't cool, especially when they know the 12-14 year-old umpire isn't going to stand up to them and tell them no. Funny thing was the only kids who they seem to ask you to stretch the rules for are the ones who mash coach-pitch. (to clarify, we turned to coach pitch after ball 4 every at-bat).

We don't even have some of the rules you described in tee-ball here. If a girl hits a ball off of a tee to the outfield she can continue running until the ball gets back to the half circle. No limit on bases.

I have seen what you are describing though. We played in an 8U machine pitch league a few years ago and the rules were very vague so the loudest coaches tended to get their way. They would do things like send their SS into left field to get hits and then claim that since an infielder had the ball, no one could advance. I met with the commissioner ASAP and we clarified what the rules meant by "ball controlled in the infield".

MightyMO said:

We don't even have some of the rules you described in tee-ball here. If a girl hits a ball off of a tee to the outfield she can continue running until the ball gets back to the half circle. No limit on bases.

I have seen what you are describing though. We played in an 8U machine pitch league a few years ago and the rules were very vague so the loudest coaches tended to get their way. They would do things like send their SS into left field to get hits and then claim that since an infielder had the ball, no one could advance. I met with the commissioner ASAP and we clarified what the rules meant by "ball controlled in the infield".

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I know what you mean. We also have a rule that we can play 10 fielders at this age. I was playing a team last week that was basically playing 7 infielders. With just 2 girls in the grass at LC and RC. I was thinking to myself "you're gonna get burned coach." It worked to their benefit in the first inning, as my girls were getting warmed up. 2nd time through the lineup, we start pelting them up the middle and get 3-4 triples in a row. Teach your girls to play the correct positions! 1 girl on each side of the machine won't work when you play a team that swings the bat with purpose.

Move up to 10U TB next season, that is when the fun really begins. It will be like drinkinking from a fire hose, but will be some of your fondest memories when you look back.

JAD said:

Move up to 10U TB next season, that is when the fun really begins. It will be like drinkinking from a fire hose, but will be some of your fondest memories when you look back.

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Definitely moving up next year, and definitley have plans to go the club route. I've been going back and forth between playing 1 year of 10U rec before going club, based solely on the fact that our 8U here is machine pitch, and they haven't pitched and/or hit off live pitching yet. Maybe it's best to just throw them in the deep-end, though and see if they can swim?

MacLobo said:

I know what you mean. We also have a rule that we can play 10 fielders at this age. I was playing a team last week that was basically playing 7 infielders. With just 2 girls in the grass at LC and RC. I was thinking to myself "you're gonna get burned coach." It worked to their benefit in the first inning, as my girls were getting warmed up. 2nd time through the lineup, we start pelting them up the middle and get 3-4 triples in a row. Teach your girls to play the correct positions! 1 girl on each side of the machine won't work when you play a team that swings the bat with purpose.

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There's a coach in DD's league that uses this configuration, though we have kid pitching. LF and RF start on the grass (league rules) but run in as soon as the pitch is released. 1B and 3B are about even with P. If the ball's put in play in the infield, it's hard to get on base. But the girls at 1B and 3B aren't usually the best fielders, and I nearly saw one get her head taken off by a throw from catcher trying to get the runner stealing third. I really worry whenever I see a line drive hitter up - those kids are in harm's way.

MacLobo said:

Definitely moving up next year, and definitley have plans to go the club route. I've been going back and forth between playing 1 year of 10U rec before going club, based solely on the fact that our 8U here is machine pitch, and they haven't pitched and/or hit off live pitching yet. Maybe it's best to just throw them in the deep-end, though and see if they can swim?

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In our area there are some sanctions that specialize in C-level TB that caters to teams transitioning from REC to TB. Seek those out and never look back.

Lightning said:

There's a coach in DD's league that uses this configuration, though we have kid pitching. LF and RF start on the grass (league rules) but run in as soon as the pitch is released. 1B and 3B are about even with P. If the ball's put in play in the infield, it's hard to get on base. But the girls at 1B and 3B aren't usually the best fielders, and I nearly saw one get her head taken off by a throw from catcher trying to get the runner stealing third. I really worry whenever I see a line drive hitter up - those kids are in harm's way.

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We had 10 fielders through 10U. Some coaches had the "extra" fielder run straight to 2nd base on the pitch, needed to start in grass. Always annoyed me and I refused to do it. With that said besides annoying me the players seemed to adjust just fine to the 9 fielder game.

had a relevant situation last night, DDs team, 10u rec, I am an AC, was handling 1B coaching, in front of opposition dugout. one of our girls who also plays TB comes up, hits a floater behind SS in the grass. she is nearing second as the OF picks it up, and throws to an infield, not certain which one. I scream (not angrily, just to be heard) "DO not stop" "keep going", player listens and rounds 2nd to go to 3B as an infielder is catching ball. defense pretty aware of this (for this level) throws to 3B, caught cleanly and probably in time, baserunner slides, F5 does not reach to apply tag, is standing on base. runner safe.

HC for the other team looks my way and says "so that's the way we are playing, OK". should we have held her at second (was leadoff hitter, and we have steal limits, so I wanted her on 3rd without consuming a steal)?

Our HC and I are in agreement, at this level, have them run bases extremely aggressively, so much for the defense to get absolutely correct to make that type of play (good throw to right base, good catch, apply tag). Game was close (actually think they were up at this point, final score was 1 run game, biggest lead of game was 3 runs. Also, would rather have them over aggressive if anything, as so many automatically want to stop as soon as they reach the next base (I am thinking of suggesting absent instruction from the base coaches, they are always to round and try for next base, try to make that default).

(opposing HC was a jackass in other ways too, we do coach pitch with bases loaded 4 ball counts, I generally do the pitching, and he gave a very sarcastic "really" when I told his pitcher to put one foot in the circle. coach pitching does not mean free roving fielder, they can choose either side of the coach, but they must be behind the rubber, and one foot in the circle).

at lower ages some rule mods are needed to keep games moving and bearable (run limits, steal limits, coach pitching on some 4 ball counts, etc.), but you have to teach the game, and defensive awareness (they scored on on us, hit to RF, Rf throws to one (runner already headed to 2nd), F3 throws to second, missed, runner advances to 3rd, base coach sends her before we can get ball in circle).

Had a game tonight. We were up 5-1 at this point, and up to bat. Had runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.
Batter hits a legit shot just right of center. CF has to run it down, and throws it in to second, but the batter is already in with a stand-up double. Of course, both runners scored.
Coach addresses his fielder and says loud enough for me to hear, "don't worry about that Susie, this team only cares about winning. That's not how WE play!"

Seriously, coach? No idea how he wants me to play that, except making an effort to keep my girls from scoring on his girls so that their feelings don't get hurt!