So, I'm getting kind of frustrated with some of my fellow coaches in my district. Maybe I'm off-base, which is why I'm posting here to get your opinion.
Every game, head coaches meet to go over the "Ground Rules" so to say...This is 8U, so we always discuss things like "1 base on an over-throw to 1st" and "hold the runners once the ball is controlled in the infield" etc. Never had a single issue with it last year.
We're 5 games in so far this year, and in 3 or 4 of them the opposing coaches usually start by saying, "the way we've been playing is 1 base on a hit in the infield, and 2 on a hit to the outfield".
When I tell them how I'd prefer to play, I get some serious push-back.
This drives me crazy, as it's not teaching the girls the correct way to play, and teaches them laziness.
Last night, the opposing coach even said to me "so you're just going to let them run wild?" I reply with, "No. if there's an over throw, we'll advance one base. If we hit it to the outfiled, as soon as one of your infielders has the ball, we hold all runners." To which I get "do whatever you want, coach, I've already heard that's how you operate." So, to keep the peace, I say "no, no, no, we'll play by your rules, it's not a problem. i'll hold my girls at 2nd." So, I stand in the 3b coaching box, as my hitter is standing on 2nd base, and their right-fielder is walking to pick up the ball. All I can think is..."this is what you're teaching them, coach."
Am I the one that's being an a$$ on this? If my right fielder is walking to the ball, I want the other runner scoring to teach them that they have to hustle. Maybe I've got it wrong, but this isn't 5 year-olds playing tee-ball. These are athletic girls that want to learn the game!
Also, to be clear, I don't run up the score either. If we're up a large amount, I do hold my runners and basically go station to station. However, it's never really crazy as we have 5 run limit per inning, and 10 run mercy after 4.
What do you guys/gals think?
Every game, head coaches meet to go over the "Ground Rules" so to say...This is 8U, so we always discuss things like "1 base on an over-throw to 1st" and "hold the runners once the ball is controlled in the infield" etc. Never had a single issue with it last year.
We're 5 games in so far this year, and in 3 or 4 of them the opposing coaches usually start by saying, "the way we've been playing is 1 base on a hit in the infield, and 2 on a hit to the outfield".
When I tell them how I'd prefer to play, I get some serious push-back.
This drives me crazy, as it's not teaching the girls the correct way to play, and teaches them laziness.
Last night, the opposing coach even said to me "so you're just going to let them run wild?" I reply with, "No. if there's an over throw, we'll advance one base. If we hit it to the outfiled, as soon as one of your infielders has the ball, we hold all runners." To which I get "do whatever you want, coach, I've already heard that's how you operate." So, to keep the peace, I say "no, no, no, we'll play by your rules, it's not a problem. i'll hold my girls at 2nd." So, I stand in the 3b coaching box, as my hitter is standing on 2nd base, and their right-fielder is walking to pick up the ball. All I can think is..."this is what you're teaching them, coach."
Am I the one that's being an a$$ on this? If my right fielder is walking to the ball, I want the other runner scoring to teach them that they have to hustle. Maybe I've got it wrong, but this isn't 5 year-olds playing tee-ball. These are athletic girls that want to learn the game!
Also, to be clear, I don't run up the score either. If we're up a large amount, I do hold my runners and basically go station to station. However, it's never really crazy as we have 5 run limit per inning, and 10 run mercy after 4.
What do you guys/gals think?