We need more of this.......

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May 16, 2016
1,024
113
Illinois
Good to see. Don't see that very often, the only time I do see it is at the local rec league softball facilities. The girls will be playing a organized game of softball and the boys will be playing a baseball game somewhere out in the grass. They make there own bases out of pop cans, water bottles, or other garbage laying around, and they play with a wiffle ball and bat usually.

I remember when i was a child there was a group of us kids that always played unorganized baseball. We usually only had 6 players, so we played 3 on 3. 1 pitcher and 2 outfielders, pitchers hand out and if you did not hit the ball on a fly past the base lines it was an automatic out, opposite field hits were also an automatic out. We just played lob pitch. We would put home plate out in the outfield and using the dugout and back stop as the homerun fence, and then set up our bicycles so if you hit the ball over the bikes it was also a homerun.
 
Jun 5, 2012
38
8
Ontario, Canada
We started doing this in our small town association last August after the competitive season ended. We have two diamonds so U10 and U12 play on one and older kids on another. We provide equipment for those that need it and the kids run the show. It helps put the game in perspective for the adults when they see how well the kids can manage fair play and sportsmanship on their own while having a great time. As a bonus, we've added several new players who were first introduced to the game on these "sandlot" nights and we've seen an increase in kids just playing ball in the parks throughout the summer.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
We started doing this in our small town association last August after the competitive season ended. We have two diamonds so U10 and U12 play on one and older kids on another. We provide equipment for those that need it and the kids run the show. It helps put the game in perspective for the adults when they see how well the kids can manage fair play and sportsmanship on their own while having a great time. As a bonus, we've added several new players who were first introduced to the game on these "sandlot" nights and we've seen an increase in kids just playing ball in the parks throughout the summer.

That is good since what was described in the video, and by you, actually still kind of is orgainzed :p
 
Oct 2, 2015
615
18
I grew up in a town of 208 people. We always had enough kids for a game of football or fast pitch or basketball....whether the kids were 12 to 18 years old.

Now we live out in the country about 5 miles from a town of 8000...the only people at the ball parks whenever my DDs and are are practicing is us...sad.

Nowadays, everything seems like it has to be sanctioned or a semi-organized rec ball of sorts, to get kids to come out and play.

Thanks for posting the video.
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
Looked pretty organized to me. At no time did the runner on third have to go back to the plate because it was his at bat again. No announcement of an invisible runner on third. No right field is automatic out, no batting team has to supply the catcher... Not to mention no balls covered in black electrical tape.
 
Jun 5, 2012
38
8
Ontario, Canada
My experience has been that in most places the kids simply have no concept that they can play this or other sports without "organization" and adult prescribed rules. On the first night of our pickup games the kids grabbed some balls and proceeded to play catch and warm up...for half an hour! I finally went over and asked if they might enjoy playing a game. Within a few minutes they had picked teams and started to play, adding "rules" whenever they thought one was needed.
It's a process of re-introducing their freedom. Step 1: show them they can do it themselves, Step 2: get the heck out of their way and let them do it. The biggest challenge is keeping the adults otherwise occupied.
 
Jun 11, 2013
2,619
113
I remember years ago when DD was 10 and they had pictures for all the 10U teams. They got 12 girls and started their own game. A couple of moms stayed for rides home, but they played for a few hours. I really wish they could do more of it.

One thing a coach used to do is divide his player in half and scrimmage. While it was organized, the kids had to figure out how to cover the field. You could pick out
the kids who "got" the game pretty quickly. They weren't always the best, but you saw them running to cover empty bases.
 

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