Deception

DD was playing in a tournament this fall. She’s in 8U, so the kids are still learning. She was trying to steal third base, and it was a close play but it looked like she slid under the tag. You could hear the loud call of, “Out!”

Opposing coach yelled to his team to tag DD, the third baseman did, but Blue waved it off and sent DD back to third.

Opposing coach argued, saying that DD stepped off the bag and was fair game, and Blue told him that the only reason that DD stepped off the bag was that opposing coach deceived her into thinking that she was out by drowning out Blue’s actual call (DD was safe). He told him that only the umpires make the calls and warned him not to yell like that again, and the game resumed.

So, was Blue enforcing an actual rule, or was the opposing coach technically okay but just being kind of bush league?

Bush league at 8U no matter the rules are. But ive not seen stealing in 8U either ....

Stealing in 8U? Is this kid pitch?

MNDad said:

Stealing in 8U? Is this kid pitch?

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I'm in Southern California. Kid pitch, stealing 2nd and 3rd is okay but usually a cold home plate.

8U is no stealing where I am too. I don't know if blue was right or being generous but regardless, the coach who did that is a jerk if it was intentional. I know sometimes they just get excited though. And it's like Yeah! She's out! If he was trying to trick an 8 year old, he's just a loser. Reminds me of a certain big name team in AL whose parents like to yell "I've got it!" on pop flies to try to trick the opposing team's fielders. Classy.

Lightning said:

I'm in Southern California. Kid pitch, stealing 2nd and 3rd is okay but usually a cold home plate.

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Yep - typical for So Cal ASA. Teaching them about stealing and sliding at 8U makes for an easier transition to 10U with open stealing, D3K, etc.

As for the original scenario...Total bush league, and downright shameful at 8U. Props to blue for calling him out on his BS.

Stealing 2nd in 8U? have you ever seen a girl thrown out? I coach 8U, and it's a success when my catchers cleanly catch the ball!

MacLobo said:

Stealing 2nd in 8U? have you ever seen a girl thrown out? I coach 8U, and it's a success when my catchers cleanly catch the ball!

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Yes, I've seen 8U catchers throw runners out - at 3B, not so much at 2B. Our 8U all-star catchers did it multiple times. More than anything, it's not about what they can or can't fully-execute at 8U, but about developing skills for the next level. At 10U, runners do get thrown out at 2B. The catchers who have been working on that skill for the previous season or two get stronger and start making those plays.

Good 8U teams are learning sliding, delayed steals, bunting, etc., etc....and the defense against it.

Eric F said:

Not very often, but I've seen it at 3B, not so much at 2B (8U all-stars). More than anything, it's not about what they can or can't fully-execute at 8U, but about developing skills for the next level. At 10U, runners do get thrown out at 2B. The catchers who have been working on that skill for the previous season or two get stronger and start making those plays.

Good 8U teams are learning sliding, delayed steals, bunting, etc., etc....and the defense against it.

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I've only seen a girl thrown out at 2B once (in all-star play). But in DD's rec league we have at least three girls in 8U who have thrown a girl out at 3B. They aren't consistent yet, but those girls will be good when they make it to 10U next year.

Eric's right, it's all about developing their skills. You can really see them getting stronger and getting closer to being able to execute consistently.

In 2 of the tournaments we played in this year for 8U part time travel, stealing was allowed (Chicago area). You could steal one base per pitch, no extra bases on a over throw during a steal attempt. No stealing home. Full kid pitch, 35 foot mound.

We had a girl throw out 4 runners in a tournament trying to steal 3rd base and one girl trying to steal 2nd. Most of the games only went 4 innings due to time limit so our better catcher only caught about 2 innings per game. Our other catcher did not throw anybody out in the tournaments, there was a big difference in the ability of the two catchers. The good catcher is a good athlete, she also plays boys hockey, tough little girls. Doesn't hurt that her father played college baseball.