Post by mflema on Jul 29, 2007 3:58:42 GMT -8
Mark, I was referring the the fact, that for many years, before you were involved in the LL program, HS coaches allowed the fallacy that Legion ball had the same rules as Spring HS ball and if you played Legion Ball you could not play Junior or Senior ball at the same time. As you know, currently, Spring HS players are not allowed to play or practice with their Junior or Senior LL Team until their HS team has finished their season. This is in agreement with CIF and Little League rules. I don't have either my LL rule book or my CIF book handy right now to quote verse, but I can get it if someone wants.
For many years, and I am not saying it was Rob or who, but for many years, the HS coaches would allow both the players and parents to believe that the rules were the same for Legion ball as it was for regular HS Spring Ball. This was true when my sons played baseball in HS. It was only when I finally called the CIF governing board at the request of a parent, to find our for them that I found out differently. I did not know. Even to this day, I will still get questions during the seasons as to if players can play both, " since Legion is HS, and players can not play both". I then have to explain to the player and parent that they are different. I will not say that the HS coach has told them this, but is may be a simple assumption on the part of the parent, but I can say it was not the assumption prior but was a widely held belief, and not one that was easy to change. Not even with the administration of Turlock High School and Turlock Recreation Department when it came time to share the fields.
So again, when I say that Travel ball and Legion ball is on the same level I mean as in the fact that the players can play both of them at the same time, and that the players are not prevented from playing Junior or Senior League while playing Legion. Even though most Legion ball is coached by a HS coach or HS coaching staff, it is not the same as the regular season HS program that that has the rules where a player can not play both in a LL program and a HS program at the same time. THAT IS WHAT I MEANT.
As for all the other stuff you are discussing I am sure you are correct, except in your assumption that I don't attend any other games but Little League. Perhaps due to your obvious dislike of me, I try to stay away from you so that I do not have to deal with any type of rudeness. Perhaps that is why you haven't seen me or my husband. Oh, Yeah, the Senior coach I was referring to was to my son Tony and not my husband Tony. And as to being dedicated to LL, why not? There is something wrong with this? It does take up a lot of time, effort and energy to do it right. Tony Sr. and I have just completed our 28th season. I am glad that those other guys can go out and see those other games, but just because you haven't seen us, doesn't mean we weren't there. It just means we avoided you.
I know the level of Legion ball around here, and I know that the level is fantastic. I also know that to speak in absolutes is never a good thing. Like everything in life, nothing is absolute. I have spoken to parents who have players who play in HS in other towns who had nothing good to say about their Legion team. Again, maybe the coach wasn't playing their kid where they wanted him to, or something. But, I am not naive enough to believe that every program everywhere is perfect. If they were, there would not be the need for all the other programs. I know that we have a good Legion program here, and I have heard that we have some really good travel ball programs. I happen to think that the more programs that we have that can fit the needs of all the kids the better. The more kids playing the better. That is what really counts and that is what takes me back to the original reason for the post.
If all of the different programs would work together, especially now that the Junior and Seniors players can play on Travel, (Legion) teams, the perhaps we can meet the needs of more players as long as the adults involved can work together to make sure that the players are kept safe and the players being played correctly. (Not over pitched, etc.). I think that Little League is attempting to realize that it isn't the only game in town, and this is a correct step towards that, and I think if the adults can act like the kids for awhile and get along the players are the ones who are going to benefit the most. This was the message of the first, second and now this last post. I am done with this little pissing contest because I will no longer discuss this with you. If you do not understand this from this post, I will only discuss this with you off post. I no longer wish to take up others time.
MEL
For many years, and I am not saying it was Rob or who, but for many years, the HS coaches would allow both the players and parents to believe that the rules were the same for Legion ball as it was for regular HS Spring Ball. This was true when my sons played baseball in HS. It was only when I finally called the CIF governing board at the request of a parent, to find our for them that I found out differently. I did not know. Even to this day, I will still get questions during the seasons as to if players can play both, " since Legion is HS, and players can not play both". I then have to explain to the player and parent that they are different. I will not say that the HS coach has told them this, but is may be a simple assumption on the part of the parent, but I can say it was not the assumption prior but was a widely held belief, and not one that was easy to change. Not even with the administration of Turlock High School and Turlock Recreation Department when it came time to share the fields.
So again, when I say that Travel ball and Legion ball is on the same level I mean as in the fact that the players can play both of them at the same time, and that the players are not prevented from playing Junior or Senior League while playing Legion. Even though most Legion ball is coached by a HS coach or HS coaching staff, it is not the same as the regular season HS program that that has the rules where a player can not play both in a LL program and a HS program at the same time. THAT IS WHAT I MEANT.
As for all the other stuff you are discussing I am sure you are correct, except in your assumption that I don't attend any other games but Little League. Perhaps due to your obvious dislike of me, I try to stay away from you so that I do not have to deal with any type of rudeness. Perhaps that is why you haven't seen me or my husband. Oh, Yeah, the Senior coach I was referring to was to my son Tony and not my husband Tony. And as to being dedicated to LL, why not? There is something wrong with this? It does take up a lot of time, effort and energy to do it right. Tony Sr. and I have just completed our 28th season. I am glad that those other guys can go out and see those other games, but just because you haven't seen us, doesn't mean we weren't there. It just means we avoided you.
I know the level of Legion ball around here, and I know that the level is fantastic. I also know that to speak in absolutes is never a good thing. Like everything in life, nothing is absolute. I have spoken to parents who have players who play in HS in other towns who had nothing good to say about their Legion team. Again, maybe the coach wasn't playing their kid where they wanted him to, or something. But, I am not naive enough to believe that every program everywhere is perfect. If they were, there would not be the need for all the other programs. I know that we have a good Legion program here, and I have heard that we have some really good travel ball programs. I happen to think that the more programs that we have that can fit the needs of all the kids the better. The more kids playing the better. That is what really counts and that is what takes me back to the original reason for the post.
If all of the different programs would work together, especially now that the Junior and Seniors players can play on Travel, (Legion) teams, the perhaps we can meet the needs of more players as long as the adults involved can work together to make sure that the players are kept safe and the players being played correctly. (Not over pitched, etc.). I think that Little League is attempting to realize that it isn't the only game in town, and this is a correct step towards that, and I think if the adults can act like the kids for awhile and get along the players are the ones who are going to benefit the most. This was the message of the first, second and now this last post. I am done with this little pissing contest because I will no longer discuss this with you. If you do not understand this from this post, I will only discuss this with you off post. I no longer wish to take up others time.
MEL