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Post by crash23 on May 12, 2006 12:54:38 GMT -8
Little League came down with a new ruling this year that all star teams could only have two coaches if they carried 12 or fewer players. If you carry 13 then three coaches are allowed. Just wondering what the general opinion is of carrying 13 players on the all star team instead of 12.
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Post by Chris on May 12, 2006 13:18:47 GMT -8
The rule actually states 13 players present. So if you have a no show you're still only allowed 2 coaches.
I think 13 is too many.
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Post by crash23 on May 12, 2006 14:07:48 GMT -8
I think it will lead to the all star coach getting questioned (even more) about why players are not getting more playing time. Let's face it, the top 4 or 5 players will rarely (ever?) come out of the line-up so the playing time will be shared (even more) among the rest of the players. I wish Little League would have mandated that all teams consist of 13, that way the playing field would be level.
What's really silly is the "13 players present" rule. Now if a league does decide to go with 13 and a player is missing for some reason, one of the coaches will have to step aside. Sometimes the logic behind Little League's rules bewilder me (a coach can't warm-up a pitcher???).
I can't speak for other leagues, but I don't believe we even have 13 ten year olds in the AE majors. So we'll end up with players that weren't quite ready for majors forced into facing all star competition.
I agree with you Chris, 13 is too many at any level. We have 60 players in our league and 39 of them will be on all star teams. I think the decision as to how many players are on the team should be based on merit and decided by the coaches the night of the all star meeting. It should be a team by team decision. If 13 can contribute and not dilute the talent, great. But if a player struggled during the regular season what will happen when he faces all stars?
It would be interesting to find out what other leagues (Riverpark, et al) are doing before we make decisions locally. I think we owe it to our players to give them every opportunity to win.
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Post by Rodney L. Voumard on May 12, 2006 16:30:46 GMT -8
We over in NAT/SOUTH have a REAL CHALLENGE with only 3 major teams. Craig has a very valid point, "decision as to how many players are on the team should be based on merit" It seam sometimes we are just filling the roster with player not ALL STARS.
It would be wise to find out what other leagues have in mind, before proceeding.
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Post by Mark on May 12, 2006 23:05:31 GMT -8
........Nevermind.
dont you all just love travel ball.
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Post by Chris on May 13, 2006 7:48:28 GMT -8
LOL Mark - Yeah things are a lot simpler in travel ball.
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Post by Mark on May 13, 2006 13:08:58 GMT -8
exactly.
you dont have to worry about the BS, Politics, rules galore, regulations, restrictions.
all you have to do is tell the parents what to expect in playing tiem, what you expect from them and most importantly play ball
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Post by Craig Cumberland on May 14, 2006 11:01:16 GMT -8
Was a time I thought there'd be more headaches in travel ball... but that's when my boys first started playing it. Boy was I wrong. For years I'd heard people say they were glad there kids were done with Little League and when I asked why they said they were tired of the BS and politics. I thought it surely couldn't be that bad. Wrong again. Travel ball is a breath of fresh air. I'm still a supporter of Little League, especially in Turlock b/c it creates friendships and memories these kids will carry into adulthood. The baseball is still pure - the other stuff that goes on is pathetic. The rude, inappropriate and unsportsmanlike conduct and behavior of some parents and coaches amaze me. Fans have treated these kids as if they were paid professionals, yelling things like "sit down" or "see ya" after a kid is thrown out on the bases, "he's a looker" or "he can't hit" is often heard too. A "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Birthday" after a kid makes a play is not uncommon either. Wouldn't a "nice play" be more appropriate??? But putdowns are heard time and time again, year after year. Coaches should let their parents know it won't be tolerated - and speak up if it does occur. But I believe fans only emulate the behavior of their coach. I do have to say the vast majority of coaches are handling themselves with class. And the way some players act and the things they say to other players, while they are on the field or watching a game at Julien, is totally inappropriate and not the kind of thing that should be condoned by Little League, its coaches or parents. Taunting should never occur on a Little League diamond. I often hear about rude comments that some players make to opponents at school. Again, totally iinappropriate. I guess it comes down to whether you want to raise a Romanowski or a Ripken. When the negative stuff happens it just gives a coach the opportunity to teach their players (and fans) to rise above it. I guess the way you handle it all depends on what kind of teacher you are... ultimately that's what a coach really is.
I'm not saying these things don't happen in travel ball. They do, but believe it or not on a much smaller scale. And when they do it doesn't bother me as much becasue it's not coming from neighbors or fellow community members.
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Post by scrapper on May 15, 2006 13:15:06 GMT -8
I think anytime you get parents and playing time, you get politics and bs. I am new to these forums, but I think the debates are good. I think travel ball is a good things for player that have talent and want to exceed at the next levels (i.e Babe Ruth, High School Ball, College, etc.) It gives player more chances of playing. What is All-Stars, it is about the best players from one league travelling (key word) to another league in tournament play to see who is the best. The original travel ball.
But, I think that you are right when you say there is less politics and bs in travel and that is because there are not as many teams and the kids you do get are the chosen few. However it is interesting that at first you have one travel team, then another and another. Lets face it, the first team starts out and then finds other players they want to play, then the player that get replaced start the next team and so on and so on and then the player stealing starts happenning or you have the same kid playing on 4 travel teams under different age groups, because he has serious game.
Travel Ball allows that flexibility. I just think LL and Travel are two different animals and to compare them doesn't do it justices. Travel Ball is a year round all-stars and LL is place where the recruitment starts. It is and always will be about the WIN and how do I get it, Because nobody wants to go 0-fer. I think trash talk is trash talk whether it is from your neighbor or from whacked out parent from travel ball, it should not be tolerated. However, we all get up in the moment, but it is what kills youth sports.
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Post by crash23 on May 15, 2006 20:52:28 GMT -8
All great points and I agree. I do resent trash talk from neighbors and folks from my own town a bit more though. But you're right, trash is trash no matter what!
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