r/LittleLeague

My son is 10 and there are only 4 teams in our league. We’ve had about 7 games now and they’ve lost by 10 at least 5 of them. I don’t have hope that they will win 1 game this season. I just feel like it’s not good for their confidence
:( For all the kids on the team.

Also it’s so hard watching each game as a parent. Of course I’m always positive, cheering them on. And they’ve gotten better at cheering each other on, focusing on the little wins (when someone gets on base even for a walk) so that is a plus.

I don’t think I can do anything about this as it’s been like this for years. But it’s so painfully obvious they didn’t put ANY travel players on our team and stacked at least 2 of the teams.

Not sure exactly what I want from posting this but just maybe to say it seems so unfair and daddyball ish. The president of our league seems like a good guy, but just makes me wonder how they are picking teams. Some of the coaches I’ve dealt with are super competitive to the point where you can’t tell they DGAF about the kids having fun.

That said, I think my kid is having fun. Not going to lie saying that it doesn’t hurt when they lose every single game by a landslide, but what can I do.

Here’s the situation:

Majors Boys division

Our by laws state the top 9 players with the most votes get a guaranteed spot on the team, the remaining 3 players are then chosen by the coach and only from the list of nominated players. Now, I’ve always had issues with this format because IMO there is a highly likely chance that too many kids will end up tied with votes, which is what happened to us this year. We had 4 teams in our division, so 3 kids were unanimously voted in with 4 votes each, but then we had 7 kids each with 3 votes. So, the board is trying to force it upon me that I must take all 10 kids on the team, leaving me with only 2 spots left to choose. The problem is our by laws don’t say what to do in the even of a tie. I am asking them to allow me to decide which one out of the 7 won’t make the team.

Personally I would change the rule to only allow the kids who have unanimous decision a guaranteed spot on the team, and then allow the coach to fill the rest of team by picking from the list if nominated players. The whole point of AS is to build the best possible team to go far in the tourney.

What really bothers me about all this is that I’ve been coaching my oldest son for 7 years, and our last 4 season including this one, we have finished 1st in our division and I’ve had the pleasure of coaching all stars 4 years in a row. So I’ve been watching this group of boys play baseball a long time, I know who is capable of what, and I’ve shown that I have the ability to pick the right kids to form a winning team, so I feel insulted kinda that the board is not considering all this when making this decision.

Right now I’ve spoken with the VP and had a great conversation about all this and he is 100% on my side and trying to convince the rest of the board.

What do you guys think of all this?

My son is 11 and in the majors. It’s his second year of little league. Last year his team was pretty good, but this year they get blown out nearly every game. But that’s a topic for a different post.

Last week his team was losing 13 - 1 in the bottom of the 5th inning. The other team was at bat with two outs and a runner on first. On a wild pitch, the runner on first stole second, which my son’s coach didn’t like and he exchanged words with the other team’s first base coach.

On the very next pitch, the batter hit a blooper down the third base line. Our catcher made an effort to catch it, but he wasn’t able to get to it in time and it bounced/rolled foul. But the umpire said the ball hit the catcher’s foot in fair territory and so he called it a fair ball. The catcher was trying to tell him that he never touched the ball (I was sitting too far away and didn’t get a good look so I have no idea), but the umpire wouldn’t listen. That’s when my son’s coach lost his mind. He started yelling at the umpire, the umpire yelled back, which lasted about 30 seconds before the umpire without warning walked off the field, got into his car and drove away.

He was the only umpire so parents, coaches and players all stood there not knowing what to do. Some suggested having a parent or coach umpire the end of the game, until finally our coach loudly told the kids “Ok boys line up, the umpire quit so the game’s over.” The other team’s first base coach didn’t like this and suddenly they were yelling at each other now. There was a lot of “get out of my face, bro” and “don’t touch me, dude” and I really thought a fight was going to break out.

Finally peace was restored, the boys lined up and shook hands and the game was officially over. But man what a dumb way for a game to end.

I am wondering about whether this is common practice in your district:
one of the coaches in our district also makes his living running a business (sole proprietorship type) where he charges families for participation in a ball team that he coaches, and he also runs (for profit) summer camps.

I think it’s inappropriate that at Little League events like Jamboree he has set up a tent and he has been actively hawking his business to cash strapped Little League families. The implications to the kids on his League team whose parents may not also be able to afford his extra coaching don’t need explanation here.

More troubling, he is also soliciting unpaid ‘volunteer' high school coaches online for use in his business, promising them that they can earn ‘volunteer hours’ for college applications.

So, not only is he trying to siphon off the young volunteer Little League umpires, who could instead earn their volunteer hours with Little League, but (per Google search), for-profit businesses cannot legally use unpaid volunteer labor for commercial activities, so I don’t think this is even legal.
Have you seen this kind of thing in your district?
How has your board dealt with it?

11 year old Son just got diagnosed with acute little league shoulder. Doctor said no pitching for 2 months. He has been taking pitching lessons for about 8 months once a week, and has only pitched 3 innings for about 45 total pitches this spring prior to this diagnosis. Typically plays 2B or 3B, and only played local rec league this spring, no travel ball. I don’t feel like this is an overuse injury, so is it just coincidence this happened? Any tips for working through this and rehab after being cleared from doctor?

Just stop.

Please.

Some of y'all can singlehandedly turn games into a clown show with your "Where was that, one?" antics after every pitch that didn't go your way and even worse, you can make highly qualified umpires not want to return to your leagues.

This was my fifth year splitting my time between a couple pretty high level Little Leagues (one has a solid chance at making a run at the LLWS if things go their way) and seventh overall as an umpire.

It was also my first year doing high school varsity baseball.

I originally got into umpiring as a way to help out and didn't really have my sights set on moving up but heading into this year, I decided it was time for a fresh challenge.

I went through all the classroom and field training and scored a 90% on the 100 question certification exam that was a collection of brain busting scenarios that most umpires will never see in their lives. All that was on-top of off-season Little League training organized by the district, attending a couple umpire camps for fun, and helping teach a class for new umpires that was my entry point into becoming an umpire.

Heading into my first varsity game, I felt like I was willingly stepping into a meat grinder.

Little did I know it's actually pretty awesome because coaches treat you with respect and trust your judgement and qualifications to be there.

In 25 varsity games, I had coaches ask for time to question my calls exactly twice and both times they respected my decision with no further argument. There was one instance when my partner and I had to get together to discuss a call and when we reversed it, the coach who came up on the short end got on his 1B about pulling his foot off the bag, instead of trying to blame us.

Then the only time I ever had a coach yell at me was after a batter's interference call to end the first inning.

To his team and everyone in the stands, it looked like he was tearing me a new one but what he was actually saying was "That was a great call you made. I saw the interference all the way down at third and I was really hoping you wouldn't call it but you were right on top of that. We're going to have a good game today. Thank you for being out here."

That was a stark contrast to the one time I called batter's interference in a LL game this season. Despite it being a text book example, getting that team's manager to accept the call was harder than getting a cat to take a pill.

And this leads to the point I want to make.

Yesterday I was behind the plate for three out of four games on my slate.

For the fourth game, I moved out to the bases and got to work with one of my favorite umpires for the first time this year. He's semi-retired and does LL games for fun and starts taking games around league playoff time so he can warm up for All-Stars. He also umpires varsity baseball in a neighboring county and on top of that, he spent 20 years working D1 college baseball in a Power 4 conference.

Needless to say, the dude is qualified and I love working with him because I always learn something new.

So for this game in question, it was two Majors teams with seven players each along with a call up from the Minors due to a weekend school event for many kids on the team. Before the game, the managers agreed to loan each other an outfielder so they could play nine on nine and assumed we were in for a friendly lark, especially with the regular season standings pretty much set in stone

My partner behind the plate got to the second inning before a manager (his first year in Majors) who has ridden me like a rented mule over the most inane things started chirping.

"Hey, Blue. This isn't MLB. These are kids. Expand the zone."

Just the week prior, I had to issue a warning to him when he was furious that I rang up his player batting 12th on a center cut curve ball that dropped in squarely at the letters, so it was a surprise that he suddenly wanted a bigger strike zone.

Mostly though, over the course of the season, I flat out ignored whatever he had to say from his bucket in the dugout. There were many moments where I genuinely tried to help educate him about a rule (or at least steer him in the right direction) but every game I had with him was like Groundhog Day.

For a minute out there on the field, I began to wonder if this guy was actually playing a character of a coach and this was all part of his schtick. Maybe I'd been reading him wrong all season because why would anyone have the audacity to yell at such a respected umpire like my partner?

And then he continued in the next inning.

And the ones after that.

By this point my partner started having some fun with him and would loudly announce why each pitch was a ball or strike.

This continued until the game ended with that coach's team winning 9-3 in a contest that was never close.

As we walked off the field, my partner chuckled at me and said, "It's good to see things are still the same. I'll see you at the All-Star meeting."

For as long as I've been at that league, he's always had the plate for the league championship Majors game but all it took was one new coach to make him tap out and find something better to do on Saturday afternoons.

I wanted to put an update out to my question yesterday. This is my kids 2nd season and the year before sign ups didn't end until early March. This year they ended and had the assessments before valentines day. So they said they placed him in minors A because to play in majors you have to have attended the assessments to be drafted. That didn't sit well with me. What happens if a kid is sick and misses? I really appreciate they did us a favor to get him in, but I was already a bit mad he didn't play in majors the year before when he was 11. My question now is it normal to do a draft for majors? My kid is a good ball player, but he's kind of a repetition type player. 10 swings then moving on to the next station doesn't give a coach much of an idea because he'd be just barely warming up. So next year he will be senior league which is 13 to 16. Do the 13 year old players play against 16 year old? We are new to this an still feeling it out, and we are upset to they won't just slap him on a majors team for the last 4 or 5 games of the year so he can get some experience against age appropriate competition

My son is playing rec league kid pitch this year (mostly 8-9 year olds). He’s doing great and genuinely loves baseball, which has made me pay closer attention to how practices are run.

What I keep noticing is a lot of “going through the motions” — fungos, basic relays, — but not teaching of the game.

To me, there’s a big difference between showing kids baseball things and teaching them the game. At this age, shouldn’t the focus be more on fundamentals, mechanics, situational understanding, and helping kids actually play cleaner baseball?

Why not split pitchers up and work on mechanics? Why not spend more time teaching footwork, glove work, positioning, relays, and baseball IQ instead of just hitting fungos for an hour?

And yes — obviously while keeping it fun. Before the “they’re just kids” responses come in, I fully agree baseball should be enjoyable at this age. But fun and instruction shouldn’t be opposites. You can absolutely run a fun, energetic, and informative practice at the same time.

So as youth coaches, are we mainly there to organize practices and games, or are we responsible for truly teaching the game?

Our league has a notorious history of bias in All Star selection especially when they don’t expect the team to be competitive. This season several parents have kept detailed stats based on game changer and the kids we all assume have guaranteed spots are performing very poorly. Over the past 2 seasons things have become so blatant, I fear it will boil over this year if deserving kids are left out. I encouraged my kid to walk away for this last season of 12u and focus on our national travel team but here we are, back in the drama.

Context: Little League Minors (10u), and our Little League is run more like a rec league (mix of talent from "I'm brand new to baseball" to "I'm going to end up on a travel/select team if my parents can afford it"). [EDIT: Please stop harping on this. I'm aware that's how it is supposed to be. I'm also aware not every league runs that way, so that sentence is just there for context] It is also my first year coaching (I was an assistant last year, no other coaching experience)

My team is A LOT of 8 and 9 year olds in their first year of kid pitch, with a couple of "brand new to baseball" kids. Skills taught to this point are.... eh? 😅 so I made a call early in the season that this was going to be development - teach them how to do basic things, teach them some baseball IQ, etc.

I am having a perfect storm of kids who WANT to hit (last year was a ton of walks, this year it's a ton of Ks), and weird strike zone at this legel against teams who don't want to hit (like, it's an inch off the plate, so its a ball. LOTS of walks), and the intersection of knowledge and skill levels being mismatched. I keep telling myself trust the process, but I'm not sure that I do 🤣

In general, they *kind of* take it seriously, but its obvious it's mostly just for fun for most of them.

What's honestly killing me is that in almost every scenario, each player makes the exact right decision. They read a fly ball perfectly, they throw to the right base, the right player goes for a cutoff, etc. And then they flub the easy thing - the ball bounces out of the glove, they sail the throw over someone's head, they miss the grounder, etc.

We're sitting at 1-4 and some of the kids are getting disheartened by constant strikeouts and getting run ruled. Hell, *I* am feeling disheartened by it 😅

Do I just trust the process and believe that with reps, the skills will follow the knowledge? Do I trash the plan, start over, and get hard about executing? Something else?

The rulebook defines the age group(s) eligible for the national tournament. Is there a rule that allows a league to circumvent these defined age groups and prevent younger players from even trying out?

I understand that a league has control over how the players are selected, but are they allowed to prevent entire age groups from even trying out in the first place?

My understanding of the national tournament is that league specific rules are non-existent. It's by the book. Williamsport controls the rules.

I'm failing to understand where our local league is allowed to prevent younger kids in a defined age group from even trying out for the team.

If anyone could provide evidence in the rules to help me understand, that would be great.

I'm in Canada, 8 year old son is playing little league ball. It's his first year of baseball so he's still learning how to throw and the rules of the game.

I'm looking for a bat. From what I've read, he needs a 26" and perhaps between a 2.25" and 2.75" diameter.

They are using a machine to pitch (at 37 mph) and using Little League #5 balls which are about at hard as a real baseball from what I can tell.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a brand/model of bat that isn't $200? Most of the ones I see are in that price range. I see Tee ball bats for less money but I suspect they could get dents from a hard baseball.

Thanks James

My oldest in AA turns 9 in July and just kinda fizzled out in effort and energy the last two weeks of the season. Loves to play with his friends and was carrying our 1st place team at SS, 1B, #2 pitcher...and now saying he doesn't want to play AAA next year seemingly because of all the "practices" it comes with. "I just want to come home and chill." He said he wants to do fall ball (no practices). Wife and I don't want to force him but told him "your also not gonna sit at home and chill", "theres other activities will find for you and all your friends will be playing AAA". So I feel he'd be just as annoyed with swim team or music lessons or anything.

He's frustrated with being walked all year, stopped throwing hard and I fear there's some adult energy that's turned him off as well. I.E. coaches yelling out plays and what to do on defense and competition tension. He had a couple meltdowns about going to practices during the season. It hurts my heart to hear and see his effort slide. I feel an 8 year old doesn't need to be passionate about anything or forced but also needs opportunity and direction to commit to things...aka doesn't get to exactly choose. Any activity at this age (not just baseball) it's also a life lesson to team commitment and consistent work that creates self progress. I'd really miss the community and seeing him play the game well. Not sure how to handle this.

My son decided he wants to play baseball this year - signed him up. During evaluations coach said he's got good pitching form for not playing baseball before and decided to make him the SP for the first game. Not sure who's more nervous him or ME!

My question is for arm care- he wants to be out there every day throwing - what is too much or is it too early to worry about that stuff now?

My child (11) decided last year he wanted to play baseball. So I spent all last summer working with him. Nearly everyday I would throw him batting practice. I worked with him on learning how to throw and how to field. He loved every minute of it. But he struggled last year trying to hit.

He never got comfortable at the plate. He went 0-?? For the season. He did have a few walks but he never made solid contact.

Now this year he moved up because of his age but a lot of his friends are still down a league. He was nervous about playing this year.

We started out this season with me only throwing 1 BP session(I did take him to a machine cage once). In games 1 & 2 I could tell he felt more confident at the plate. But he was starting to swing at good pitches and taking pitches off the plate.

Well tonight was game 3 and he was facing the best pitcher in the league (ps he looks 20) with the bases loaded tied 2-2. The first pitch he fouled off down the 3rd base line. The 2nd pitch he ripped a ball down the 3rd base line for a triple.

I literally was jumping up and down for him. I couldn’t have been more proud for him.

The 2nd AB they changed pitchers and the new kid was much slower. He was out in front of all the pitches and he ended up striking out.

I’m just glad that he is seeing the ball well.

Our league has an all star competitive team. All the other local leagues use May 1 as the cutoff but this one uses Aug 31 to match little league league-age. It is coach pitch.

It means he’s not allowed to play in the 8U all star tournament. I get it but I did not want to play him up without all his second grade friends with 10 year olds (and older because people hold their kids back, I guess just like me) in 4th. I was unaware of the age restriction for all stars to LL league age.

I know it totally doesn’t matter but he would have loved the extra month of baseball and the competition. He dominated batting (obviously off his coach of course) and first all year. He even hit a coach pitch off a 200ft fence lol. He would have grown much more in kid pitch and we should have played him up.

Thats all just venting. Alas he loved it and his friends think he’s the goat.

Location is northern california. This is my sons 2nd season. Last year he was in minors a. This year we didn't receive email about sign ups, which were way earlier than the year before. Luckily the league let him play, but instead of putting him in majors they put him in minors a again. He's by far talented enough to play is majors, but anyway he's been pitching all season this year. Then last night the other team learned he was 12 and make a stink about him pitching. Funny thing is he has great control, only 4 walks in 14 innings, no hit batsman. He had to be pulled after 2 innings. Is this really a rule? When we signed him up we made them aware he pitches when asked what positions he had experience with. If he can't pitch in minors a, is it possible the league move him up to majors for rest of the season? He's frustrated and so am i. Poor kid was so upset because he felt like the league commissioner was telling him hes dangerous when I've seen younger kids that throw harder than him with less control.

I posted recently about my first year coaching my daughter’s tee ball team and got a lot of great advice. We’ve had 3 practices now and I’m feeling much more confident. I’m a solo coach but I have a wonderful mom who has stepped up and been a huge, huge help.

We’re supposed to have our first game Thursday, I’m afraid it’ll get rained out but wondering if you all had any tips to help it go smoothly?

We’re a team of 8: 7 boys, 1 girl. Ages 4-7. A little chaotic but overall good, fun kids

I’ve always volunteered to help out coach on my boys teams. This year I was asked to assistant coach for my son’s 10 U team. It was all going OK, and as the season kept going, we started losing. The head coach is attitude has just plainly been horrible. He has gotten into it with multiple coaches this season and has been spoken to by the board. His attitude and demeanor at practice have gone down and it’s put me in an awkward position. My wife tells me that I should’ve had a conversation with him when I first started noticing. But such as life you blink and it’s over it’s been hard to navigate the assistant coaching dynamic since it’s his team and I don’t wanna step on anyone’s toes, but this overall experience has just been poor. Any suggestions?