’’Kill the umpire!’’
’’AH! Who taught you how to field a ground ball?!’’
’’What kind of batting stance is THAT?!’’
’’Come on, strike him out! He swings like a girl!’’
’’You guys are terrible!’’
You would think that these rotten comments would be heard at a professional baseball game, but in this case they weren’t. Rather, they were overheard at a league playoff game - two baseball teams consisting of twelve year-old boys.
The catcalls and negative statements were, of course, from the parents sitting in the aluminum bleachers behind the dugouts. Apparently watching Junior have a good time on the baseball field is a thing of the past: Rather, we have escalated to jeering, spitting, hissing, and even fistfights between parents of opposing team members.
That’s just lovely. What sort of sportsmanship are we teaching our children and younger siblings when we act like puffed-up, egotistical jerks? We’re there to watch the kids play a game that they love, right? Instead of encouraging them to hit, field, and play well, we criticize them. We make fun of the opposing team’s players. We yell at the umpire, scream at each other, and insult everyone in sight - over a game that’s supposed to be fun.
It’s junior league baseball, ladies and gentlemen. Eight of the nine boys on the field probably won’t make it to the major leagues later in their lives. So, this is all that they have. These are the sports memories that are being created for them. Why are we allowing ourselves to ruin the fun for them? It’s great when our children and siblings play well, yes, and winning the league trophy is outstanding, but isn’t there more to watching youth baseball than the prize?
Personally, watching my younger brother pitch is the most rewarding part of the game. Seeing my little sister behind the plate in full catcher’s gear is the prize for me. Being able to witness them play a game that they love is all that I need. I don’t care if they never play professionally. I don’t care if this is their last and final season: All I want is to watch them have a good time, and to be able to shout words of encouragement to them from the bleachers.
Please, parents, keep in mind that this is just a game for these kids. There isn’t a contract or money involved. There are no endorsements or trades at stake. It’s just something that they do because they love the game. That’s the reason that you’re sitting in the bleachers. It’s not about how well any of the children play: It’s about the positive, fun-loving attitude encompassed by ALL who are present.
Nothing annoys me more than listening to rowdy, negative parents in the stands. Don’t be one of those people: It’s setting a very bad example for the kids on the field, and in some cases it just might get you ejected from the stands by the friendly home plate umpire.