Went to watch little league game at the New Park. I watched the first machine pitch game and decided to let the kids continue playing on the playground so I watched the second machine pitch game. The machine pitch cardinals were embrassing to watch due to the team they were playing was no match for the cardinals. The cardinals made sure to embrasses the other team. The cards' Coaches were terrible and should be kicked out of coaching. The other team had many kids that were new to baseball, but the cards looked like a bully. Fall ball is for learning, not to run the score up and humiliate the other team. In the spring I understand the competion level and it's part of baseball. Looked like most of the Cards' team were moving up next spring, but the parents wanted them to stay down and fuel their egos.

Do they not have some type of run limit per inning? I know at Underwood there is a five run per inning limit, and in the 4th inning the ten run rule is in effect, this being for the machine pitch leagues. I agree with you 100% that the fall league is for fun and learning. At this level it is all about the fundamentals of the game, learning and preparing for the next step of having actual kid pitch and most of all HAVING FUN. I know that when we play and have a nice sized lead we start rotating positions in the field in order to let the kids gain experience all around the field and the kids love it for the most part. But there are those coaches who don't back off, and that is unfortunate. And there are many (coaches) that I have seen in the leagues around Florence that I would never let my kid be associated with. I am no where near a expert on the game, but I know a horrible coach when I see one, and there are many out there. I hope you have better experiences in the future.

I believe there is a five run limit. I see a decline participation at 13 years of age and higher. Most of the lack of participation is based on poor coaching and parents that try to re-live their youth through the kids. The other 3 teams that I witnessed Thurs. night rotated kids and the coaches did a great job, but the cards' were like a all-star team. If Florence hopes the leagues grow, they need to address this quick or the investment made at the park will be for nothing.

I have noticed that the people who are eager to volunteer to coach are the people you wouldn't want coaching your kids. The more humble dads who mind their own business make better coaches.

Same with most committee positions.

At first I did not want to coach, then the main coach our first year was sick most of the year, so I helped out. I enjoyed it enough that I helped the next 2 years in that same league. Then my son moved up and I did not want to coach, however he insisted that I coach and the head coach asked me to help. So I guess as long as my child doesn't have a problem with it I will continue to help out. But I see it regularly how so many parents try to live the non-athletic life/ability through there children and it bothers me to see that. My career in baseball was I guess short lived, due to arm/shoulder injury. I had fun, had great coaches and I am aware of what ability and limitations I had with my talent. I have seen in mulitple times how parents make the comparison of the abilities and their childs, and that is just the wrong thing to do. I feel that it is important to not let the child know what if any success a parent had. If a child knows this then they will always compare their success to that of their parent (if it was good for the parent)and if they don't reach that, then they are down on themselves. Not good> I could go on forever about this, but I guess I need to quit....

parents please watch the paper, there is going to be a meeting to discuss many of the issues in florence baseball, show up and vote and hopefully change some of the way florence baseball is handled, i dont know the date but it is supposed to be in october,

quote:

Originally posted by HomesickGirl:
I have noticed that the people who are eager to volunteer to coach are the people you wouldn't want coaching your kids. The more humble dads who mind their own business make better coaches.

Same with most committee positions.

Most leagues are run by a group or a "qlick" I guess you can say. These groups dictate everything that goes on. Getting in these groups is hard and rarely do they allow outsiders in. They have already picked the teams and the Allstar teams. It happens everywhere, Brooks, Florence, Underwood. I know in bigger cities coaches are held accountable for their actions but not around here. What I saw Thurs. is the same type of park politics. I hope there is changes at Florence, I would hate for such a nice park get a bad reputation. The money invested in the park would be a waste.

IN RESPONSE TO THE "POOR COACHING AT FALL BALL GAME"----------
JUST SO YOU KNOW, THOSE KIDS ON THE CARDINALS DIDN'T GET GOOD AT BASEBALL BY THEIR MOMS AND DADS BEING SOMEBODY IN THIS TOWN-IT'S CALLED PRACTICE, IF MORE PARENTS WOULD GET OUT AND TAKE THEIR KID TO THE PARK... OR EVEN EASIER THEIR YARD AND TOSS A BALL TO THEM AND MAYBE PUT FORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT LIKE THE CARDINALS PARENTS DO, THEN THEY [YOU] WOULD HAVE LESS TO COMPLAIN AND WHINE ABOUT-
JUST FYI, MY SON WAS BARELY 4 YEARS OLD WHEN WE SIGNED HIM UP FOR LITTLE LEAGUE (BROADWAY PARK)- KNOW WHAT? EVEN AT AGE 4, HE WAS TRYING AND WE WERE TOO. WE WOULD THEN, AND STILL GET OUT AND PRACTICE WITH HIM. DO YOU THINK GREG MADDUX'S PARENTS JUST THREW HIM ON A TEAM AND EXPECTED HIM TO BECOME A MILLION DOLLAR PLAYER JUST BECAUSE HE WAS GREG MADDUX? GET REAL PEOPLE-THIS IS FALL BALL AND IS SUPPOSE TO BE FUN, AND IT IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR EVEN THE CARDINALS. IT SHOULD NOT BE RUINED BY SOME RANDOM- WHO HAS NO CONCEPT... IT IS CALLED PRACTICE- AND IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE PARENTS WHO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BASEBALL OR ANY OTHER SPORT, BUT WANT YOUR KID TO BE THE BEST PLAYER OUT THERE... MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET OFF YOUR CAN AND COACH A TEAM. IT IS NOT THE EASIEST JOB IN THE WORLD. THE CARDINALS ARE A GOOD FALL BALL TEAM, BECAUSE.... THOSE KIDS STARTED PRACTICE THE SAME WEEK THE TEAM WAS MADE UP,NOT BY THE COACHES... PARENTS HAD TO FIND A TEAM FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY ON. WHILE YOUR KID WAS INSIDE EATING BLUE BELL AND PLAYING VIDEO GAMES. NOT ONLY THAT.... MY CHILD WAS ON ONE OF THE LOSING TEAMS LAST SPRING DURING REGULAR SEASON.... HE HATED PLAYING BECAUSE THEY LOST ALMOST EVERY GAME...WE DIDN'T THROW STONES AT THE COACHES, WHO WE ARE PRETTY SURE "STACKED TEAMS"- IT WAS HIS FIRST HERE IN THE "BIG LEAGUE" SO HE TOUGHED IT OUT AND CONTINUED TO GIVE HIS BEST AND PRACTICED AT HOME- IF YOU THINK HE SHOULD SUFFER OR WE SHOULD (AS PARENTS) FEEL BAD BECAUSE HE IS A GOOD PLAYER, YOU NEED TO ASSESS YOUR OWN LIFE- PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE THE ONES WHO RUIN A GOOD THING, NOT THE PARENTS WHO PUT FORTH A LITTLE EFFORT TO HELP THEIR KIDS GET GOOD... NOT YOU NOR ANYONE ELSE CAN MAKE THE CARDINALS FEEL BAD OR LOOK BAD FOR BEING GOOD- YOU NEED TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE PARK OFFICIALS IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, WHICH IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE ANY OF THIS IS YOUR BUSINESS.... HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU HAVE PLAYING? ARE THEY ONE OF THE KIDS THAT DANCE AROUND AND DO FLIPS AT PRACTICE, THAT THE COACHES HAVE TO KEEP ASKING A MILLION TIMES TO PAY ATTENTION, PUT YOUR CAP AND GLOVE ON, ANYTHING TO DISTACT THE COACHES FROM TEACHING AND COACHING THE KIDS WHO WANT TO BE THERE!!!!!!! IF THAT IS YOUR KID.. EITHER PRACTICE WITH YOUR KID, SIGN HIM UP FOR THE ZONE OR THE OTHER TRAINING FACILITIES IN THE SHOALS.... OR PUT HIM IN SOMETHING LESS COMPETITIVE--- BUT GET OFF THE CARDINALS CASE- THOSE KIDS WORK HARD TO BE GOOD, AND SO DO THEIR PARENTS. THE AGE GROUP IS 6,7, AND 8. IF YOU NEED PROOF UP AGE, PLEASE TAKE THAT UP WITH THE PARENTS.

Fall Baseball coaches are not selected by the Florence Youth Baseball. Teams are put together by a coach from their repected leagues and they pay a fee as a team to play. Fall baseball is suppose to be a developemental league. Basically like a 6 year old that will be moving up to 7 - year old in spring of 2010 can play with 7 year olds that will be back in the 7 & 8 year old league. Same for 10 year olds moving up to 11 - 12 year old leagues. Althouth it is not against the rules for an 8 or 19 year olds to play in the age division that they played in
during the past spring. There is also a 5 run limit per inning and a 10 run rule after 4 innings. People just take this to serious and forget it is for the kids. They do have something like 25 teams in the fall ball league which is unbelieveable. My kids pllay in the spring in the 7 - 8 yr old division and the 11 - 12 yr old division and the guy they have running it does a great job. I know most of the people I have talked with appreciate the countless hours he puts forth in it. Plus the Park & Rec is taking it over and I think that will illiminate alot of the politics that has been going on.

yes, let's all give randy burns a high five- he puts up with a lot of griping parents for whatever reason- and i will be very happy for the city to take the league back over- the league has been dictated for too long by parents who actual do think they are someone in this town, contrary to reality- i do know the cardinals coaches are the two least who think that about themselves- they are not one of the "good ole boys" they are not even from here.
i will have to agree with bballer- it is about the kids... but why put them on a team and expect the coach to do all the work? just like everything else in life..... it starts at home-
every kid i know that plays.... plays to win. the others... are out there because the parents need a break from them. it's not the single parents, because i know of 2 single moms on the cardinals, and they are there at every practice and they also work with the kids at home- so there is no reason to bash the cardinals for being a good team. it is not their fault, nor the coaches, these guys did not go and scout these kids to play- it's still America, and we still have a few freedoms left, even the kids.

This kind of changes the subject a little. I am not associated with the Florence Leagues at all. However I have heard various rumors about some changes that are going to be made there at and one being about changing to Dixie Youth. I understand, or have heard, that this has always been a subject talked about every year prior to the start of the season, wondering if you guys know anything about it.

hello baja,

i certainly hope i have not implied that my son makes up the cardinals. yes he is good, but he is not the best, i am human enough to realize that. but like i said in an earlier post he started at age 4. he has been the pion on the team, but toughed it out. and he is barely 7 right now. and he may move up in the spring, but that is 6 months from now. not only that, if all this fuss is over the brooks losing to the cardinals the first game played, it should have been called - the cards coaches tried to call it. my understanding is that the brooks coach wanted to keep going so his kids could have the practice. it is just good to know the whole facts before starting a ruckus over nothing. i am not sure what everyone is wanting... there are only a few games left before this season ends... if it ever stops raining. maybe if all the complainers and gripers would get out and volunteer their time, and see how things are really done.... and the time it takes the coaches getting it all together...they might zip it. and that is not directed to you baja.
g'day- oh.... and GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Baja1967:
TO BASEBALL MOM

DON'T WORRY MY KIDS PLAY SEVERAL SPORTS, AND I GUESS I HAVE VOLUNTEERED MORE YEARS OF MY LIFE IN COACHING THAN MOST. I'VE COACHED FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS AND MY FAMILY PARTICIPATED IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS. I DIDN'T COACH TO LIVE THROUGH MY KIDS, I COACHED BECAUSE I WAS RAISED BY A COLLEGE COACH THAT KNEW THE GAME AND HOW TO TEACH IT. I'VE SEEN THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY. PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT BENEFITS YOUR SON GETS ON BEING ON A TEAM THAT CLEARLY IS RUNNING THE SCORE UP ON EVERY TEAM? I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TROPHY THAT SAID FALL BALL 1ST PLACE. THE CITY SHOULD HAVE DEVIDED THE TEAMS UP BUT THATS TO LATE NOW. CHANCES ARE SINCE YOUR SON IS AS GOOD AS YOU SAID HE IS, HE NEEDS TO BE IN THE KID PITCH LEAGUE. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT....THE MACHINES ARE TERRIBLE FOR LEARNING. MACHINE PITCH LEAGUES HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND LONG, SO THE EFFECTS OF USING COMPARED TO NOT USING ARE STILL UNCLEAR BUT THE KIDS IN SOUTH AMERICA DON'T USE A MACHINE, THEY HIT FROM A COACH OR ANOTHER PLAYER EARLY. MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS SEND THEIR SCOUTS A MAJORITY OF THE TIME TO THOSE AREAS FOR A REASON, THEY KNOW HOW TO HIT UNLIKE THE AMERICAN KIDS. AGAIN MOST PEOPLE INCLUDING MYSELF BELIEVE FALL BALL SHOULD BE LEARNING TOOL, KIDS TODAY HAVE TO COMPETE FOR EVERYHING, AND COMPITION IS GOOD AND IT DOES MAKE A BETTER PEROSON THATS WHY IN THE SPRING I'M FOR LET IT RIP, AND PLAY BALL. BUT TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE OTHER TEAM NEXT TIME YOUR KID PLAYS, I'M SURE THE CARDS HIT THE BALL GOOD, BUT THE OTHER TEAMS ARE GETTING BETTER EACH TIME THEY PLAY, CARDS ARE NOT GETTING BETTER THEY JUST RUN THE BASES. IF I HAD A KID PLAYING, I'D MUCH RATHER MY SON BE ON THE OTHER TEAM AND LET HIM BECOME A BETTER FIELDER THAN HIT OFF THE MONKEY MACHINE. I SEE THE CARDS STANDING AND WATCHING, NOT MUCH FIELDING. HITTING IS HALF OF BASEBALL. HOW MANY TIMES DO THE CARDS THROW TO A BASE BESIDES 1ST. NOT MANY, I WATCHED THE OTHER DAY, THE OTHER TEAM HAD PLAYS AT ALL FOUR BASES. THE KIDS ON THE ORANGE TEAM I FEEL WILL BE BETTER PREPAIRED THIS SPRING THAN THE CARDS BECAUSE OF THE GAME SITUTATIONS THEY LEARNED. REALLY THE COACHES HAVE DONE A DIS-SERVICE FOR YOUR CHILD, BECAUSE YOUR KID HAS LEARNED TO STAND OUT IN THE FIELD AND WATCH OTHER KIDS STRIKE OUT. GAME SITUATIONS CAN'T BE TAUGHT, THEY HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT AND LEARN AT THE PACE OF THE GAME AND HOW TO REACT. PRACTICING SITUATIONS HELP, BUT THEY FALL SHORT THAN THE ACTUAL GAME EXPERIENCE. PROS PLAY ALOT OF PRACTICE GAMES FOR A REASON........SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

Baja, Just wanted to let you know, that typing in all caps is almost universally considered yelling on internet forums such as this. Many people consider it rude (I'm not one of them) Just a little information I hope will help you.

HOOOORAYY HOOOOORAYYYYY!!!!!!

i am hoping everyone is celebrating that the cardinals lost their first game lastnight, to brooks. congrats brooks! they worked for it and they got. those kids lastnight didn't even look like the same ones from the games before.... but i am not implieing anything... really. whatever, they won. i hope this will pipe down the bad rap that the cards were given because they were guilty of winning. even though i am still pretty sure that is the purpose of playing a sport... winning and of course, having fun. either way, cards lost, brooks won. i think brooks players slept really good lastnight. i know my group of cardinals slept great...even with a loss, we have nothing bad to say about the other team... wish the other teams would leave the field with the same attitude... not only them, the on lookers as well.... g'day.

My son plays on the Brooks team and I was very proud of both teams and their play. Brooks got stirred up because of a scoreboard malfunction.
The coaches for brooks ignored what was going on, and they didn't want any confortation. They kept on telling the kids that the scoreboard was not important and keep playing. I was sitting by a parent that one of the cards coaches made a smarta--comment too. I know it goes bothways, but a coach has the responsibilty to make sure that he leads by example. I agree with baja about bad coaching. The coaches could throttle back and be a little respectful.
I'm not throwing the cardinals coaches under a bus, but they need to be a little more respectful and try not to be such smarta----.
Good Game Tues. I think we need more on-lookers to speak out, this is getting to be a bigger problem that needs to be adressed.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BIG ORANGE,