I just don't get it

[softballjerk]

Blind Squirrel,

This has truly been a sad year and the trend seems to be heading in this direction.

I have seem players families cursing at umpires, while kids are listening and observing this behavior. Coaching getting ejected, Coaches getting their teams ejected. Why is it OK to act like this in front of others?

As for the parents, they will never understand what you wrote, because they ALL feel that you are talking about someone else, not them...

This is the age of NON-ACCOUNTABILITY, it's never their fault that they acted like an JACKASS, it was because the "Blue" didn't see the play their way - they deserved it, they had it coming! Surley everyone knows that. Coaches getting ejected is because they cared and are passionate about the team and they Fight for our girls - pleeeze!

Your analogy of 18U, 12U and Tee ball, really makes sense. Does anyone really know what current collegiate players, played on a 12U team that won nationals? how about 14U?

Good parenting has fallen to the wayside in the pursuit of hopefully getting their kid an athletic scholarship. Academics are even getting pushed aside, to make time for another hitting lesson or fielding lesson.

Common sense tells you that, even after college ball, their is going to be a life to live for these young ladies and careers to, hopefully pursue that will last many more years than they have ever played this game.

[thatguy]

Blind Squirrel,

This has truly been a sad year and the trend seems to be heading in this direction.

I have seem players families cursing at umpires, while kids are listening and observing this behavior. Coaching getting ejected, Coaches getting their teams ejected. Why is it OK to act like this in front of others?

As for the parents, they will never understand what you wrote, because they ALL feel that you are talking about someone else, not them...

This is the age of NON-ACCOUNTABILITY, it's never their fault that they acted like an JACKASS, it was because the "Blue" didn't see the play their way - they deserved it, they had it coming! Surley everyone knows that. Coaches getting ejected is because they cared and are passionate about the team and they Fight for our girls - pleeeze!

Your analogy of 18U, 12U and Tee ball, really makes sense. Does anyone really know what current collegiate players, played on a 12U team that won nationals? how about 14U?

Good parenting has fallen to the wayside in the pursuit of hopefully getting their kid an athletic scholarship. Academics are even getting pushed aside, to make time for another hitting lesson or fielding lesson.

Common sense tells you that, even after college ball, their is going to be a life to live for these young ladies and careers to, hopefully pursue that will last many more years than they have ever played this game.

This brings up an interesting point...for those that know, what is the general college's point of view towards this? I mean a kid that has all the talent in the world, but not a lick of intelligence...do they find a way to get them in? Are these kids rewarded for having a "C" average, with a full ride? Just curious. Also, to what extent do travel teams "make room" for these kids. Obviously, there are no rules that state a kid that isn't making the grade, can't play ASA, but how many teams actually hold a standard and what are the consequences for not performing in school? What percentage of the top teams put an education ahead of winning?

Sorry, BS didn't mean to hijack your thread, and you are spot on with your take.

[Blind Squirrel]

Hijack away. I do it myself and I'll even support your effort by responding. The sad truth is if a college wants a kid bad enough, even in softball (as opposed to a revenue producing football player), the answer is often yes they will take kids with below 3.0 GPA. Some schools won't but I know of schools in the PAC-10, Big-10 and others who will. I was told by one coach that they could get my kid in with below 3.0 but they preferred to not have to because it suggested greater risk of becoming academically ineligible and would likely require greater effort to keep the kid playing. Sad but true.

John

[Sftbll4ever]

Just saw a story this weekend on TV about a basketball player that was one of the top recruits out of HS. He had bad grades and bad SAT scores. No school could take him, so he is in Europe playing professionally overthere. Seems that a lot of schools have their limits. It's really sad that you are that good and don't have the grades to get you anywhere!!!

[Skarp]

Some people aren't supposed to go to college.

[DunninLA]

Well, actually that's true Skarp.

I have a friend who got his Physical Chemistry Ph.D. at UCLA, and married a physician, also from UCLA.

His natural daughter is a sophomore in college studying chemistry, and doing quite well. His adopted child (at age 6, plenty early to catch up) from a Russian orphanage is average intelligence and, in my friends words, "doesn't take to academics too well".

So, he's helping his adopted son look into apprenticing into a trade. Last i heard they were looking at heavy equipment operating.

[sportzjunky]

in the famous words of wisdom by Judge Smails, Caddyshack.....

"the world needs ditch diggers too"

[Skarp]

So, he's helping his adopted son look into apprenticing into a trade. Last i heard they were looking at heavy equipment operating.

Now there's a novel concept....actually give someone skills they can use and make a good living with. But nah...we'd rather waste years and countless resources trying to teach everyone long division.