LOCAL LEAGUE PLAY

I would like to congratulate all of our leagues who celebrated, or will be celebrating, the opening of their season during the month of April. We know our kids have been chomping at the bit to hear that little phrase “Play Ball”.

As Babe Ruth League, Inc. celebrates its 55th anniversary; I cannot help but look back on how times have changed in amateur baseball. Do you remember when you were young; you played baseball or softball in the summer, soccer or football in the fall, and basketball or hockey in the winter? Do you remember playing from early morning until nighttime when you could no longer see the ball?

Today, participation in youth baseball and softball competes against new technology (video games, computer games, the Internet) and against all other sports as it seems that every organized sport is now offered year-round.

Today’s kids are often forced with the difficult decision which sport they will play year round. As fellow youth baseball and softball enthusiasts, I am sure you will agree with me that baseball and softball are the greatest games. Everybody who wants to can play the game. All you have to do is have fun while learning how to throw, catch, hit and run. Your size does not matter as much as the skills you develop, and the confidence and heart you show for the games. The baseball and softball diamonds are the arenas where children can have fun, learn new skills, build on existing skills and make new friends.

Participation is of paramount importance when it comes to helping a young player learn the game and helping keep an older player in the game. Participation allows a child to grow and excel at their own pace and ability while learning individual skills, sportsmanship, teamwork and sense of community. Who in amateur baseball or softball really knows which player will be better than another player? No one can say for sure that the inexperienced player or the marginal or below-marginal player, with proper instruction and practice, will not grow up to become another baseball or softball great.

As President/CEO of Babe Ruth League, Inc., the future of baseball and softball is very important to me. We all need to reach back and focus more on the local league season and teach or hone the basic fundamentals that make the game fun.

We at home plate realize that tournament competition is an exciting culmination to a local league season. In fact, Babe Ruth League’s tournament trail is a win-win experience offering many memorable moments for our players. However, we must make sure that the focus remains on local league play where every participant receives the opportunity to take part in the game. When the whole issue of winning becomes primary, then participation suffers. Giving the best players more playing time (as is done in tournament games) may help a team win more games, but at what cost? Remember, the more that one plays, the better one tends to get.

Baseball and softball can only remain in the hearts of our country’s youth if we, as adults, continue to hold enjoyable practice sessions and promote local league competition where everyone is included.

With this message, I would like to offer a few ideas on how to extend your local league season:

• We understand leagues do not like to continue with their local league schedule after tournament play starts. However, I would like to suggest leagues play their local league games through District level, canceling the local league games on the days/evenings your league has an all-star game. Treat these games the same as rainout games. Should you league win the District and advance to the State level, give consideration to postponing the local league games during the State Tournament. Should your league win the State, you would have to finish the local league schedule without the players who are on the tournament teams.
• Another suggestion is to divide your schedule in half. The first half would end the first week in July (or prior to the start of tournament competition). The second half of your schedule could be played during tournament time without the players who make the tournament team. At the conclusion of your league’s tournament participation, you could have your league’s two champions (the winner from the first half of the schedule and the winner from the second half) play a two out of three series for the league championship.