UPDATE: I'm updating to say that it was wrong of me to refer to this kid as a "dud" and after watching him play in two games, he's giving it his all and is actually a really cool kid who is THE BIGGEST cheerleader and encourager on the team and cheers each of his teammates on by name every time.

I was wrong and I feel kind of crappy now about it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PASig,

Are you really complaining about a nine year old who isn't good a baseball? Maybe he's afraid of the ball or afraid of striking out or forced to play by an overbearing parent or who knows what. He's nine. You're an adult. Perspective man.

Dealing with such a team mate is part of being on a team…and a teachable moment for your son.

Did you miss the moment and instead taught him to call kids “duds”?

quote:

Originally posted by Patriot:
Dealing with such a team mate is part of being on a team…and a teachable moment for your son.

Did you miss the moment and instead taught him to call kids “duds”?

No, never.

Maybe I’m too harsh here by using the term dud.

It’s just a little bit frustrating to see one kid not able to play at the level of the others. I’m not “one of those” parents at all, the kind screaming and flipping out on their kids like I’ve seen.

Maybe I’ll speak to the coach and have him pair this kid up with my son more at practice.

Is that what your kid wants to do? You really want to volunteer him for that?

Chances are he isn't there because HE wants to be, he's there because his DAD wants him to be.

Has the coach or assistant coach been spending a little extra time with the kid trying to bring him up to speed?

quote:

Maybe I’m too harsh here by using the term dud.

There's no "maybe" about it.

^^^ Yeah, kids' game, but it's always the parents who are wound up tighter than the rear naked choke.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Chances are he isn't there because HE wants to be, he's there because his DAD wants him to be.

Most likely. If I have kids like that on my teams-and if they show a willingness to improve-they get my extra attention; extra reps; extra encouragement. It’s not like the other kids don’t notice the deficiencies, and often the other kids will step up.

About the same age, we had a kid on the team that was challenged, I hope that's the right word.
When he would bat he would swing real slow, after the game his father said they watched Reds games
and would replay home run swings in slo motion. That's what he was doing.
He got to participate in a game he loved. His father and him were great guys but he certainly was not a dud!

Only one?? You’re lucky. We usually have at least 2 or 3 on our teams.
I see it as the league attempting to “even things out” by putting a few kids who like the “idea” of the game but maybe not the execution.

If your kid continues to perform head and shoulders above the rest, it will be noted and they will be invited onto more elite teams in the future, but as others have said…chill. They’re 9. And maybe they don’t have a parent as invested as you..maybe they could use your enthusiasm, direction and support. I know we’ve invited a few other kids to practice with us over the years that needed a little bump. I will say, this has always happened with our son’s ok.
And I know some kids that were so afraid to get hit (and rightly so, some of those pitches go wild) that they freeze up..2 years later they are knocking them out of the park..

it's a lot of parents that force their kids to play a sport they don't want to!!

the parent/s haven't taken the time to work on skills, then they dump 'em into the league!!

q got it right, parents make it an ugly time for the kids!!

When my daughter was born I promised myself I would never be the parent that forced their kid into anything. As long as she was having fun was all that mattered. She turned out to be a very talented singer/piano player and was comfortable on stage and then shifted gears 180 degrees into soccer and volleyball and has done great there too. In the end while she may not be laser focused on one talent she is getting experience across the board with lots of disciplines/people and skills and most of all she is enjoying it and frankly I’ll take well rounded and enjoying over “American Idol” and damaged any day.

I have seen lots of parents who force there kids into something and in most cases it’s because of something that “adult” wanted or wants and the kid suffers.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by Patriot:
Dealing with such a team mate is part of being on a team…and a teachable moment for your son.

Did you miss the moment and instead taught him to call kids “duds”?

No, never.

Maybe I’m too harsh here by using the term dud.

It’s just a little bit frustrating to see one kid not able to play at the level of the others. I’m not “one of those” parents at all, the kind screaming and flipping out on their kids like I’ve seen.

Maybe I’ll speak to the coach and have him pair this kid up with my son more at practice.

Talking to the coach is the right thing.

Kids aren’t stupid and that child most likely realizes exactly what he is and feels the stress.

The coach should pair him up with better teammates on a rotating basis and spend additional time with him to bring the child along and try to catch him up.

I didn’t start playing baseball until I was 10. I was raised by a single mom and the money and opportunity to play baseball didn’t exist before that. I sucked! I had a patient coach that gave me chances and worked me. I also had a friend that was very good at baseball and he helped me a lot. Eventually I became pretty good, I even made the all-stars a couple of times. Give the kid a break, eventually the more talented kids move to trave, others stay in rec or move to something else.

A .
You are not thinking about the money involved.

B. The "duds" that you are talking about may very well have learning disabilities that the parent(s) might be in denial about.

You have options.

Fix your "dud" problem by taking three hours of your week aside and working with the child to help him or

Point your fingers at everyone.
It's the kids fault.
It's the coaches fault.
It's the parents fault.
It's the leagues fault.
It's the teachers fault.

Involvement is not just showing up for your child's team sport,

Why didn't he swing at the ball? Maybe he never saw it go by. Maybe he just doesn't have the eye/hand coordination to hit it. Maybe he just doesn't want to be there.

Lots of 'maybes' that could be answered. Maybe someone should talk to the kid and ask him.

I'm not really competitive, and don't really care whatsoever about sports, so maybe my perspective is skewed.

My two younger boys (8 and 10) wanted to play flag football, so we've signed them up the last two seasons. Neither of them is particularly athletic, or particularly good at football. They don't individually make big plays, and their teams lose a lot. I'm not even sure they're really learning much about the game of football if I'm honest.

I don't care about any of that one bit. They're having fun, they look forward to games and practice, and have been having a great time throwing the ball around in the yard. It's a game...neither of them will ever do this professionally. It's keeping them active and outside. So long as they're enjoying it, interacting well with others, and maybe learning a bit about effort and commitment, I feel it's time well spent.

I was the dud kid in my youth.
Baseball? Forget it.
Basketball? No way.

But I picked up music easily enough. Spent my school career playing saxophone in the band. Had a blast.
Mechanical and electronic “stuff” came easy also.

Don’t be upset with the kid. Or his dad. Maybe it’s not the father trying to live vicariously through his kid. Maybe he just knows unless the kid tries stuff, he will never figure out where his talents lie.