Should all young kids get playtime in sports or should it be according to skill? / myLot

United States

May 18, 2007 8:13am CST

I have a daughter that is in the forth grade. This is the second spring she has played softball. She played on a different league this year than last year because I would get her to the practices and everything and then she wouldn't get to play at game time. I would ask the coach about it and he would tell me that they didn't get around to her in the batting order even though other girls were batting two and three times. She usually would only play one inning in the outfield. Katie is not a talented athlete. She needs the exercise and wants to play though. She has asthma. It breaks my heart to see her treated this way. We wound up quitting early last season in the other leauge due to this. Am I asking too much? Should I just let it go? I know when they are a little older it is important to the school to have a good team and usually the kids with more skill play but how are the others supposed to get better if all they do is sit on the bench? I could really use some advice on this one. Thanks in advance everyone :)

2 responses

tmlnmr

@tmlnmr (1850)

• Canada

28 May 07

I definately think all kids should play! The fact that the coach wouldn't let her play tells me that he was more interested in winning than teaching the game. I so agree with you, you aren't asking for much at all as for letting it go, I would probably have a chat with Katie to see what she wants to do, see how she feels about it if she is ok with sitting there then you be ok with it. It will hurt to watch but make it her choice. You can always get a group of relatives etc.. together and play at home or a little one on one. Just make sure she knows you support whatever she decides. I realize she is only in grade 4 but it is her that is being shund and she knows how she feels about it.

biwasaki

@biwasaki (1745)

• United States

25 May 07

I think that all children, regardless of skill, should get some playing time in a game. Excluding them because of their lack of talent will only cause poor self-esteem and discourage them from participating further. The younger years are when the foundations are laid and the necessary skills are learned to be a successful player in any sport. Of course, some children will pick these skills up faster than others, but that doesn't mean that the less talented ones should be left out. I say let all children play in the games of the sports that they love! After all, it doesn't matter if you win or lose it's how you play the game.