As you may remember, Duck and I coached Doodle’s Upward Basketball team. Upward is a wonderful organization that allows the kids to not only learn about the sport, but also Jesus. They make sure to tell the coaches to be positive toward the kids, parents and referees even if they disagree. The atmosphere there is so radically different than any of our athletic associations around here.

We went to practice on Saturday and got there early. A younger (5-6) boys baseball team was finishing up practice and there were 3 adults who were coaching or helping during the practice. A ball was hit to the first baseman and the boy missed it. The comments and the tone of those comments that followed totally floored me.

“Get down on the ball!”

“You should’ve had that!”

And they came from more than one person. I felt horrible for the little boy. I’m all about the kids learning fundamentals and how to play ball, but they were being brutal. Not to overly boast on Duck, but he probably would’ve said something like this:

“That was a good try, but you need to pay attention so you can get your glove down sooner. Then you’ll stop the ball.”

A different youth association we were trying out when Doodle was younger was said to be an instructional league — not competitive. I’m all for that, but the problem was they weren’t very instructional. I can understand being positive, but you also need to show the kids how to play. You can’t just sit on the sidelines and say “that’s a great try! You’ll get it next time!” without giving some instruction on *how* to do it.

Duck has really got coaching in his blood. He’s a great coach — especially when he has tried coaching the non-athletic like me He taught me the finer points of playing softball for sure. I’ve seen the kids he’s coached in basketball and now softball really respond to him. They listen and improve and have a healthy respect for him. I believe they’ll be better ball players because of Duck.

I am really frustrated with the state of the youth athletic associations. The one we’re in now is cursed with the ‘competitive’ reputation. No one wants to play us — they say we’re too competitive. And from what I’ve seen of the other coaches, they are too competitive. We’re talking about 4-16 year olds playing associational ball. Winning records should not be coveted. What should matter is that the kids play ball and have fun learning how to play better.

The leader of this youth athletic association (at least the baseball and softball part) had mentioned he was disappointed in the sign-ups for the girls softball 7-8 (the team we coach). It seems softball is dying, he guessed. They had 50-60 girls sign up for soccer and only 13 sign up for softball.

Being the Blessing that I am to my wonderful husband, I sent out mass emails to every mom in my address book. I got 5 more girls from the first email blast I sent out. Now we had too many for one team and still not enough for a second team. But seriously? That just goes to show that people didn’t know about it — and/or — they know Duck and I and trust their daughters to our coaching.

I’ve enjoyed coaching and helping the girls, although we have a parent who is rather loud, rough and obnoxious with his “help.” Duck grew up playing ball in this association and if it was ever like this when he was younger, I’m guessing he didn’t see it — or maybe he just thought that was the way it should be.

My questions for you: Do your children play sports? Do they do so in a youth athletic association? How is it for you? Where do you hear about the sign-ups and such for the sports your children play in?