What The Hell Is Wrong With Some People!!!

[Solid Lifters]

Read this, if you haven't already...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3553475

Absolutely disgusting! I've never seen such a deliberate case of child abuse in my life! This really pisses me off to no end!

It's, with out a doubt, an act of Communism-Fascism. To punish a child for his/her special abilities is so damn un-American, so anti-freedom.

And why was it done? To protect children from feeling bad? Oh, boo-frick'n-hoo! Kids play sports mostly to have fun, but there are more reasons than that why parents such as myself enroll their kids in sports. It's about learning to play with others, learning about your abilities, and the abilities of others, and learning how to focus on a goal and completing it for self satisfaction.

So, what the hell are these 'grown-ups' teaching these children? Not everyone is special. Never try your best, or you might hurt somebody's feelings. Don't do what we dictate, and you'll be punished.

Child abuse. That's all this is.

 

[RedTransAm]

That is absolutely ridiculous. He should be applauded for his abililties, not benched because he's too good.

 

[Anderton Prime]

While this is hardly child abuse in my opinion, it is an example of the levels of stupidity one can hope to witness whenever adults assemble in large numbers.

 

[Solid Lifters]

While this is hardly child abuse in my opinion, it is an example of the levels of stupidity one can hope to witness whenever adults assemble in large numbers.

Your opinion is wrong. Unjustified punishment is a form of child abuse.

 

[tfujiwara]

That is absolutely ridiculous. He should be applauded for his abililties, not benched because he's too good.

Same here

 

[Fujiwara-kun]

Reminds me of a car that cant rev to its max and is bound to a leash...

Over here in the UK we just probably move people up.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Your opinion is wrong. Unjustified punishment is a form of child abuse.

What's the world coming to when a kid is banned from playing in one league and people compare it to child abuse?

And an act of comunism? Ha! If it was comunism this kid would eat, breathe, and sleep basball and would be playing on the world stage by the time he was 16! And how would you feel if your kid was getting crushed by a kid 6 inches taller and 2 stone heavier than anyone else his age in a game of Amiercan Football? It wouldn't happen because that kid should play up an age if they are actually good enough.

 

[nick09]

What the?

This is not right at all!

 

[Solid Lifters]

What's the world coming to when a kid is banned from playing in one league and people compare it to child abuse?

Because this is the league he wanted to play in. He has a special ability and the league let him play. He's obviously old enough and he's with kids his own age. Sure, he's probably good enough to play in a 'higher' league, but this is the one he wanted to play in and there's no justified reason why he shouldn't!

And an act of comunism? Ha! If it was comunism this kid would eat, breathe, and sleep baseball and would be playing on the world stage by the time he was 16!

In a Communist, actually Socialist, state nobody is special. I added the wrong word there.

And how would you feel if your kid was getting crushed by a kid 6 inches taller and 2 stone heavier than anyone else his age in a game of Amiercan Football?

My kid doesn't play football. Only soccer, water polo and baseball. But, if there were a kid much bigger and better than he, and there's a good chance in that since my oldest is average height and not that big, I wouldn't want to see that kid punished for it. I'd enjoy watching him play! I would teach my kid to enjoy playing with the kid, since it's a good possibility he's going to be a pro some day. I think it's healthy learning development to realize you just might not be as special as somebody else. You want a society where nobody is special? I don't, even if that means my own kids wont be the most special.

It wouldn't happen because that kid should play up an age if they are actually good enough.

No, the kid should play wherever he wants provided he follows the rules.

 

[Speedy Samurai]

If I were this boys parent I would feel saddened about how this played out, but would make him play in a league closer to his ability. What's the point in putting him somewhere where he faces no challenge. Would it be good for his ego to always be told he was too good?

If I were the parent of a child batting against this boy, I would be want him moved. Nothing crushes a child's self esteem like being completely crushed every time you step in the batter's box.


This is all much ado about nothing, for the most part.

 

[Solid Lifters]

If I were this boys parent I would feel saddened about how this played out, but would make him play in a league closer to his ability. What's the point in putting him somewhere where he faces no challenge. Would it be good for his ego to always be told he was too good?

If I were the parent of a child batting against this boy, I would be want him moved. Nothing crushes a child's self esteem like being completely crushed every time you step in the batter's box.

So, it's unfair for this kid to play with kids his own age, and two years older, but it's perfectly fine to put him with kids three to five years older? A nine-year-old boy facing a 14 year-old teenager?

Nonsense.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Because this is the league he wanted to play in. He has a special ability and the league let him play. He's obviously old enough and he's with kids his own age. Sure, he's probably good enough to play in a 'higher' league, but this is the one he wanted to play in and there's no justified reason why he shouldn't!

What I don't agree on is the point in the season with which they've decided to do so.

But, you're also putting words into this kids mouth. From that article, he hasn't said that he wants solely to play in that league. It makes clear that he chose to play for that team, but not solely in that league.

Now I understand that this kid is only 9, and pushing him too hard will probably do no good. But this kid is pitching 40mph and I doubt there's many kids who put up much competition to that.

In a Communist, actually Socialist, state nobody is special. I added the wrong word there.

That's such an old-school statement it's practically pre-historic.

My kid doesn't play football. Only soccer, water polo and baseball. But, if there were a kid much bigger and better than he, and there's a good chance in that since my oldest is average height and not that big, I wouldn't want to see that kid punished for it. I'd enjoy watching him play!

You'd enjoy watching the bigger kid muscle your kid off the ball with ease, making heavy, but fair, tackles. You'd enjoy seeing your kid stepping into bat and everytime the "special" kid was pitching you'd be hoping your kid wasn't the one who got "beaned"?

I've played rugby and football and competed in karate from the age of about 7. I was always lucky in that, like your son, I was medium build so it was never a matter of getting physically bullied round the field/area. My little bro is an August kid which puts him at the tail end of the year. Only now at the age of 11 is he catching up with the September kids who are more co-ordinated and more physical than him at football. It's been a tough few years for him.

My point is that age grouping kids are there to keep the playing field as level as possible so that the less able kids don't get the complete beat down by the more able kids. Now if there's a kid that is way, way in advance of all the kids at his age why shouldn't he be moved up an age group? Cause he likes being the big fish in the little pond?

I would teach my kid to enjoy playing with the kid, since it's a good possibility he's going to be a pro some day. I think it's healthy learning development to realize you just might not be as special as somebody else. You want a society where nobody is special? I don't, even if that means my own kids wont be the most special.

I was for promoting the kid, encouraging his ability. How can that possibly be misconceived as not wanting him to be special? If he moves up an age he's still the special kid playing a year above.

 

[Dave A]

If a school gets a particullarly gifted kid that is well in advance of the other kids in his/her year academically it's not unheared of for them to be moved up a year, sometimes more than one year. I've read about kids 13 and even under who have sat their GCSE's which is for 15-16 year olds. It's the same principal here really, and I agree with the point Evan is making. If he is notably more advanced in the sport than the other kids he's playing with, he should be moved up. He shoudn't be just banned, but the organisers and whoever takes charge should guide him into a league where his skills would be better used and able to develop along side other kids with similar skill levels.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

He shouldn't be just banned, but the organisers and whoever takes charge should guide him into a league where his skills would be better used and able to develop along side other kids with similar skill levels.

What if he doesn't want to move up a group? Or if the 13 year old kid doesn't want to take the GCSE's?

 

[Formula1Driver]

I read about this yesterday, its terrible. I think the kid should be able to play within his age group, so what if he has a harder throw than the other kids, hes just out there to have fun and is naturally skilled. In the whole season he didn't hit anybody with a pitch and helped his team win.

In baseball, the pitching speed really increases quickly, when they start out they are really soft but into early teens the kids are throwing like almost 60MPH or more. So people want a 9-year old who throws 40MPH to play with 13 year olds who throw like mid 50's?

Also, this kid just wants to have fun, hes playing with kids that are his age and is most likely friends with these kids, now they want him to play with older kids who he doesn't know and maybe can't relate to as well just because he throws a bit harder (and accurate) than the other kids his age.

And I'm not very impressed with the team they were scheduled to face forfeiting the game just because this kid was going to pitch. What kind of lesson does that teach these kids, "O don't worry kids we don't have to play against this team cause they are better than us, so we'll just forfeit the game and go home." Teaching kids that quitting is OK? doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Solid Lifters]

What I don't agree on is the point in the season with which they've decided to do so.

But, you're also putting words into this kids mouth. From that article, he hasn't said that he wants solely to play in that league. It makes clear that he chose to play for that team, but not solely in that league.

To play with the team he wanted means in the league he wanted. Here in the US, different leagues have different teams. Some leagues have sponsored businesses, and some leagues use professional team names.

Now I understand that this kid is only 9, and pushing him too hard will probably do no good. But this kid is pitching 40mph and I doubt there's many kids who put up much competition to that.

My seven-year-old son can hit 40mph and my twelve-year-old is up to 60mph and spent some time and did OK in 70mph. Just because the kid is challenging doesn't mean we should deny his chance to play, or see how our kids can do when facing him on the field. I would want to challenge my child's abilities.

That's such an old-school statement it's practically pre-historic.

Still valid one, too.

You'd enjoy watching the bigger kid muscle your kid off the ball with ease, making heavy, but fair, tackles. You'd enjoy seeing your kid stepping into bat and everytime the "special" kid was pitching you'd be hoping your kid wasn't the one who got "beaned"?

Sure would. I'd have a great conversation about how good that other kid is, too, on the ride home. I'd remind him how lucky that kid is to posses a special ability like that and that in no way means he is a bad player. Maybe it would inspire him to practice more and set a higher goal for himself. So long the kid isn't a 'bully' and doing anything harmful, I'm fine with it.

Plus, worrying about my kid getting "beaned" is a constant item for a parent to fear, but it's not unsafe, so it's not a big deal to me. It just smarts a little, he'll rub it off, and take first base. I got "beaned" a few times, and so did others, and we never got seriously hurt. And if I'm going to smother my child for fear of seeing him hurt, he'll never leave my house again. A good parent knows when to let a kid be a kid. They're going to get hurt from time to time and a 40mph pitch is not that big of a deal.

My point is that age grouping kids are there to keep the playing field as level as possible so that the less able kids don't get the complete beat down by the more able kids. Now if there's a kid that is way, way in advance of all the kids at his age why shouldn't he be moved up an age group? Cause he likes being the big fish in the little pond?

He's not a big fish; he's a little kid playing with other little kids. Don't try to make it out something that it's not. He plays with kids two years older than himself.

I was for promoting the kid, encouraging his ability. How can that possibly be misconceived as not wanting him to be special? If he moves up an age he's still the special kid playing a year above.

Which is forcing him to do something he doesn't want to do. He's been forced to play a different position, or ride the pine. "Sorry, you're 'too special' for this league, so you can't play. You can only be 'somewhat special' or you'll have to go somewhere else." That's not proper. Nobody from that league asked him how he feels about what's happening. They alone decided to punish the child for being too good and not wanting to play in a certain team.

 

[Zrow]

I agree that the kid should be allowed to play.

However, this isn't about kids losing to someone who's better - it's about 8 year olds on a little league team being scared to bat against someone with a 40 mph pitch. I can understand the other parents' concerns, but it's really just part of being on a baseball team when you're a kid.

Also, I think we have very different definitions of "child abuse".

 

[Formula1Driver]

As SL pointed out, getting beaned by a pitch is not the most horrible pain any kid will have to endure. I've been hit my share and sure some of them hurt for a bit, but by the time you get to first base its pretty much not an issue. And 40MPH is not a blistering speed at all, as kids play more and more baseball or any sport, they are going to run into kids that can hit harder, throw harder, shoot harder, kick harder, everything harder. Why not encourage your own child to practice and get better rather than complaining about how hard one kid throws.

This is like saying a kid who hits homeruns every at bat that they can't play anymore cause they hit too good.

 

[Omnis]

My first thought after reading that article: What is this kid doing pitching to these noobs?

He should be in the next league/age-group up, progressing even faster. The punishment is really stupid, though. The league should be accommodating his talent instead of banning him.

 

[hemisport15]

I read about this yesterday and I still can't believe it. You should never punish a child for being good at something, you should be proud and hope that his skill leads to bigger and brighter things. It so unfair to him and now the kid is blaming himself for everything and is beating himself up about it. His mother said it best, "I think it's discouraging when you're telling a 9-year-old you're too good at something. The whole objective in life is to find something you're good at and stick with it. I'd rather he spend all his time on the baseball field than idolizing someone standing on the street corner." I also can't believe a grown man took his players off of the field when they found out he was pitching, "Oh, Jericho is pitching let's pack up and leave guys. kthxbai." I'm with you on this one Solid Lifters.

 

[wrcsti]

I have to agree with the not punishing for way too good, but because of that now most major leage baseball teams now know of this kid 10 or so years before time to sign him up. His chances at MLB doubled atleast because of this "child abuse". He should simply be put in a leage for the "elite" kids that noone wants to play against and let them get to the MLB without messing anyone up.

 

[YSSMAN]

He should be in the next league/age-group up, progressing even faster. The punishment is really stupid, though. The league should be accommodating his talent instead of banning him.

I completely agree, if his talent is really that good, he should be playing in a field that will accommodate it.

What it comes down to for me in this instance is that both parties are being irrational when it comes to approaching the problem. I don't think this is anywhere close to requiring legal action, but at the same time, the league shouldn't have outright "banned" the kid either. It seems to me that it would have been fairly simple for the organizers to pull the coach to the side and just say "Hey, that kid is really good, but could you guys rotate a different pitcher in to level the playing field just a bit?" If they would have done that and made some special concessions to him (possibly moving him up to a bigger/better league), it could have saved a lot of problems and likely could have made the kid feel a lot better about himself.

I can understand how unbelievably scary it is to face off against someone in a sport who has ten times the talent as you. Back when I was doing my bike racing we used to see a few kids who were quite able to compete in very high adult levels, but because they were still a few months away from the threshold of having to switch, they continued to "play it safe" and race with those of us who were obviously a bit more "slow." When you're getting lapped twice on a 10 mile course in a 40 mile race, it is absolutely devastating. Particularly when your entire team gets it too.

 

[Formula1Driver]

I have to agree with the not punishing for way too good, but because of that now most major leage baseball teams now know of this kid 10 or so years before time to sign him up. His chances at MLB doubled atleast because of this "child abuse". He should simply be put in a leage for the "elite" kids that noone wants to play against and let them get to the MLB without messing anyone up.

I'm not sure that's really the way it works... Just because this kid got a story done about him about not being able to play because he's too good, doesn't mean MLB teams are licking their chops waiting for him to be on the draft list.

EDIT: I agree with YSSMAN though, I would have no problem with league officials talking to the coach and figuring out a way to not pitch the kid all the time, get other kids pitching and playing. But I still think he should be able to pitch.

 

[ExigeEvan]

My seven-year-old son can hit 40mph and my twelve-year-old is up to 60mph and spent some time and did OK in 70mph. Just because the kid is challenging doesn't mean we should deny his chance to play, or see how our kids can do when facing him on the field. I would want to challenge my child's abilities.

If your 7yr old is hitting 40's then explain why the 8-10 year olds in this league are struggling? And this kid isn't challenging, he's overwhelming by the sounds of it. A boxing fight between a lightweight and a middleweight might be challengine, but a bout between a lightweight and a heavyweight is just overwhelming. And overwhelming is alot more a matter of morale crushing than being brave in the fact of defeat. And trust me, I've played football (soccer) and lost 15-0 more than once as a child.

Still valid one, too.

Highly debatable.

Sure would. I'd have a great conversation about how good that other kid is, too, on the ride home. I'd remind him how lucky that kid is to posses a special ability like that and that in no way means he is a bad player. Maybe it would inspire him to practice more and set a higher goal for himself. So long the kid isn't a 'bully' and doing anything harmful, I'm fine with it.

How about the dad (or mother) having a conversation with this special kid to say he should be looking for new challenges and seeking to improve his game by moving up an age group. There's alot of convo's you can have with kids.

Plus, worrying about my kid getting "beaned" is a constant item for a parent to fear, but it's not unsafe, so it's not a big deal to me. It just smarts a little, he'll rub it off, and take first base. I got "beaned" a few times, and so did others, and we never got seriously hurt. And if I'm going to smother my child for fear of seeing him hurt, he'll never leave my house again. A good parent knows when to let a kid be a kid. They're going to get hurt from time to time and a 40mph pitch is not that big of a deal.

Well then that's something I can't comment on as my baseball is limited to messing about on a rounders pitch with a cricket ball.

He's not a big fish; he's a little kid playing with other little kids. Don't try to make it out something that it's not. He plays with kids two years older than himself.

He's the big fish by definition that he's making a big splash. And that is what this is, especially when you go throwing statements of child abuse around. And he's 9, playing with 8-10 yr olds. That means he's playing kids 1 year older, and 1 year younger.

Which is forcing him to do something he doesn't want to do.

Cause kids always get to do what they want, yeah?

He's been forced to play a different position,

Happens all the time in field sports. I had to play goal keeper once, didn't want to, turned out I was pretty good, still hated it. But if it's for the good of the team.

or ride the pine. "Sorry, you're 'too special' for this league, so you can't play. You can only be 'somewhat special' or you'll have to go somewhere else." That's not proper. Nobody from that league asked him how he feels about what's happening. They alone decided to punish the child for being too good and not wanting to play in a certain team.

Frankly, it's a developmental league, so I'm assuming that there's better leagues out there for him, so the organisers are within their rights to say he's too good. Now once again I don't agree with the timing of this ban.

 

[Sniffs]

first off, lay off on Solid Lifer's anti commie attitude. there's bound to still be plenty of people raised like that floating around. specially out here in the boonies.

second: they pulled him indeed for the self esteem thing. it's the obsession with safety that's been brewing since the first of Gen Xers became parents. it's a reaction to the loose brainelessness of the 60's and 70's that Gen X adults blame on Baby-boomer parents.

third. if this kid is a natch...something that strikes me as bloody rare nowadays, they should scoot him up to Little League full with the older kids.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

"Won't somebody please think of the children..."

Seriously, as a world, we need to chill out about children. Yes, protect them from evil, but someone who can throw a ball a bit too well doesn't need to be protected, and neither do others need to be protected from him. There's a sense - from the story and this thread - that everyone thinks that something should be done, but nobody' prepared to agree on what. Meanwhile, the world goes to hell in an eco-friendly hybrid handbasket of good intentions, and the kid thinks "**** this, I'm off to play Wii and drink Merrydown cider".

Anderton Prime's second sentence of his first post in this thread was bang on.