Little League is a time for kids to play the game for the pure enjoyment and love of baseball.  It is a time to for them to learn the game, have fun, and build friendships.  Kids should be kids and have a blast playing the game.  The emphasis should be on learning and getting better, not winning championships.  If you do happen to win a championship as a coach at this level, ask yourself one question.  Did I teach kids the basic fundamentals and did everyone get a chance to learn and progress.  Now before you think I am some sissy who believes everyone should get a participation ribbon, let me assure you I am not, in fact I hate participation ribbons.  That being said baseball at this age should be about learning and growing, as kids get older and decide to continue to play or not the competition and emphasis on winning will come.  I always tell coaches, don’t be the reason a kid quits.  With that being said I would like to share a story with you that would be funny, if were not true.

At a tournament a few years ago in Louisville, Kentucky we ran into a group of really good 14 year olds who absolutely kicked our butts.  That night we were at the hotel and we ran into the team’s parents.  I always like to talk to the other parents and see what things are like where they are from and how their team is ran.  I quickly realized this was a conversation I should have avoided, but by this time I was sucked in and amazed at the crap being spewed that I just couldn’t leave.  This guy told me about all the money he spends on camps and clinics and lessons, blah, blah, blah.  He was pretty much bragging about how much he spends and how much money he has.  As I grew tired of this and thought how much worse can this get, he made a statement that I will remember for the rest of my life.  This guy told me his son gets lessons from a guy in Ohio, this guy happens to know some scouts and after a few lessons and a small talent showcase ran by the the scouts, one of them tells this guy that as a 12 year old his kid projects out as a 5th round draft pick when he is a senior in High School.  At this point in time I had to hold back my laugh.  So you are telling me MLB scouts can miss on guys who are 18 years of age through 22 by a huge margin but can tell you that your son is projectable at age 12.  Sounds to me like someone found themselves a cash cow and knew the right words it would keep producing money.  So the point is Sir, your 12 year old is not projectable, he is a 12 year old who wants to hang out and eat ice cream after games.  He may not even play next year, he may not get as big and as fast as these scouts projected, (I’m holding back laughs and tears right now while I say this).  In any case your kid is a kid and you should let him be one and allow him to enjoy the most fun years of his life before he has to start writing expense and TPS reports.