Be good, but not too good
At least that’s what were telling this kid, who apparently is too good to play baseball and is being prohibited from playing little league. More after the jump.
On his last time on the field, the other team forfeited, not because he was too old, but because he was just too good. He wasn’t given the opportunity to play with older kids or a more experienced league, just “banned” from play! What does that teach the other team or him for that matter? Is this protecting the other players? File under: jumping rope with no rope.
This brings to mind the question: what lengths will we go to protect self-esteem? I can’t help but think that we create ego-maniacs when we don’t allow for natural opportunities to fail. Is losing a game to a superior playing the worst thing that can happen, or is that motivation to improve? Enough with the questions already…
Be good-
4 Comments, Comment or Ping
J.R. Bernard
I read about this story a few weeks ago. I’m not sure what exactly is their reasoning for ‘banning’ him. On the one hand, we shouldn’t punish a child for excelling at something. On the other hand, we should always look to challenge our kids, and if they say he is as dominant as they make it seem, then he should sign up for a more competitive league.
Not knowing whether the parents can afford to do this for their child, I think the right thing to do would be for the little league to sponsor the kid so that he could play against tougher competition.
Oct 1st, 2008
Teech
Most definitely. It doesn’t do anybody any good for him just to sit out. How do you feel about the team that walked out when they had to play him?
Oct 1st, 2008
J.R. Bernard
It goes against the principals on which sports try to instill in young children. Even if this kid is good enough to strike out their entire dugout, they shouldn’t have forfeited. By doing that, the people in charge of the team that forfeited basically told their kids its alright to give up if the odds are stacked against you.
I blame the adults in all of this more than I do the kids.
Oct 1st, 2008
Teech
I agree whole heartedly. We do far to much these days in favor of protecting self esteem.
Oct 1st, 2008
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