I hope that I can add some insight to your roll as a parent prior to the start of the season. Why does your child playfi Do you allow them to have fun in doing so, or is it way too much pressurefi We come off an outstanding effort by our high school teams in 2006 where the boys and girls teams both won State Championships. Congratulations to them, they represented us well. Not every boy or girl will win the championship, many won’t even make the teams that they dream of playing for. So it is of great importance to allow other forces to drive our kids, let other skills be learned that will be helpful in life.

As more and more accelerated teams spring up, I worry and wonder about the future of recreation baseball. I wonder if the one (accelerated) will kill the other (recreation)fi Where will all the kids go that just want to playfi If the rec. league dies, where will the accelerated league gather their players fromfi Questions, questions and more questions. Let me give you my thoughts. I do think I am qualified as an expert on the subject. I coach both of my sons on Super League teams, I coach and run the City Recreational leagues. I umpire college ball, allowing me to see where these lucky few really get to and where it takes them.

Some of my best memories as a child came while playing baseball under the lights of the Pony field at Russell Swenson Memorial Park. The lights, the smell of the grass, the cute girls that hung out by the dugout. Boy it was fun. Did I mention the drive to play, to compete and most of all to beat my friends who played for the other teams.

Facing Greg Lindsey, Robbie Reid and Jason Albee as they tried to strike me out. Once we got to high school those three prayed that I would catch fly balls hit my way. They didn’t have to worry about my stick. We didn’t have super league and things worked out. Our team won the second State Baseball Championship that SFHS added to the tradition.

I think the only way our current boys and girls will face each other is on the recreation diamond. Can Andy Perkins get a hit off of Hayden Nielsen when the cards are downfi There is only one way to find out. You see, these two play on the same Super League team and do not face each other in games. The 10u Sugar Kings have one of the best pitchers in the State for that age group. I know this because I coach that team. Nic Roberts is the Roger Clements of 10u super league All the kids that age know it and talk about him and his arm. Dallin Shepherd also plays on the Sugar Kings. In City League Dallin plays for the Mustang Mets. I watched him go 2 for 2 off Roberts last year in a City League game He is the only kid I have seen do that in over 30 games, Recreation or Super league. I use these example for one reason. Our boys and girls want to play against each other, most of the time it is more fun than Saturday games and brings less pressure.

My second evaluation maybe more valuable than the childhood dreams or friendly competition. I watch all of our local boys play in these high stakes Saturday games and tournaments. The pressure that is put on them by coaches, parents and opponents is amazing. I can recall a couple of times when I have put the pressure on my team or sons. Now that I am past the moment I ask myself, “what were you thinking, was it really that importantfi” The answer is no.

In the recreation field I continue to receive education by way of experience, but the studies that I look into are far more valuable. It is amazing how many kids quit playing any type of sports due to the lack of fun and too much pressure. If you wonder about these studies take a look at our Spanish Fork City Leagues in any sport, any gender. Kindergarten to second grade are the largest leagues in all sports. Third and fourth grade is the point where we start keeping score and coaches start wanting more in terms of dedication. These numbers of participants is still quite high. Fifth and Sixth grade is where the first major drop off of participants happens. The kids quit due to lack of skills and success at this point, but they quit more due to lack of fun and support. Seventh grade is the edge, the fun is gone for many and they find other things to do that they enjoy. The same is the case in accelerated sports just at a faster rate. I think that many of us as parents need to asks and listen to our kids as to sports. Not just doing what we want or think they want.

I believe that the majority of boys and girls will continue to play both league when given a choice. I remember two or three teams over the past years that have decided not to play recreation ball. Week after week two or three of these boys signed up late. They decided they wanted to play after all. I can tell you they missed something. It wasn’t the competition that they missed, it was the fun they saw others having that they wanted too. City league is fun. I encourage you to let your child make the choice. Accelerated coaches should not make this decision for your child.

The choice to play will have another hurdle this year as we (Spanish Fork Parks & Recreation) have added a Monday Night league for Accelerated teams. City League will play Tues. through Thursday with some Friday games as well. It will be a lot of baseball for some –five games a week. I wish I had an option to play five games a week when I was a kid. More games, less practice what could be betterfi Oh yea, a ball park burger and holding hand with the life guard from the Sandlot.