Learning From the Brawl at the Sportspark

UPDATE: I just read this again.  It was a terrible effort.  I'm embarrassed by it.   But it stays.  Where was my mind?

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Joe Muench made a good point using great humor this morning in his weekly editorial.  You can read it HERE. 

Too lazy to read it?  The subject matter was the brawl between the Bombers and the Benchwarmers and how ridiculous the incident was.  Muench has a knack for making us see that in almost everything we do. 

I had received a few emails from folks as the story unfolded during the past couple of weeks.  There was one theme in all of them - these teams have a way of becoming like gangs that play sports and what went down wasn't a surprise to parents, nor was it the first time it had happened.  There's something bigger going on here than adults acting like children.

I've noticed a trend in the past few years of local youth sports team becoming franchises-like in their nature.  Team members are not chosen by random selection or turn-based draft.  The teams are formed by parents with specific players in mind and they keep these kids together year after year and in different sports.  It's common to have a team of kids playing together from age six or seven until high school.  This is not good for the kids and even worse for the parents who are way too  emotionally invested in something that's "just for fun."

When these teams stick together for so long the dads get to be a little crazy when it comes to winning and losing.  The gang mentality starts in when these teams start having stickers, logos and other insignia that identifies them not on their jerseys, but on cars and other objects.  The dangerous cycle of becoming more involved than just casually starts.  It ends with fist fights over a kid's game.

The best way to keep this from happening in the future is to make sure leagues have a either a blind draft and kids switch teams every year.  These "cliques" that are forming all over town are especially bad for kid's development as far sports go.  A kid stuck in left field at age seven on one of these teams is likely to still be in left field on that same team when they are 13.  Once roles are set, they are set in stone.  Any change would be bigger than just writing in a different position on the lineup card.  It would require explanation to both the team and the team's parents.  Because nobody wants to shake up team moral, the kid stays stuck where he started no matter how good he's gotten, or could be.  It's likely that once you're not labeled as "good" on these teams, you're doomed to never achieve.

With a new team and teammates every year, a kid has a chance at trying out for new spots.  He can grow as a player each year.  It also keeps the immature parents from having the time to get overly invested in the team.  Constant change is good.  In leagues where teams change every year, you have far less instances of these incidents.

Comments

[Maria]

I watched the parents and coaches address the County Commissioners, and the only thing that kept coming into mind was that famous saying by George Lopez "WHY ARE YOU CRYING" the men sniffled, got choked up, the moms were admament that the punishment was too severe for their poor children, and the legalities of the bats.

The whole issue that Chuy, or Manny, or Javier, or anyone else was bullying the other team's Chuy, or Manny, or Javier was never mentioned.

They all know who was at fault and instead of saying these parents will step up and step out so the kids could play, they instead danced all around the real reasons.

So in an interest for the gang to continue to protect the gang, the consequences were far from severe, in fact, they hopefully will be a lesson well learned for the future.

Your children know what you did, so if you truly want to be a good example, admit you were wrong, and take a step in the right direction.

[Lupe]

It seems to me that all these people are not doing right by their children. When children play in sports they need to know that they cannot always win or lose. They need to learn sportsmen ship. They need to teach these kids to learn honesty, getting along, not to fight and other things to that affect. This brawl was very stupid and idiotic and this parents should be ashamed.

[(:-p)]

"When children play in sports they need to know that they cannot always win or lose."-Quote of the month candidate. It's sad that a couple of these fathers probably have delusions-of-grandeur, in that Jr. will be a future lottery ticket when he becomes the next "Sultan of Swat."

Remember kiddies, if Pops is willing to double your allowance if you agree to "roid-up," you just simply.....REFUSE THE JUICE!!!

[ole ball coach]

you are right about its better for the kids if they change teams every year, however, even the westside parents have turned against little league and gone the way of the select eastside teams. we had state champion socorro because of the plex. that team had been playing together ever since they were at the plex under falvey. so at least one time you could say it worked, but with out open enrollment it wouldnt have worked. socorro with its open enrollment allowed this team to come to high school and basically be "the team". i doubt more than 3 actually lived in socorro. the other thing no one talks about at the plex is how many illegal kids from juarez play at the plex and with what birth certificates they use. ive known teams that have used 14 year old players using their younger brothers birth 12 year old in the 12 year old league. thats both el paso and juarez kids. it happens more in soccer. the drive to win outweighs the ethics.

[Pfft]

Seriously?!?!??!?!