SPEARS: Too young to be worried about trophies

By John Spears For The News Virginian
Published: August 3, 2008

After four hours and 50 minutes, the 79th Major League Baseball All-Star game finally came to an end in the 15th inning as the American League All-Stars pushed across the winning run to earn an exciting, but oh-so time-consuming 6-5 victory. With the win, it gave the American League home field advantage for the in the World Series.
I feel that Major League baseball will in the near future take a long look into finding some ingenious way to alleviate this predicament of enduring another five hours of baseball that not only exasperates the fans and it has to have an effect on the players.
Another key dilemma facing the Major League Gods is the pricing of those All-Star tickets. Prices ranged at a $150 just to be a bleacher bum but the overall general admission to attend a Major League game is getting mind-boggling. No way can an average fan keep affording these excruciating prices.
Attempting to take your child to a major league game today cost a week’s pay. If you want, concessions and souvenirs, you may have to take out a small loan.
In activities leading up to the All-Star game, Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers stole the show a day before in the Home Run Derby by blasting 28 homers out of Yankee Stadium in the first round that broke Bobby Abreu’s record of 24.
Hamilton lost in the finals to Justin Mormeau of the Minnesota Twins. Hamilton actually out-hit Morneau 35 homers to 22 but Morneau won the final round that counted the most by hitting five home runs to Hamilton’s three.
A little closer to home, it seemed to be another successful season for local baseball and softball programs. I saw so many winners in the papers with regard to local programs and tournaments with quite a few teams earning invitations for district and state recognition.
My only concern is the young age we are starting to apply all this pressure and demands on these youthful stars. If they win the State Championship at nine, are they a failure if they do not win it age 10, 11 or even at 15? At the tender age of nine or 10, should we not learn the art of learning the game, basic fundamentals, importance of sportsmanship and respecting your teammates and the No. 1 thing … having fun!
I had a mother tell me down at the YMCA that her nine-year-old daughter did not enjoy her coach and that he taught her nothing. If she is age nine, she will learn something by just attending her practices, gaining valuable instructions, participating in the actual games and learning to keep wins and losses in perspective. The knowledge she will gain by experiencing just the importance of being a good teammate will be priceless.
In another disturbing story, I heard that some youth all-stars teams did practice sessions for three or more hours a session – four times a week.
Are you kidding me?
At age 9 and 10!
In my opinion, this cannot be good for those young arms and bodies, plus some of these potential superstars will lose interest and stop playing the sport all together due to these long practice sessions.
This can relate to any youth sport … not just baseball or softball. I know with my under-10 AAU Girls, Lady Xplosions, we practice for 1½ hours, two days a week — that last 30 minutes it is so tough to keep them focus, they are ready to go home or somewhere.
As a coach, it my job to keep it fun and put more and new challenges in front of them each day. I understand what all youth coaches experience each day because I can relate to the many hats they wear each day in practices and during games.
As coaches and players puts away the bats, gloves and spikes, I hope everyone had an upbeat and positive season and look forward to the opportunity of playing again next year.
It should have been an honor and enjoyment for you as a coach to instruct and teach.
As a player, you should have thanked those that made it possible for you to participate and let that coach or coaches know how much you appreciated them for the time and efforts they gave you and your teammates.
I hope you can’t wait until next year.
That means you had fun, it was enjoyable and you have a craving to get better in whatever sport you participated in this summer.
Editors note: John Spears has been the Waynesboro YMCA’s sports director for 15 years, and has been involved with the Y for over 30 years. He also is Commissioner of the Valley Officials Basketball Association and has officiated basketball in all levels of NCAA play.
Voices from the Y is a weekly rotating column that features staff members from the Waynesboro YMCA.