Sunday, June 28, 2009

An early lesson on fairness....


(Disclosure: This is MY blog, and MY opinion. If you don't like it.... quit reading!)


Okay, as many of you know that this year there were 25-ish boys sign up for Minor League baseball here in Crawford. What a wonderful thing to have so much interest!

So the kids were split based on age (some families stayed together for convenience); older boys on the Orange team, younger ones on the Grey. So, it is Tournament time next week. All the while we (the parents) thought that since we sere so late in splitting our teams in two, that we could only bring one team to the Tourney. So, the Tournament team was selected, 16 kids out of the 25-ish. Not sure how it was selected since Coach L. told me that we don't keep stats (which we do, I sat next to many stat keepers), and that Matt was very close, but NOT being chosen. Yes, Matt was NOT chosen to be a member of the team. But, a 5 year old was chosen (age limit is 6 to 10). Matt-man was very upset.... kept saying it wasn't fair... AND IT WASN'T! I know that it is political.... geeze! Matt calmed down by the next day, and I heard that several other boys were upset,too. I think that BOTH teams should be able to play, this IS FOR THE KIDS, right?
So, I contacted the Chadron League, and asked why we couldn't bring two teams. They said that we were ALLOWED to bring two teams, but the Crawford coaches DECIDED to only bring one! Can you believe that! Crawford coaches decided to bring an "elite" team, and didn't care that ALL these boys played the entire year, and were LET DOWN by their very coaches! I am sure that the coaches didn't consider that they let these kids down, since all of their children were selected for the Tournament team, despite their age and skill level. I guess it is better to upset someone elses kid, than to upset your own, eh?

Chalk it up to another lesson in life learned a VERY EARLY AGE.

"Life isn't FAIR!" Yuck, I hate for kids to learn that so early!

6 comments:

  1. Mark was upset too. You could contact the coaches if you feel so strongly and tell them that you'll coach the other team if they don't want to. Or get all the parents of the children that are upset and go to the coaches. The Tournament hasn't started yet.
    Side note: Maybe you should up date my blog link on your page. It is showing that I haven't blog in like 5 months and I just did the other day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Phae~ The Chadron folks said that the brackets are already made, and that it is just too late to add that team. As I totally suggested that I take another team. I am sorry that Mark felt jolted, too. Poor little boys! I wish I had known that our Coaches threw the little guys under the bus in a more timely way!
    p.s. I think that since your blog is private it does that... I am looking into it! Thanks for the support!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow. What a hard line for the coaches to pull. I can't believe there isn't more they would have had to do to get out of placing two teams in the tournament. I feel really bad about this -- I wish there was more we could do to help.

    Politics have ALWAYS been my worst subject. FAIRNESS has been my mojo...

    Hang in there!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You know what Becky, I thought from day one those coaches should have had a major league team and a minor league team to spread out the kids so EVERYONE could play... and knew (or shoudl I say the thought crossed my mind many times) that when tournament time came that only a selective few would probably be chosen. I am very discouraged for you and Matt that he didn't get chosen. I know what you mean also on the age limit and having a 5 year old go. Sorry it's worked out that way for you guys!!! Wish I could help change something. I am glad you voiced your opinion. I would be the exact same way had it happened to one of my girls. Hope things work out better in the future. I just feel that if they had put those boys into two leagues things would have been different...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Just so you all know one of the coaches you are talking about is my husband. I will tell you that it was not an easy situation for a coach to be in. It was a tough decision and we feel bad for those that have had their feelings hurt. What do you do? I think people forget that the gray and orange team were actually one team split so everyone could play. We had one spot in the tournament. I would give kudos to anyone who could have made the situation easier and fairer. It was tough. Wish it could have been easier and hurt feelings could be saved. There are two sides to every story and I know the coaches are good people who would not purposely hurt or shun anyone. Sorry feelings were hurt. If you don't like the way things have gone talk to your coaches in a professional matter and see what's up instead of blogging behind there back and making them look bad. They have worked very hard this year with those boys and have taken time out of their own personal lives for them. For that they deserve kudos for that.
    Cherokee

    ReplyDelete
  6. Facts:
    -The Chadron Baseball Board allowed us to bring TWO teams to the Tournament.
    -We ONLY took one, due to OUR coaches decision.
    -Feelings were hurt, and not just mine or my childs.
    -Kudos to the kids, for they learned a valuable lesson.
    -This is MY BLOG, MY OPINION. (See disclaimer!)

    ReplyDelete

Please, please leave a comment!

My favs.