Never Played - Should They Even Try?

Opinion.
Its recreational ball. Participating not winning is important. Life has risk. Play them in the outfield, teach them the basics.

Wow!

Check the liability amounts/limits on the insurance; and, get some additional coverage if you are a coach and know better but let them play because they "require" you to play them.

Too, I would send a certified letter to the park district and the President of your league explaining the problems and that you want no further participation as a coach. I would send a copy to the current liability carrier, too.

"Life has risk." ...What a non-sensical statment! ....about kids who haven't played the game playing against kids that are competitors and have some baseball skills. Tough to put teeth in a jaw/mouth. How about the eyes and head injuries. Doesn't take much with a thrown ball or a rocket off of someone's bat!

Been there, Gimme a break. The studs are playing on the HS team, this is rec ball. These kids are not up against Ken Griffey Jr or Arod, they are playing against other rec ball players.
How man life threatening or "eye-threatening Rockets" have you seen hit to the outfield in rec ball?? Rather than take the ball and go home as you suggest why not something constructive? If its such a huge problem in the league set up a tiered competion arrangementlike they do in Junior Baseball in Oregon ie 3 levels where the teams play against teams of similar skills? Let the never evers practice together and play against each other; maybe we will get some s****r players back! No Offense but thats a ****** attitude to take to rec ball: Dont play you arent good enough; hey its for your own good Kid!

Let me clarify. We're in a somewhat unique situation. Our "rec ball" is the ONLY league in town for 13-15 players, and includes players from High Schools who don't have baseball programs (we're overseas). So, we do have "studs" - this is a competitive league. Did I ever say anywhere that I wasn't going to coach them or do my best to make sure they don't get hurt? I was only asking for people's opinions. My opinion is that there is a higher risk of serious injury for guys who don't know which way to turn the glove when a ball is flying towards their face at 80mph. Football? Okay, the kids go out and take a beating in full pads and helmet. Basketball? The kid loses the ball constantly and misses all his shots. No problem. Baseball? The body, face, and head are fully exposed - your only line of defense is your glove - and if you do not know how to use it effectively, there's nothing to stop that rock from drilling into flesh and bone. Yes, I'm very concerned about the safety of these kids. I'm a teacher, I know these kids well, I know their parents, I like them all. I do not want to see them take a ball to the teeth. We're not using RIF balls here.

Hhow many players/teams? Why not separate them based on talent/experience?

Hide them in RF bat them a few times ...it will work itself out. THey have the same right to sign up for rec ball as any free tax paying citizen. Everybody knows that a baseball can hurt you even the insurance carrier. You are paying them to assume that risk. That is what the premium is for. This happens all over the country and is not unique to your program. I have coached a few myself and they lived to tell it

We have some players on our JV High School team that have never played organized baseball before!!!

Granted, they don't have to be played, and the coach uses them for designated runners, and a little bit in the outfield.

They are all good athletes (recruited from the football team) and are learning fast. I would bet that by the time they are seniors, they will be pretty good ball players.

(We have a small program that is seriously trying to rebuild in a primarily basketball school)

Sorry Folks...This is a no-brainer! Putting kids on the field who have NEVER played the game with 14/15 year old kids who are potentially throwing 75 to 85 mph is absurd to say the least. I saw first hand what could happen in the Junior div of Little League a few years ago. Boy,14, never played before-had to be told which hand to put the glove on(I told him and I wasn't the coach). After he put it on the proper hand he proceeded to use his bare hand to catch the ball. I went up to the coach and said "Don't you think it's
dangerous to have him out here?" He replied that he was required to play him every game. Well, the first game he was hit with a pitch on the wrist and broke it(did not make the first effort to move out of the way). By the way, I even approached the father beforehand to warn him of the danger and he said he appreciated it but his son wanted to give it a try. It could have been a lot worse with a fastball at the head.

As far as the example of first time drivers--There are tests
before licenses are issued--many fail before they are licensed. A little common sense would go a long way--Most leagues have tryouts---what's wrong with having the president of the league review questionable players and making a decision based on safety. Let these players practice with the teams and when they have shown that they
are at least able to protect themselves then insert them into some games.

Remember-First we crawl, then we walk, then we run!!

Are you quite sure these guys have never played at all ? I would think it is more likely that they played t-ball and little league and then got cut from middle school ball. This is a common scenario. These kids should absolutely be given a chance. I have seen many players with some skills get cut from middle school and never have the courage to try out again. Many talented players fall through the cracks this way. Another type of kid that fits the profile of these players is the rebel kid. He can't take the discipline of school ball and drops out. This kid could have the best fastball in the county. If they truly have 0 baseball experience then I suggest you teach them how to get out of the way of a wild pitch first. Use the HS players as your starters but give these other kids a chance too.

Before everything got "politically correct" kids wre grouped by ability--I remember 12 year olds in LL playing in the minors with 8 thru 10 years olds because of the ability level

There are ways to make it work if you work at at it.

Just...As I'm sure you know, my comments are NEVER intended to please everyone.

Fact is fact.

15 year old kids, who can play, throwing a baseball to other 13-15 year old kids who have video games and graphing calculators on their minds is an invitation for disaster.

Those that haven't played would best be served by becoming fans at the next level who go to the games and enjoy the game with their buddies.

Folks, I don't think you understand

These kids are overseas, in an area that does have a baseball tradition (Krakatoa,Korea right?), but as a military base it's pretty well isolated, as far as the players go.

So in ther defense, all kids in this situation should play.

For god sakes, they're American kids, playing an American game, on foriegn soil!

That being said however, it's rec (or "learning") league, Krack (sorry) you have to do whatever to keep the kids safe!

Try this, have a League wide meeting, get a basis of knowledge as to who has played, and get those with experience, to help. Then try (try) to make it as safe as possible. Tell those with experience to watch out, and those who don't have much to be careful. Then tell those who don't to LISTEN to those who do, and that they will help!

Competition's not going to be great, but hopefully, they will all have fun, and those who do want to get better....well, maybe they'll have fun too!

Pitch...How did you infer that this is a high school team and a rec program in Korea? Doesn't say that anywhere I read in the first posting.

I thought that Krackatoa was a volcano or a street drug.

It does say rec ball in the first post, and later that it is overseas. What it doesn't say is these players have video games and graphic calculators on their minds. It's rec ball, let them play, let it be known to them it will be dangerous. No they don't have experience but neither do college grads looking for their first job. Gotta start somewhere. Would rather have them playing an organized sport that hanging out with too much time on their hands. They hopefully understand their role on the team and could be a good asset somewhere.

Beenthere,
From other post, I've gleaned a little info.
The highschool player's parents were transfered in. Krack's boy's have played some, and sounds like they'll "summer" in the northwest, and play here too.

I apologize about the reference to the video games and graphing calculators.

Should have said band and Chess club.

Don't appologize! They probably hve them in their uni pockets! Protectors and ALL!

I am in shock at some of these responses.

Hey kid your 13-15. Guess what it's too late to try something new - but don't worry - it's for your own safety.

Come off it.

There is a bigger risk these kids will get hit by lightening.

We should be encouraging kids to try as many sports as possible - after all we have a serious problem in America with out of shape kids.

You are never too old to try something new. Period. Certainly not at 13-15 years old. That is absurd.

Life is full of risks - heck some of these kids might try to water ski some day too (or shall you prevent that also?). They may want to climb a mountain, surf, hand glide, or repel.....lots of things with an element of risk - in fact more risk than rec baseball.

This is downright absurd.

A kid I played with started playing organized ball at 13. Wasn't very good that year and when the coach put him at SS for a goof around game at the end of the season he ended up with a broken nose while backing up a throw to second that went off the second baseman's glove.

If you think you know where I'm going with this you're wrong. The next year he was our starting shortstop. He was the HS's starting shorstop as a 16yo sophmore. As a senior in HS he was the starting shortstop for the HS all-star game in Los Angeles. He ended up playing pro ball although he never made it to the show.

My son's minor league roommate never played baseball until college...and was a 2nd round pick in 2002.

Nuture...foster...and appalaud them for their desire to do something positive rather than the obvious that they could partake of..ie drugs, alcohol and etc...have a waiver drawn up outlining the risks and absolving the league of any litigious culpability should something happen...there is a thread on player burnout running at the present perhaps the attitude that has been presented influenced many a boy to quit..our Babe Ruth league had a transition team for those moving up from LL on how to adapt to the larger field etc perhaps something of that nature could be adapted to include these youngmen....but they should be allowed to play no matter what...do not close the door on someone ready and willing to learn

I must be missing something here. Krakatoa, you did say "never played ball before" didn't you, and also "a couple of the guys on my team have been injured already"? lol It amazes me to read the posts of seemingly intelligent people who are willing to allow a kid to take a chance on receiving a life altering injury all in the name of keeping them off the streets.

Bottom line---if a kid can demonstrate that he/she has the ability and agility to protect himself/herself to a reasonable level then yes, allow them to participate. If not, then work with them until they can.
But this mandatory playing time rule is ridiculous after the Little
League age.

Yes, "never played before", literally, and most of them are not good athletes. Anyway, play they will and hopefully we can keep them safe and all have a good season. I'm out -- Malaysia at spring break -- there's an island down there with my name on it!!
(I knew it was just a matter of time until the handle got changed to "Krack" or "Krack-Smoker" or something , but I just came up with it because my class was doing a big science unit on volcanoes and we used Krakatoa -- which is WEST of Java by the way -- as our primary model for study. The eruption of 1883 could be heard 3,600 miles away! Read Simon Winchester's book if you have any interest at all in Krakatoa).

Actually Krack, I was thinking of the refrigerator repair man

Teach em how to be safe! Have fun....they'll learn a lot of good lesons.

.....or get a lot of good 'lesions'.....

I will be brutal here.

Is it really fear for their safety? Or could it be frustration over having to put unexperienced, non-athletic kids into the line up.

After all no matter how much experience a young man has there is some element of risk in baseball. If you don't believe that ask the parent of a pitcher when they have a big strong college player hit one up the middle with a metal bat.

If you feel these kids should not be allowed to play due to safety - are you willing to NOT let your own son play college ball due to the safety issues there? Of course NOT.

Put a helmet on them, hide them in the outfield, or whatever you feel you must to get them into the game "safely". But get them playing.

Did your children ever learn how to climb stairs? Crawl out of the crib? Did you ever let your son use a pair of scissors? Does he cut up his own steak with a knife? Learning involves risk.

At what age do we decide "safety" is more important than trying to learn something new?

Certainly not 13-15.

Color it however you want, but the bottom line is -- it's all about winning. And that is sad.

It's funny how some people can read other people's minds over the internet. I don't even think Kreskin can do that. That being said,
maybe we should get rid of the scoreboards,umpires,scorekeepers,
noone strikes out, foul balls are hits, there are no failures anymore.

Show me someone who doesn't care about winning and I'll show you a loser.

People who honestly care about the safety of a child, really don't care. They're just using safety as an excuse not to have that particular kid on their team.

I think there have been some good suggestions on this thread and common sense should dictate the actions.

I am all for keeping score, giving out awards and winning ball games.

Take a young, inexperienced, unathletic kid and put him in your line up and still win a ball game, now THAT is the definition of a winner.

We can debate all night if they should play or not play. There is no debate about the potential injury that can occur. A 13-15 year old kid that has never played is in a dangerous situation on a baseball field. Heck it can be a dangerous place for experienced players. It only takes one ball to the face and everyones opinion changes quickly. Yes it can happen to anyone but it is far far more likely to happen to a kid that has never played before. When kids are much younger the speed that the ball is traveling is much slower pitched hit thrown by posistion players etc. At 13-15 it is a whole different story. Me personally I would not let my son play baseball at this age if he had never played before. This is not the time to experience a new thing. It is just too dangerous. They dont have the skill or knowledge to protect themselves.

I played overseas in a league similar to this when I was 13-15. I was in Germany, not Korea at the time.

Well, the base commander's son decided he wanted to play short stop, never having played ball before. What is the Sgt. going to do, tell the Full Bird Colonel that his son couldn't play there?

So, the second game, the kid takes a ball right in the kisser......broke 4 of his front teeth clean off. Never seen a Bird Colonel cuss so much in my life. The Sgt. just smiled and said, hey, you wanted him to play there. I will give the kid credit, he did come back to play........left field. And did turn out to be a decent outfielder.

We had a 14 year old (my little brother) that was throwing 87mph.....and believe you me, he scared a BUNCH of kids (including ME)

It's an odd situation over seas. You don't have that many kids to pull from for multiple teams, so you make due with what you have. By the end of the season, we were playing with 7 or 8 kids and the other team would loan us a player or two so we could play....after driving an hour through the German country side to play another small base team.

Then there was the Kaiserslautern Teams......all 4 of them, BIG and BAD....but that's another story.

Absolutely they should try. This is rec league, they are as intitled to play as the superstar. Trying out for a High School team, the coach has options, cut them, not play them, etc. In rec league, they pay to play. Having said that, it is very important that the coach understand what each kid on his team can do. It is obvious that a kid who has never played before, should absolutely not be in the infield, especially at first or third base. Safety is paramount, and the childs safety is entirely in the coaches hands as far as where they play. Don't put them on the pitchers mound, where you are in a chuck and duck situation and they can't get out of the way of the ball. Jeez...this is a no-brainer.

"Take a young, inexperienced, unathletic kid and put him in your line up and still win a ball game, now THAT is the definition of a winner."

That is what is known as LUCK.

Happens to lotto winners, too.