Youth coaches bring
bullying to baseball
We
talk of bullying in the schools by children, but recently, at a youth
baseball game between two Mullica Township teams, I witnessed grown men
bullying and attacking a 10-year-old boy.
It just so happens the boy was my grandson, who was pitching.
I
have played sports my whole life from high school and college
basketball to equestrian competitions. My husband was a semi-pro
baseball player. So I know a little about sports.
What
I witnessed showed all that is wrong about organized sports for
children. Youth leagues should be a place to learn the game, practice
good sportsmanship and have fun. Instead, you had coaches from the
opposing team arguing calls with the umpire and screaming that this boy
was taking his foot off the mound when pitching.
Needless
to say, it was a traumatic experience for a young kid learning the
game. There is so much to be gained by playing sports, but certainly
nothing is gained in this type of environment.
BETTY SCHIAFFINO
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