My inclination is to say no, because I'm watching my son's teeball team develop all sorts of interesting loops, chops or unnaturally flat swing planes in order to hit the ball.  They're just little kids, so I'm not deeply concerned, but I was just wondering whether other folks had insight.
201229
It can help kids who have never played before learn how to hold the bat, swing the bat, and hit a ball. If a kid already has these skills, a more helpful drill is to have them his soft-tosses into a fence. have them stand about 10 feet away from the backstop, facing the backstop (as if it was the pitcher's mound. Kneel off to the side about 5 feet away (as if you were in the other batters box) and gently lob balls to them underhand. I realize this sounds a bit confusing, but here is what it should look like:\n\nchild------backstop\n|\n| (softly thrown ball) \n|\nyou\n\nThis helps them learn how to hit a moving ball, and teaches them a more natural swing. This is also a good way to learn how to drive the ball with some power.
619175
Guilty as charged. I got my kids into soccer for that very reason. I was scared of them getting hurt in scrums etc, but it is a game of skill.
674686
I have never seen this happen on my boys' teams (Little League & soccer).  I strongly feel that this has to do with the league & the coaches - you need to let everyone know up front what the deal is.  One year, my son's soccer coach sent home a letter at the beginning of the season saying - I'm the coach, you're not, if you want to coach then volunteer.  He phrased it a little more kindly, but you get the idea.  Let your parents know up front what your expectations are for parents.  By the way, your record is irrelevant.  It doesn't matter if your team is horrible - so what - parents need to realize that their children are not going to become professional athletes.    I think you are awesome to volunteer.  My fellow parents & I treat our coaches great!
327666
Stupid Umpire!\n\n\nYes it is legal in a way. The strike zone is based on the relation of the ball's position to the batter while over the plate, that doesn't vary, but, if the umpire can't get a good look at it the judgement is gonna be clouded a bit. \n\nNow, some pitches are so borderline close so that all aspects of it are taken into account when calling balls or strikes. That means, if the catcher sets up on the outside corner, and the pitch is VERY close to the outside corner, and the catcher nabs it without flinching, or moving the glove at all, we got a strike! If that some pitch were to come in, and the catcher flat missed it and it was called a strike, the only one in the park who would believe it would be the umpire! Usually when a catcher misse a pitch that was "borderline" and it is called a strike, the ensuing comments will be 'but the catcher couldn't evn handle it". \n\nThis umpire may have been trying to tell your son that he didn't want to get hit. None of us want to get hit, but 9 year olds? I worked a 9U tourney this weekend and got hit a few times, never told the catcher he had better start catching those. If he was missing a lot of them, I might tell his coach he nedds to get me some help back there. I worked a HS playoff game the monday following the tourney, and ws hit square in the arm with an 85 mph fast ball that did come off the dirt, but the catcher never laid a glove on it. I did (jokingly of course) threaten to boot that kid out into centerfield! He apologized for missing it, but that does happen.\n\nBottom line is it sounds as if the umpire in this game ought not to be calling 9U ball! Tell your son to keep trying, and work on the catch. Don't let the umpire scare him off. \n\nCatchers are my favorite players! they are my first line of protection from the 80+ mph missiles being thrown at me!
616604
Lefties suck at infield, if u want to play and be successful make the switch to outfield. i have been playing outfield for 2 years and i absolutely love it, as u get older more balls will be hit into the outfield, there is no better feeling in baseball then making a diving catch...Have fun kid
137197
Get some people (preferably older kids) and ask them to play t-ball in front of the little kids with a lot of enthusiasm as if it's the best game in the world. I learned that kids at that age, they're MUCH better at imitating than listening!
647388
they're idiots...and i agree with first baseman...ive been in arguments before where they just shutup, its easy to prove them wrong and can sometimes be fun....but shooting just above their heads is always fun too....but make sure u have good aim..
507210
I'm one of those obsessed fans who spends all day tracking some sport in some manner. I think there are a lot of answers to this question. But I feel that one of the best arguments are that it's traditional. We pass things on from generation to generation. I live in Massachusetts, and one of the first things I bought my son was a red sox outfit! When I was growing up, I watched my father and wanted to be like him in every way, and he was into sports as well. One of the first toys I had as a child were baseball cards, and I looked up their value religously. I think another argument could be the entertaining value. Men tend to like fast action and quick information, men are also competitive in nature. I personally can't compete with these players, although deep down I think I can for some reason, so, I root for a team instead. Sometimes I latch onto certain players who have a style like me, and it's comforting thinking that it could be me out there on the field, and I hope for that player to do well. Watching football on sunday is the ultimate feel good experience. There's nothing more exciting than a last minute touchdown or field goal, it could even be better than sex. It's comforting, traditional, exciting, cheerleaders, food, and BEER! I could keep going....
239395
If you took away the coaches and parents you would not get a team,  but you would get a bunch of kids who will either have fun or fight like cats and dogs.  the whole purpose of baseball is for the kids to learn about the game and to learn structure and how to deal with pressure ,  I have made it my first priority for them to realize that fun is the name of the game and ,  if my kids arent having fun,  they do not need to play.
321870
I think the coaches were out of line.  They thought they were motivating him, when actually they were tearing him down.  Not all children/people respond well when they are being yelled at all, not very constructive.  Their actions could cause the opposite affect they desire.  Rather than motivate, they chase them away from the sport.  There is a fine line, especially with children playing sports.  You know your little guy and what makes him respond.  If I were you I would talk with all the coaches.  Explain that you didn't raise your child with verbal assaults.  Tell them that you are concerned that they will push him away from the sport rather than help.  Let them know that you don't expect for your child to babied but nurtured.  Suggest taking him out of the game the next time he messes up, rather than verbally embarassing him.  If your son really wants to play he will do the best he can to continue playing.  Another thought would be to get the opinions of other players parents, if they agree, try as a group to discuss this with the coaches.  The only reason I suggest this is if the coaches are jerks your son could pay for your chat with the coaches.  He could be teased and degraded as being a momma's boy when your not around.  Don't act offended of the situation but as a concerned parent who wants her child to excel in the sport.    Being a sports freak myself, I feel that these days people are going overboard when it comes to sports.
28809
wow... too much stretching of the old memory here...\nthere was something about a game, kind of a ring toss sort of thing, that oblio & arrow were really good at despite oblio's "pointlessness"... am I close?\n\nedit: it was triangle toss... darned obsessive curiosity...
103031
first of all "hollisterdude57" is the biggest loudmouth idiot in these answers!! Everytime I see him he's answering some way to say the asker sucks or is a loser. \n\nNext I'll answer this resonable question. Mostly I answer questions with what I think and know. And like someone else says, I like to sometimes prove my facts by getting even more percise info from some websites or teams home pages. So I'd say yes and no. *RZ*
356803
Oh man dude, you have no idea what a coincidence this is. My girlfriend and another friend spent about an hour this afternoon trying to decide whether sports is worth yelling at or not. \nFor my own reasons, it's just a way of life. And I think it's safe to say for all us sports fans, that we get into it a bit too much sometimes. All of us invest a whole lot of expectations and hopes within one team, that we even feel tied to the game and the team. It's understandable to shout and act crazy during a game, if you really hate it, maybe talk to your cousin about it?\nThanks
415363
Sounds like the little boy syndrome that has not grown up yet. I have to see my game. Look there are a lot of so called men that take the sports thing to the point of Yuk. I like most sports but there are too many other things in life that rate higher, and one would be time with my wife. It sounds as if you are going to play second fiddle to whatever he has going at the moment. That calls for a simple \nHasta La Vista Baby. Too many fish in the sea for one bad catch.
558713
I think both of those statements are false.  We can be thankful for anyone who helps support the golf courses.  They golf coures need as many players as they can get, a lot of golf course are fixing to go under.  Why would you care?  Just worry about your own game and what clubs you play
378862
Bad for The Tigers. I dont know what Dombrowski was thinking.\n\nThat sanchez dude was big prospect in our system, and he'll come back to haunt The Tigers in the future.\n\nI'm just hoping that Sheffield can keep his head in the game.\nHis bat might us help us.
6772
I have a thought on this. I read your remarks and I have felt your pain with various people I've played with over the years. \n\nMy simple rule is this. I don't BS people, there are VERY FEW truly nice shots in a round of golf. Unless someone hits a really nice shot, I don't say anything. \n\nAnother thing on this, if someone tells you nice shot, thank them for it, don't just walk away all proud. If I take the time to tell someone they hit a good shot they darn well better acknowledge the fact that I noticed it and thank me! \n\nOther than that I think it's good etiquette to acknowledge a nice shot, but seriously, unless he steaked it to 3 feet or busted a wicked hooking three wood on the green from 260 yards, I don't say anything.