Other Sports Running over a fielder in the base line...

KC Kings · 07-21-2008, 09:32 AM

At what age do you teach kids to run over a fielder in the base-line, and how do you explain to them how to do it in a sportsmanlike way?

I coached a 8U competitive machine pitch team this past season, and two instances stick out in my mind that I don't want to run into. The first incident, our 1st baseman was barely on the bag and the runner shoved him on his way by. He was either a kid with a 5'6" dad with an little guy complex telling him to do this, or he didn't understand what the coach was teaching him. Either way it was unsportsmanlike and I don't want my boys doing that. The second incident was when we had a runner going from 1st to 2nd and he pulled up to run around the 2nd baseman as the SS was covering the bag and as a result was forced out.

We are playing 9U kid pitch this fall, and it is easy to say "if they are playing competitive, run 'em over", but these are kids just out of 2nd grade. I think that they are ready to learn to run over players in the baseline, but how do you teach them to do that without being a dick?

markk · 07-21-2008, 09:34 AM

at all ages. nothing is more important than winning an 8 year old's baseball games.

**Dartgod** · 07-21-2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markk

at all ages. nothing is more important than winning an 8 year old's baseball games.

Also, parents should not hesitate to confront an ump, who made a bad call, in the parking lot after the game. If it was a really bad call, they should take care of business immediately, on the field.

FAX · 07-21-2008, 09:47 AM

I began teaching my son this technique during the toddler stage, Mr. KC Kings. Worked like a charm with guests, furniture, and pets. Then, in a real game, when it mattered, and it was all on the line ... nothing.

FAX

**BigRedChief** · 07-21-2008, 09:49 AM

Your playing in USSSA rules in the KC area, right?

If so your runner in any way impedes a defensive player your runner is out. Automatically.

If your runner could have avoided contact and doesn't, he automatically out and ejected from the game.

If a runner has to veer out of the baseline because a defensive player was in the baseline and the in the umpires judgement kept him from advancing the runner is awarded the next base.

There is no tolerance for intentional contact in the rules and the unwritten rules between coaches. Too many players have gotten hurt. Last summer I had an opposing player try to bulldog my catcher at home and he broke his leg.

RJ · 07-21-2008, 09:50 AM

The problem with teaching your kids that rule is that the kids on the other team might not know the rule. Good chance of an injury occurring if your kids are looking to plow into someone and the other kid doesn't know he's fair game.

Personally, I'd let it go for now. There are more important facets of baseball they can be working on.

**BigRedChief** · 07-21-2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ

Good chance of an injury occurring if your kids are looking to plow into someone and the other kid doesn't know he's fair game.

see post #5.

smittysbar · 07-21-2008, 09:56 AM

As BRC stated, it is against the rules

CoMoChief · 07-21-2008, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markk

at all ages. nothing is more important than winning an 8 year old's baseball games.

Exactly. My dad told me how to bulldog a catcher when I was 6.

Then I did it in a game (when it was perfectly necessary as the play was at home) the ump threw me out of the game because of foul play.

markk · 07-21-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Exactly. My dad told me how to bulldog a catcher when I was 6.

Then I did it in a game (when it was perfectly necessary as the play was at home) the ump threw me out of the game because of foul play.

Well, good. There is no place for intentionally inflicting injury, especially not on elementary school age children. Any coach that permits that ought to be banned from coaching.

**BigRedChief** · 07-21-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Exactly. My dad told me how to bulldog a catcher when I was 6.

Then I did it in a game (when it was perfectly necessary as the play was at home) the ump threw me out of the game because of foul play.

You should have ran faster, do a hook slide, or your teammate should have hit it better. Whatever you were dead at the plate. Take it and move on. It is illegal to bulldog at any age except for professionals for a good reason. Kids get hurt needlesly.

Kids need to learn how to win. How to better themselves. How to be a good teammate and sacrifice thier personal wants for the good of the team. But the line you don't cross is taking a chance on hurting a kid to win a little league game.

StcChief · 07-21-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

You should have ran faster, do a hook slide, or your teammate should have hit it better. Whatever you were dead at the plate. Take it and move on. It is illegal to bulldog at any age except for professionals for a good reason. Kids get hurt needlesly.

Kids need to learn how to win. How to better themselves. How to be a good teammate and sacrifice thier personal wants for the good of the team. But the line you don't cross is taking a chance on hurting a kid to win a little league game.

some guy tried that with me in Rec softball, trouble was
the bullet that came from C fielder I was waiting for him, side stepped and tagged him. (the matador move)

they still threw his A$$ out for unsportsmanlike conduct.

CoMoChief · 07-21-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

You should have ran faster, do a hook slide, or your teammate should have hit it better. Whatever you were dead at the plate. Take it and move on. It is illegal to bulldog at any age except for professionals for a good reason. Kids get hurt needlesly.

Kids need to learn how to win. How to better themselves. How to be a good teammate and sacrifice thier personal wants for the good of the team. But the line you don't cross is taking a chance on hurting a kid to win a little league game.

Win at all costs. Nothing else matters.

2nd place is for losers.

smittysbar · 07-21-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Win at all costs. Nothing else matters.

2nd place is for losers.

So how much help were you to your team after being thrown out?

**Dartgod** · 07-21-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smittysbar

So how much help were you to your team after being thrown out?

A lot when they jumped the ump after the game.

07-21-2008, 09:32 AM
KC Kings Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: KC Casino cash: $10004900	Running over a fielder in the base line... At what age do you teach kids to run over a fielder in the base-line, and how do you explain to them how to do it in a sportsmanlike way? I coached a 8U competitive machine pitch team this past season, and two instances stick out in my mind that I don't want to run into. The first incident, our 1st baseman was barely on the bag and the runner shoved him on his way by. He was either a kid with a 5'6" dad with an little guy complex telling him to do this, or he didn't understand what the coach was teaching him. Either way it was unsportsmanlike and I don't want my boys doing that. The second incident was when we had a runner going from 1st to 2nd and he pulled up to run around the 2nd baseman as the SS was covering the bag and as a result was forced out. We are playing 9U kid pitch this fall, and it is easy to say "if they are playing competitive, run 'em over", but these are kids just out of 2nd grade. I think that they are ready to learn to run over players in the baseline, but how do you teach them to do that without being a dick?
Posts: 4,348

07-21-2008, 09:34 AM	#2
markk Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	at all ages. nothing is more important than winning an 8 year old's baseball games.
Posts: 1,225

07-21-2008, 09:47 AM	#4
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	I began teaching my son this technique during the toddler stage, Mr. KC Kings. Worked like a charm with guests, furniture, and pets. Then, in a real game, when it mattered, and it was all on the line ... nothing. FAX
Posts: 44,492

07-21-2008, 09:50 AM	#6
RJ Supporter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: In a shotgun shack Casino cash: $9965202	The problem with teaching your kids that rule is that the kids on the other team might not know the rule. Good chance of an injury occurring if your kids are looking to plow into someone and the other kid doesn't know he's fair game. Personally, I'd let it go for now. There are more important facets of baseball they can be working on.
Posts: 14,931

07-21-2008, 09:56 AM	#8
smittysbar Right in the Lumberyard Danny Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: LaPlata, MO Casino cash: $10004942	As BRC stated, it is against the rules __________________
Posts: 6,646

07-21-2008, 09:49 AM	#5
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $3179627 VARSITY	Your playing in USSSA rules in the KC area, right? If so your runner in any way impedes a defensive player your runner is out. Automatically. If your runner could have avoided contact and doesn't, he automatically out and ejected from the game. If a runner has to veer out of the baseline because a defensive player was in the baseline and the in the umpires judgement kept him from advancing the runner is awarded the next base. There is no tolerance for intentional contact in the rules and the unwritten rules between coaches. Too many players have gotten hurt. Last summer I had an opposing player try to bulldog my catcher at home and he broke his leg.
Posts: 78,971