Too Good
What do you think of this?
Little League Pitcher Banned From Playing Because He’s Too Good
This comment comes from Successful Teaching:
This boy is nine years old and his fastball can go as fast at 40 mph. When he took the mound the other week, the opposing team forfeited and left the game. The league told the coach that this boy could not pitch any more. Imagine not allowing a child to play a game because he is too good? That is what is wrong with America right now. We are holding back children who are too good in whatever they are good at but other countries are pushing their children to be the best at extremely young ages. Look at the controversy over the age of the Chinese gymnasts. They push their children at a very young age to pursue excellence. Yet, we tell this boy he can’t play with children his own age because he is too good. Then of course he can’t play with children who are older than him because he doesn’t meet the age requirements. What will happen to this boy? Do we let his talent fall to the wayside?
Let me know what you think!
August 31st, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Okay, this REALLY had me thinking. We love our sport, I think everyone does but I’ve also gone off Softball a bit in the last few years. I’m sure its just me but we’ve had to deal with representative pitchers where you can’t even see the ball… like we had one game last year where over forty minutes we didn’t get a single hit. I was really worried for the safety of the players too… so I don’t think our school has ever forfeited a game… but… well we had a Rugby game against another Auckland School and we lost that 70 nil… (and that was really hard to motivate the team for the second half…) but I can understand why someone would… ha! I think I should have thought this all the way through before I started commenting… but what a thought provoking article.
Mr Webb, Tamaki Intermediate School, Auckland
our class blog page is tamakitoday.blogspot.com
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:36 am
What is wrong with these people? He is obviously extremely talented and if he can’t play it will just go to waste! For so long I have been told by teachers etc to ‘try your very best’. So why is it that when this child does, he’s all of a sudden not allowed to play. This is ridiculous in my point of view.
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:47 am
I think that is just plain sad! They should let him play, because he plays well and is very talented!
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:48 am
Hi Mrs Crowe I think that not letting the boy play with his own group is horrible because kids need to play sport with kids their own age and many 1 or 2 years older or younger.
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 am
this is just sad he should be allowed to play. If not with people his own age then with people older than him. His talent should be nurtured not put out
September 4th, 2008 at 8:25 am
They should let him play. It doesn’t matter if he is better than everyone else because like you said he won’t meet the age requirements if he plays with children older than him. Just because he is better than everyone else means he can’t play the game anymore when he is extremely talented! They shouldn’t let his talent go to waste.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I agree with Sarah, teachers and my parents tell to try my very best, So why should he not be able to try his best.It’s not just about winning its about having fun and this nine year old boy has to miss out because hes to good, it’s not his fault he is very talented and may be a natural. Also I think he should be able to play with kids at his own level if he is “to good” for his age group and it shouldn’t matter how old he is.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I think this is plain unfair for the boy. Not letting someone do something because they are “too good.” It must be a sad way to start his career of perhaps playing this sport. He is obviously a very talented pitcher but like others have said, they are just letting it go to waste. He should be able to play. And he should be able to play with kids his own age. If he is not allowed to then plainly the people who said no must have something wrong with them.
September 5th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
hi i’m Jack
That’s a bit mean not letting that boy play the game. Just because he really good at it doesn’t mean he can’t play. If you’ve got tatent then don’t just leave use it and he should have as much right as every one else to play. But cool blog you should commet on mine.
see ya
September 5th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I think this is just wrong, denying a little boy the right to play sport. Not letting him play is preventing him from reaching his full potential. Why shouldn’t he be allowed to play with kids his own age? Are they afraid the other kids might get jealous?
September 6th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
This is silly!
There is no such thing as “To Good”, as something can always be better.
Also we are supposed to be incourging children to play sport so they stay fit and healthy, if they take this away he may no longer be.
Mitch
September 6th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Yes! Kaitlyn and Sarah are both right! For so long now we are hearing ‘try your best’ over and over again by teachers and others. So why?? is this kid not allowed to play with other children his age if everyone knows he trys his best all the time when playing his sport? I think this kid should be rewarded for his great efforts and achievements and be able to play with his age group! Not be punished by not being allowed to! This is sad and you know if he spends more time with experienced players like himself that are possibly going to be older than him than you never know their mature nature may rub off on him and there goes the possibily of his happy, fun, young childhood he will continue having??