Baseball at ages 5 to 7 years of age is "T League" in our community. It's wonderful and I enjoy watching my son play baseball. He has only played two season and is still learning the game. We do make him practice and his coordination is coming along. Baseball is the American's favorite pasttime but after watching the last two seasons of this T League I have come to realize that it should be named "Daddy Ball." Well, at least, in my community. Thank goodness, I have the finest husband that enjoys the game and watching our son play baseball.

Although, I believe that competition and being competitive is healthy, nothing compares to the father's that scream at their children during the games. I believe that sports at this age is to learn, learn the game of winning and losing. Understand and work on eye-hand coordination, how to swing the bat, how to throw the ball and most importantly, how to be a team player. But I am quickly seeing baseball turning into "Daddy Ball" because the Dad's that loose site of the goal. The goal being, our chidlren learning to play the game. When did it become so competitive in T League?

As our little team was playing, the coach's son got up to bat, not the best player on the team but a good, solid player. The little boy hit the ball and it was like a litte hit to the pitcher's mound. The coach/father got so mad at his son for hitting the ball wtih little force that his son got out on first base and the coach ran to him and just started yellling "how do you expect to make All Stars with a hit like that!" The little boy just kept walking to the dug out. I couldn't believe it, does the son want to make All Stars or does the dad?

This is one example of many games where parents (yes, mother's too) yell at their child so disrepectedfully, I simply do not understand it. I want my son to try hard, to give a 100%, but I am not going to scream bloodly murder at him if he does not stop the ball or strikes out!

In this society of peer pressure, why are we starting to put pressure on our sons at this age? Our children should be able to win and lose, not to be yelled at because they missed the ball or didn't catch a pop fly. The basic foundation of baseball is starting to be taught in T League but I see parents yelling at their children instead of encouraging them to learn and understand the game.

After two seasons in this league, I guess my question, is it baseball for our sons or is it daddy ball?