A Rough Day

My last post mentioned that I was managing our 9-10 All Star Team and to stay tuned for updates.  Here's one.  Life isn't fair.

Most adults know this.  Kids have to learn it.  Where the two cross, it is a life lesson.  Sometimes, it is a very difficult lesson to learn.  Even harder when you may not see it coming.  I had to deal this lesson out tonight.  It wasn't what I wanted to do.

Our original roster had twelve players on it.  On the first round of phone calls, two players decided not to play, reducing the roster to 10.  One case was excused by the death of a close family member during the season.  The second was never explained, but as long as the parents believe it is in their child's best interest, I am in support.

So we started practice.  We had two practices with partial team.  Make up games took the other parts of the team.  We worked on skills.  Took some batting practice.  Assessed the skills.  Getting to know each other.  The fun was just beginning.

Then a third player decided to start summer early.  At nine players, too many things can go wrong.  Each girl must play and practice harder which takes more physically and mentally.  It takes one bad bounce to end the season.  Just one bad step to end everything prematurely.  It can lead to players playing on eggshells.  Careful is no way to play softball: the game was meant to be played all out.

It is the sad to tell a kid they can't play.  Without the kids, there is no game.  All Star teams mean nothing if there aren't enough kids to make a team.  The kids are the reason we do run programs and teach the great game.  The adults made a decision, the kids live with it.   Life lesson, not much fun.

So...am I off base?