Would you LET them win or not?

[Howard]

This is my 4th year coaching little league. We have always had a strong team and finish each year in upper half, etc.. last year played in the championship game....blah, blah, blah.

There are 8 teams and all of the teams except for 1 have won at least a game or two. We are around 500 ourself. Standing at the end of the year mean nothing at all other than how they bracket you in the 8 team single game elimination inner league championship tourny.

The team we play tonight has not won a game and this is their second to the last game of the year. We play 14 games or so.

We have won plenty and if we play normal should be able to blow them away. We have played them once and tried to be easy on them and still won like 15-8. The other teams have showed them no mercy and some have beat them 20-2, 18-3, etc...

I have always told my team they need to learn to lose as a team and win as a team... We know how to do both and do it with class. The other team has learned how to lose and even how to be humiliated by other teams that think it is funny to play them 100% the entire game. After seeing many of your responses to the 100-0 basketball game thread, I am sure there are plenty that will say BEAT THEM! However my feelings since that same thread have not changed and I still think the coach and team that proudly won 100-0 are losers with a capital L.

So, tonight I think I will play the first inning as usual and then from there put my weakest children in the infield and my best outfield, etc... and do something I never do- go in the dugout, sit down, and shut up. If we are still beating them, maybe limit my kids to singles, unless they hit a true nuff homer or solid hit,etc..

I dont think any kids deserve to lose 14 games in a row even if helping them out is not PC.

Any thoughts as to why I should not let this go down like this? Thanks in advance.

If I do this, I will call times and make the change and huddle the kids and tell them we are going to win tonight even if the score doesnt show it.

if it matters, these are 7 and 8 year olds....

[Landrover]

Hard lesson but "LIFE" is hard at times! Let your less productive kids play the game to hone their skills but no one should LET someone else win.

[D C]

I say you have the right attitude to be a coach for lil league. I cant stand coaches that werent good at any sports and now they want their kid to be a pro. I believe that i would take it very easy on them sounds like that team need a confidence boost who knows it might help them out in the long run.

[SAC]

I never like the thought of letting another team win. But in your case you are just getting all of you players extra PT before the tourney, look at it as you are helping those kids out. I think it also teaches your kids to have a little class on the field.

[Legdog]

Interesting play coach. Tough call but I like the way you are considering the development of the opponent as well as the development of your own boys.

Not sure what I would do but I'd be excited to have my kid play on your team.

[UncleCharlie]

As much as you sympathize with them, I don't think its necessary that you let them win. Just don't run it up on them if you can help it.

[Chipper]

Put your weakest line-up on the field/batting order, I don't think you can ask your kids to lose on purpose but you may be able to help them get there. If it allows you to get more kids time on the infield and more at bats that is a good thing for them (and their parents will probably be happy also).

[Devin]

So, tonight I think I will play the first inning as usual and then from there put my weakest children in the infield and my best outfield, etc... and do something I never do- go in the dugout, sit down, and shut up. If we are still beating them, maybe limit my kids to singles, unless they hit a true nuff homer or solid hit,etc..

I've only been in this situation a couple of times and I handled it similar.... but, try my best not to let my kids know I'm doing it. I tell them before the game that I want to see how we do playing in different positions in case someone gets hurt later down the road. Then put the weakest players in the key positions and adjust from there.

I've never tried limiting them on hitting, only gone really conservative on base running, having coaches hold them on anything remotely close.

I think it's a good thing to do.... only try as much as possible not to let your kids or the other team's kids know what you're doing so as not to do the opposite of what your intentions are and patronize them.

[deerplanter]

I agree with Landrover, don't give the game away but let your less skilled players play. Let them have fun and just play the game the way it was intended for fun.

[k9trainer]

I say you have the right attitude to be a coach for lil league. I cant stand coaches that werent good at any sports and now they want their kid to be a pro. I believe that i would take it very easy on them sounds like that team need a confidence boost who knows it might help them out in the long run.

x2 work your plan...who cares what everyone else thinks

[recar]

Howard.. this is NOT directed at you... just gave me the vehicle to express something I have been thing a while.

This whole mentality of everyone wins has really gotten under my skin. We are beginning to raise a bunch of whiney children who think its their right to be given a win. Little league games that do not keep score, soccer games that do not keep score, swimming competitions that do not time the swimmers is a bunch of crap in my opinion. If you think the kids we taught to count dont know the score of the game they are playing... you are kidding yourself

The real world is not fair and is not caring. Ask all of the people that have lost their jobs in the past few years. We need to be raising our children to achieve the highest goal possible while being completely moral and ethical at the same time.

I would tell your kids to go and play their best. That is what the other coach is doing. Everything will sort itsself out on the field.

Rant over.

[Codie]

Letting them win and puting in your weakest players, sitting in the dugout and letting them play are two totally different choices to me. Your idea of playing your weakest players and just sitting in the dugout sounds like a GREAT and respectable plan to me. Forcefully making your kids botch things in order to let the other team win, while a great gesture, just does not set well with me for some reason. It will be fun for your kiddos that don't get to play much normally and it will make the game more interesting. Sounds like you have what it takes to be a great ballcoach. Good luck

[Howard]

I would never ask a kid to blow a play on purpose, dont get me wrong And trust me- I like to win as much as the next guy, but our records mean nothing in the end and this team winning at least one game I am sure means alot to them and their parents.

By putting my 3 OF- infield that should do the job, they are very weak players. I only have 10 total and they all have to bat. In this league you can turn a single into a homerun from one bad throw. By limiting running on crap plays and swapping IF and OF, that should do the trick by itself...

[Mathewsshooter]

I’m sorry but to me as a young immature male I say this would only make the other team weaker in the long run and would do nothing for your team. As Landrover said life is hard and you can only truly appreciate the things you fight for and win not handouts.
Now on the other hand if your kids don’t know how to take a lose then go for it.

[JVasquez]

Howard thats good thinking but I wouldnt let them just win.It would be a great time to work on a few things before your tournament.Dont hold your boys back to much,if a players hits a clean double then let it be.My philosophy is winning,player development and fun.I try to go by the 30,30 and 30 split saving the extra ten percent for the area needed the most.Tonight would be a great time to use that extra 10 percent.