And So It Begins

I just signed up Pete for AAA Little League this spring. Here are the terms I agreed to:

1. I will encourage good sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy to all individuals involved with the [City] Little League, both on and off the field of play. I will support all players, coaches, umpires and league officials at games and practices. I will not taunt, criticize, or use threatening or profane language or gestures at any time or for any reason.

2. I will not ridicule or denigrate, verbally or otherwise, any child or other participant for making a mistake or losing a competition.

3. I will not confront managers, coaches, umpires or other league officials in order to challenge their decisions or authority. I will support the notion that an unpopular decision by an umpire is simply part of the game. I will only raise such issues in an appropriate manner and at an appropriate time and place, always away from the field and after the conclusion of the game or practice.

4. I will not interfere with any game or practice and will refrain from coaching any child, in any manner, unless I am appointed and approved by the Board of Directors as an official manager or coach. I understand that such efforts on my part might, at least, subject players to confusion or at worst, a risk of harm.

Why do I feel certain that the people who actually read these things before signing (like me) are the ones who would never do that stuff anyhow, and—more importantly—vice versa?!

Comments

[Mir]

How sad of a commentary on today's society is it that they feel compelled to make parents sign a paper agreeing not to crush their children's souls over a little league game? (And my reaction was exactly the same as yours, that the people who would do that will never read the agreement in the first place.)

[Kathy]

we sign something similar - one year we actually had to watch a video!
On a side note, how much do you pay for registration? We sign the boys up this weekend and it is $140 per child, this does include the $20 of "mandatory raffle tickets" so if we find peple to buy $20 worth of raffle tickets we will get that money back. The registration fee includes a shirt, pants, socks and hat.
This just seems very HIGH to me, but maybe I am just wishing for the good old days when playing ball cost you $20!

[Karen]

I paid $100 for little league and $80 for soccer. Beginning in the fall, I will insist on just soccer in the fall and just baseball in the spring (assuming he continues to like both), because this spring is going to be HECTIC!

[scott]

I used to coach soccer. When parents and other players and other coaches got out of hand (and they did) I just ignored them. And I always shook everyone's hand afterward and thanked them for the game. I think the boys learned more from me about that than they did about soccer. At least I hope so. I didn't really know anything about soccer. Still don't. (But we were the winningest team in the league! Go figure.)