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President's Message
April 2008
It has been an exciting season thus far. I enjoy
watching our kids out playing baseball, learning the
fundamentals, and making new friends. I want to
personally thank all the volunteers, Board Members,
Managers, Coaches, Team Parents and Umpires that
step up for our baseball community donating their
time to make our league the best youth organization
in the country. It wouldn’t be possible without you.
This season
appears to be one of the best groups of managers,
coaches and umpires. Respect for the umpires this
season is at an all time high. I attribute this to
the Boards zero tolerance policy that we adapted
several years ago, along with a very good group of
talented umpires. We also have a record number of
umpires signed up to do their best. Thank you to
everyone for showing the up most respect for our
boys in blue.
Each year the
beginning of April, we approach what I call “the
pivotal zone”. That is where teams and managers high
expectations appear to be better or worse than
others based on records. A manager with a winning
record is embarrassed when losing to a team with a
losing record or two winning or losing team’s meet
and egos get involved. To me this is so
disillusioned. This irresponsibility fosters an
improper outlook toward the ideals of the League. At
no time should a team’s record whether good or bad
imply a predetermined outcome or become an
egotistical battle. Managers are expected to teach
the fundamentals of baseball and implement a
positive experience for each player.
Competitiveness
is a fundamental element in baseball. When taken too
seriously it becomes a detriment. Integrity and
morality must be implemented in cases where
competitiveness becomes too extreme. Good
sportsmanship is the most important lesson to teach
our youth. Do it by example. There are often times
in games where we all get frustrated. It could be a
call that didn’t go our way or the appearance that
our opponent is manipulating the game, our son just
struck out looking on a borderline pitch with the
bases loaded, sometimes we just show up at the game
after having a bad day. Remember when you come to
the baseball fields it is to have fun. Winning makes
the game fun. If you don’t win there are lessons to
be learned and one of the most important lessons we
need to understand is respect and good
sportsmanship. Always keep in mind whether you win
or lose that your opponent is not really the other
team but an extension of your Little League Baseball
Community. Don’t let your frustration come out
during a game or shortly after. Venting your
frustrations on the field will have a lasting
negative affect in several areas, first it directly
affects the kids and their parents, it affects the
umpires and their parents, and it will reflect a
lasting impression of you with the League. What I
would like to see is everybody smiling on the
baseball field. It is the greatest game. It is
always the better person that can get through a
tough situation walking away with a smile on their
face, than the person who wishes to apologize to
everyone the next day for acting or saying something
inappropriate.
Nurturing a
positive environment with good sportsmanship and
respect for one another on the field will make the
game enjoyable for everyone and most of all the kids
will want to come back and play another day.
Rob McAfee
CVLL President
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