On May 29, the Carman Little League in Rotterdam, NY held a Sandlot Day that attracted around 30 kids of various ages. Jed Ingersoll, president of the league, was introduced to the idea through a New York Times article citing the SUNY Youth Sports Institute and its idea for taking one day out of the season to give the game completely to the kids. The league firmly believes in the need for adults to back off every once in a while so the players can build a sense of ownership and, subsequently, a passion for the game. "Today there is so much parent involvement. Kids are constantly told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. We wanted to give the kids a chance to figure things out for themselves" said Ingersoll. To kick off this event, the Carman little leaguers picked captains, chose up sides, and took the field, some in their team uniforms but most in street clothes. One parent, watching from the bleachers, was surprised at how capable the kids were of picking their own teams without any hard feelings. The parents also enjoyed watching their kids play with new teammates and mixed ages. Ingersoll was pleased to see that "the older kids gave the little kids confidence by playing with them and allowing them to play all positions. They didn't always stick them in the outfield." After nearly three hours of playing, they had to wrap it up, though the participants insisted that the league put another one together in August. The day was a great success and the Carman Little League intends to make Sandlot Day a regular part of each season to come.
