This day offers the opportunity for children to do their own thing
By Don Weiskopf, Publisher, Baseball Play America
Throughout America this summer, Sandlot Day 2010 is giving young ball players in organized youth leagues the gift of pick-up baseball that their coaches and parents experienced. Sandlot baseball, backyard ball, street ball, stickball and other low organized games was the type of baseball played by generations of kids. The common thread was - no adults were involved. From this one day they will receive personal memories that last a lifetime, a sense of ownership of the game, an ability to organize themselves, and so much more.
Everybody played, rules fit the game, and ground rules fit the patch of open space. The game ended when it got dark or the ball was lost. Many coaches today would be helped by learning about, or remembering the importance of the sandlot experience. There were lessons learned on the sandlot, not just about baseball. Memories were made as well and sandlot memories last a lifetime. Most of our children's playtime is organized. When a sport can offer its players a gift like Sandlot Day, it ultimately increases their passion for the game and introduces a child to pick-up games.
Of the many youngsters who participated in the Sandlot Day 2010 Philipstown Little League, President Eddie Barry was impressed on how creative and fair the kids made the games. The only adult supervision at the games was during the Noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. time slots. Other than that, the kids had full range of the ball fields in Philipstown. The kids elected their own managers, captains and umpires. The older children even included minor league players with players from the majors.
By Don Weiskopf, Publisher, Baseball Play America
Throughout America this summer, Sandlot Day 2010 is giving young ball players in organized youth leagues the gift of pick-up baseball that their coaches and parents experienced. Sandlot baseball, backyard ball, street ball, stickball and other low organized games was the type of baseball played by generations of kids. The common thread was - no adults were involved. From this one day they will receive personal memories that last a lifetime, a sense of ownership of the game, an ability to organize themselves, and so much more.Everybody played, rules fit the game, and ground rules fit the patch of open space. The game ended when it got dark or the ball was lost. Many coaches today would be helped by learning about, or remembering the importance of the sandlot experience. There were lessons learned on the sandlot, not just about baseball. Memories were made as well and sandlot memories last a lifetime. Most of our children's playtime is organized. When a sport can offer its players a gift like Sandlot Day, it ultimately increases their passion for the game and introduces a child to pick-up games.
Of the many youngsters who participated in the Sandlot Day 2010 Philipstown Little League, President Eddie Barry was impressed on how creative and fair the kids made the games. The only adult supervision at the games was during the Noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. time slots. Other than that, the kids had full range of the ball fields in Philipstown. The kids elected their own managers, captains and umpires. The older children even included minor league players with players from the majors.
Tim Donovan, director of the SUNY Youth Sports Institute, has organized and is promoting Sandlot Day 2010. The idea is that adults should cede control to the players for one day this season. As Mark Hyman pointed out to the New York Times, "Parents are welcome to show up. But on this day, the children make the rules and run the show. They decide what to wear (full uniform or T-shirt and shorts). They choose sides and set the lineups. Their authority extends even to the game they decide to play (baseball or a backyard derivative like whiffle ball)."
The sports institute has sent a three-page memo to hundreds of New York youth leagues describing Sandlot Day. Guidelines for the program give players choices like "coach the bases or not, umpire among themselves, and make any rearrangements necessary to play." "Coaches will know this day is about something bigger than baseball," wrote the SUNY Youth Sports Institute. "At first, the value of Sandlot Day may not be clear to parents. After all, they have come to expect organized games with uniforms, umpires, coaches instructing and parents cheering. But you know that to keep kids playing baseball longer they need a passion for the game."
"A large part of the passion for baseball can be found in the historic roots of what occurs when playing in small games in the sandlot, playground, or backyard. Through Sandlot Day, baseball has a great opportunity to give just one day back to the origins of the game."
The State University of New York's Youth Sports Institute will assist any organized youth baseball program wishing to establish one day out of each season to be called "Sandlot Day".
For more information on how the SUNY Youth Sports Institute can help promote your local Sandlot Day, write: SUNY Youth Sports Institute, 17-29 Main Street, Cortland, NY 13045, Telephone: 877.828.8811, email: info @ youthsportsny.org.
Contributions from SUNY Youth Sports Institute and www.baseball-fever.com; Photograph and illustration from the Philipstown Little League and SUNY Youth Sports Institute
The sports institute has sent a three-page memo to hundreds of New York youth leagues describing Sandlot Day. Guidelines for the program give players choices like "coach the bases or not, umpire among themselves, and make any rearrangements necessary to play." "Coaches will know this day is about something bigger than baseball," wrote the SUNY Youth Sports Institute. "At first, the value of Sandlot Day may not be clear to parents. After all, they have come to expect organized games with uniforms, umpires, coaches instructing and parents cheering. But you know that to keep kids playing baseball longer they need a passion for the game."
"A large part of the passion for baseball can be found in the historic roots of what occurs when playing in small games in the sandlot, playground, or backyard. Through Sandlot Day, baseball has a great opportunity to give just one day back to the origins of the game."
The State University of New York's Youth Sports Institute will assist any organized youth baseball program wishing to establish one day out of each season to be called "Sandlot Day".
For more information on how the SUNY Youth Sports Institute can help promote your local Sandlot Day, write: SUNY Youth Sports Institute, 17-29 Main Street, Cortland, NY 13045, Telephone: 877.828.8811, email: info @ youthsportsny.org.
Contributions from SUNY Youth Sports Institute and www.baseball-fever.com; Photograph and illustration from the Philipstown Little League and SUNY Youth Sports Institute
