Banned for being too good

New Haven Connecticut has become a battleground for bickering adults and lawyers… No, this isn’t an episode of Law and Order. It’s another instance of parents sticking their noses into youth sports. 

Jericho Scott, a nine-year old little league pitcher was banned for “being too good,” according to news reports on Tuesday. Scott’s 40-mph fastball is too fast for the Youth Baseball League of New Haven. In a shameful display of unsportsmanlike conduct, an opposing team forfeited a game in protest after Scott stepped on the pitchers mound. 

Although Scott has never hit an opposing batter; league attorney, Peter noble states Scott’s fastball is too fast for the league. 

Scott's coach, Wilfred Vidro and Scott’s parents think Jericho is being targeted for political reasons. His family turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league's administrators. 

After declining the invitation, Scott joined a team sponsored by Will Power Fitness. When Scott was banned from pitching, the team was 8-0 and playoff bound.

League officials requested that Scott play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league. Scott’s parents didn’t want to move their son because he was playing with his friends. 

My son played football his first two years of high school. I remember the coach giving the parents a speech before the start of last year’s season. He asked parents to refrain from questioning their child’s playing time or the play calling. Apparently, he previously had issues with meddling parents. 

My wife and I cheered on our son from the sidelines without embarrassing our son. We enjoyed the games while allowing the coaches do their jobs. 

In today’s era, everyone gets a trophy and a score isn’t always recorded. This keeps children from being disappointed. 

This belief is setting up today’s children for disappointment in their adult lives. When little Johnny becomes an adult and gets turned down for a date or a job, he will literally go into shock. He will learn in the adult world that life isn’t fair. If parents worry about little Johnny getting struck out on 3 straight pitches, maybe they should work on his swing. This will effectively make him a better baseball player and prepare him to learn about failure at an early age.