Chanting and yelling!!! The integrity of the game..........

[Scottherman]

I have coached select ball for 9 years. This was my first experience at 10u. I don't understand why some coaches and all umpires let the girls yell and chant directly at the pitcher. Some of the rants that I heard that were directly to the pitcher were appalling. Some of the cheers were 3-2 walk her,,,walk her, Rattle rattle pitcher rattle One even mentioned, Eat Dirt while the pitcher was delivering the ball. We do not yell at any other player. What would happen if we picked out another position player and started chanting at them? This is the developing years for a pitcher. The last thing we should let happen is a whole team yell at the pitcher. At this age, we are to start teaching the fundamentals of the game, We must teach them about character and the integrity of the game. I have no problem with cheering. Cheer for your teammate.

I've heard that this just happens at 10u, I think we as coaches and umpires can easily fix this. It should be brought up at pre game and coaches and umpires agree to control this.

Ohio took away the chatter, " hey batter batter......swing, But now we can yell directly at the pitcher. It does not make any sense. We, Umpires, coaches and parents have let this go way to far. We can fix this. Associations, ASA, PGF, USSSA, NSA can fix this. Ohio is better than this.

 

[Jw04coach]

I couldn't agree more, can't stand it. We played a couple games this past season where I felt the other team crossed the line with things they were chanting. The kids are just being kids and probably don't realize what they are even really saying, just wish the coaches wouldn't allow it to continue.

 

[Irish196]

Absolutely agree. Chants directly at any player putting them down or hoping they perform poorly, etc. are just rude. I would not allow that from my team. There is nothing better than a hard fought game where both teams are great sports and can respect and like each other when it's over.

 

[weekendsoftball]

Agree 100%. We played a handful of teams this year that chanted the "3-2 watcha gonna do...walk her, walk her....." I absolutely HATE HATE HATE that cheer. I absolutely do not allow my teams to say those cheers. The teams that seem to do this also seem to be the same teams that bang on the fence obnoxiously trying to distract defensive players. We are at 10U...does this happen at older ages?

 

[coachjwb]

Hate it too! Love the post!

Yes, pitchers do need to block it out of their mind and all, but I don't have much respect for any coaches who allow or worse yet encourage this kind of behavior from their players ...

 

[TnTs_Dad]

We are at 10U...does this happen at older ages?

I can't say I've seen much of that at the older ages. A little of it creeps in now and then but the older girls tend to take care of it on their own.

 

[OH Scrappers]

This past season, I was watching a 12u game and the umpire stopped the game and went to the dugout and told the girls that they could chant all they want, but it was against ASA rules to direct chants at the other team. Not sure if this is correct or not.

 

[Louuuuu]

... probably the same Ump who told a catcher that she wasn't allowed to frame pitches.

 

[SpazMan]

We had this happen to us in 14U this Summer. We an '00 team vs a '99 team. Couldn't believe girls acting that immature at that age. Wait until they do that in life after softball. Sheeeshhh.......

 

[SMc4SMc]

It seems the chants are handed down through the years and strongest in Rec Ball. Then it seems when teams with strong Rec experience enter Select/Travel ball they tend to bring juvenile or "fun" antics with them. I guess younger divisions have the more inexperienced coaches, players, and parents so they make the most mistakes and tend to have more asinine (or nine asses... probably more) behaviour. I agree, don't heckle (negative cheer) any player, and keep it classy because the girls are giving it their best and We should respect them.

 

[cobb_of_fury]

I really don't think chanting is an issue - It was always part of the game - it keeps the girls engaged- Pitchers need to be able to block that sort of thing out.
If chanting is an issue for your pitcher she needs to work on concentration.

My guess - all who don't like it are Men who grew up in the 80's after chanting was all but banned in little league.

I grew up in the "Hey- Batter Batter Swing" era of little league and no one thought twice about it except the kids who couldn't hit.

 

[lewam3]

"If chanting is an issue for your pitcher she needs to work on concentration."

well said Cobb

 

[okiedad1961]

My question is what age should this taper off ?Don't know if the East Coast is the hotbed of 14u chanting , but add the Boston/Ny accent ,Wow it was getting to me.Favorite was the 3-2 whatcha gonna do by the French Canadians.

 

[cobb_of_fury]

My question is what age should this taper off ?Don't know if the East Coast is the hotbed of 14u chanting , but add the Boston/Ny accent ,Wow it was getting to me.Favorite was the 3-2 whatcha gonna do by the French Canadians.

"Trois deux qu'allez vous faire"

 

[wvanalmsick]

Chanting is a way to keep the younger girls focused on the game. Yelling or directing chants at a particular player or position should be stopped.

 

[cobb_of_fury]

If chants or yelling is personal or hurtful - Yes – that is unacceptable.
- But harmless chants like “3/2 whatcha gonna do”,” To high, To high” or “Ball in the dirt" is not...

Watching the WCWS I saw collage girls drumming on the dug-out and chanting - so the chants change but it never stops...

 

[Jw04coach]

There is a big difference between chanting to stay engaged in the game and yelling at the opposing pitcher.

 

[softballmom2000]

Not only do I think chanting at a player is wrong, I have seen where coaches laugh and giggle when they do it. Definitely not a classy move.

 

[Jw04coach]

Not only do I think chanting at a player is wrong, I have seen where coaches laugh and giggle when they do it. Definitely not a classy move.

That's the worst!

 

[travelinmom]

Singling out individual players for "chanting" is more like taunting and bullying. Not something heard often at the older ages.
Rowdy 18U girls in a dugout cheering for their own batters is an entirely different thing. It's so much fun to listen to them motivating each other and enjoying the fight of the game.
DD loves a noisy field when she's pitching, especially if the opposing team is playing a cadence on their coolers and clapping while stomping on the bench. The noise keeps her from going into that dark place between her ears and the "music" helps her find her groove.