Excessive Celebrations?

[Mr. Soft Balls]

In 12+ years of watching softball I have never witnessed the behavior of a team so childish as the one my 8th grade DD played on Saturday. Emotions run high in games and Celebration is a good thing but when does it cross the line? The team we played was laughable at first but quickly drew the ire of many. Every strike thrown by their pitcher was celebrated with some dancing then taunting. The players were dancing in between batters as well. I seen the first baseman do the Moonwalk. The second baseman was twerking, her booty shaking for everyone to see. Then, to my dismay, the third baseman started to do the Worm after she threw out a runner at first. The teams Coach looked like she was dancing as well and was ring leader of what these girls would do next. The parents on my DD's team were astonished, mouths wide open in disbelief while the other teams parents were hooting and hollering while egging these girls on. While I believe celebration is a healthy aspect of the game, when is it too much? I for one, have never witnessed such a spectacle and my DD surely would not play for such a team. Am I over reacting?

 

[gcg3refs]

All I can say is "WOW", what a display of poor sportsmanship - possibly EVER!

 

[Pacerdad57]

Wow! I even get tired really quickly of the high five g after every pitch.
play the game, the antics certainly don't add a thing

 

[initfor51]

The school needs to be called right away. These middle schoolers are our future and I'm scared that the coach is training our future that way. Keep it classy ADULTS...

 

[Run26]

If I was the 3rd baseman we'd still be there. Takes me forever to get back up after a good worm.

 

[backstop09]

Just play the game and ignore it. Maybe they're an inexperienced team in a program that doesn't have a whole lot of softball history so they just don't know what proper etiquette is. I suspect if you got them down by 8 or 10 runs after a couple of innings then that would put a stop to it pretty quickly.

 

[Chad Strahler]

No overreaction at all. That is absurd. Agree celebration is necessary but seems to me it's not just a bit but way out of line. Sportsmanship or not keep it professional because yes it's a game but we are also teaching life lessons here... Keep it fun not ridiculous

 

[Converse Kid]

Those girls are lame! Back in my days they would have been break dancing.

 

[okiedad1961]

Most of teams that act that way typically are looking for anything good they do to cheer about and when the good they do stops,typically rather quickly they turn to the other teams mistakes for there cheering.And of course usually starts w players,then coach's, then parents completing the trifecta of ignorance.

 

[daboss]

As already mentioned, put them in their place with a good ole fashion whooping and that'll slow the celebration.

They probably don't know any better. All that you shared never mentioned taunting. Just a bunch of kids that were told to go have fun with it and loosen up. Maybe they went a little overboard (maybe a lot!) but 1 thing for sure, they got into your head as well as the girls' minds. Grow some thicker skin and teach your kids a life lesson about how you want them to react. Of course you have that right to teach your own------not thiers. If others see life differently, then know your child and hopefully her teammates can learn a lesson on how to cope. That's what is important here.

FYI, if you are not in the habit of watching college softball on TV of some of the most respected programs in the country, perhaps you need to watch some and pay attention to the antics that go on beyond the diamond. Do you think all that yelling, banging walls, trash talk is coming from the fans in the stadium? Give me a break. Those kids are Brutal with a capital "B". If you get to attend any of those games move down close to the dugout without your kids and hear what is coming out of their mouths. The name calling and taunting is relentless at times!

 

[Dougk30]

If I was the 3rd baseman we'd still be there. Takes me forever to get back up after a good worm.

Now I dont care who you are that comment is funny!!!

 

[joboo1drew]

Am I the only one that would love to see videos of these dances?

 

[pnp911]

A good umpire would have put a quick end to the nonsense.

 

[GeneralsDad]

Baby steps...Sounds like a program that probably can't field a team every year, has no skilled players, and have been on the bad end of 30-0 beat downs. Most of the players probably don't know the rules of the game, let alone understand the history or proper etiquette. I would guess the same is true for the coach. All this aside, these are still young ladies having a good time playing softball with their friends. Just because it doesn't seem right to many, does not mean it's wrong for them.

Like it or not this is an after school program teaching young ladies about team work. It is also keeping them out of trouble for a short time. This could very well be a valuable program in their school and their community for many reasons we may not understand. We may not like it, and I would venture to say that they don't care.

 

[ThompsonUSSSA]

Am I the only one that would love to see videos of these dances?

Or better yet, you (better you than me lol!!!) emulating these dances yourself?

 

[WWolff]

I know what would happen if they were in college and did this crap to the wrong team.

I was at a Big Ten game last week and team hit a homerun and then after she stepped on home plate they did a dance that was obviously rehearsed.
You know what the pitcher did next pitch to the first batter ? Hit the batter.

*** Before someone says anything No I'm not saying to do this to 13 year old girls just saying***

 

[Louuuuu]

*** Before someone says anything No I'm not saying to do this to 13 year old girls just saying***

'Way to be pre-emptive with that disclaimer!

 

[K9crmfitr2]

I'm just impressed with the fact that kids this age know what the moonwalk and worm is. Maybe one of the players infiltrated their parents VCR tape collection and got a heavy dose of 1984's greatest hit "Breakin"!!


http://youtu.be/tXuNa_h804c

 

[WWolff]

'Way to be pre-emptive with that disclaimer!

I just know how some people operate.

 

[WWolff]

I'm just impressed with the fact that kids this age know what the moonwalk and worm is. Maybe one of the players infiltrated their parents VCR tape collection and got a heavy dose of 1984's greatest hit "Breakin"!!


http://youtu.be/tXuNa_h804c

Now I know where you got those sweet moves. I'm sure that's in your treasured vcr collection.