Fastpitch Players Playing Dirty

[InSider]

We have all heard the stories and seen the videos. Fastpitch players playing blatantly dirty. Baserunner deliberately altering her path to plow a fielder. Catcher intentionally tackling a runner in a rundown. Pitchers purposefully drilling a batter in the ribs. Baserunner willfully sliding cleats high.

The questions I pose to you are:
1. Is this behavior taught or instinctive?
2. Do you condone this behavior regardless of whether it's initiated by coach or by player?

Now, I know some people will say that it's part of the game. To that I have to ask "why". Why is it part of the game? Why has it become okay to intentionally hurt someone in the course of playing a game? It's not the Hunger Games. It's just a game that is meant to be played for fun.

Do college coaches recruit blatantly dirty players? Do they look the other way because the kid gets results?

Where and when does it stop?

 

[311road]

Huge difference between playing aggressive and being dirty. A blurred line which most will argue differently dependant on what end of the play you are on.

 

[coachjwb]

I think it's taught for the most part ... but not nearly as much by coaches, and more so from parents, teammates, or from watching others do it. I think some coaches, certainly including college ones, demand aggressiveness from their players, and the players are sometimes left to determine for themselves what that really means.

 

[ValleyStorm]

We want our players to be aggressive on the bases, but if I ever witnessed one of my players intentionally trying to hurt another player, that player would be released from my team. We talk about team rules at beginning of season and this is one of the items covered.

 

[CARDS]

Over the years I have seen a lot of questionable play at a variety of age groups even two get ejected for playing dirty both when we were 16U.

One time was a player on a TN team threw dirt in the face of our SS as she was sliding on a steal attempt and was tossed. Our SS complained earlier in the game they were getting handfuls of dirt and throwing it up on steal attempts as coaches we addressed the umpires in-between innings and sure enough they caught them doing it.

The other was a first baseman that closelined our runner as she was running out a bunt. Field and Plate Umpires did not hesitate in tossing her as it was a de-cleater with full extension and follow through. Lucky she was just shook up with a bloody lip.