Unbelievable

[lewam3]

http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id...e-softballers-disqualified-ahead-championship

 

[manitoudan]

Lesson learned the hard way .

 

[CARDS]

Several players 12 to 14 years old take a picture with the one finger salute and it cost them a chance to play in a Championship game.

Poor choices in Social media has cost a lot of players scholarships, people their jobs and way too many family/friend issues including suspension from school. It is way too consuming of our youth today.

A local radio station had a guest on a few weeks ago talking about the growing problem in America with technology and our youth.
Their research says that just in school alone American children lose 5 days every quarter while they are in school because of cell phone distractions. Schools that ban cell phones see an equivalent of one hour additional instructional time through a week...

She noted most parents do not monitor their kids cell phone use and according to the guest 7 out of 10 teens 12 to 17 years old have cloaking apps that hide web urls and activity on their smart phone... American teens are struggling with the real and virtual world, Their sleeping habits and eating habits are revolving around the smart phone creating increased health issues for teens. The guest said more teens are also developing other social issues with face to face communication etc.

Most schools spend the first few days of school going over the dos and donts with social media including sending home letters to parents about technology use yet every year there are the same issues that come up again and again at the High school I teach at...

I had a NO cell phone policy during tournament play and practice. It was a form of communication for players and parents that we used so guidelines have to be established.
Our HS coach used Twitter to communicate with players/parents as do a lot of teams so when used properly they can be beneficial but, it seems there are many struggling with the when and how to use without creating or contributing to distractions...

Colorado is trying to be the first state to ban the sell / use of smart phones to those under 13.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2017/06/20/colorado_ballot_measure_moves_to_ban_smartphones_for_kids_under_13.html http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_t...ves_to_ban_smartphones_for_kids_under_13.html

 

[CARDS]

Link to photo and Head coach response..

Notice in the dugout several with phones including the player taking the photo...


https://sports.yahoo.com/little-lea...world-series-social-media-post-212434926.html

 

[lewam3]

I would think a group comment or post about someone's Race or Creed or Religion or Sexual Orientation would be grounds for team disqualification. Flipping the bird? I mean it was a silly thing to do, but definitely not grounds for a DQ in the championship game.
There must me more to the story than that post

 

[CARDS]

I would think a group comment or post about someone's Race or Creed or Religion or Sexual Orientation would be grounds for team disqualification. Flipping the bird? I mean it was a silly thing to do, but definitely not grounds for a DQ in the championship game.
There must me more to the story than that post

According to the event director in the article it was the photo and caption about the host team.... I agree, it may have been a little harsh but they said the event rules about social media misconduct, and sportsmanship rules were violated...I could see a lawsuit especially with travel and hotel expenses if penalties are not clearly spelled out.

 

[Heavy Hitter]

To me this was not a hard decision for Little league. This team clearly violated Little League's sportsmanship and social media rules. If it was one or two players they could have probably suspend them from the game and move on but, when 6 of their 11 players do it the team gets DQ'd.

 

[coachjwb]

I have to agree that a disqualification was probably the right penalty. It is a hard lesson learned but hopefully a valuable one for the young ladies on the team, and any other young ones who hears about it. It's frankly pretty disgusting that 12 year olds would be doing this. And I can't blame Little League for taking a stand on it ... what would their reputation be if that team had won?

 

[daboss]

Let's ask the question "Would they ever do a stunt like this again?" and see what the response would be. My guess is they would never do something like this again. How many of the kids would knowingly break any rules for any game or any sanction in the future? My guess is most if not all would not. How many other teams, parents, and coaches were effected in a positive way by the ruling? My guess is many. Tough love? Perhaps but within the Little League's power and sending a message they are not messing around. How many parents will back this stand by LL? My guess is this will raise them to a new level of those wanting to participate in LL in the future.

This could end up being the greatest and most positive decision that Little League has ever made in the history of their existence and could be setting a precedence by others to become more proactive in the future. Personally, I hope so for the sanctity of the game.

 

[Bullbuck]

By the way, our group of girls from Poland, OH won the championship, with the help of a great young lady from Canfield. The only team to beat them in their tournament run was the Southeast team that was disqualified (0-3 loss in pool play). The game was shown live on ESPN 2 Saturday afternoon.

The girls and their parents provided some perspective when they got home yesterday. The host team, Washington, as they did the year before as well, were a bunch of trash talkers who liked to bait the other team and get in their heads. This game was not an exception. Apparently, the Washington tactic worked against Southeast. It's not an excuse for what they did, but it may explain why emotions were so high.

I hope it's a lesson learned for a lot of us in how to manage our players and how the players need to conduct themselves.

 

[lewam3]

wow!!!! Congratulations on the accomplishment! Way to represent the Buckeye State!!!!

 

[brownsfan]

I'm old school and agree with it. As adult's we all have accused tournaments and saying the host fixed the system using their own umpires (Lebanon vs Elyria prime example). We as adults also fail at monitoring our child's use on the phones. I myself have even failed. So when I saw this, I saw this "---- you, we beat you in your own turf." My concern is this, where were the parents and the coaches? We as parents claim their mature enough when handing them a device that can ruin their futures. So when they make an mistake like this, we jump and claim they are young; it's too harsh. We can tell them until we are blue in our face about the dangers of social media, but sometimes they must learn the hard way.

Maybe just maybe this will help wake up coaches, parents, and even these young ladies the consequences of social media. Not only can it affect you as an individual, but as a team.

 

[brownsfan]

By the way, our group of girls from Poland, OH won the championship, with the help of a great young lady from Canfield. The only team to beat them in their tournament run was the Southeast team that was disqualified (0-3 loss in pool play). The game was shown live on ESPN 2 Saturday afternoon.

The girls and their parents provided some perspective when they got home yesterday. The host team, Washington, as they did the year before as well, were a bunch of trash talkers who liked to bait the other team and get in their heads. This game was not an exception. Apparently, the Washington tactic worked against Southeast. It's not an excuse for what they did, but it may explain why emotions were so high.

I hope it's a lesson learned for a lot of us in how to manage our players and how the players need to conduct themselves.

Way to go, CONGRATS!

 

[lewam3]

Btw that's pitcher of yours truly "pitched" an outstanding game- that changeup was wicked. Those players even knew it was coming and couldn't lay off!

 

[daboss]

By the way, our group of girls from Poland, OH won the championship, with the help of a great young lady from Canfield. The only team to beat them in their tournament run was the Southeast team that was disqualified (0-3 loss in pool play). The game was shown live on ESPN 2 Saturday afternoon.

The girls and their parents provided some perspective when they got home yesterday. The host team, Washington, as they did the year before as well, were a bunch of trash talkers who liked to bait the other team and get in their heads. This game was not an exception. Apparently, the Washington tactic worked against Southeast. It's not an excuse for what they did, but it may explain why emotions were so high.

I hope it's a lesson learned for a lot of us in how to manage our players and how the players need to conduct themselves.

Trash talking is another of the things I won't condone as a coach and don't appreciate it from other teams. The thing with trash talking is it can be dealt with by umpires during the game. If they believe it is getting out of hand they have the power to warn the benches and gain control. While I don't like it, I would be just as upset if it were getting into my players heads. They need to be bigger than that. Is this different from a picture of and sharing on social media half the team sporting the international sign of love? Absolutely. That's not something you can expect umpires to deal with. The umps must have been paying attention because they took action about the girl stealing signs and relaying them to the bench and batter. We can only assume in their eyes the trash talk was at a minimum.

Congratulations to Poland, Ohio for the championship. That's the note we should be addressing!!!

 

[Fairman]

Can anyone tell me how/why the Host Team gets to bypass the districts, sections, states , regionals and get to the nationals without passing through all the other levels and LL doesn't't move the games to others hosts another locations? This makes little sense and a huge advantage for Washington. Why isn't Poland Ohio the host team next year? Just asking.

 

[Crush04]

I don't know why LL does that but it's the same for the Host team of State and Regional Play. Only thing I can think of is the umps and facility are voluntary and no charge for gate. Maybe they allow that to draw larger crowd to increase concessions for tournament host.

 

[softballmom2000]

First Congratulations to the Poland team for their win! Second, we have a no phones in the dugout rule for a reason. Third, I still question whether this is the whole story. It is snap chat, how did the director even get the pic? Those girls have to be friends with someone who could see the pic and then it needs to be screen shot and shown. Who was vindictive enough to do that? I am not condoning the actions, I am just saying that there is so much more here at play then has been reported.

 

[Louuuuu]

The umps must have been paying attention because they took action about the girl stealing signs and relaying them to the bench and batter.

Let's veer a little off course, shall we?... I wasn't there, I know nothing about this situation. But, what "action" did an ump take when someone was stealing signs? And how did the "offending" team react? It's part of the game...

(Jeff, this is where you jump in to promote the wristband system )

 

[Eastside]

Sportsmanship is the ability of a person who can take loss or defeat without complaint or victory without gloating and who treats his opponents with fairness, generosity and courtesy. Examples of poor sportsmanship include: throwing equipment, using illegal equipment, bad language, arguing with an umpire’s judgment call or harassing an umpire, opposing players or spectators.