Little League leaves us out in cold

We were sitting in the stands and scattered in lawn chairs with blankets wrapped around us and hands stuffed into our jacket sleeves. For those smart enough to bring winter coats, only the toes froze. For those who had ventured out with only a windbreaker, the swirling wind carrying flurries of snow chilled to the bone. The temperature gauge read 31 degrees. It felt like minus 10.
"This is insane!" I said in a loud, irritated voice.
No, this was Little League Baseball.
High school teams had canceled their games for the evening. Major League Baseball had called off play for the night. Not Little League. If the field is dry and there is light in the sky, by God, these boys will play!
I could almost hear the coaches discussing the decision, "It'll toughen them up, turn them into men ... When I was a kid ... "
Keeping dreams alive
I think that's the problem with a lot of Little League coaches. When they were a kid they either didn't play baseball and they're living their dreams through their children or they did play ball but never made it to the big leagues and so they're living their dreams through their children.
One of those scenarios had to be the motivating factor behind playing ball on this evening because I know without a doubt it was not about the children. This was no Little League dream to these 11- and 12-year-olds. This was a downright nightmare.
They stood on the field, their red shirts speckled in white from the snow. Each child had stuffed as many layers under their uniform as possible. Their shirts bulged at the elbows from baggy sweatshirts and humped in the back from hoods crammed underneath.
No doubt, they would have liked to have been wearing their own winter coats like the coaches and spectators. But Little League rules forbid covering the uniform during play.
No common sense
I found irony in the uniform rule so staunchly being adhered to without any regard to common sense on this frigid evening. If only every Little League rule were followed so meticulously.
In the 10 years I have been a spectator at Little League Baseball games, I have learned that for every Little League rule there is a really good rationalization not to follow it.
Little League Baseball International has a lengthy rule book outlining every aspect of the game. The league has been structured to not only provide children with an organized playing environment to develop a love of the game, but based on the tenants of character, courage and loyalty, Little League is designed to teach the youth of today life lessons as well.
The children are learning life lessons all right.
Loyalty is taught by finagling rosters and participating on more than one team.
Character is developed as a team watches its coach berate and belittle an umpire, who is oftentimes a high school student.
Courage is exhibited as a player is insulted for dropping a fly or striking out.
Unfortunately, calls to Little League regional directors go unanswered and unresolved. Reports of infractions are ignored and dismissed. The governing force behind the rule book is virtually nonexistent.
Fighting over baseball
The result is a group of adults within a community fighting over baseball.
One side wants to implement "adjustments" to Little League rules. The other side holds the rule book.
The "adjustments," proposed by parents "living the dream," are never for the betterment of the community league. It is always for the purpose of propelling one child.
When Little League Baseball was created, there was, undoubtedly, a certain expectation of common sense to be applied by local leagues.
But alas, as I sat in the freezing cold, I came to the epiphany that common sense and Little League Baseball are like oil and water: They do not mix.
gwhite@vindy.com